A reader just asked me which wardrobe staples do you recommend for a well-rounded wardrobe that can be mixed and matched to be casual or dressy? Here is my top 10 list:

1. A great black dress. See my last blog post about this.

2. A knee length brown skirt and black skirt.

3. Two great blazers. One that has something unique (print, embellishment, embroidery) and one basic that you can wear with anything.

4. Several pairs of jeans hemmed to different lengths, including a pair of trouser style jeans.

5. A few basic tees and tops in solid colors. You can do a purple or a blue (not just black/white/brown). These will be worn under a jacket or with a skirt or jeans.

6. A great “dressy” dress. You never know when you are going to be invited to an event.

7.  A unique dress for a fun night out.

8. A few great tops that you can dress up for evening. These can be paired back to jeans or your skirts.

9. A denim skirt.

10. A few great accessories to change the look of your basics.

The “Little Black Dress” has become an infamous wardrobe staple for fashionable women around the world. While most would say every girl should have one, I more than agree. I have about 8! The great thing about a black dress is it is an item you can completely transform the look of with shoes and accessories. Plus, black looks good almost all complexions and is very slimming. Who does want to look thin?

Take a little black dress with a v-neck as an example. For day (work), you can put a colored tee or tank under it. You can throw a jacket, cardigan, or even a wrap top it over it. Pair this with boots, flats, or work appropriate heels and this is one look. Of course mix and match these ideas and it can be an infinite number of looks. Go with chunky accessories, delicate accessories, gold, silver, your options are endless.

For night add a sexy metallic belt and a hot pair of heels. Maybe you want a little more of a bare look and you pair the little black dress with some strappy sandals. Add to this some more evening styled jewelry and you are ready to go. Think sparkle and bling. The little black dress is truly the perfect item for travel.

Here are a few Artfulwears little black dresses. The Hanna Shirt Dress by Sworn Virgins is hot and versatile. Snapping or unsnapping this dress gives you many extra options. It’s made of bamboo, so it’s both soft and eco-friendly.

The Majestic Cotton/Cashmere U-Neck Dress is delightfully cozy and very hot. While it’s certainly work appropriate, you can easily dress it up for night time. Since it’s short sleeve, you can even throw a tee underneath.

The Rosean Dress by LTB is a little dressier option. It’s super sexy on and the price is right!

Shown here in grey, but also available in black, the Split Neck Dress by Kersh is a great basic. Wear it untied or tied, it’s simple and easy to change the look.

Artfulwears is truly elated about the arrival of XCVI’s infamous Comfy Skirt! This best seller from last Fall was discontinued much to the dismay of many customers who were not able to get one. However, XCVI made some just for us. We have it available in Black and Taragon.

We love the slimming a-line style and the simple yet fantastic details. The zip pockets in front are flat so they don’t add bulk and the ribbed knit panel in down the back is a unique accent. Truly, this skirt is comfy.  Get yours before they are gone.

You may think the solution to this is simple and  you are right! If you are wearing a printed dress, it is best to keep your accessories simple. Think more clean line jewelry. Sure you can throw a stone or two in the mix but I would suggest keeping wild and crazy accessories for a simple dress or outfit. As for shoes, same thing. Look for a solid color or a skin. Sure it can have a little embellishment or accent but save the wild and crazy shoes for the simple outfit. If you have too many things going on visually, you will look scattered instead of put together and smart.

Purple is in fact the color of the season. Many customers have been inquiring about how to wear it. I like to think of purple as a neutral. I personally love it paired with chocolate brown. So I would pair a great purple cotton/cashmere dress with some brown boots. You could also go with black or silver.

This season you will see a lot of purple shoes as well. I picked up a pair of purple skin gladiator style heels and because of the skin, they have some color variation in them. I have paired them with purple tops and jeans, as well as black, brown, white, and silver.

If we all had perfect bodies, getting dressed everyday would be simple. Almost all of us have a body part that needs a little wardrobe styling magic. One of our readers wants to know the best way to conceal a tummy, so that people stop asking her if she is pregnant (a question no one wants to hear). This is surprisingly easy to do.

First, we will start with what not to wear. I suggest staying away from tight fitting tops. These will just accentuate your mid-section. Look for tops that float away from your body and are loose fitting at the bottom. Here are two tops that are a good example of this. The Tuxedo Tee by Kersh has some pleating in the front to conceal the tummy but won’t be so full looking that people will think you have on a maternity top. Also, this Chemise Tree Branch Blouse by XCVI is loose fitting and would work well. 

Another great way to conceal a tummy is wearing a jacket. The jacket will create a waist for you and pull the focus off of your mid-section. Go for something a bit more structured like the Brooklyn Jacket from XCVI.

Last, dresses are a great way to hide your belly. You will want to find a dress with an empire waist. Keep in  mind you want the dress to fit your body (not be too full) but have a seam under the bust. This Majestic Cotton/Cashmere V-Neck Dress is a great example. The body is fitted but thanks to the empire seam, it will conceal your tummy.

Hope this helps keeping you looking good and feeling good too!

Having just returned from the Spring fashion  markets, I have a lot to report on in terms of trends. However, my personal favorite trend is that Eco-Friendly and Green Fashion is tres chic! We saw a tremendous growth in the number of new lines available with stylish garments that were green. Not only were they green, they were truly adorable.

For those of you who are unaware of why it is important to embrace Eco-Friendly fashion, here are a few facts.

Growing of non-organic cotton is a toxic nightmare. Over one quarter of all the pesticides used in modern agriculture are applied to the modern cotton plant. So while it maybe comfortable, it’s an environmental nightmare.

These pesticides used contain some of the most dangerous compounds known to man, including cyanide. Of the nine major pesticides used on cotton five are proven cancer-causing chemicals and all nine are classified by the EPA as type 1 and 2 - the most dangerous listing possible.

Artfulwears will be presenting you Sworn Virgins next week. Sworn Virgins is a gorgeous, contemporary clothing line made from Bamboo. It’s eco-friendly and reasonably priced.

XCVI’s featured fabric this fall is their illustrious stretch baby corduroy. Forget the corduroy you had as a kid that was hot and stiff. This fabric is breathable, soft, and great to wear.

My favorite piece from this collection is the Waterfall Skirt. It love the a-line cut, the drawstring knit waist, and the subtle pin tuck details.

An Artfulwears.com Blog reader is headed to New York City in October and would like to know what to wear.

Since the weather in the Fall fluctuates greatly, I would suggest layers. I would do a tank, a long sleeve top, and a lightweight jacket on top. It’s still warm enough that you don’t need sweaters or heavy coats, just a few layers. If you have a cute and funky jacket, you can easily pair it with a few different tops to keep your luggage to a minimum. (Hint: Thin warmer fabrics like cotton/cashmere tees are great for travel.) On the bottom, jeans are always easy but if you want to get a little more funky go for a great skirt or a light weight pair of XCVI corduroy pants. 

Here are few great items I love to layer for Fall.

First is the Majestic Wrap Top and Long Tank. This makes layering a no brainer.

The XCVI Corduroy Side Tier Palazzo Pants are great for traveling. They are soft, comfortable, and breathable.

The XCVI Braid & Belt Jacket is a great light weight item. You can layer it over a tee or tank and still put a coat over it for cooler days.

XCVI’s Fall 2008 collection has arrived at Artfulwears.com. Some of your favorite styles like the Double Shirred Panel Skirt, Scrunch Leg Pants, and the Side Tier Palazzo Pants are all available in corduroy. We also have some great jackets, tops, pants, coats, and more. Check back tomorrow for featured items for the new collection.