Of our many trips to Joburg, we realized how important it is to have a few key pieces in your wardrobe.  Can you image a wardrobe planner traveling with a huge suitcase because she couldn't decide what to pack? 

Our key pieces are all easy to dress up and down, mix and match and will give you quite a few outfit options within the confines of your small suitcase.

Even if you don't need to carefully select items to pack in to a small suitcase, having a few 'easy pieces' in your wardrobe can make deciding what to wear in the morning a lot easier.
 
Stylists and fashion magazines often speak of a 'capsule wardrobe' when it comes to wardrobe planning.  Some would say that a LBD (little black dress), white blouse and black trousers are key components to any woman's wardrobe. 

We see women as individuals with various lifestyles, body shapes and personal styles.  This means that for each woman, her capsule wardrobe will be different. 

1. The waistcoat A waistcoat can be a girl's best friend if you find a good fit. It helps to clench in your waist, trim your tummy and offer warmth for winter all in one.  It can be dressed up by wearing a classic blouse or top underneath it or dressed down worn over a tee shirt and with a pair of your favorite jeans.  It can be the ideal wardrobe rescue item if you have a lot of either shapeless or clingy tops.  Simply clinch in your baggy tops or cover up the clingy bits by wearing a waistcoat over the top.

2. Well fitted trousers Finding the perfect pair of trousers can be a shopper's nightmare; however once found, it becomes one of the most important items in your wardrobe.  Believe it or not, the perfect pair of trousers doesn't have to be black.  In fact, we find a classic pair of tweed or textured trousers to be a good investment in a basic wardrobe as they add interest to your look.  Make sure that your chosen pair can be worn with most items in your wardrobe and that you feel really comfortable in them.  If you can only wear them with a select few items in your existing wardrobe, keep looking.

3. Classic blouse A classic blouse need not be boring, but it does need to fit you well and go with most of trousers and skirts in your wardrobe.  The classic blouse can be in a good neutral color that suits your complexion or an accent color that makes your face glow.  Whichever classic blouse you choose, make sure that you can dress it up with classic trousers or a skirt and dress it down with jeans.  This will give you a lot more wear for your spend.

4. Statement jacket The jacket is all the rage this winter.  Everything from precision tailoring to tweed English country style jackets.  With the variety of styles available, it makes finding your perfect statement jacket much easier.  Make sure that you can wear your jacket with most items in your wardrobe.  If you tend to wear mostly black in winter, step out of your comfort zone and select one that will bring a splash of bold color to your look.  Have fun with this one.  It will make keeping warm something you will look forward to this winter.

5. The top Every wardrobe needs a few tops that go with anything.  We encourage women to 'top up' their wardrobe with color, print and fashionable style.  This will keep your wardrobe from looking as dull as the weather.  Focus on two or three accent colors that you know work for you.  Mix and match these colors with your basic trousers, jeans and underneath your statement jacket.  Since this winter is about bold color, have fun combining colors you never thought you would wear together.  Provided you use a good basic color as a base (neutral color trousers or jeans), you won't have to worry about looking like a Christmas tree!

6. The knit Since keeping warm in winter is a priority, why not do it with a little style?  We know that chunky knits are trendy, but most of us end up looking frumpish in them.  Finer knits that can be layered over cotton v-neck tops are a great alternative.  They can be worn casually with a pair of jeans, trousers or skirt for everyday.  Good quality knits are a good investment as they tend to keep their shape for longer.

7. Classic jeans Oh to find the right pair of jeans!  Luckily, there are a variety of fashionable styles to choose from besides the skinny jean.  In our experience, most women look good in either a bootleg or wide-leg jean.  Try a variety of styles to find your best shape.  When it comes to finding a classic pair of jeans, it is best to select a pair in dark denim with no fading and as little detail as possible.  This will allow you to dress them up and down make them worth the money you pay for them.

We hope these tips will inspire you to go and take a look at your wardrobe, determine what your 7 easy pieces are, and make it easier for you to build a capsule wardrobe that best suits who you are.