funsmokes

A wardrobe without the basics is like a worst dressed list without Britney Spears. There is no way around it: basics are a must.

Here are key points to remember about basics:

• The key is that they must be not only seasonless, but also trendless.
• Choose a flattering fit cut close to the body, but avoid anything tight. A tacky fit defeats the purpose of classy basics.
• And remember: basics do not equal boring. You can build a completely fresh wardrobe made solely of classics, as long as you keep the colors, fit, and cut updated.

Re-organize

First, you need to know which clothes in your wardrobe are seasonless and which are season-specific.

Identify your transition pieces by making a list, organizing by color of hanger, or grouping them together. This way, you can easily find what your closet is missing.

What to own

A quick checklist of crucial year-round clothing includes:

• White oxford (with rolled up sleeves, it's summer-wearable)
• Solid shortsleeve tees and tanks
• Khaki twill trousers
• Denim jacket
• Perfect jeans

Refresh old favorites

Just because winter's clearly over doesn't mean you need to banish all of your cold-weather clothing to storage (yet).

By wearing the shell from last season's sweater set alone with a little mini or pairing your khaki trousers with a hip halter, you can create an entirely new look.

Creativity is important when it comes to creating new ensembles with what you already own.

Accessorize

Update a simple ensemble with seasonal accessories.

Accessories are the perfect way to add an individual touch to classics to make them not-so-basic.

• Add touches of pink to an all-black outfit to brighten up the look
• Wear a funky pair of espadrilles with your favorite jeans
• Grab a cute bamboo-handled handbag instead of your basic purse