#9 essential wardrobe piece: Occasion tops

On days when I wanna have fun but still keep it smart casual, I turn to my Occasion tops which very often occupy quite a pretty sizable portion of my wardrobe.  These printed occasion tops are usually paired with basic black pants or denim jeans.  It’s easy to start acquiring them if you haven’t already.  Here’s a tip: find something that you can look great and respectable under a jacket but bring on the fun after hours. 

As usual, prints can be rather tricky as fashion trends are seasonal, but I’ve also learnt that they are not as fickle as it appears to be.  Certain trends do stay on for quite a while but tend to get an ‘upgrade’ in terms of either colour or detailing.  If you are not sure which print to start with, here are my top picks for prints:  Polka dots, Stripes, Floral prints and Leopard prints. 

Wow, I can’t believe that we are almost coming close to the end of the series.  Have you enjoyed this series so far?  If yes, then do me a favour pretty please?  Drop me a shout-out and let me know?  I’m also thinking of calling other bloggers to send in their essential wardrobe piece of the month to be featured.  What do you think of this idea?  YAY or NAY?

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Click here to read more about Lady J’s Essential Wardrobe pieces.

#8 essential wardrobe piece: Scarves

An assortment of scarves are what makes up essential number 8 in my wardrobe.  These are my favourite ones of the lot for they not only keep my neck warm but should I run out of inspiration to add colour to a plain tee, out one of these scarves will pop up to make my outfit a little more interesting.

For instance, if I wanted the Skull or Leopard Printed Scarf to be the focus of my outfit, I would pair it with simple neutrals.  For a casual look, all I need to do is throw on either one of these scarfs over a white/black tee.  For a formal look, either one of the above scarfs would go well with a black dress.  And if I ever wanted to be dressed in any of my busy printed tops/dresses, then out pops up the warm beige shawl that the Imp gave to me as a parting gift.

I’m currently saving up for another animal printed scarf for the season.  Animal prints may seem a little intimidating at first but once you warm up to the print, it’s pretty wearable.  I guess I must be biased then.  Hehe.

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#7 essential wardrobe piece: Statement Accessories

Nothing updates a wardrobe or changes the look of an outfit more than accessorizing with key statement accessories. For me, they often finish off my look and add instant glamour where needed. This is why ‘Statement Accessories’ is definite essential in my wardrobe.

I’ve read somewhere that statement accessories is like something you wear to celebrate feeling good about yourself. For me, it often works as a perk-me-up when I’m feeling blah or when I feel that I’m in a fashion rut. There are days where I wanted to just be dressed in a plain tee and jeans with flip-flops, but don’t want to look like a drab. So depending on how I feel, I either throw on a simple necklace and pile on the bracelets or put on a statement piece of jewellery and instantly I feel fabulous already!

How does one start to acquire these statement accessories? They are plenty of stores out there that you could start with. I like heading to Accessorize, Diva Jewellery and even M’phosis to check out the different types of fashion accessories. They are often inexpensive and it’s fun to mix-and-match the accessories according to latest trends. It’s also worth investing in a couple of classic pieces that will last you through the years. The above statement accessories are my treasured pieces and they travel almost everywhere with me for I know they can help up jazz up any look that I want to achieve.

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Click here to read more about Lady J’s Essential Wardrobe pieces.

#6 essential wardrobe piece: A perfect handbag

Okay, this sure is a toughie.. there are so many bags out there that I could think of that could qualify as the perfect handbag.  But I guess the one bag that I seem to never quite get tired of is bags from Balenciaga.  Thanks to Fashionista Cat who first introduced to me how fabulous the bag was about 5 years back.  Thereafter, there was no turning back in the acquisition of these B-bag babies (my affectionate nick-name for the bags).

I believe the investment in a perfect handbag is an essential wardrobe piece. It doesn’t really matter if it’s designer or not, just remember a high quality and simple fuss-free leather handbag will last for years.  Before I could afford any designer handbags, I either raided my mom’s wardrobe for her arm candy or just invested in a good leather handbag that lasted me a good couple of years. Check out leather handbags from Hue, they won’t burst your pocket plus the styles are pretty trendy.  And, if you are thinking about investing in a designer handbag, do consider a couple of these things – ‘Price point (of course)?’; ‘Will the bag age well?’; ‘Does it suit your lifestyle?’ and ‘Will it still be a classic item to pass it down to our kids?’.

For me, the two brands that seem to answer the above would be Chanel and Hermes.  The Chanel 2.55 Bag and the Hermes Birkin/ Kelly are great investment pieces that seem to withstand the test of time.  I’m also inclined to throw in the Balenciaga Motorcycle bags as well.  It was introduced in 2001 but after a good 10 years, its staying power is definitely proven.  I love the bag for its chic-rock style plus it’s slouchy look means that I can throw just about everything in the bag. 

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Click here to read more about Lady J’s Essential Wardrobe pieces.

#5 essential wardrobe piece: Day Dresses

Almost halfway there now…. Day dresses make up essential piece number 5 in my wardrobe!  Dresses make up bulk of my wardrobe for they are simply the best thing for me to put on especially for work.  I hate having to mix-and-match the different ensembles.  So, day dresses are great especially on days when I’m running late and can’t decide what to wear, all I have to do is to grab a dress and I’m all set!

And who says you can’t dress up for the day?  You must certainly can!  It really is the perfect and versatile piece to own for I have dresses in my wardrobe that suit most occasions.  I love dresses with details or with prints.  Ex-colleagues used to joke saying that they will probably get a headache raiding my wardrobe for the details on my dresses simply are too busy.  Well, it’s true but that’s probably because it’s the style that I choose to have.  It’s fun to inject a variety of prints into my outfits just to perk my day up.

I guess my most outrageous dress to date would be this white dress with smiley faces and stars.  It sounds bizarre but it’s really a fun piece to own.  Speaking of which, I probably should bring out for a show-and-tell soon!

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Click here to read more about Lady J’s Essential Wardrobe pieces.

#4 essential wardrobe piece: Patent Black Pumps

A pair of patent black pumps is essential item number #4 in my wardrobe.  It’s style is timeless and it’s a safe bet for most of my ensembles.  Instead of the ordinary leather black pumps, I actually like my pumps with a patent finish for they give out a sheen that doesn’t show its age. There are many styles to the timeless classic pair of black patent pumps.  The 2 styles that I fall back on time and again are the almond-toe shaped and the pointy-toe shaped.  The almond-toe shaped is an in-between the round and pointy toe shaped, so it strikes a great balance if you can’t decide which style you like better.  As for the length?  I like to go for a 3-inch length to give me a little more height.

Remember that comfort is key for shoes are made for walking so they should not hurt.  And it’s not necessary to go out there and purchase a designer pair of heels.  I’ve survived on many pairs of pumps from Charles&Keith before going out there to splurge on a designer pair of heels.  Thereafter, as they say it was no turning back.

You should also look out for pumps with unique detailing.  Take for instance my pointy patent heels.  I call them my patents with killer heels.  Love the studs that give the shoes a rocker-chic vibe!

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Click here to read more about Lady J’s Essential Wardrobe pieces.

#3 essential wardrobe piece: The Boyfriend Jacket

Not a new-comer to the scene but the Boyfriend Jacket makes the list as the number 3 most essential wardrobe piece for it has been a firm favourite in my wardrobe since 2009. And it appears that this style is set to stay for it does oh-so-often make a sneak comeback on to fashion runways.

Why is this a staple in my wardrobe? For work, it’s the perfect piece to put on with pants or over a dress. And I could even make it casual when paired with denims.

Here are two simple rules for wearing the boyfriend jacket with finesse: (i) wear it slightly over-sized (ii) wear it with sleeves rolled up [click here to see what I've done with the look]. Also remember that the silhouette of the Boyfriend Jacket need not be too masculine. Always look for a proper one that fits you well. It’s wasn’t easy for me to find the perfect Boyfriend Jacket but I did find my black one in the oddest place while shopping at Far East Plaza. It was the only piece hanging on the racks and the moment I tried it on, I knew I just had to get it! As for the pink one, I got it from Zara. It was a tip-off from Fashionista Cat who was also crazy about the trend.

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Click here to read more about Lady J’s Essential Wardrobe pieces.