bettercloset.com

An ailing closet is one that does not yield outfits when you need them. It may look like a full closet, but if half the time you feel you have nothing to wear, your closet is not doing its job. Part of the problem is that it may be filled with things you don’t wear, items that not longer fit (either your body or your lifestyle) and things you don’t like. Here’s a shopping checklist of items you must have in your closet to create a healthy wardrobe:

• Good foundation garments. You need bras that actually fit you (most women wear the wrong size, so get professionally fitted), pantyhose, tights, panties that are invisible under your clothes, and some va-va-voom lingerie that makes you feel incredible. If you have outfits that need special underwear (for example, a strapless dress requires a strapless bra) you need to add those foundation garments to your list.
• A classic suit in black or neutral color. Ideally, buy a suit jacket with matching pants and a matching skirt so that you have more options. You can wear the item as a suit or toss the jacket over jeans or other pants. Even if you don’t work at an office, a suit is a “must” investment, since it takes you from interview to semi-formal events easily.
• The little black dress in a classic cut. Look for a style that flatters your body but look for the simplest dress in that style you can find so that you can dress the dress up or down as needed. You should be able to wear this dress casually or to more formal events, so look for fabrics that are classic.
• Jeans. Try on tons of jeans and find a pair or two that look fabulous. Have the hems altered if you need to. You can wear jeans with jackets, sexy tops, casual tops, business tops. You can wear them out to clubs or to casual lunches or out running errands. Find jeans you love and ones that look fabulous.
• Tops. You will need a business shirt, a flirty evening shirt, a formal shirt (such as a silk blouse), a casual shirt (a white blouse is perfect) and a sweater.
• Jacket. Look for a jacket that is black or a neutral color and looks great with your wardrobe. Look for something above the ankle or shorter. Classic trench styles or longer coats work very well.

Depending on your lifestyle and specific needs, you may need to add items to this wardrobe. However, these basic pieces will at least get your closet off the critical list.

Visit Paris for a few days or weeks and an alarming pattern emerges – everyone looks amazing and elegant, with a stylish, casual style. Start chatting up a few of the locals and an even more alarming fact emerges: many women in the stylish city have less disposable income than the average North American, but tend to live and dress better. The effortless, elegant style can be yours, though. Here are the secrets of that certain je ne sais quoi:

• Buy classics rather than following trends. The most stylish women of history  — Grace Kelly, Coco Chanel, Jackie Onassis, even Gwyneth Paltrow – did not simply follow fashion. They often chose simple, classic pieces and set their own trends rather than trying to fill up their closets with items that are current in the moment.
• Think quality, not quantity. Rather than buying six blouses made cheaply and that will look frumpy and worn in a few months, buy one or two that are made from quality materials and are well constructed. They will last much longer and look better. The problem is that many of us are not brought up to recognize quality. If this describes you, visit several upscale stores and look closely at top-end clothing (even if you can’t afford it). You will quickly see the difference between poor quality and high quality. Don’t panic, though – quality clothes are available at discount, but you need to be able to recognize them when you see them. Learn first, shop second.
• Buy strategically. Don’t just buy something because you feel like it or you like how it looks. Consider your life – where you go, what events or occasions you attend – and create a list of items you must have to make your life work. Tuck this list into your pocket and when you shop focus on the items you need.
• Buy clothes that do double-duty. Simple wardrobe basics in classic styles and colors go far. A simple dress suit, day dress, formal dress, and a few skirts and tops will see you far and you can dress them up with accessories and other pieces.
• Consider building your wardrobe around a few colors. This will ensure that you can put together more outfits.

Pregnancy is a very exciting time for most women, but maternity clothes and maternity dresses, let’s face it, don’t arouse a shout of joy. While some designers are getting better, many styles of maternity clothes still tend to stay on the frumpy side or tend to add bulk – rather than a glow – to women who are expecting. Worse, maternity wear can put a big dent in the budget at a time when many women want to save money for the baby. Here are some ways to make maternity shopping less painful:

• Shop online for maternity dresses and clothes. Online retailers have low overhead and can often pass on big savings to customers. Just remember to plan ahead to account for shipping and buy sizes slightly larger to accommodate your growing belly.
• Buy clothes that are not maternity clothes and will work before and after pregnancies. Sheath dresses and wrap dresses as well as simple knit dresses can look great whether you are pregnant or not and are a longer-term investment when bought in classic styles, since you can wear them after the baby is born.
• When you buy maternity clothes, look for clothes that adjust to your growing belly, so that you don’t have to buy a new pair of pants, for example, for every month you are pregnant.
• Look for thin, flowing fabrics that are light and breathable. This will keep you comfortable and will also ensure that you do not add unneeded bulk to your frame.
• Pull out items from your closet that will still work as your pregnancy progresses. Once you know what you have, you can make a shopping list of what you need.
• Don’t overlook accessories. Your maternity wardrobe will be smaller than your usual wardrobe since you are shopping for only a few months. Accessories can help a smaller number of clothes go further.
• Swap with other pregnant friends. If you have other friends who are pregnant, consider pooling your wardrobes so that you spend less.
• Wear clothes you love. This is maybe the most important advice of all. Even if it means buying fewer clothes, buy maternity dresses and clothes that make you feel great. This is a special time of your life, so you want to wear clothes you love.

The sheath dress is a body-hugging dress made from a light material and designed with clean, simple lines. It generally falls just at the knees or lower thigh. Don’t let its simplicity fool you, though – there is a reason why the sheath is a favorite dress among celebrities and supermodels.

The sheath dress, although it does take some confidence to wear, is easy to dress up or down and is very flexible because it pairs perfectly with jackets, blazers, shawls, and sweaters (unlike bulkier dresses). This means that a sheath dress can actually be used as the basis of many different outfits, which makes it a great value for every day. For the evening and for occasions where formal dresses are needed, the simplicity of the sheath dress keeps you looking elegant but not overdone. And, need we say it, the sheath dress is very easy to dress up with accessories because it’s simple lines do not compete with any finery you choose to wear.

This type of dress will look best if you have an hour-glass figure and are relatively fit. If you do decide to take the plunge, you can make your sheath dress look even more fabulous by choosing the best possible lines and fabrics to flatter your body.

You can wear a sheath dress under a blazer to work (if you opt for a dress that hits at the knee or below) and wear a dress that is strapless for evenings out. The sheath dress will keep you cool in the summer and can be paired with cozy jackets and sweaters to take you into fall and winter. A sheath dress always looks great with a high heel, since the cut of this dress already elongates your leg.