Tim Gunn's 10 Essential Elements

Must-Have Basic Wardrobe Pieces for Any Woman

© Kelly Whitt

Sep 14, 2007

The Ten Essential Wardrobe Elements as devised by Tim Gunn are practical pieces around which you can build your wardrobe. Tim Gunn is the star of a reality makeover television show on Bravo called Tim Gunn's Guide to Style. He became well known from Bravo's hit TV show Project Runway, where he counseled contestants on their stylish creations.

The Ten Elements are mostly classic pieces, but what's important is whether they fit you properly, are not outdated, and bring out your best features. The following is the shopping list of Tim Gunn's 10 essential items, with helpful hints from this article's author. If you would like more advice from Tim Gunn, read his book A Guide to Quality, Taste and Style or watch his show on the Bravo channel on Thursday nights.

1. Basic Black Dress - The basic black dress has been around for a long time. It is often called the "Little Black Dress", and it's true that shorter skirts on the basic black dress, when they hit you in the right place, can be more flattering than a long black dress.
2. Trench Coat - The trench coat is one of the pieces that is both classic and currently a hot fashion item. Most any store sells this piece now. It is great for fall and you can pick it up in a wide range of lengths.
3. Dress Pants - Although it doesn't say black, this is probably what you want to look for. Black is flattering on all figures and goes with everything.
4. Classic Shirt - The white shirt is a definite classic. But it can also come in many different styles to make it look trendy and not dated or like a man's piece of clothing. Find one that accentuates your best attributes and minimizes trouble spots. For example, if you have wide shoulders, stay away from large collars.
5. Jeans - Everyone has a pair of jeans, but does everyone have a pair of jeans that make them look great? The wider leg, low-rise jean style has been popular (and still is) but a narrower leg is coming back along with a higher waist, which eliminates the unflattering "muffin top" look.
6. Any Occasion Top - Find something you look great in that can look respectable under a jacket but bring on the fun after hours.
7. Skirt - If you need dress pants then you also need a skirt. A skirt is womanly and can be flirty or businesslike. Nowadays women do not wear many skirts or dresses, which makes a lot of them fall into a rut of dressing sloppily or like men. See number 8.
8. Day Dress - Women also are not wearing as many dresses anymore. It was certainly liberating to go from the '50s when women wore dresses every day to wearing more practical pants for gardening, exercising, and so forth. But the dress does not have to be abandoned altogether. They can be very flattering, and there is nothing wrong with "dressing up" for daytime.
9. Jacket - A jacket does not have to be masculine. Find one with a proper, fitted shape. Women's jackets should follow the silhouette of a woman's body and accent the hourglass curve at her waist. It is also a perfect piece to put with the skirt or dress pants, and white shirt. Or make it casual with a pair of jeans.
10. Sweatsuit Alternative - As mentioned before, women wear fewer skirts and dresses these days. But some women have taken casual to the extreme and spend days on end in sweatsuits. It is possible to be casual and comfortable without looking like a slob. Find a comfortable material (that's why this doesn't say jeans again – denim is not as comfortable as a nice soft cotton) that you would want to wear every day. It could be khakis, cords, a cotton dress, or much more.

Bonus: One Indulgent Trendy Item

(In the second season, the Jacket replaces the Blazer on Tim's list, and the Any Occasion Top replaces the Cashmere Sweater.)

Now comes the fun part. Go shopping! Use this list as a basic guide to forming your wardrobe. When you want to have fun with new styles and colors, try it in your accessories: purses, shoes, and jewelry.

Learn how to Dress Your Age in your 20s, 30s, and 40s

Learn how to Dress Your Age for those 50 and Up

Tim Gunn and the Little Black Dress

Print Article

Email Article

View All Articles

How to subscribe to feeds