In The One Hundred: A Guide to the Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own, Nina Garcia itemizes the 100 fashion must-haves. If that seems a tad daunting, the good news is that she has whittled her list down to 10, all of which are now available at Bluefly.com - which specializes in designer duds starting at 40% off - so you can look fabulous...both to bystanders and your accountant:
1. Animal Print
2. Cashmere
3. Evening Gown
4. Investment Bag
5. Jeans
6. Knee Boots
7. Little Black Dress
8. Stilettos
9. Trench
10.Wide-Legged Trousers
Here are Nina's tips on what to look for in each item, plus our picks:
1. ANIMAL PRINT According to Nina, "Buying a print with a pedigree (think Dolce & Gabbana or YSL) is the best way to avoid the garish look sometime associated with animal prints." Try:
Priorities beige leopard print 'Gwen' belted trench
2. CASHMERE "Have as many cashmere sweaters as possible in as many versions as possible. The silken featherlight feel will always make you feel luxe." Try:
Generra dark heather grey cashmere v-neck tunic
3. EVENING GOWN "The black-tie invite will come - and when it does, you don't want to be in the torturous situation of the under-pressure-evening-gown-hunt. Opt for year-round fabric: chiffon, lightweight crepe, or lightweight silk or satin." Try:
Vera Wang delphinium jersey deep v-neck belted gown
4. INVESTMENT BAG "It is going to last you a lifetime, will never go out of style, and will only get better with age...And when your granddaughter happens upon it fifty years from now, she will try and steal it." Try:
Bottega Veneta dark brown woven leather framed tote
5. JEANS "It's not the label or the cost that makes a pair of jeans perfect; it's the way they fit and make you feel. Mostly, it's about how you look when you walk away." Try:
Joe's Jeans nico stretch 'Muse' bootcut jeans
6. KNEE BOOTS "The version every girl needs comes just below the knee and looks best when worn with skirts that hit just above the knee." Try:
Balenciaga black pebbled leather tall boots
7. LITTLE BLACK DRESS "Consider your LBD a blank canvas instead of a fallback. It demands to be accessorized and adorned." Try:
Vera Wang black jersey beaded belt deep v-neck dress
8. STILETTOS "A quality stiletto will last longer, wear better, and will not leave you hobbling down the street. A woman wearing the right stiletto is a true force to be reckoned with." Try:
Jimmy Choo black leather mirrored t-strap 'Latch' sandals
9. TRENCH "When you've got a great trench on, what's underneath isn't so important...Of course a khaki gabardine is the classic, but you can also dare to go for some edge, some color, some gold lame." Try:
Burberry beige cotton sateen belted trenchcoat
10. WIDE-LEGGED TROUSERS "Wide-legged styles offer freedom of movement and are glamorous. Look for a pair with a cuff, leave the hemline a little long, and try them in black, white, camel or pinstripe for the most enduring style." Try:
Michael Kors coffee houndstooth wide leg cuffed trousers
All Nina Garcia quotes are taken from her latest book, The One Hundred: A guide to the Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own - available at Amazon.com.
- Lesley Scott
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