When it comes to building your wardrobe, be sure to start with the basics, year-round. After all, a skyscraper doesn't exactly come to fruition with just the penthouse apartment. And yes, your wardrobe is just like the most magnificent of skyscrapers. So, before you go jumping on the latest of runway trends [1], make sure that you have a strong (and chic!) base to build upon. That means the perfect leather jacket, straight-leg jeans [2] that feel like a second skin, and a little black dress you want to wear morning, noon, and night. And that's just the beginning.
Ahead, find our ultimate list of classic pieces every stylish girl needs to own — and learn a little about all those fashion icons who helped them along as they fought to secure their spots as true style essentials.
The Striped Tee
There are few wardrobe staples that can bridge the gap between preppy and alternative as much as a striped top. Styled with a blazer and loafers, you might feel like a French style icon from the 1970s. Use it to channel your inner rock musician with skinny jeans and a leather jacket, or mix it with florals for a more modern take on runway print-mixing trends. Anything goes when it comes to your Breton stripes.
La Ligne
La Ligne Lean Lines Tee [3] ($115)
Saint James
Saint James Minquiers Moderne Breton Stripe Shirt [4] ($79)
Comme des Garçons Play
Comme des Garçons Play Heart Logo Striped Top [5] ($130)
The Straight-Leg Jeans
Denim silhouettes come and go, but none are quite as ever-present as straight-leg jeans. They celebrated shining moments in the onscreen westerns of the 1950s, on the hips of 1960s rock bands, were acid-washed in the 1980s, and more. Today, we still love the slim-but-not-skinny look just as much as ever before.
Re/Done
Re/Done Originals Double Needle Slim-Leg Jeans [6] ($246)
3x1
3x1 Mid-Rise Straight Cropped Jeans [7] ($310)
Madewell
Madewell The Perfect Summer High-Rise Straight-Leg Jeans [8] ($98)
The Leather Jacket
Military in spirit, the leather jacket has been championed by everyone from Françoise Hardy to Beyoncé over the past 100 years. That said, this chic wardrobe staple will forever carry with it that edgy je ne sais quoi that makes it the perfect pairing for everything from denim to cocktail dresses when you want to stand out in a crowd.
The Arrivals
The Arrivals Clo Leather Jacket [9] ($695)
Acne Studios
Acne Studios Leather Biker Jacket [10] ($1,550)
Mango
Mango Zipped Biker Jacket [11] ($80)
The Little Black Dress
While the little black dress is said to have been originated by Coco Chanel, designers from Givenchy (for Audrey Hepburn), Christina Stambolian (for Princess Diana), and more have had their iconic moments throughout the years. Variations on the silhouette might pop up as seasons change, but one thing's for sure: the LBD is here to stay.
Red Valentino
Red Valentino Cutout Shift Dress [12] ($695)
Reformation
Reformation Janie Ruffled Linen Minidress [13] ($178)
MSGM
MSGM Ruffled Cady Minidress [14] ($680)
The Trench Coat
First introduced during World War I, the trench coat has come a long way from its initial conception as a coat for British and French soldiers on the front lines. Now, it serves a prime spot in every stylish girl's closet as a tailored and lightweight option for rainy Fall mornings and sunny Spring afternoons alike.
Burberry
Burberry The Kensington Heritage Trench Coat [15] ($1,990)
J.Crew
J.Crew 2011 Icon Trench [16] ($228)
Maje
Maje Belted Cotton-Canvas Trench Coat [17] ($595)
The Structured Bag
One thing all stylish women know is that a gorgeous structured bag will instantly transform any outfit. For Audrey Hepburn, it was the Louis Vuitton Speedy, Grace Kelly chose her namesake Hermès Kelly Bag, and Coco Chanel invented her own quilted favourite in the 2.55. No matter which you choose, a structured bag is truly timeless.
Hunting Season
Hunting Season Mini Top-Handle Handbag [18] ($1,595)
Staud
Staud Tortoise Bissett Bag [19] ($395)
Tory Burch
Tory Burch Lee Radziwill Bag [20] ($798)
The Cashmere Crewneck Sweater
Go a little oversize with this one in a borrowed-from-the-boys style. Channel the edgy-meets-classic fashion icons like Charlotte Gainsbourg and Michelle Obama [21] alike, who have created somewhat of an off-duty uniform with the soft style essential.
The Elder Statesman
The Elder Statesman Striped Cashmere Sweater [22] ($775)
Everlane
Everlane The Cashmere Crew [23] ($100)
Lingua Franca
Lingua Franca Who Run the World Sweater [24] ($380)
The White Cotton Boho Top
We look to the stylish girls of the '70s for this trend, which we still can't get enough of today. While Jane Birkin might have styled hers with straight-leg jeans and sandals, we're mixing ours with everything from vintage-inspired denim to party-ready midi skirts, all Summer long.
Rebecca Taylor
Rebecca Taylor Terri Embroidered Linen Top [25] ($395)
Isabel Marant Étoile
Isabel Marant Étoile Wona Broderie-Anglaise Cotton Blouse [26] ($265)
Abercrombie
Abercrombie Lace Tank [27] ($48)
The Pointed-Toe Pumps
Even if you're a girl who spends 99 percent of her time in sneakers, you need a pair of heels on hand — just in case. For any occasion, a classic pointed-toe pump should be your ultimate go-to, as style icons like Jackie Kennedy, Victoria Beckham [28], and more have done for generations.
Manolo Blahnik
Manolo Blahnik BB Pumps [29] ($665)
Sam Edelman
Sam Edelman Danna Pointy-Toe Pump [30] ($130)
Prada
Prada Pointy-Toe Pump [31] ($675)
