The times when women only had to look good and display their husband's wealth are long since gone. Nowadays, we work as hard as our male counterparts (and sometimes even harder – keeping family, household and job going at the same time). Therefore, our expectations towards our wardrobe has changed. Unfortunately, not all of us have an unbeatable sense of style – and don't we all envy women like Sex in the City style-goddess Carrie Bradshaw? Or am I the only one in the world who used to spend ages in front of my wardrobe wondering what to put on in the morning? Yes, I said “used to spend”. After doing a bit of research on the matter and speaking to a few of my friends who (unlike me) are blessed with an admirable sense of style.

Together, we worked out the 10 basic wardrobe-principles.

Just follow them and you can put your days of desperation behind you once and for all – just as I did...

1. Find your personal colour scheme:
   
   

Every wardrobe is best put together according to the personal color scheme of the owner. Which colors suit you best will depend on your personal favorites as much as a number of different factors:

• your hair
• your skin
• your eyes

Generally, the following color schemes work well

Use the colors that match your type best and combine them with neutral colors like dark-blue, grey, black or beige. Use the more extravagant colours to jazz up your outfit and mix them with more subtle ones.

1. Find the right “BASICS”
   
   The basic “stock” of your wardrobe has to cover your needs in most of the situations in your daily life. When thinking about getting the right bits and pieces, consider both your private and professional environment. If you happen to work in a bank for example, it makes little sense to spend a fortune on too many “trendy, glitzy bits”. You would be better off getting a few “classic” combinations. You can always mix them with a trendy top or blouse...
   
   
2. Take your time – best pieces are seldom found in a rush
   
   Do a bit of research about current trends and in-places to get your new favorites. Ask your friends, check the papers and spend a day wandering through your city to get an idea. If you are living in a rather “rural” area, pick one or two bigger cities in the area and check them out too before committing any money (unless you happen to trip over something you cannot leave behind of course). Draft out a shopping-list for your new “Basic Wardrobe”. For your actual shopping-trips, take at least 2 full days and don't be too spontaneous about what you buy: Take at least 20 minutes for every new piece and try to match it with others WHILE you are still in the shop and before making any decision. You will have to be absolutely certain that whatever you want to buy will match whatever you have already.
   
   
3. Spend some money on “Classy Basics”
   
   “Basics” - the name says it all. Those constitute the BASIS of your new wardrobe. It anything from a trendy trouser suit, a chic costume, a white blouse, a tailor-made sports- jacket etc. It pays off the invest in quality at this point. You will find it a lot easier to combine those pieces with other, less expensive ones and still make the right impression. Even the cheapest T-Shirt looks great in combination with a high-quality designer-jacket...
   
   
4. Your shoes – the be all and end all of your looks
   
   The shoes make the final decision as to whether your new outfit is considered a huge success or a phenomenal desaster. Get at least 3 new pairs of shoes each season – there is nothing worse than shoes that look their age. Keep in mind that the type of shoe you pick will alter your whole outfit – it makes a difference if you wear your suit with casual runners or sky-scraping heels.
   
   
5. Try being economic with your accessories
   
   Here's a rule of thumb for you: Never wear more than 9 different visible objects on your body (including your clothes). Don't try to outdo your last christmas-tree by wearing two heavy rings on each finger in combination with a huge costume-jewellery necklace or a heavy brooch. If you love extravagant accessories, try limiting yourself to two pieces max.
   
   
6. Use your clothes to display your level of competence
   
   Subconsciously, everyone has his or her own idea as to “what success looks like”. The combination between light and dark has always had a connotation towards reliable or respectable. That's why you see so many women in the higher management dressed in a dark suit and a white blouse. The stronger the contrast, the higher their (perceived) authority. If you do not want to make that strong an impression, try a combination of grey and a pleasant pastel shade.
   
   
7. Keep an eye on your fabric quality
   
   Being comfortable wearing a certain set of clothes comes with the knowledge that you know you look good in it – but picking the wrong fabric quality can change that within seconds... Say, for example that amazing linen-costume you saw in a shop only last week. It looked fabulous – there is only one problem: You take your first seat and you look like as if you spent the night under a bridge. You are better off picking materials that wear well and are less prone to “outside-influences”. Then you are guaranteed both the “feel-good-factor” as well as the “look-good-factor” for as long as you need it.
   
   
8. No need for fancy labels – only for the sake of showing them off
   
   After the big fashion shows are over and done with, the copyists get in. Whether we like it or we don't, the “sharks” of the business have that down to a fine art. Often enough, there is not much (if any) difference in when you can buy both the original or the copy. But keep in mind: There are good and bad copies of everything. If you play your cards right – and do not depend on the label in your neck, you can dress like the models. Only at a fraction of the price – simply pick the right quality and no one will know.
   
   
9. Stay true to yourself (and your style):
   
   If one of your all-time-favourites is a stylish trouser suit, you might find the long, trendy skirt in the window of your favourite boutique hard to resist – but when and where are you going to wear it? Everyone has her own weaknesses – and is allowed them too, but when it comes to your wardrobe, try making sensible decisions from now on in. A better style and less “clutter” will be your reward.