Ten items every woman must have in her wardrobe
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – JUELLA GUMBS is a 23-year-old Kittitian who is pursuing a Bachelors degree in Marketing with a minor in Journalism at the Baruch College in New York.
Gumbs has a strong love for fashion and refers to herself as a trendsetter. Additionally, not only was New York chosen for educational purposes but also because she wanted to live in one of the fashion capitals of the world.
She recalled that her love for fashion began with the cartoon, ‘Braceface’. “It’s an odd story how I first fell in love with fashion. I distinctly remember being in seventh grade when ABC network’s cartoon
‘Braceface’ began airing. Every Saturday morning I’d watch the show and, for some reason, I was attracted to the way the characters were drawn. I would draw the characters and somewhere along the line I began drawing my own clothing designs on them. And from there I began sketching fashion,” she said.
She has also started her own company, JuluStyles, which is a service about styling for the everyday woman.
“It’s less about fashion and more about refining your personal style to portray the individual that you are. People remember you by what you wear and present yourself, and JuluStyles is here to help you maximise the level of your first impressions.
The company offers personal shopping, style consultations, styling for photo and video shoots, as well as ordering services.
Gumbs said fashion is everything.
“Arguably, clothing is the most important necessity. You can be hungry and live on the streets but I bet you’d have clothes on your back. Designers just take the idea of clothing to another level; to what we know as fashion. And because of this, we’re able to have fun with our clothing.
It gives you the ability to transform into whoever you want to be. The feeling of looking how you feel is just overall empowering,” she said. In terms of fashion in St. Kitts, she said it could be depressing at times.
“There are a few people whose style is inspiring, and I think that’s exactly the problem. Kittitians are more focused on fashion trends rather than style. The saying, ‘Everything isn’t for everybody’, applies here because no one person can look good in every trend that pops up. It’s all about knowing what works for you and exploiting it, which is a philosophy I promote on my JuluStyles Facebook page.”
SKNVibes asked JuluStyles to list 10 items she thinks every woman must have in their wardrobe:
1. The LBD - the little black dress is the go-to dress. It’s the perfect blank canvas to transform to suit whatever the occasion may be. The next time you’re at work, in church or even a night out on the town, observe what everyone’s wearing and I bet there’s an LBD somewhere.
2. White blouse and tee - The blouse doesn’t have to necessarily be a button-up but can be stylized with a bow or some other eye-catching design. It’s similar to the LBD because it’s easily transformed.
3. Blazer - preferably in a neutral tone like taupe, navy or black. Blazers make the difference between taking a casual look to professional, or a day look to night.
4. Dark denim jeans - these should be a staple in every single woman’s wardrobe. Find a pair that accentuate your curves favorably, and discover the limitless array of looks you can create.
5. Pencil skirt - like the LBD and white shirt, it serves as a great base for any look you want to achieve.
6. Diamond stud earrings - style should be timeless and diamond studs take the guess work out of determining the appropriateness of your earrings. Investing in a modest-sized pair will add a touch of class to any outfit and can be worn daily. Remember, they’re a girl’s best friend.
7. Leather belt - two of these in black and brown. Those colors are as basic as it gets and every woman has black and brown shoes -if you don’t, you’ve got some evaluating to do. Not only do belts keep your pants up but they complete an outfit. The overall impression they leave is “polished”, and leather is a guaranteed investment.
8. Leather bag - again in the same colors as your belts and to serve the same purposes. Though the convention of your shoes, bag and belt having to match is dying, it’s always useful to have all three to make getting dressed effortless.
9. Perfect underwear - while what you wear for the world to see is important, what you wear under is even more important. Ill-fitting underwear can make a great outfit look horrible; nothing looks worse than a bra that sits high in the back or tight panties. Find a brand and the size that fits and stick with it. A body shaper/smoother is also a great investment.
10. Evening bag - whether gold, silver or the non-basic metallics like bronze, every woman needs an evening bag, preferably a clutch, for those nights or occasions she wants to dress up. In addition to your evening clutch, having the matching shoes and jewelry is a must! Mixing metallics is a no-no unless the item is made in multiple tones (for instance two-toned jewelry).
Bonus item!
Sexy pumps - for those occasions when you want to put your best foot forward or just need to feel good about yourself. Your pumps can be stilettos or wedge heels, whatever suits your taste.
