Six wardrobe essentials

Get back to basics with black. There are six essential items that any wardrobe should have: A blazer, a coat, one skirt, one shirt, one pair of pants and a classic little black dress.

I believe classic, well-tailored garments are the foundation of your wardrobe – use your staples as a base to expand on with statement items that include bold colour and prints.

You should invest in these basic items, spending as much as you can afford to get good-quality fabric and the perfect fit. They will more than pay for themselves over time. Layby is always a good option to consider when spending more than usual.

Many Kiwi women have an obsession with black garments as it’s easy and slimming. This may be true, but wearing head to toe darkness everyday is in no way flattering, and often means you are purchasing the same things over and over again. Make sure that once you have all your basic garments sorted you start introducing colours that flatter you.

The same applies to accessories – make sure you have a black option in a classic court shoe, ankle boot and handbag. This way you are covered no matter what colour you choose to wear.