The best clothing to buy and keep in your closet is classic looks that you can wear over and over. One thing that classic clothing allows you to do is wear a more trendy shoe. Most trendier shoes tend to come in and out of fashion more often than clothing. Take, for instance, wide legged pants. Those have gone out of stile for 10 years or so, as have flare leg jeans (more like 30 for those). The come back in slowly for a couple of years. Now compare shoe trends.

In the 70s, platform shoes and wild, platform, sexy wedge shoes that dominated the markets. Then 20 years later the platform makes its debut into trend and so does the wedge platform. It stays in fashion, albeit in the background, for some 10 years and now both styles are coming back into fashion.

So while it’s a good idea to buy classic clothing, shoes can be worn, even trendy ones, for longer periods of time.

If you’re wondering where to put together stuff like this, check out shopstyle.com‘s little area where you can make looks and put them together. I often get lost in their sections checking out all the looks that women put together. Some of the outfits are so cute, I end up buying them as a set.

If you’re stuck on what to buy and what’s fashionable, it’s a great place to see what people are all thinking about in terms of fashion. Don’t let fashion designers decide what’s beautiful for you, let the world tell you what they think is beautiful and decide from that.

I picked these three designs, not because they all were spectacular (which one of them is, hint: white and black), but because they all represent something that is unique and different about taste and design. There are a mixture of classic looks with fun and flirty looks, and all of them look very pretty regardless of that.

What’s special about these three is that they are so different from each other. We’re not all the same, and we don’t need a bunch of magazines telling us what is in fashion. We can look beautiful by mixing things up or using trendy or classic, colorful or colorless. It’s all a matter of taste.

Wedge heels are more comfortable to wear in higher heels. They have heel that forms a triangle supporting the heel, toe and arch of your foot. This is important because half of the stilettos are unbalancing because, well, we’re trying to walk on a toothpick. The wedge shoe is more like having a more supportive system under your foot.

Wedges are beautiful and very stylish. There are some that are for the office and other styles of women’s wedge shoes are for shopping or even formal wear

Having a dress that works well for day and evening, or a number of other occasions, is not only helpful in order to save time, but it also saves money. Anytime a woman can save money while looking great, it’s a win-win situation. Dresses are one outfit that can be worn to the office, out shopping or out to cocktail parties. There are certain dresses which make saving money and functionality a breeze to find.

A-line dresses are one of the dresses that fit just about every figure, and works really well with just about every occasion, if bought in the right cut. A black sheath dress with short or tank straps can work throughout all seasons. With an a-line skirt, it will not only be flattering, it will work really great for day or evening.

When using the same dress for day or evening adding the right accessories makes them work for both. Using gold bangles and a brightly colored scarf will bring out the color of a plain black dress. Add a beautiful gold necklace and simple earrings. Remember that more isn’t necessarily prettier, and can actually be distracting. A simple dress only needs a simple elegant accessories.

Classic dresses are defined by their ability to be worn year after year and look stylish. Dresses like Audrey Hepburn wore in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, or some of the dresses worn by Sarah Jessica Parker in Sex and the City, are classic styles that never sit at the back of the closet for years. There are some dresses that only work for one season, are out for the next 20 and can finally be worn again at a time when we’re older, and the dress is unsuitable. This isn’t economical or functional.

If there is one dress I encourage all women to own in their closet it is the a-line skirted dress with a tank scooped neckline and black and white coloring. This dress will stand the test of time, look flattering for 90% of all figures and function for business luncheons, cocktail parties, attending weddings or just wearing out with the girls.

Straight leg classic pants with no pleats are a flattering fit for most women with larger hips. The straight leg pant can have a relaxed fit to hide any perceived bulges. Women with a slight belly can wear Spanx underneath their pants, however, that can be very uncomfortable in terms of temperature. A small pleat in the front can actually hide tummy problems. For any pant with a pleat, it’s important to get a perfect fit. If the pleats spread they will look very ill fitting and unflattering. Be sure to try on a pleated pant before buying.

Black pants are the perfect color for all seasons. If you’re like me, you have way too much black in your closet. In that case, go for a navy blue, or brown pants. Both of those colors have a wide range of colors that can be worn with them.

Classic boots are generally two colors: black and brown. While occasionally other colors my work, like navy, they won’t go with nearly everything in a woman’s closet. Black is a color that works throughout the winter and fall seasons and looks great with nearly every color including red, off white and other blacks. It can be a little much though, especially if you’re closet is steeped in black clothing. If you have a lot of black in your closet, try spicing it up a bit with a brown, tan or taupe pair of boots. They go with nearly every color and add a bit of color to your wardrobe without adding less functionality.

Boot styles are always up to the wearer. However, remember that higher heeled boots always look a little sexier. They also look much more fashionable and stay in style longer periods. Shorter boots are more trendy and can go out of fashion at the drop of a hat.

Thinner fabrics with longer sleeves, 3/4,  often look better with business suits and for wearing with basic pants and jeans. Take, for example, this white 3/4 sleeve, blouse at Banana Republic. It will work well with a blazer over the pants and still look great with jeans for just shopping or going to lunch with the girls. While most of the business style shirts won’t work with a semi-formal outfit, there are blouses that will.

A great blouse for day and evening is probably a shorter sleeve, or even tank. If you’re uncomfortable with your arms, choose a shorter sleeve. The sleeves aren’t as important as the fabrics. Sleek, silky fabrics always work better than flat fabrics like cotton or rayon. Go for the shiny, not flat, and you’ll find a great blouse that you can wear out dancing or to the office.

Skirt styles have changed throughout the years. There are bubble skirts, flare skirts, circle, pencil and a-line. They also come in different lengths from mini to long skirts. There are only certain lengths and cuts which stay in fashion year after year.

A-line and pencil skirts at knee length have the distinction of being in fashion every year for the last 20 years. In fact, they’ve both been in fashion longer than that, but with different lengths, usually below the knee. There are fashionable pencil and a-line skirts that fall below the knee as well. These styles are perfect for the office or for a dinner date.

Some styles are great for semi-formal occasions, when worn with the right top. However, the material has to be one which translates from day wear to evening wear. Namely worsted wool, wrinkle free linen or chiffon. Depending on how well made the skirt is, a cheaper version of the fabrics will also work.

If you look up fashion in the dictionary, you’ll find a lot of different terms for it. Style is one. Mode is another. Vogue, trend etc. are all part of the definitions. Style however, really says it all. When you’re looking for fashionable clothing what you want to isn’t necessarily trendy, it’s style.

Style is the actual substance to fashion. It’s what makes a look come together. It’s what made us all remember characters like Holly Golightly and other fashion icons. If you’re trying to be fashionable, go for style instead. Pick classic looks with streamlined designs. Blacks and whites are always good to invest in, whether shoes, dresses, skirts or pants.