wardrobepartone

Now to the fun bit....creating a wardrobe plan. For a skeleton wardrobe you need only 12 pieces. Opt for simply styled garments, avoiding overdone finishing touches, too many pockets or any other fussy details that could both date the garment and make each piece more memorable and therefore less versatile.

The 12 essential basics are:

1 COAT....there are two versatile choices here. The first is a raincoat in polyester/cotton which can be worn through most of the year and is machine washable. It should be ankle length and in a deep neutral....a-line or swing style for pear shapes, tie-waisted or belted for hourglasses, straight cut or swing style for straights. The second choice is a short coat, mid-thigh to knee length, in leather or suede which, admittedly, will cost a bob or two and requires dry cleaning, but it'll work well with casuals and smarter garments and looks good over evening wear. It should be in a deep neutral or deep basic colours. Same style choices as for raincoats.

1 JACKET....for maximum versatility you want a softer style of jacket in crepe, crepe jersey, a heavyweight silky jersey or linen. It can then not only be worn with matching skirt/trousers to form a suit when required, but can also be worn as a cardigan over casuals or a dress and, because of its softness, can be used as an evening jacket....pear shapes need a semi-fitted jacket anywhere from mid-thigh to knee length, hourglasses suit tied and drawstring waist styles of any length, while straights require straight cut tunic styles from mid-thigh to below knee length. Choose a medium to dark neutral.

1 SKIRT....in the same fabric choices as the jacket, this can also be casual, when worn with t-shirts and sweaters, smart when teamed with a shirt and jacket and dressy when worn with an evening blouse or little top....for pear shapes a-line skirts work best and the longer the better, for hourglasses tapered pencil skirts, full skirts, bias cut and wrap skirts of any length, while straights should stick to straight cut styles of mid-calf to ankle length. Choose the same neutral as the jacket.

1 PR TROUSERS....again, in the same fabric choices as the jacket and skirt, this garment will be just as versatile....wide leg trousers or palazzo pants are the right choices for pear shapes, tapered leg or slim leg trousers for hourglasses and straight leg trousers, either wide or slim depending on legs, for straights. Choose a lighter or darker neutral than the jacket and skirt for variety.

1 PR JEANS....the obvious choice here is denim, which should be in a fairly deep shade so they can be dressed up for relaxed evening wear. But consider stretch gaberdine, cotton/lycra or machine washable suedette as more versatile alternatives. They not only make for relaxed everyday wear but can be dressed up as much or as little as you please for dinner with the in-laws, a shopping trip in a smart town or an evening out with friends at a pub or club. Choose a dark neutral. There is a style of jean to suit everyone....pears require comfort fit jeans, hourglasses can wear slim or tight fit jeans, while straights suit the classic straight leg jeans.