If I have to say I am a firm believer in any clothing “rule,” it would have to be: Invest in timeless staples, rather than trendy items.  You may will end up spending more money on less items, but those items will last you years and years.  [I’m a huge believer in quality over quantity!]  Nothing is worse than spending a ton of money on something and not liking it next year.  No one has the money to invest in all high-end items in their closet (well, I don’t…and if you do, call me!), so being strategic in those that you do spend extra on is key.  If you pair the right expensive pieces with some cheaper items, no one will be able to tell what’s what!

In my book, there are SIX key items that every girl needs to invest the extra money on and have in her closet:

Denim:  Without a doubt, the most worn item in my closet is jeans.  I don’t have to dress business casual for work, so 4 out of five days a week, you can probably find me in denim.  [And the other 1 day a week, it’s probably workout pants ;)].  If I am wearing something that much, I feel like it should be comfortable and make me look good!  Designer denim just fits better, people.  I don’t know why or how, it just does.  My absolute favorite pair of all time are THESE, while this pair & this pair are close seconds.  I also own a black pair that I usually wear weekly [p.s.: you can get SO much use out of black denim!].  A good place to start is a pair of dark wash, non-distressed jeans like these or these.  Just start with one pair, and slowly add a pair every six months or so, that way it isn’t too hard on your wallet!  And if you get a good quality pair, you really only need to wash them about every five wears…score!

A Black Handbag:  A black handbag that has great structure and is made of high-quality materials goes with literally everything.  You can take it to work, on a date, or run around with it for weekend errands.  Honestly, I would rather have one good quality black handbag than 10 cheap, trendy bags.  Funny story: When I was in college, I had a cheap cross-body bag from the juniors department at Nordstrom (maybe $30?!), and while I was at Disneyland the thing literally fell off my body, onto the ground.  Nobody pulled it or anything.  So, needless to say, I got to carry a clutch at Disneyland for the rest of the day.  Not the place. 😉  End of Story: Buy high quality handbags.

Classic Pumps:  If you do work in a business casual mandatory office, I am sure you already understand the importance of not wearing cheap pumps.  But for those of us that don’t, we only get that awful reminder every once in a while when we do get dressed up.  The balls of my feet hurt for days after, and the blisters…don’t even get me started.  I might as well wear full Ace bandages covering my feet.  A good quality, leather pump (suede or not) is something you will wear time and time again.  There’s no thinking on date night or when you get that wedding invite in the mail.

Cocktail Dress:  Speaking of not thinking when it comes to an event, having good basic cocktail dresses in your closet saves so much time and headache in the long run.  I have a few awesome ones that I can throw on to practically any event.  Whether it be a conference, dinner party, or date, one of them will work.  I can’t tell you how many times I have heard my friends say/I have said, “I need a dress for such and such.”  While I still do that from time to time [who doesn’t like getting new dresses?] it is nice to know that I don’t need to find anything.  They are awesome to fall back on in times like that, or for last minute invites!

Blazer:  The ultimate way to look like you got dressed up while not really doing anything special.  A classic blazer can be paired with a simple tank [this one is my very favorite!], jeans, pumps, and a statement necklace and you immediately look put together.  It’s also the easiest day-to-night transition piece: pair it over a dress with flats for work, and switch out the flats for pumps at night!

Leather Boots/Booties:  There is not a shoe in my closet that gets worn more in the fall/winter than my leather boots!  From riding boots to booties, they are on rotation daily.  What can I say?  I hate when my feet are cold! [But really, I can’t even get myself to get pedicures in the winter ;)].  I have a black & brown pair of riding boots, as well as black and brown booties that I rotate between.  Again, start with one and work your way up.  The nice part about buying real leather, high quality boots (and pumps!) is that you can have them repaired!  This past year I brought a pair of my old brown leather booties into a shoe repair, and they made them look like brand new!  In the long run, you won’t be spending more money, and you feet will thank you!

Bottom Line: Stick to classic colors [hey girl, red is a classic color!] and timeless silhouettes, and your investment piece won’t be outdated in the next few years!