Ever had one of those days when you’ve got a wardrobe full of clothes but nothing to wear? Or, maybe more frustratingly, you’ve got one or two items you desperately want to wear but they don’t go with anything? You’re not alone! The key is having some basics in your wardrobe – if all else fails, bring out a black or white T-shirt, add some great jeans and black heels or smart pumps and you’re all set.

We searched the internet and found the 7 wardrobe staples every girl should have…                      

1. A good bra

A huge 80% of women wear the wrong bra size and there’s really no excuse. A good bra is one that you not only feel good in but one that fits perfectly too. Head to Debenhams for a free bra fitting or use their online fitting guide to buy from any high street store. There’s Topshop, M&S, Bravissimo and everywhere in between. It might take some time to find the perfect one but believe us, it’ll be worth it.

2. The perfect pair of jeans  

Contrary to popular belief , this is possible and Next make it so. They should be your first stop, whether it’s online or in store. Their website is full of jeans, ranging in colour, style and price so you can narrow it down before you even go into a store. When you do, be prepared to try on as many pairs as possible. Yes, it’s a mammoth task but you only need to do it once. When you’ve decided on a pair or two that you like and that fit you perfectly (and if your budget allows) buy two pairs; they might not be there the next time you go! 

Boots, Clarks; shirt, Warehouse at ASOS; jeans, Next.

3. Boots  

Winter means 3 things; Christmas, gingerbread lattes and buying a new pair of boots. If you want choice, a pair that will last you ages and you’re happy to spend upwards of £100, head to Clarks. If your budget is a little lower, New Look is perfect. Be them over the knee, to the ankle, in black, dark brown or tan, heel or no heel or trim; if they fit, get them! The majority of styles look great with anything and add a sophisticated edge. But be warned; if you buy suede boots, be prepared to buy a product that will protect and clean them.

4. A crisp white shirt

The beauty of a white shirt is it’s complete versatile, so get one in your wardrobe ASAP. A fitted, long-sleeved offering is perfect paired with a pencil skirt, smart trousers or even jeans for work, whereas a looser-fitting one can be worn off-duty with leggings or skinny jeans. The two rules for white shirts? 1) Make sure they fit perfectly – no stretch or gaps between buttons. 2) Never wash with dark colours. Ever!

The best white shirts we found were at Hawes and Curtis for smart and Warehouse at ASOS for our favourite casual one (see above).

5. Smart jumper

Especially at this time of year you can never be wearing too many layers, but how do you do it stylishly enough for work? Answer: smart knits. Whether they’re fun, cute or plain, there’s a whole range of them on the high street and you need at least one of them in your wardrobe! Uniglo‘s great for plain colours or simple stripes and range in price from £15 (in the sale) to £90, whilst H&M is the place to go for patterns and quirky jumpers at the lower end of your budget (so maybe you can buy more than one?!).

Skirts, New Look; heels, Melissa, Kurt Geiger