What Not to Wear: Staples and Tips

Guests on TLC's hit show What Not to Wear have it easy. They get five thousand dollars cash, a trip to the best clothing stores in Manhattan or their area, two fashion gurus to assist them in their shopping, a professional hair stylist, and a professional make-up artist. Of course they are going to end up looking brilliant. But not everyone is so lucky.

To condense the teachings of the show, this guide will provide you with the wardrobe staples - what everyone needs to own to complete their closet. The staples that hold it all together, if you will.

Before we get into those, however, there are two other important tips for those seeking a new wardrobe.

First of all, remember to get items that will work well with multiple others. Mixing and matching.

Secondly, spend the extra money to get quality fabric. It will last longer and you will save money in the long run. Plus, you'll probably look much better, too.

Okay, so I lied about the two tips. There are more. Keep your jeans below the navel. I've talked about tapered jeans already in my first style article, but keeping the jean below your belly button is most definitely advised.

Finally, purses and shoes do NOT have to match. Read: Do Not. Use accessories to really showcase you. When looking for purses, pay attention to wear the purse is placed in accordance to your body. It will accentuate this area. (For example, if the purse strap places the purse by your waist, it will draw attention to your waist. Use purses to bring the eyes to your best assets.)

Now it is time to cover the essential items.

Brown and Black Dress Shoes

Guy or girl, these two colors of dress shoes are essential. Only once you have both a brown pair and a black pair should you further your collection to crazy colors or maybe even patterns.

Brown and Black Dress Coat

Frequently mentioned is the leather jacket due to its broad potential. Leather jackets go perfectly with pants or skirts and can fit with almost any fabric. But don't take this to mean that colored jackets are out of the question. They could actually be better, as they will allow you to show your personality. Just be mindful of professional attire and what is appropriate for the workplace.

Black Pencil Skirt/Black Trouser Pant

Women should have a simple black skirt and men a simple black pant. Not too fancy, but watch the fit. For women, make sure the skirt length is appropriate. The vicinity of the knee works well with most body types. For men, try a flat-fronted pant that won't create unnecessary space.

For the rest of your wardrobe, use splashes of color. Play with contrast and clothing style. Similar tones look good together. If you can't find the perfect color, try to find the right tone.