Defining my Style and my Closet Essentials!

Defining my style have started a long way back. As far as I can remember, I started experimenting on my sense of style as early as high school but I had more freedom in College when I was doing a lot of modelling gigs and I was earning extra money from it. I have always love elegance and class, I find that I have dressed more mature than my age, and I always thought I have an old soul, (this makes me smile) and overtime I fell in love with Chic outfits.

Why is it important to define your style? Defining your style will influence how you shop and how you will build your wardrobe. You must define your personality as well and anchor them together so that what you wear will express your inner self. Your beauty, your truth, your feelings.
I am lucky to have attended many workshops/classes in personality development and these include the fundamentals of dressing. In dressing fit and cut is highly important, it can make it or brake the look. I also got lucky to work with different designers which showed me the world of fashion. I was able to learn what makes a piece of an outfit a classic or a trend, and or a fad. It also taught me to identify the essentials of any wardrobe. And today, I will share what they are and what to look for.

Essential Wardrobe

Wardrobe Essentials

Clothing:

1. White polo shirt
2. A pair of suit preferably black.
3. Jeans
4. A pencil or A-line skirt depending on your figure and height.
5. A (LBD) little black dress.
6. A staple top
7. A cardigan
8. A Sunday dress
9. A short
10. A coat/Jacket; here in Canada. A trench coat and a winter coat.

Footwear:

1. Black pumps
2. Nude Sandals/heels
3. Black Sandal/heels
4. Sneaker preferably white
5. A flat Sandal neutral color



Basic Shoes to own

6. A boot

Bags:

1. A tote (Neutral color or versatile color combination)
2. A satchel preferable black
3. A clutch; go for a neutral color that will go with any shoe.
4. A shoulder bag (A pop of color to accentuate your wardrobe)

Accessories:

1. A stud earring and a pearl earring.
2. A statement necklace.
3. A statement ring. 
4. A statement earring.
5. A classic watch.
6. A sunglass (neutral color)

Essential Bags

These will be the most basic and minimum to build your wardrobe on. You can add to it depending on the colors that you are leaning towards; in  short your favorites, given that it works for your skin tone. As for me, I love whites, nudes and colors (All the Colors!) hahahaha! Overtime I built my wardrobe base on coordinating color pallet at a time so that it will be easier to mix and match what I have. I said coordinating color pallet means, they don't have to be the same color with different shades that will be too dated. They can be opposing colors and will give great contrast to use as amplifier of an outfit. See examples below:

I have attached a collection of my OOTD to give examples on how to build looks from essential pieces and how they work together. I will try to create a video in the future to walk you through on how I built my wardrobe capsule, they are not limited to a number of pieces but a capsule that 75% of my separates will work together. 

If you have notice I did not recommend that it has to be a certain brand. I want you to know it doesn't have to be luxury brands to look great, as long as it is well made, great quality materials, and a good value for your money. The only reason I will buy a brand name is

Accessories

because of quality not because it makes me look prestigious but because of quality and it represents my style. I am not saying I am against brand names, I am not. I will buy them for as long as they have the right value for my money, they will give the best value of return of resale or use in the long run. It make sense to invest in a good quality item on your essential pieces because that will give you the lowest cost per wear.

Tip: every brand will carry similar looks and style with just minor variations in accents but will have similar effect when paired in an outfit. Research the brand that will mostly speak your style, lifestyle and principles. I love a certain brand because of the quality and advocacies. I have explored brands and pieces that I will never buy again. That is why I have learned to research and know the details like composition and care instructions.

I always believe, I will carry the outfit because of WHO I AM, and not because of who I want to be. Not what I wear will define ME, but rather I WILL DEFINE what I WEAR. I want an ensemble to have the privilege that I am wearing them because I give justice to the design and look of the outfit. I want my PERSONALITY to shine, and not the BRAND I am wearing.

I AM THE BRAND!

Love to share these links below to enrich your knowledge and might help curve your perspective!

Alain de Botton: A kinder, gentler philosophy of success.

Richard St. John: 8 Secrets of Success.