There are frequently “hidden” items that we need, but that we don’t like to purchase because we’d rather spend money on items that get noticed right away. We neglect these items either because we have a limited budget, or because we’re not excited about them. Bras, undies, socks, lounge clothes, workout wear, sleepwear, bathrobes, slippers, perfume, make-up and socks often fall into this category.

For the love of your wardrobe, treat yourself (or be treated to) at least one of these everyday essentials. Treat someone else that you love to one of their hidden wardrobe needs. I am definitely treating myself to a sweet pair of pajamas for Valentine’s Day. My wardrobe deserves it.

Sometimes I purchase two of the exact same item. I don’t mean purchasing the same item in a different colour; I mean the same item in the exact same style and colour. Every season there’s at least one item that I find indispensable, but is bottlenecking at the cleaners or getting worn out through frequent use and laundering.

This season I found a finely knitted fitted black Edwardian style turtleneck with a back zip in a soft wool blend that does not pill. It goes with absolutely everything in my wardrobe, from jeans to wool skirts and suits to slacks. It’s the perfect layering piece and bridging piece that can be dressed up or down. So I bought two and have been living in them all season. Instead of having loads of different tops to wear with a handful of bottoms; I’ve changed the ratio around and worn loads of different bottoms with the same top and mixed it up with plenty of accessories.

In the past, I’ve bought two of the exact same pairs of jeans, white button down shirts, cardigans, knitted tops and fashion sneakers. And when I’ve done this, I have both items in use simultaneously, which is precisely the point. I’ve also purchased the same item in different colours, but this strategy does not work as well for me – I always seem to wear one colour a lot more than the other (the exception is Converse sneakers). Do either of these purchasing strategies work for you?

Your eyebrows frame your face and it’s imperative that taking care of them is part of your daily grooming regime. Some women need to shape, dye and fill their brows, while others require brow waxing and trimming. And there are also women, like actresses Kiera Knightly and Jennifer Connelly, who get away with dark bushy brows. Much like some hairstyles, this look is not for everyone.

If you have naturally thick brows and you’d like to sport an alternative full brow look, here’s what you do:

1. Grow them out for two to four weeks. It can be just as frustrating as growing out a hairstyle, so hang in there.
2. Pluck away the strays. You’ll want to encourage the natural shape of your brow to grow back, but you’ll want to eliminate the hairs that fall outside your natural shape.
3. Create an arch. The full brow look is still shaped. You need to create an arch to frame your face.
4. Trim if necessary. If the length of your eyebrow hair gets too long and heavy, trim them with brow scissors.
5. Finish with gel. Applying eyebrow gel once in the morning keeps the hairs straight and in one direction.

I love full brows on the right face. It’s an instantly eye catching, strong feature. Experiment with the look if you feel like it might work for you.

I got very excited about this colour last year when it wasn’t quite as mainstream as it is today. It’s darker than navy but not quite black. It’s what I call ink blue and it’s a refreshing “new” neutral that works with just about anything. I like ink blue best with citrusy limes and yellows, cream and cobalt. It’s obviously fabulous with emerald and Kelly green, white and any shade of red, but pairing it with a sour hue packs a crisp modern punch.

Darker than traditional navy blue, ink blue is warmer than black, less blah than brown, newer than grey and definitely my favourite neutral at the moment. It’s richness makes it universally wearable and chic.

Combining ink blue with citrus green, white and cobalt is becoming a favourite colour combination.