Whilst browsing through the Vogue’s 100 Years (June) Issue, I came across the The Complete Works feature. This feature focuses on the classic, timeless staples needed that have outlasted all fads and trends. This is such a good idea as it is a guide for those readers who feel a bit lost with their wardrobe. Like me you may feel as though you have too many clothes and nothing to wear. My advice is to follow this post and strip back your wardrobe to the classics. Once you discover your style and are happy with the classics then you can slowly add the current trends into your wardrobe.
Here’s my take on the Vogue’s The Complete Works guide to owning every staple. Firstly I narrowed it down to my top 20 picks. I then separated them into Outerwear, Clothes and Shoes. There will be 2 parts to this post: part 1 will contain Clothes and Part 2 will contain Outwear and Shoes. As Vogue focuses on the luxury products available to us, I thought I would be more realistic and take to the high street to find my 2016 version of The Complete Works.
The Slip Dress. A slip dress closely resembles an underslip or petticoat. It is traditionally cut on the bias, with spaghetti straps. Slip dresses first became widely worn in the last decade of the 20th century, as part of the underwear-as-outerwear trend.
Topshop: Double Layered Crepe Slip Dress by Boutique, £95.00. Double layered cami and strap slip dress with twin side splits and a waist tie in pale blue.
Made in Britain, by Boutique. 81% Acetate, 19% Viscose. Dry clean only.
Pair with your favourite plain strappy sandal heels for a lovely occasion outfit or wear with some black gladiator sandals for a more wearable outfit this spring/summer.
The Cashmere Poloneck. A polo neck/roll-neck/turtleneck/skivvy is a garment—usually a sweater—with a close-fitting, round, and high collar that folds over and covers the neck. Polo neck-like garments have been worn for hundreds of years, dating at least to the 15th century.
UNIQLO: 100% Cashmere Polo Neck Sweater, was £69.90 now £49.90. The simple solid colour is accented by a varied knit pattern along the sides. The wide ribbed turtleneck adds volume to your look, plus it keeps your neck nice and warm.
100% Cashmere. Dry clean only.
Pair with leather-look jeans and delicate, simple heels and a longline wool coat for an evening look this winter. Or add your favourite Mom jeans and converse for a casual day look this spring for a transitional piece.
You can find some beautiful cashmere for the summer months on The White Company. http://www.thewhitecompany.com/clothing/cashmere/.
The Pencil Skirt. A pencil skirt is a slim-fitting skirt with a straight, narrow cut. Generally the hem falls to, or is just below, the knee and is tailored for a close fit. It is named for its shape: long and slim like a pencil. Narrow-fitting skirts have a long history in western fashion. The predecessor to the pencil skirt is the hobble skirt, a pre-WWI fad.
ASOS own-brand: Midi Pencil Skirt in Jersey, £15.00. Smooth stretch jersey, high-rise, stretch waist, kick split, close cut bodycon fit.
95% Viscose, 5% Elastane. Machine wash.
I love this midi pencil skirt style for this spring/summer! Embrace your this style in a brighter
colour such as: orange or coral red this summer. Wear this with your favourite cami or sheer mesh bodysuit, strappy sandals and leather jacket this spring for a perfect going ‘out-out’ look.
The Wide-leg Trouser. Palazzo pants/Palazzo trousers are long women’s trousers cut with a loose, extremely wide leg that flares out from the waist. Palazzo pants for women first became a popular trend in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The style was reminiscent of the wide-legged cuffed trousers worn by some women fond of avant-garde fashions in the 1930s and 1940s, particularly actresses such as Katharine Hepburn.
Missguided: Tie waist crepe wide leg trousers camel, £30.00. These super easy crepe wide leg trousers feature an attached tie belt at the waist.
Pair with your favourite nudes- nude sandal heels, nude sleeveless bodysuit for a effortless evening look this summer. You can add strappy sandals and a plain crop top for a summer holiday evening look. For the winter, you can add your favourite block heels, mesh bodysuit and bralet and camel wool coat for simple styling.
The Trouser Suit. A pantsuit/trouser suit is a woman’s suit of clothing consisting of trousers and a matching or coordinating coat or jacket. The pantsuit was introduced in the 1920s, when a small number of women adopted a masculine style, including pantsuits, hats, and even canes and monocles. However, the term, “trouser suit” had been used in Britain during the First World War, with reference to women working in heavy industry.
Missguided: Fitted tailored suit blazer black, £40.00 and Tailored cigarette trousers black, £25.00. Work some tailored vibes this season in this seriously on point black tux style suit.
The trouser suit is a going out must-have this season. Wear a delicate bralet underneath and embrace your inner Kendall Jenner. Pair with nude barely-there heels (Valentino, Rockstud Leather Pumps style heel) and your favourite clutch.
The Cotton Shirt. A shirt is a cloth garment for the upper body. In British English, a shirt is more specifically a garment with a collar, sleeves with cuffs, and a full vertical opening with buttons.
Topshop: Herringbone Chambray Shirt, £29.00. Crafted from a rich cotton, the neat silhouette is slightly fitted for a tailored finish. Features a button front placket and a longer length hem.
100% Cotton. Machine wash.
Pair with your favourite skinny ripped jeans and converse for a casual day look. Pair with leather-look skinnies, classic sandal heels and a statement necklace for a smart casual evening look.
The Silk Blouse. A blouse is a loose-fitting upper garment that was formerly worn by workmen, peasants, artists, women and children.
Topshop: Long Sleeve Cowl Collar Blouse in Mustard, £34.00. A simple silhouette adds instant chic to your wardrobe staples. This sleek blouse, features a cowl collar detail to the neckline with long sleeves for a look that is so-now.
100% Polyester. Machine wash.
Pair this blouse with open-toe boot heels and medium wash denim jeans for a comfortable Spring look. Pair with black high-waisted jeans and pointed-toe court shoes for a smart casual look.
The Little Black Dress. A little black dress (LBD) is a black evening or cocktail dress, cut simply and often quite short. Fashion historians ascribe the origins of the little black dress to the 1920s designs of Coco Chanel and Jean Patou.
Missguided: Slinky plunge oversized swing dress black, £22.00. slink your way to the dance floor in this gorgeously sexy oversized piece.
If you’re like me and own every version of any trend in a LBD, then put your own spin on a classic. My personal preference for clothing is: comfortable, classic, chic and oversized where appropriate. Pair this oversized swing dress with some lace up heels and a cute choker for an effortless evening look.
The Leather Miniskirt. A miniskirt is a skirt with a hemline well above the knees, generally at mid-thigh level, normally no longer than 10 cm (4 in) below the buttocks. While very short skirts have existed for a long time, they were generally not called “mini” until after the 1960s.
Warehouse Leather Look Panelled Mini Skirt, £39.00. Faux leather, high fitted waist, side pockets, zip back.
100% Polyurethane. Machine wash.
Pair your leather miniskirt with a blouse or bodysuit of your choice and some lace up heels for a classic evening look. Add a wool longline coat and skinny heeled boots for a more smart casual look.
Shop all looks below.
References
Vogue. (2016). Vogue’s 100 Years: Celebrating the faces and fashions of a century.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slip_dress
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polo_neck
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pencil_skirt
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palazzo_pants
https://www.missguided.co.uk/tie-waist-crepe-wide-leg-trousers-camel
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantsuit
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirt
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blouse
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_black_dress
https://www.missguided.co.uk/slinky-plunge-overszied-swing-dress-black
dlnfashionblog 
Love each and every one of these looks!!
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Love this post so much! xx
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