A Guide to Spring and Summer Wardrobe Essentials

SmartFem’s fashion and beauty expert Annette Loertscher writes on fashion tips and how to shop and look your best for the Arizona summer.

Yes, it’s official, spring has arrived and summer is right around the corner!

For fashionistas this is an extremely busy shopping time. Everyone is getting ready to shed their dark, multiple layers and start planning what to wear as the months get warmer and in our case, living in Arizona, hotter!!

To assist in defeating the problem of having a closet full of clothes yet nothing to wear, I have put together some guidelines to help in building a stylish and versatile spring/summer 2014 wardrobe; what are the most essential pieces, what makes sense to splurge on and which trends are worth investing in.

The Basic Rules

Choose items by your personal color palette/profile. Understanding which colors work for you is the #1 most important piece of advice I can give! Discovering which colors are best for you is a great place to begin as it dramatically reduces the chance of making expensive purchase mistakes. It is important to build your wardrobe around a “color story”. Invest in a fabulous skirt and/or pant suit either in gray, navy or black and then buy layering pieces to mix and match so you can transform your look from work, to evening, to weekend.

Fit matters…it is extremely important!! Eliminate clothing that does not fit or cannot be tailored to fit you like a glove. Custom tailoring is an absolute must expense that you have to invest in. Great fitting garments exude confidence!

Aim for value not bargains. Invest in the best garments and accessories you can afford. It is better to have fewer pieces in your closet. The cost per wear will be worth it. Focus on buying complete ensembles, not one piece at a time in a search for bargain. Nothing is a bargain if you never wear it!

Essentials Items
The most versatile wardrobes are made up of timeless and classic pieces with trendier accessories that keep your look up to date. Below is a listing and some photos of staple items.

Great fitting dark blue jeans