“I don’t have anything to wear.”

I think every single lady has said this at one time or the other. I remember watching a video of Steve Harvey interviewing a young lady about 4-5 years old and she mentioned she had to go shopping because she didn’t have anything to wear. Steve Harvey immediately interrupted her and asked if they start teaching ladies to say that from a young age.

The statement “I don’t have anything to wear” is almost always followed by a full and overflowing wardrobe. So why would we then say that there’s nothing to wear?

I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Certain items are essential in every elegant lady’s wardrobe. These essentials are so because they stand out as timeless and seasonless. They can be worn on their own as a complete outfit; they can also be mixed and matched with other items in your wardrobe, to create beautiful outfit variations.  They are versatile and can be whipped out on a whim on those occasions where the thoughts of ‘nothing to wear” come to mind. Here are some wardrobe essential options I believe every elegant lady in Nigeria should invest in:

1. Dress pants (opt for these more than their more casual counterpart – denim) 

Dress pants just dress up the outfit. Yes, pun intended. A pair of black or navy-blue dress pants are a great base for any outfit.

2. Tailored suits

A well-tailored suit, either pants, skirts or dress suits, speaks volumes of the wearer. Invest in neutral colours, to begin with, then extend to include other beautiful colours that compliment your skin tone. Coloured suits are a thing and they look chic too.

3. Dress shirts (mostly buttoned-down variety)

White dress shirts in particular will forever be in fashion. You can never go wrong with them. There are a hundred and one ways to style a buttoned-down shirt. You’d enjoy exploring the different style options available to you with this piece of clothing.

4. Silk shirt/blouse

The easiest way to look and feel luxurious is to wear silk. Silk, not only feels lovely against your skin but, is great for your skin too. Get yourself a nice silk shirt or blouse and look like the elegant lady you are!

5. Silk/Satin dress

What’s better than getting a shirt or blouse? A dress. Silk/Satin dresses are so feminine and beautiful. You should stock your wardrobe with some that could be worn on date nights or a girls’ night out.

6. Nice pair of denim pants

Denim pants are every girl’s go-to option for a casual look. They always give that comfortable carefree feel. Though I must warn you, they tend to be very addictive, so be wary of over-wearing them or wearing them for the wrong occasion. When purchasing your denim, opt for a cut that is flattering for your frame. I’d also advise you to get them in more solid colours, as their faded counterparts could make you look more raggedy than elegant, eg. a pair of dark blue denim pants are very versatile and can be dressed down with a pair of sneakers, or dressed up with a pair of pumps. 

7. Plain T-shirt 

While black t-shirts are popular among tech guys, they still can be a base for a chic outfit. Plain tees (free of inscriptions) are a great wardrobe staple. But again, be careful not to get too comfortable, as they too can be addictive, because of how easy they are. For a more chic collection, try sticking to unique or neutral colours (white being a great colour to start with). You can either dress this up or down in different ways.

8. Casual co-ord set (pants/shorts, skirt variety)

I love matching outfits and when the co-ord set came back in fashion I was super excited. You can get sets in plain colours or nice-looking patterns. I’ve seen some in adire (local Nigerian material) that I absolutely love.

9. Sunday Ankara Dress

These are especially good for those Sunday mornings when you’re too lazy to put together a complicated outfit. They are a great wardrobe staple and come in a variety of styles. You should have more than one of these Ankara dresses if possible.

10. Bubu dress (maxi dress)

Maxi dresses!!! These are saviours for when I don’t feel like making an effort but still want to come off as put together. I also like the fact that you can dress this up or down in such a way that it gives ‘rich aunty’ vibes.

11. Owambe lace dress with matching headpiece (aso -oke, gele)

You know those weddings you are invited to and you really don’t want to buy the asoebi? Here’s where your good owambe lace dress comes in. You can tie your aso-oke or gele or wear a nice fascinator depending on the style of the dress. I’ve always liked the fact that men can have that one good ‘Atiku’ or ‘Senator’, mostly in white and they are ready to go for each wedding.

12. Evening dress

An evening gown is that long flowy gown you wear mostly for formal or black-tie events. You don’t have to buy an evening gown for every black-tie invitation you have to go to. Get one or two in a simple but flattering style, and in a neutral colour, accessorize and you are good to go.

13. Little black dress

YOU NEED YOUR LBD! A lot of women can testify to the number of times this has come to their rescue. Get one that flatters you and you feel good wearing. Also, look out for one that you can easily mix and match.

14. Cocktail dresses

Great for occasions that require you to dress up, but not black-tie formal. Invest in as many as you need, depending on how often you attend events. They come in different levels of dressiness. Get one or two red-carpet-worthy styles and other less flamboyant styles.

15. Midi dress

Midis are one of the most versatile styles of day dresses that you can have. Great for work, corporate events, lunch with friends, church, meeting the inlaws-to-be, you name it. 

As a final note, remember that no outfit is complete without accessories. Accessories are the final touch that brings your outfits to life. Invest in great accessories – your bags, shoes, belts, jewellery, scarves, hats, brooches, etc. Get different kinds of accessories that can help you with the mixing and matching of your wardrobe-essentials.

Do not forget that the foundation of a great outfit is nice underwear. I spoke extensively on the different types of underwear an elegant lady should invest in here. 

How many of the wardrobe essentials do you have? Is there any you think should be on this list? Please drop your comments below.