Part Two of Madame Suggia's List of Wardrobe Essentials

Can you stand the excitement? yeah, I'll just bet you can....

OK, without further ado, here's the second part of Madame Suggia's List of Wardrobe Essentials.

So to recap-we've got the 3-piece black suit, yes? The denim jacket, the armfuls of gorgeously colored pashminas? And the sparkly top, the equally sparkly skirt and the chic as hell trouser jeans? What else do we need, to really round out the perfect wardrobe? Hmmmm, let's see...

7) White T-Shirts. Plain, unsullied by logo, trim or any kind of embellishment at all. By the bucket-load. Madame Suggia needs at least one for every day of the week, especially when travelling, and here's why.

They work under pretty much any style of jacket, with any kind of pant, jean or skirt.

They are a perfect 'foil' for your dramatic necklaces or scarves.

They are ridiculously comfortable.

They look great with a slight tan.

In extremis, you can sleep in them.

I humbly suggest that you hunt for the perfect white t-shirt; mine is slightly fitted, with a cap sleeve and a scoop or not-too-low v-neck...and when you find it, buy as many as you can afford to in one hit. Stash most of them away and wear a few of them to death. Replace them from your t-shirt stash the minute they get stained or otherwise trashed. Use the stained ones as polishing cloths, or if you must, for wearing whilst doing grimy chores.

8) Metallic Shoes. Ooooooh, love me some metallic shoe action! We forget, don't we, just how recently you really couldn't get away with anything other than a dark colored shoe for general daywear? Not any more! Metallics are indeed 'the new neutral' and personally I love them...I need a low heel, a mid-heel and some really really high heels.

I currently have a pair of low heeled, sparkly gunmetal d'orsay pumps, featuring a fabulous square buckle trim, almost like these (same company, different color). http://www.madelineshoes.com/shoe/detail/126

Looks great with dark cropped jeans and a loose white shirt.

Got the mid-heels sorted too, these babies by BCBG Max Azria, called Akros.
Now I must admit, when I first saw these I thought they were great but so not me, I almost didn't even try them on. Which would have been a mistake of epic proportions, because these are great-really comfy (frankly, for full retail of $230 I should bloody well hope so too!) and they go with almost anything; if you're a total cheapskate like me, you'll manage to score them on eBay for about $45. http://cgi.ebay.com/BCBG-Max-Azria-Akros-Silver-Sandals-Shoes-Womens-Sz-9-5_W0QQitemZ130264185081QQihZ003QQcategoryZ63889QQcmdZViewItem

Finally, the high heels. Well, my heart says, ooooh, something like these, no?

http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/33528 but my head says, don't be so bloody stupid, you won't be able to walk in them and frankly, if you think that spunking $650 on a pair of shoes is a good idea you need your bumps feeling.

For the moment, I think I'll just mentally sub in these rather spiffy little numbers-hey, silver-grey snakeskin counts as a sort-of metallic, right? Right?

Also, they are gorgeous, super sexy and surprisingly comfortable. Once again eBay sorted these for me for about $95, but you can also find them here (if you can, sizes are limited now) http://www.bluefly.com/Lambertson-Truex-grey-snakeskin-Zola-criss-cross-strap-heels/cat20022/210425500/detail.fly

And one of the many reasons to wear a metallic shoe is this...they go with everything.

9) The White Pants Suit. Just like the black 3-piece suit idea (#1 in this list), don't care if you don't do white/tailoring/pants. Doesn't matter a jot. I promise you, get yourself a white linen pants suit ready for next summer and I guarantee you'll love it.

Because...the suit itself looks fabulous worn in an I-don't-have-to-try-too-hard manner, like this

http://www.style.com/fashionshows/complete/slideshow/S2009RTW-TROVATA?event=show1862&designer=design_house570&trend=&iphoto=8

See? Not so hard, is it? Roll the pants up, shove the sleeves up, man's tie or scarf as a a belt, done as a done thing. Totally a day-time look, nice & casual, as wearable as you like.

Or what about this...so sexy!http://www.style.com/fashionshows/complete/slideshow/S2009RTW-DERER?event=show1862&designer=design_house1276&trend=&iphoto=2

Totally, totally gorgeous, a bit more dressy so great for day-to-evening but still casual enough to wear everyday.

But also! The jacket will work over your trouser jeans, as well as smartening up a girly floral skirt or dress.

And! The pants can be worn with your denim jacket, or with a floaty, boho tunic like this one
http://www.style.com/fashionshows/complete/slideshow/S2009RTW-JAEGER?event=show1862&designer=design_house1654&trend=&iphoto=31

or just the next item on the list,

10) The Striped T-Shirt. Now usually I'm all, this is just my opinion, you choose whatever works for you, but on this?

No.

On this, I am the dictatorial bitch from hell. Just trust me, this will work on you. You may think you won't like it, but you will, oh yes...

You need a horizontal stripe (doesn't make you look fat, honestly, and even if it did-so? It looks great!); you need a boat neck (worked for Audrey Hepburn, it'll work for me); a slightly fitted shape, and a 3/4 sleeve. Oh yeah, I prefer a slightly longer, almost tunic length for mine.

Personally, I love the classic black-and-white combo (wear with the white pants from the suit! perfection!) but for the colors at least, wear what you please...but the design details must stay.

Sadly, can't find a pic for this-have you any idea just how hard these are to find? I usually end up making my own, but even good quality striped knits are rocking-horse rare (note: English expression, translates to 'rare as rocking horse shit...so pretty damn rare, then) so I'm always on the look out for a good RTW version.

11) Hoop earrings. Now I'm an all-silver, all-the-time girl when it comes to jewellery, because I just don't suit gold tones. Actually, I look like a hooker in gold, which I wouldn't mind, but a cheap hooker, which frankly I resent. So for me the hoops-big, small, thin, chunky-have to be silver. And I don't mind if they're plain, or with sparkles or stones threaded on them, or even like these beauties by Alex Monroe http://www.alexmonroe.com/product_info.php?cPath=49_55&products_id=355

or, my current dream earrings, these http://www.alexmonroe.com/product_info.php?cPath=49_61&products_id=427

Yes, I know they are both shown in gold but they are available in silver-work with me here, wouldja? Anyhow, my point is this...hoop earrings=fail safe fabulousness on the earring front.

And just to complete this part of the list (because you just know I'll have to do parts 3, 4 and quite possibly 5, don't you?) here's...

12) The Perfect Bag. Doesn't need to be an 'it' bag. Doesn't need to be expensive, or this season's color, or be covered in logos (actually I wouldn't thank you for a logo-d bag-I'd no more wear a bag that has 'Chanel' on it than one that has 'Walmart' on it-if you want me to be a walking ad for your company, you can pay me for the privilege, not the other way around. Ahem.). But it does need to do the job-for me, that means big, slouchy and wipe clean. So for the moment I'm really happy with my BV knock-off...looks like this, but as it's a knock off, it's made in kiddie-friendly PVC. For which I am unbelievably grateful, because a quick swipe with a baby wipe and it's good as new.
http://www.amazon.com/Bottega-Veneta-Leather-Cinched-179320/dp/B001CGS0F8%3FSubscriptionId%3D0X1D9X3HR1A4W5HDJA02%26tag%3Dws%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB001CGS0F8

Annnnnnddddd....now I really do have to do at least a part three.

Ho hum, so much fabulous fashion, so little time...