TOP 10 FASHION/WARDROBE MUST HAVES

It has been awhile since my last post; but with work, family and my many other responsibilities a girl can't find time. For this article I spent much of my time rummaging through my closet and that of my fashionably loud girlfriends (well not literally); the end result a list of fashion/wardrobe must haves.

My list was compiled by and for Jamaican women; however it may have some relevance to other nationality/ethnicity. It was a daunting task to narrow down the list, as in today's society everything has become a necessity. None the less I think I did the best I could with all the help I got. The list is not in order of most or least significant, though there are some tips that resonate most among women.


Though it did not make the list, many ladies said MONEY was a must have. You should NEVER leave home without it, so take heed ladies.

TOP TEN FASHION/WARDROBE MUST HAVES

     1.  Little Black Dress (LBD)-EVERY woman should have one, if you don’t then get right on it. It is very important to have that little black dress in your closet. It fits into almost any occasion, and not to mention very flattering with the right fit. These days’ stores have created dedicated space to showcase these much desired LBDs. So for that date with your special someone, unexpected office/corporate or family function you can check out these virtual stores for great selections: Forever21, Charlotte Russe and Nordstrom. The prices, quality and variety are great. 

2.  Black Heels – It’s recommended to have two pairs of black shoes if possible, one can be sexy and risqué (stilettos), while the other conservative (pumps). You never know when you have an important function or unexpected dinner date and you are short on a pedicure. You can also consider nude coloured pumps too, they match well with almost anything and they are like the new black!

3.     Proper Undies - So you have the perfect LBD and heels but it’s ruined by revealing undergarments. EVERY woman needs that black thong and convertible bra; it can make or break your outfit. We can all recall seeing someone or experience the awful bra strap poking out, panties printing or rolling under your clothes. From experience Victoria’s Secret has done an amazing job of providing intimates for all occasions and body types. They may cost a pretty penny but it would well spent.

4.     Business Suit - It does not matter if you are comfortable in your job, unemployed, or a stay at home mom, a business suit is a MUST. In an economic environment such as ours it is imperative than every woman have a properly fitting suit, preferably dark colours (ie. blazer, pants or skirt), you can never tell when your position in life will change unexpectedly.

     5. Animal Print - I must first advice that mixing animal prints are a no-no. However, a woman should have at least one piece of garment or accessory that’s in an animal print. The reason is it brings to life a seemingly dead outfit or ensemble; so an animal print scarf, shoe, cardigan, dress, clutch or broche is ideal. It says I am sexy and daring too; it turns an ordinary look into fierce. If you are not much of an animal print lover, then go for an eye catching colour like red, fuchsia, royal/cobalt blue they have the same effect.

      6. Denim Pants - Though todays fashion trends have pushed women to rompers, leggings and jeggings, the perfect pair of pants never fails. You can chose the style whether bootleg, flared, or skinny, but be sure that it fits well and it is denim coloured. The purpose of a denim pants is for those uncertain occasions where the dress code was not clearly defined, or you want to have a conservative look. You can try Old Navy for great fit and designs, especially for us coloured women.

    7.  Oversized Tote Bag - A tote or weekender is an essential item for women to have; holds all your other must have items without leaving you looking like a ‘bag lady’. It’s great for that bff sleep over/night on the town, out of town weekend, or a spontaneous sleep over with your special someone.

     8. Coloured Lip Gloss - A lip gloss has dual benefits; it accentuates your lips and also keeps them moist and ever so kissable. They come in different shades and you can make a selection based on your skin tome whether matching or contrasting. I would recommend checking out the selections at Victoria’s Secret, Avon, or Revlon and the flavours are to die for!

9.     Cardigan or Blazer - They are trendy, create layers in an outfit and keep you warm at the same time. It’s best to have a black or earth tone one; as this can be incorporated in any outfit. They are also good for covering up or flattering the waist to hip area for those women with a little extra bulge.

10. Bejeweled Sandals – In Jamaica we have a tropical climate all year round, so sandals are always in. If you are looking for beauty on a budget get leather sandals they are durable and sexy all in one. This may be hard to find and rather expensive but the money will be well spent. A great buy would be Bridget Sandals a local designer, who specialize in hand crafted leather sandals. The colours and designs are divine, they last for years, and repairs are cover for at least a year.

I must say thanks to all my Facebook friends especially Stacy Limit, Phyzreca, Terry-Ann, His-Jules, Tee-Unbreakable, Suzette Remy, and many others for taking the time to assist me with this list.

As I always say these are my opinions and by no means law. If you already have trendy and chic ways of being fashionable on a budget well kudos to you. 


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Fashionista or Fashion Misfit

I am new to the world of blogging, so please bear with me on my first post. This topic came about while talking with a friend over the weekend about the fashion trends that we have noticed in our local sphere. I am not much of the party person (or fashionista) and my closet often contains the essentials for work, running errands and that special occasion. However I try to stay as current as possible with the latest fashion trends and fads, though I may not actually indulge in all of them.

By definition a Fashionista is a "person working in or deeply involved with the high-fashion industry, such as a designer, model, photographer, buyer, writer, wearer; or a devotee to clothing fashion” according to Dictionary.com.

I have seen a lot of ladies try to pull off the celebrity look intending to call out the paparazzi, instead only end up being caught by the fashion police. There is nothing worst than a lady stepping out and looking like she got dressed in the dark, or all her mirrors are broken. As she is an absolute hot mess, and all the designer clothing or lace front wig could not save her from looking like a total flop.

These are some common fashion faux pas that ladies often make:

• Trying to fit into everything that is in style; from leggings, platform pumps, to those sexy little rompers. 
• Making multiple fashion statements at the same time; trying too hard to create that ‘wow’ effect. Only Rihanna (in recent times) have been able to rock that red hair, lips and nail all in one go.
• “Playing follow the leader”; their other girlfriends look smashing in leggings and mid riff tee, so they try it too.
• Having a difficulty separating work from party wear, or summer look from what you wear in the colder months.

For most ladies looking great takes little effort, as almost anything fits. While others require a little self-assessment to determine what fits and what is an absolute no-no.

There are many articles (in magazines and online) that can help us ladies find our fashion sense and make it work throughout our wardrobe. But just in case the advice was taken for granted, I will remind you of what is fashionable and what is NOT.

This is not only my personal observation and opinion, but also information uncovered from beauty magazines and celebrity stylists. See a list of fashion tips that are sure to help:

• Know your body type (i.e. apple, pear, hourglass, tube etc), and dress accordingly. As in reality not all bodies are created equal, some require a little more work to accentuate those assets.
• Some times less is more; you don’t need to be clad in all the latest trends to turn heads. Simply select a specific piece of clothing or accessory to create that statement in your outfit. Whether it is a hot and trendy pumps, designer handbag, sexy little black dress, eye catching brooch or earrings. BUT keep it as simple as possible, mixing leopard and tiger print is everything but HOT.                        
• Along with knowing your body type, you MUST wear what fits; a super slim chic in a bodysuit or leggings is not cute. Neither is an overweight (fluffy) lady in a mini skirt or hot pants it’s not sexy. There are tons of magazines that offer guide to choosing fashion to match your body type.
• No outfit is complete without the right hair style and makeup, so don’t forget to get it right. I live in Jamaica and some ladies are still economizing when it comes to their hair and makeup. No matter how well dressed you are, a poorly done hairdo will surely kill all your efforts. Nothing is tackier than a lady in a weave that is obviously fake, foundation two shades too light or eyebrows that look like they were done by a 3 year old kindergarten student for an art assignment.
• Know when to let a trend or fad go, though leggings will be in for a while, there are others that must DIE. The boyfriend jeans, extremely large bell bottoms, black lipstick, or black lip liner among others are dead and should remain that way.

I hope my opinion and observations are not viewed negatively, they are just that…my own. I only seek to inform ladies on how to make the most out of their wardrobe, and still make a fashion statement.