I was watching an episode of T.im Gu.n.n’s show where he takes someone in desperate need of style help and revamps them.
He has a top ten list of items every woman should have in their closet. Here is his list:
Tim’s 10 Fashion Essentials,
- Basic Black Dress
- Trench Coat
- Classic Dress Pants
- Skirt
- Blazer
- Classic White Shirt
- Day Dress
- Cashmere Sweater
- Jeans
- Sweatsuit Alternative
- Bonus: One Indulgent Trendy Item Under $20
Ladies, do you have these items in your wardrobe? Do you buy investment pieces? Things that will continue to look good season after season? When purchasing these items, you should always buy quality. These are the key pieces that you can build a wardrobe around.
Fellas, here is a list of basics for your wardrobe:
- A suit (navy or gray) -
- Black shoes and belt
- White dress shirt
- Solid tie or a classic vertical stripe
- Blue blazer
- Khakis and jeans
- Overcoat
- Briefcase – A briefcase does not necessarily mean a hard case. It can be soft, or messenger bag style.
- Athletic wear
- Casual shirt
- Deconstructed suit – A deconstructed suit is a relaxed look but is pulled together. The pants and blazer can be worn separately.
Are we all venturing out of our college attire? Are we now investing in our look, our style? Are we walking away from the $99 suit and purchasing a quality one that will last a few years?
How many items on these lists are you lacking?
I have everything but the classic white shirt. I’ve been looking for the right one for a while now. *sigh*
Yes ma’am, I sure do! I love white shirts! His book is great! Oh, planning on updating the wardrobe with a “trendy” trenchcoat.
I have everything! I want a new trench though..hmmmm, I have a pattern calling my name lol. Just don’t want to make it right now lol.
Chiggedy check on all items home skillet. But ummm….I own one …uno…..pair of khakis and my blue blazer is mad young on me. It’s all good.
How come G.unn doesn’t have lingerie and shoes on his list for women? Is he assuming that’s a constant? I need to come up with my own list…
NEVER lacking. As in EVER. Actually…I’m even insulted you asked. Seems to me it should have read…who besides CreoleInDC has all of these in their closet? Yup. That’s the way it shoulda read.
I have all of the items listed for men (and several others which should be basic to any man’s wardrobe) with the exception of the deconstructed suit.
Those are for rookies and or guys who don’t have much of a build. Honestly, I wouldn’t know where to find such a suit.
What is a day dress? Do you have a suggestion on a nice day dress? I guess I am considered a rookie since I don’t know what it is?
p.s. help!
Yessir!!!! but I do need to UPDATE some of them.. OSAG is in FULL EFFECT!
Lingerie is a whole different post. So many women aren’t wearing the right undergarments with their clothes. Tim Gun.n usually goes through the women’s underwear drawer during the show and buys them proper undergarments…LOL
Tanyetta….a day dress would be a dress that is not formal or cocktail. One you can throw on and look pulled together in while running errands or having lunch.
You can do a wrap dress:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2932656/0~2376776~2374327~2374331~6008989?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6008989&P=5
A babydoll dress and tights:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2954854/0~2376776~2374327~2374331~6008989?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6008989&P=7
A sweater dress and boots:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2953280/0~2376776~2374327~2374331~6008989?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6008989&P=4
Is it bad that I have more than one of the ten essentials. LOL. I do need a new trench though, but fall/spring doesn’t last long around my way. It doesn’t seem worth it. I do need a new formal gown. Going shopping this weekend. Wish me luck!
Creole and Hannibal….these are the basics. The items everyone should have in the closet before they run off and buy all of the other stuff. We know you two are way beyond the basics
You’d be suprised at how many folks have closets full of clothes but are lacking the core items for a basic wardrobe.
You are so right……I am lacking the core items in a bad way…lol. I’m missing seven items from the list, I’ve got to do better………
A deconstructed suit would classify as a blazer and pants that a man can wear together but also as separate pieces. (Can wear the pants with a sweater, can wear the blazer with jeans). I don’t think it has to do with the build of the man.
On his show, people might have ten white shirts but they are ill-fitting, dingy, etc. Men may have two navy suits but they may have had them since college and they are out of style. Just cause they own them, it doesn’t mean they are up to date..LOL
We should continually update these basic items. Wardrobes can be built around the foundation pieces.
Don’t lump me in with him hell. I can’t vouch for no innernet people’s style when I haven’t seent em. You know my game is on pernt cuz you done SEENT ME. We on’t know that dude like that. ROFLROFLROFLROFL!
Working on a couple things. I dont like trench coats and I am collecting the cashmere sweaters lol I’m updating and replacing a good portion of my wardrobe right now but most of these things are already in place.
you already know. and i loooove cashmere sweaters, skirts and trench coats!!
Creole…so true. I am ASSUMING his style game is on point but I KNOW yours is…LOL
Agreed.
I guess my closet is about 1/2 “correct.” I don’t have a skirt /day dress/lbd because I don’t care for them. I don’t own a classic white shirt because I don’t think they’re complimentary on me. I’m good on the rest. I’m working on updating my closet – it is my goal to tighten my wardrobe up, fill in the gaps (mostly blouses) and by the end of next year not have to buy any more clothing for quite a while – I’m talking years. I’m downsizing and simplifying. Or trying to anyway.
I have a good amount of those items. Some that need to be updated. After watching Tim’s show I vowed that my next shopping adventure I’m going after all of those items.
Thanks for the list!!! Always great to get style advice from such a stylish diva!!!
I gotta admit, I dress like a dayum college student and I’m 33. Enuff said. Ok I’m leaving now *shamed*
LOL @ Mo…..
Boy do I need help. If I could only get over my hatred for shopping.
lmao @ Mo.. thats that gubment syndrome
Sigh, I need to do some updating. I like Tim Gunn’s show but I have to disagree with him on one thing. Do you ever notice that the outfits he has for the women when running errands or walking the dog involve dressing up or wearing heels? When it comes to those things I’m not going to get glammed up. I’m not saying I throw on just anything, but when it comes to picking up poop, I tend to dress down, know what I’m saying? I think the California attire is more casual than how you ladies dress on the East Coast.
Thursday’s show is about a woman of color – it’s about time!
Leslie…I agree with you on that! Try being in stilettos and playing with two boys under the age of five….
I have everything but the black dress and the trench coat. I don’t have the black dress because I got too big for the one I have. I could kick myself for not buying this fabulous trench coat I saw in Banana Republic. I was on sale too. Boooo, hissssss!
Fresh asked… “How come G.unn doesn’t have lingerie and shoes on his list for women? Is he assuming that’s a constant?”… He does. That’s what the trench coat is fa. That shyt is multi-purpose! I’m in Florida where we need not a darn trench, but, um I can’t let mine from days of old go to waste.
And 1969, I’m good on the checklist. Mic-check-out-my-melody, or in this case my fashionalty. I’m in a cornball mood of sorts…
Day Dress, Cashmere Sweater and sweatsuit alternative need to be attained ASAP! But I just bought a blue trendy bag from H&M for $16 that I love to pieces! (For this season of course…)
the $99 suit is quality for me.
And what, may I ask, is a sweatsuit alternative?
Pretty ok on the list, although lots of the stuff needs updating (need new jeans ASAP!!!)
To be purchased: a sweatsuit alternative (do cords work as sweatsuit alternatives?), a new cashmere sweater (or 3
). and a trench.
Great List!
All I have is the Jeans and about a thousand and one indulgent Trendy Item(s) Under $20.
What can I say besides a sistah prides herself in keepin’ thangs REEEEAAAAALLLL simple like.
SIGH…Who am I kiddin…
[Oh the horror!!!!]
Unfortunately I have several of each item on this list…I can’t buy just one of anything. I’ll buy three of the same shirt, pants, etc. and sometimes in the same color just in case something happens to the first or second one. Especially for staple items (those things that are timeless and go with everything). I have trendy stuff too of course but I typically dont wear them the way most “trendy” folks are rockin them.
I got issues…
Thank you for the links. You “lernt” me today
p.s. what is a sweat suit alternative? dang, I feel like I need to go to your fashion school or something. i know my questions are annoying you. *running away*
Our, Roycee, and the Holy Trinity strikes again. Three of the same shirt in the same color. Let us pray. *LOL* And I ditto the not rockin’ trendy stuff the traditional way.
A suit (navy or gray) – Working on that…
Black shoes and belt- That reminds me I need a new pair.
White dress shirt- Don’t like em…Won’t buy one
Solid tie or a classic vertical stripe–Lost both of those bad boys when I moved to jersey
Blue blazer- Got one with Gray stripes
Khakis and jeans-I hardly ever wear the Khakis they get dirty so easily..
Overcoat- Button popped off
Briefcase – Does a Nikey back pack count..lol.
Athletic wear-Just sweat suit tops and a nice pair of jeans and sneakers to match
Casual shirt- Gots lots of those
Deconstructed suit – Hmmm gotta go and look in my closet berightback! Nope can’t say that I do…
No cashmere sweater over here and I think I need a new day dress.
I think I have too many indulgent items under $20ish dollars – thanks to H&M!
No Cashmere. But I have everything else.
I work in Cambridge at a Bio-Tech firm now – NO dress code. Even the VPs wear jeans and sneaks. Im trying to keep it tight and rep NYC (you know, business casual, matching my fabrics, no more than three colors at a time, keep my hur did, hot designer shoes, etc…) But its hard when the rest of the office looks like the campus of MIT.
When you get a chance, you should write a post on the types of shoes women should have. You know: black church pump, hot strappy date pump, colored suede pump, wedge for work, running shoe, bobos (skippies) for picnics/ cookouts, ugly designer snow boots, thigh high suede boots…
Did ChezNiki say bobos? LMAO….I am so done.
Roycee….Three of everything huh? Ahem.
Slishy….you’re lucky you’re so charming cause you need some damned clothes.
GC…a $99 suit is great if you get a good one on sale. For a man, a $99 suit is usually not a good thing.
Tanyetta….a sweat suit alternative is soething very casual you can run errands in without looking like you just came fro the gym. A nice pair of corduroys, a skirt and a sweater, some pants and a nice sweater….etc.
Miss Lee….you know you are fly girl!
Pro….Hang on to that trench for when you visit me.
I am guilty. I like to call them “SIGNATURE PIECES.” You must have those in your wardrobe right? There are very few things in my wardrobe that I need to issue myself a citation for. LOL!
I have about half of the classics, but some stuff I have in great numbers b/c I like and they look good on me (like daydresses). Never wear white shirts, or button down shirts period. Not a good look for me. I do need some
Um, that should say I do need some dress pants, heh.
casual shirts are really great for day to day activitites and it is easy to wash and dry too ;:~
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