10 Items Every Woman Must Own To Enhance Their Style

African fashion is growing in leaps and bounds, and is reaching out to influence the world with its beauty and style. New designers are cropping up every day, and you continuously find African influences paraded on catwalks everywhere. While African fashion is unique unto itself, there are some things that every woman should own.These are staple items that can be transformed from one look to another and blended with print or worn with accessories which makes them irreplaceable. This list of must haves can take even that incredible African style to the next level.

The Tailored Black Blazer
A piece that every woman on the face of the planet should own is the basic black blazer. Not only is it super feminine, but also classy. The blazer should be fitted well, and if it is, suits any body type quite well. This piece is very versatile and can be dressed up or down to infinity with accessories.For instance, the black blazer can be paired with a dress or jeans. Jewelry or a scarf can set it apart for an evening out, or it can be dressed down conservatively to business wear. Check out an awesome example of the classic blazer here.

A Pair of Red Flats
Most women, when choosing a pair of economical flats, go with the typical black leather. However, that little splash of red truly makes an otherwise ordinary outfit pop. Work them with a wrap sundress, or pair them up with your new black blazer. These shoes are made to make your fashion statement.

Roar with a Leopard Print Scarf
A scarf can go with nearly any outfit. Whether you’re wearing a simple dress or just a plain t-shirt, this accessory really adds a little personality to the whole ensemble.

Statement Accessory
Every lady needs a statement accessory that really lets others know what she’s all about. Whether a necklace or another piece of timeless jewelry, that statement piece lends a very feminine, well-put-together appearance.

The Striped Shirt
The striped shirt is most definitely a classic, and it’s making its way back around to the fashion forefront again. While all stripes are classy, ladies who wish to minimize their waistline will want to stick with vertical stripes. This shirt can be worn in any number of ways. Pair it with jeans or tuck it underneath a blazer; it looks great regardless.

The Timeless Little Black Dress
It’s true. The little black dress is a timeless fashion piece that never goes out of style. However, you don’t want to have the exact same little black dress as every other lady in the room, so go out of your way to make a dress your own. Choosing one with an interesting embellishment is best, such as a flashy belt or one with only one sleeve. Get the right fit, and your little black dress will serve you well.InStyle has a great example of the little black dress with that extra pizzazz.

Classy Tights
Every girl has that dress that she loves but can’t wear as often as she’d like because it’s just a little too short for everyday consumption. Not anymore. Get a pair of black opaque tights, and work that dress like never before. Plus, these kinds of tights slim the look of your leg.

Go for the Gold with Your Watch
You need a watch. Why not make it an accessory as well as a way to tell the time? There’s no reason that you shouldn’t. Perhaps you should try an oversized watch so that it doubles as a bracelet. Although many precious metals are trendy at the moment, a gold watch really makes an outfit look a cut above the rest.

It’s All in the Coat
A coat is a piece that you really want to put a little investment into. You’ll be able to wear it time and again, so you want to make sure that you choose wisely. A trench coat is an excellent piece that helps to promote an hourglass look. Also, it can be worn for any event from a night on the town to a walk in the park. Other great coat options are parkas which New Look has a great range of. These jackets are often hooded, sometimes with a fur trim.

Your Favorite Jeans
When choosing your jeans, shoot for the flared leg look. This particular style is flattering to nearly everyone regardless of height or girth. A pair of these with a high waist is particularly useful to women who are trying to enhance their curves while shrinking their waists.

As you look through the above items that every woman should own, think of the myriad of ways that African fashion can improve on the classic go-to pieces..

Written by Julia Kirk