Is your closet bursting with trendy items? Check out this list of items that never go out of style!
4. The Shapely Jacket and the Go-Anywhere Top. In fall and winter, throwing on a beautifully fitting blazer with jeans and boots is always chic. The combination of course, can take on almost unlimited shadings. Something tweedy with an equestrian boot immediately says Greenwich, Connecticut, while a shrunken, schoolboy blazer and some motorcycle boots is all rock-and-roll. A summer-weight version, unconstructed and unlined, can work like a cardigan while imparting a much sharper look over dresses and tees. Although what goes under your jackets will vary with the seasons, it is imperative to have a store of tops that you know will work. These can be button-downs or thin cashmere or other knit. For summer, a great-fitting tank is essential. Happily, most are affordable enough that you can get them in a few colors.
5. Signature Jewelry. Perhaps we should split this category into two. First we have the piece that makes an impression and may satisfy all of one's accessorizing needs. In this category we place the incredible cocktail rings designed by Victoire de Castellane. Not only would it be foolish to try to wear any other jewelry with them, they cost so much, very few of us could afford anything else after purchasing one. So on one hand we have the "make a splash" signature piece, and on the other we have what we might call the "personal" signature piece. For some of us, maybe it is the classic strand of pearls, and if so, bully for you. But if you are not a pearl person -- or if you are but want to find something new -- there are so many other ways to go. How about a gorgeous sculptural cuff or some simple gold hoops a la Bridgitte Bardot? Keep in mind that size does not a signature piece make. The key to something becoming a signature piece is that it is always with you. Makes sense, doesn't it? We find there is something almost metaphysically pleasing about the idea: No matter what you wear, you have your special talisman/necklace/bracelet with you. Certainly we can all use a bit of continuity in this mixed-up world we live in, no? Speaking of which, as you run from place to place, a striking watch is always appropriate and functional. Plus, it is so much more discreet to glance at your wrist rather than rummaging through your bag to look at your cell phone. There are so many styles, from the Tank -- another classic that has martial beginnings -- to the Tonneau; there is a shape and style for everyone. One note: Resist the urge to buy the watch -- or bling -- of the moment. There was a time when it seemed that Tiffany must have been handing out those sterling silver heart necklaces to every girl between the ages of eleven and twenty-one. God only knows what the traffic on Fifth Avenue would have been like if everybody decided to take Tiffany up on their request, stamped on each heart: "Please Return to Tiffany and Co." Bedlam! Legions of girls, some in their Juicy warm-ups, some in their cashmere pullovers and button-downs, trooping up the Avenue. . . . We shudder at the thought.
6. The Under Arsenal. This seems like common sense, but many a stylish outfit founders upon the rocks of poor foundation garments. The thong, although brilliant for removing the possibility of the dreaded VPL -- visible panty line -- does leave one rather exposed. Your under-wear drawer should be like a Boy Scout, always prepared. That simile is rather strange, but we trust you understand. The key to preparedness in the undergarment world can be summed up in one word: nude. Whatever shade you are nude, you must have panties and bras in tones that match you and will not show through sheer fabrics. Keep in mind that a top that seems perfectly opaque to you at 7 a.m. may, in the blazing sun of noon, be one step away from scandalous. Nude is always a safe bet, especially now that tissue-thin T-shirts and sweaters are so popular.
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Text copyright 2007 Tim Gunn and Kate Moloney from the book Tim Gunn: A Guide to Quality, Taste & Style, published by Abrams Image www.abramsimage.com</b>
