Donna, it does depend immensely on your lifestyle. There are quite a few lists out there and I never have everything on them, no matter how short they are. ;o) Do you work in an office, in a restaurant, a hospital, at home? Do you spend weekends hiking, going to museums, partying?
It also depends on your preferences. There are women on this site who almost always wear dresses, for instance. Their list of essentials is going to be very different from mine, because dresses rarely fit me. Climate too makes a big difference. A Canadian's essential list is going to be quite different than a Floridian's.
I do love those lists nonetheless, as a springboard, and a stimulus for thinking about what is really necessary for me. Have fun with your searching and thinking!
As a minimal wardrobe + accessories kind of person, I really loved recent posts on the Vivienne Files, in which Janice constructed, step by step, a couple of different wardrobes based on different colour schemes. (Look for Project 333 posts.) I adapted them a bit to my tastes and my reality, and found a wonderful way of organizing my wardrobe to see which purchases will fit in the best and which I do not need to make at all. It has already saved me money.
http://theviviennefiles.blogspot.ca/
