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Tim Gunn's Top 10 Essential Items And For More Information

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Here are the Top 10 Essential items a woman should have that Tim Gunn talked about on my show today
(From Tim’s book "A Guide to Quality, Taste and Style")

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. Classic 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. White 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. Cashmere Sweater - This is one item probably not many people own. But including it forces people to buy a piece of clothing that is high quality and that is also a luxury item. Having a cashmere sweater in your closet is like giving a gift to yourself. And aren't you worth it?

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. Blazer - The blazer sounds very masculine, but when you get the right one with a proper shape it is not. Women's blazers 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. Sweat Suit 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 sweat suits. 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

Next Story: Remember Your New Year's Resolution About Keeping Informed?

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Comments (93) | Post a comment now »

i need a list with the essential items for a tenneger.

this is in spanis(i dont write very good in english)


nesesito una lista de objetos encenciales en el closet de una adolecente

Hi,
i am 32yr/152cm married indian woman.i need the guide for my dressing from Tim Gunn.What 10 essential items should the indian woman must have in her wardrobe.

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Hi,

This aruna i need a guide for my dressing . i am a indian married,and i got one daughter. i dont have dress sense .will u help me.

Hi Ellen, Will you email me and let me know when you will have Tim Gunn on your show again.
I missed part of the show and would like to see it again. since its classic type of dressing it should be in style for a long time. Your response will be appreciated.

I love this list. I am in my mid-40's and I am learning how to dress ME again! I once wore dresses all the time, but haven't for years. After
watching Tim Gunn a couple of times, I decided
to try them on again. I found it hard to find
a perfect dress for my pear shaped body, and to find the right length. I bought a couple of
dresses off a clearence rack that look great. Now
with the money I saved, I can hopefully find a
tailor to shorten them to the hit the right place.
Wish me luck! It feels good to feel like a
woman again!

Please, please, please.........

Where can we purchase these "essential" items? Must know - need to know. Please?

Love You, Ellen! You're an inspiration and just plain funny!

Good Morning,

Not sure when or where the posting answers are going to be. Could you please send and email on where to buy Top 10 Essential items.

Thanks a bunch!

love the black dress and blazer. please get back with info on where to purchase!!!

I loved all of the clothes Tim Gunn showed on Tuesday's show. Where can we purchase them?

Ellen, you are an inspiration!

Love the little black dress, wondering where i can find it?

Would you mind telling me where I can find, or who makes, the black dress and the trench coat? Thank you so much.

Tim Gunn showed 10 essential items that were great. Could you share info on brand names and where to purchase? thanks Ellen

Ellen, you may be tired of hearing this, but you are the funniest, mot consistantly giving and inspiringly positive person on TV!! Keep up the fabulous work & Happy Birthday.
I am amazed by Emily Bear! She is rockin', and only 6. Her music touches me. She is my absolute favorite child star. How do I "vote" for her? I thought I looked on your sight thoroughly, but do not see how to vote-HELP!

where can i get that trench coat for my wife?
thanks!

Hi ellen, Will you be emailing us back with the information we all requested??????

Oooh. I'm here for the black dress too. I think I need it. Maybe after we all buy it we can get together and do a little dance or something. It can be like a Robert Plant video. Nobody will be able to tell us apart.

Hi Ellen,

Thanks for pointing out and asking about why our models have to be so thin. Society has gotten to be a bit much in that area. I noticed the other day in the mall that they are even pulling and pinning the clothes back on the manicans to make the clothes look smaller. What is this world coming too??!! They focus so much on obesity - I wish that industry would realize that being too thin is just as ugly!!

Love you Ellen!!

I watch your show almost everyday. When Tim Gunn had his segment you brought up size zero and double zero. You both agreed that those sizes are not right and unhealthy. Well, I am 28 years old 5ft 1in and 98 lbs. I have a 14mo old son and I eat whatever I want whenever I want I am just made small. When I was pregnant I gained 50lbs after having him it just came off I guess I am just supposed to be this size. I have to disagree that people should stop making those sizes, they are actually quite hard to find. I thank God for the few companies that do actually produce size zero short.
I understand that many girls and young women are crazy about their weight and I do not agree with that at all, that is a serious problem that really needs to be addressed, but in some cases like mine this is just the way we were made and we need clothes too!

Also liked the black dress - where do you locate it?


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