HM STYLE | 5 Must Have Wardrobe Staples

I received an email from a reader asking me about what my five must-haves are. I really have to be honest and say that it is incredibly hard for me to pick just five but I have managed to do so. I believe these five pieces are the perfect bones to any wardrobe, well a glamorous one. Enjoy.

The Little Black Dress

I suggest this Hervé Léger Scoop back bandage dress. It is definitely an investment as you can wear it to work, a party, or even a funeral. Dress it up with heels dress it down with ballet flats. I personally wear all of my little black dresses with big bold statement making jewelry and shoes. Like Coco Chanel said, once you find the perfect little black dress, there is nothing you will want to wear in it's place.

White Jeans

Forget that dated rule of no white after Labor day. White is in fact a great alternative to black and looks fabulous when paired with any color. White jeans look crisp and sharp no matter what time of year. as far as shoes go pair them with either a natural color pump or if you're going for a more dressy look, gold heels are in call. Jeans featured are J Brand.

Gold Heels

Gold heels go with everything. From your party dresses, to jeans to lingerie. I personally like a very high heel but gold kitten heels also look very chic. Jimmy Choo Flynn sandals are just fantastically sexy.

Chain Link Bag

Chainlink is lady like and classy. Two things that describe us. I would go with either a camel or black for starters then buy some fun styles like the Miu Miu stage bag and the bright pink Marc Jacobs style we have featured in the past. The featured bag is by Lanvin and it is in fact, golden.

Classic Coat

If there is one thing you should spend on, it should be your coat. Stick to sophisticated black or camel and even charcoal is great. Coats that hit right under the knee are the most versatile and make sure it's warm and cozy. I stay away from shearling, I think it looks horrid. The coat featured is by Stella McCartney.

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Required Reading: The One Hundred by Nina Garcia

The One Hundred : A Guide to the Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own by Nina Garcia is not a read you put away and forget about after the last page. It's an essential guide you keep and refer back to as you build and enhance your wardrobe. The alphabetically ordered contents make it easy to actually remember all the fashion essentials. As a Haute Mimi fan I'm pretty sure you readers own if not all at least 3/4 of the essentials from Ray Ban Aviators to the famed Tiffany wave cuff. Even then Garcia expands on the must haves to kick your wardrobe up a notch. One will really enjoy the small tidbits on fashion history. Who knew the eternal Chanel 2.55 quilted bag was named so because of its debut on February 1955. Readers will appreciate how Garcia is very specific about her picks down to the colors of the accessories. The illustrations by one of my favorite artists, Ruben Toledo are also fantastic. This book is great for those who are new to the fashion world and would like a crash course on the industry. It's also great for us who need a refresher. Get it here.