What a Girl's Closet Needs

Do you ever open your closet a few weeks after a shopping trip and think man, I have nothing to wear! Maybe you're not shopping smart! Follow these tips and you'll be loving your wardrobe in no time!

1. Of course we'll start with the little black dress. Hands down, every woman MUST have this! Perfect for a date, a cocktail party, or a the annual company party. But give it a twist! A halter, or sheer cap sleeves, something to set it apart from the million other LBDs out there.

2. Eight of fabulous jeans. Get them in a dark wash, or medium wash. Never ever buy jeans in a light wash. They look tacky and cheap no matter what you do. Also avoid whiskering, and bleach spots, as well as there-when-you-bought-them holes. They should be long enough to wear heels with! And they should make you feel fabulous! You shouldn't have to tug or pull or constantly hike them up or down. Buy them in a variety of styles from flare to boot leg, to skinny leg.

3. Five pairs of work pants. Get the in gray, black, and khaki. They should fit nicely, but not tight or in any way suggestively! Again make sure they're long enough. You don't have to buy them in identical styles. Some can be flared, or cuffed, vary the pockets. It's work but it doesn't have to be all work!

4. Now you need tops to go with your work/professional pants. I'd say you'll need about ten of them, to give you maximum mix and match potential. This is an area where you can branch out a little. Work with your company's dress code though. Generally, these shirts must have sleeves. But you don't have to go to the button down shirt section and stay there! Try some jewel tone, print, and vibrant colored tops. Don't forget to get some long sleeve, quarter sleeve, short and cap sleeves. Variety girls, variety!

5. Don't forget casual wear! For running errands, lunch with the girls, or simply out and about town you'll need some casual tops. This is where you can get a little crazier. Tanks and tees come in to play here. And casual does not mean your boyfriends undershirt! Go for well fitting, well made tees and tanks in a variety of colors. They look great layered as well! A few quirky tees are fine, but avoid anything offensive or derogatory. And casual doesn't limit you to tees! Cute shirts with tie backs, or halter styles work great too! A good ten to fifteen casual tops in varying lengths will do great.

6. For a night out you can pair your professional pants, or your dark wash jeans with a sexy top! This is the area you can really go wild in. I like to keep about five dressier shirts in my wardrobe. I always try to keep two black staple shirts, one print, one simple, and one wild card! You can try halters, tube tops, one shoulder, belly baring, long, cut out, bejeweled, or simple! Try on a few to really see what makes you feel rockin!

7. You'll also need work out clothes! I keep two sports bras, one black and one white in stock. Then I add five work out tees, some tank some tee, in bold bright inspiring colors. Next I add a pair of black flared warm sweatpants. A pair of brightly colored capri sweats, two pairs of jogging shorts, and a lightweight jogging pant complete my workout wardrobe. Add a lightweight jogging jacket and you're good to go!

8. Now of course a girl needs undergarments! I keep about fifteen pairs of "sexy" panties on hand. Whether boy short, thong, bikini or something else altogether they should make you feel absolutely vixenish when you slip them on! Then I designate some "period" panties. Some basic cotton undies for those days when you just don't care, you feel fat, or you're worried about an embarrassing female related fiasco. You'll also need some panties to go with certain outfits. Always keep black, white, and nude panties, in bikini, boy, and thong cuts to wear under sheer, tight, or difficult outfits. As for bras, I keep two sports bras, and tee shirt bras in black, nude, and white. Buy bras that fit! They shouldn't leave marks on you, cut into your shoulders or ribs. Your boobs shouldn't spill over, and the bra should be flush with your skin. Don't forget to get a few bras in fun colors or cuts, with lace of sequins to make you feel sexy! I always splurge on matching bra and panty sets! I can't help it, a girl can never have too many!

9. Oh and you'll need shoes! Start with work shoes. Simple leather black and brown flats are always good to have. You can dress it up with a heel, but remember to keep the height low or you'll be dying by the end of the day. A pair of black and a pair of brown boots work well at work, for going out, and errands. They're also great over skinny jeans! A pair of sneakers for working out, and a less serious, more fun pair of sneakers for errand is necessary. Get a to die for, sexy mama pair of black heels, and a couple pairs of cute flats. Play around with solid colors, embellishments and heel heights.

10. As for outerwear I keep three coats in my closet. A cream corduroy coat with a fleece color, a sophisticated pea coat, and a fun funky jacket with a fur lined hood for going out. So a basic, a work appropriate, and a fun loving coat. Then I keep a variety of light jackets, but always one brown and one black! I keep a few beanies in classic colors, in soft materials (think cute, not lumberjack!) And a few purely decorative, not so warm hats. Add a few soft scarves, and one pair of nice leather gloves and you're set!

11. As far as accessories go-- the sky is the limit. I try to have a simply set of hoops in silver, and in gold. A simply silver chain with a simple charm on it, and silver over sized bangle. But other than that, whatever strikes my fancy I buy. Accessories really dress up an otherwise plain jane outfit! I have one nice black purse, and one nice brown purse. I have an errand running multi colored tote, and a cream sequined evening bag. Of course I have a million other purses but I make sure I always have these staples!

Remember, clean out your closet regularly! Take things that need to be mended to the cleaners, or tailors immediately! If it doesn't fit, and hasn't fit in six months donate it! Wear the proper undergarments, nothing like a white bra under a white tee to ruin an outfit (where a nude colored bra!) And if it doesn't make you feel absolutely fabulous, don't buy it!