Age, lifestyle, climate and fashion persona play a crucial role in determining which wardrobe items are best for you. The same is true of wardrobe essentials. If we each put together a list for ourselves right now, they would all look slightly different. It is a personal thing.

So although they are often listed as such, I don’t believe the following six items are a universal set of wardrobe essentials.

1. White Button Down Shirt or Blouse: I’m personally a huge fan, but only about 20% of my clientele wear them. Many women are adverse to wearing woven button down shirts because of fit and comfort issues. Some don’t like the idea of dry cleaning and ironing. Others don’t like white, or just find the style too business-y.
2. Dressy Black Trousers: I don’t have a pair unless my cropped harem pants count (and I don’t think they do). I prefer a classic black pencil skirt over a pair of black dress pants. Most of my corporate clients wear black dress pants, but most of the others don’t. Even if you do need to satisfy a business formal dress code, you can do so with formal skirts and dresses.
3. Assortment of Basic T-shirts: 80% of my clients have a collection of good quality basic layering and graphic T’s. It makes perfect sense for child-friendly and uber-casual settings.  But I don’t own one tee apart from a few comfies I sleep in. I’d prefer to wear a casual shirt or blouse in casual settings because that’s my style.
4. Little Black Dress: I own many little black dresses because I LOVE dresses and sport a dressy style. But you don’t need to own a little black dress! In fact, black might not be your best colour. In this case a little charcoal grey, eggplant, brown, ink blue or red dress might be more suitable. Or perhaps you’re a separates gal instead of a dress gal and that’s fabulous too. Only about 60% of my clients own LBD’s.
5. Trench Coat: First, you need the climate for a trench. You don’t need a trench coat if you live in Singapore and you never travel to colder climates. Second, even if you have the climate you might not be a trench coat gal. Only 75% of my clients have trench coats. The rest prefer to sport sweater coats or short wool jackets.
6. Jeans: All my clients own jeans and I too am a big fan. But that doesn’t mean that you need to wear jeans to be stylish. I know enough super stylish gals who don’t wear jeans. They prefer denim or casual skirts and dresses. It took my late Mum 58 years to wear jeans. In her last year at 59 she finally wore jeans and quite liked the look. Even though I thought Mum looked killer in her jeans and blouse, it wasn’t her style. She much preferred wearing a casual skirt.

Guidelines on wardrobe essentials are helpful because they provide a solid starting point. But fine tuning these guidelines for YOU and your needs is key. Style is nothing if not a celebration of individuality.

For years readers have been requesting a post on how I knot my pearls. Well, instead of writing a post we’ve put together this very short video. It’s a dead simple step by step tutorial on how I achieve my knotted pearl look.

I use an extra long, 72 inch, glass pearl strand necklace. It’s important to use a beaded necklace with a bit of weight so that it drapes better once knotted. You won’t achieve quite the same effect with a strand of lightweight plastic beaded pearls. Of course, you don’t need to use pearls. Any long beaded necklace with a bit of weight will work.

Let me know if any part of the video needs further clarification!

Here are some of the outfits I accessorized with knotted pearls:

• My boxy denim shirt dress for Spring
• Review & Giveaway: Miz Mooz shoes make me smile
• Turning 40 and feeling fabulous
• A Festive Cardigan Over Dress Ensemble
• Fashion Week Day 3: The Colour Fix
• Fashion Week Day 2: Black from Head to Toe
• Denim shirt ensemble: ball gown

Over the years I’ve mentioned puffer coats several times because I’m a fan. If you have four seasons, puffer coats (or casual parkas as I used to call them) form part of a 3-coat-complement necessary to combat the elements. When it’s bitterly cold, like below freezing cold, a puffer coat is warmer than a wool coat. Think of yourself as wrapped up in a stylish sleeping bag.

When you shop for a puffer coat, remember the guidelines to ensure a practical and flattering fit. Think sleek tailoring, flat quilting, a knee- length and vertical seam detailing. No need to look like the Michelin Man. Promise!

Now is the time to purchase a puffer coat because mid season sales are in full swing. Macy’s has an excellent selection and ALL their coats are 40% off in stores. Nordstrom also has an excellent puffer coat assortment, as does Lands’ End. In fact, we’re running a competition at the moment and two Lands’ End puffer coats are up for grabs. Click here for competition details. Good Luck.

The shaggy vest (or fur vest) in both real and faux fur was very fringe last year. Although the item is by no means mainstream, its gaining popularity both in stores and on the street. I guess we’re building up to a very 70’s inspired Spring and Summer 2011.

Shaggy or fur vests have a delightfully dramatic retro appeal. Fabulous and fun. Wear them casually over a simple layering top with jeans and boots. Wear them over a soft blouse and skirt combination with hose and pumps. Or my favourite combination, over a sleek dress with hose and feminine footwear.

Wearing a fur vest with or without a colour contrasting  layer underneath makes a huge difference to my eye. Sometimes I like a high contrast between the layers and sometimes I prefer a low or no contrast at all.

Fabric technology has come a long way and these days faux fur really can look like real fur. But I’m still fussy about the quality of the faux fur so I vote yay if it doesn’t look like a pets blanket or human hair. I’d wear an extremely cropped fur vest that has mega vintage integrity. I’ve ordered the black Kenzie style below and plan to wear it with a low contrasting black dress and cream go go boots. I’ll let you know if my experiment works.

How do you vote? Would you wear a shaggy vest? If not, can you appreciate the look on others?