Jackie O. Catherine Deneuve. Kate Moss. Iman – they all have that certain je ne sais quois. No matter the moment, dressed up or dressed down, these women are all enduringly chic. What is it about them? Essentially, they’re all classic dressers who can make a white t-shirt and jeans look like a million bucks. What do they know that you don’t? They know that when building a wardrobe, it’s important to invest in quality pieces that will be long lasting. Shopping for the thrill of the deal can be intoxicating, but the high wears off when January’s steal of the month still has the tags on it in September. Additionally, deciding that you will never spend more than a certain dollar amount on one item, may mean that you limit yourself from buying some truly great pieces that will stand the test of time and take your wardrobe from good to great. Focus on fit and quality over price. 

To create an enduringly chic wardrobe, you need to:

(i) Build a great foundation with classics;

(ii) Invest in an array of shoes and boots to help to dress up or dress down an outfit; and

(iii) Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize!

Before you go to the store, do a little shopping in your closet to help you figure out what you really need versus what you’ve decided you would like to have. Shoe shopping is a great way to illustrate my point. How many times have you found a great pair of shoes, worn them to death and wished you’d bought a second pair? If you find a pair you like, let me repeat this, if you find a pair you like (unless it’s a classic for the maker and you know they’re going to issue it next year), buy 2 pairs. It may seem like a lot up front, but I promise you this will save you a lot of headache on the backend. Shoes are an accessory and accessories can make or break your outfit!