How to get 120 outfits from 20 pieces: Stylist shares the wardrobe essentials you need to invest in

If you’ve ever looked into your full wardrobe and thought ‘I’ve got nothing to wear’, you’re not alone.

But sometimes it’s not about having more clothes, but about having the right pieces that can work together in a multitude of outfits.

With this in mind, celebrity stylist, Rosie McKay, revealed to FEMAIL the 20 pieces you should own that can create as many as 120 different outfits.

‘I want to show women that you don’t need a lot of clothes, you just need clothes you can wear in a lot of ways,’ Rosie – who has recently authored a style e-guide on the subject – told Daily Mail Australia. 

Celebrity stylist, Rosie McKay (pictured), revealed to FEMAIL the 20 pieces you should own that can create as many as 120 different outfits

Rosie said the 20-piece capsule collection she has created includes 'three styles of jacket, three styles of tops, three styles of pants, one skirt, two dresses, three pairs of shoes and five accessories including a bag, sunglasses, belt and jewellery

Rosie said the 20-piece capsule collection she has created includes ‘three styles of jacket, three styles of tops, three styles of pants, one skirt, two dresses, three pairs of shoes and five accessories including a bag, sunglasses, belt and jewellery

So what are the 20 pieces every woman should own? 

What are the 20 pieces in the capsule collection? 

Three styles of jacket.

Three styles of tops.

Three styles of pants 1 skirt 2 dresses.

Three pairs of shoes.

Five accessories including bag, sunglasses, belt and jewellery.

Rosie said the 20-piece capsule collection she has created includes ‘three styles of jacket, three styles of tops, three styles of pants, one skirt, two dresses, three pairs of shoes and five accessories including a bag, sunglasses, belt and jewellery.

‘These are what you need to create what I like to call your “classic core wardrobe”,’ Rosie said.

‘These are timeless pieces that work from season to season, can easily be replaced and will always feel “in fashion”.’

One of the pieces the stylist recommends you invest in is a trench coat, which can be adapted to be worn for the office, weekend and a night out with other core classic wardrobe pieces.

‘One look you could wear is your trench coat with a white shirt, tailored trousers, belt, pumps, sunglasses, gold accessories and a bag,’ Rosie said.

‘Alternatively, you could pair it with a stripey top, tailored trousers, a belt, white sneakers, sunglasses, gold accessories and a bag.’

Her third option for this outfit is with a printed dress, a belt, boots, sunglasses, gold accessories and a bag. 

Rosie (pictured) said it's more important to invest in timeless pieces, rather than trend-driven outfits bought on the run, which often don't go with anything you have in your wardrobe

Rosie (pictured) said it's more important to invest in timeless pieces, rather than trend-driven outfits bought on the run, which often don't go with anything you have in your wardrobe

Rosie (pictured) said it’s more important to invest in timeless pieces, rather than trend-driven outfits bought on the run, which often don’t go with anything you have in your wardrobe

‘A common request from my personal styling clients is that people want to feel effortlessly put together,’ Rosie said.

‘This is really simple to achieve if you use the KISS theory (keep it simple, stupid) and don’t buy too much on the run.

‘So often, women end up with too many trend-driven pieces in their wardrobe, which don’t work together or with the other items in their wardrobe.

‘This makes it hard to get dressed quickly, meaning women will so often just throw something they don’t particularly love on with the attitude of “this will do”.’

'Changing up your shoes is the easiest way to make the outfit look different each time,' Rosie said

‘Changing up your shoes is the easiest way to make the outfit look different each time,’ Rosie said

The stylist – who has worked with the likes of Jesinta Franklin in the past – admitted that there are many ways to make the same or similar outfits look different, but there are three main tips: 

‘Changing up your shoes is the easiest way to make the outfit look different each time,’ Rosie said.

Shoes give you an option to make a nod to passing fashion trends, while keeping your outfit classic

Shoes give you an option to make a nod to passing fashion trends, while keeping your outfit classic

‘Swapping a statement high heel for a sleek white sneaker will easily dress down a pair of trousers or a cocktail dress. And adding a coloured or patterned shoe will allow you to play with seasonal trends.’

The second thing you can do to make an outfit look different is experiment with the styling:

‘By tying a white shirt in a knot and showing a bit of skin instead of tucking it into the trousers, you instantly put a playful spin on the entire look,’ she said.

‘Or even completely buttoning up a white shirt as opposed to leaving the buttons undone will give you an entirely different outfit.’

The stylist also recommends giving the sleeve of your T-shirt a roll up, or ‘only half tucking your top to add a bit of a cool fashion edge’.

‘Simple little tweaks like this can change your whole look without you needing to buy anything new,’ she added.

'By tying a white shirt in a knot and showing a bit of skin instead of tucking it into the trousers, you instantly put a playful spin on the entire look,' Rosie (pictured) said

‘By tying a white shirt in a knot and showing a bit of skin instead of tucking it into the trousers, you instantly put a playful spin on the entire look,’ Rosie (pictured) said

The stylist also recommends giving the sleeve of your T-shirt a roll up, or 'only half tucking your top to add a bit of a cool fashion edge'

The stylist also recommends giving the sleeve of your T-shirt a roll up, or 'only half tucking your top to add a bit of a cool fashion edge'

The stylist also recommends giving the sleeve of your T-shirt a roll up, or ‘only half tucking your top to add a bit of a cool fashion edge’

Lastly, the stylist said the power of a new season accessory can make even the most withered of outfits sparkle again:

‘Adding on-trend jewellery or a bag is a really easy way to keep your style fresh,’ she said.

‘For example, teaming a classic white tee with a shell choker and layered gold pendant necklaces will make it feel really current.

‘Alternatively, incorporate a new bag shape like the top handle bag or woven circle bag.’

Rosie McKay is a Sydney-based stylist and founder of the personal styling platform, My Virtual Stylist. For more information on her new style e-guide, please click here.    

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