15 Staples Every Girly Girl Needs In Her Closet (For Under 30 Dollars!)

1. A casual-yet-fancy A-Line dress.

It can be for day or evening, dressed up or down, with heels and delicate jewelry, or a denim jacket and sandals. It’s the perfect dress.

2. A cute wallet.

One of my biggest vices in this life is buying new wallets. I love them — and why no? You have to look at it multiple times a day, and it stores all of your precious, precious monies. But there’s no reason an adorable one (and I am partial to the zipped leather ones) should cost that much money. After all, it’s probably gonna get all gnarly from kicking around your purse anyway.

3. A perfect little garden dress.

If my closet has one serious flaw, it’s that I have about five times as many garden dresses as I would ever need, and almost no functional office clothes. But garden dresses are just the best! They’re sweet, and make even running boring errands on a Saturday feel like the first day of spring. You practically float around the Duane Reade on a cloud of flowery joy. And when it comes to actually going out for a lunch on a patio or in a garden, you’re set. Every girly girl needs one (or ten) of these dresses.

4. A classic nude pump.

If you’re anything like me, you get a pair of nude patent pumps, you wear them within an inch of their precious lives, and then you get a new pair. It’s just the perfect shoe — elegant, simple, neutral, perfect for day-to-night.

5. Something baby blue.

There are very few colors as universally flattering and lovely as a soft, creamy baby blue. And it doesn’t matter what item you get in the color, really (although that top is adorable and also 16 dollars), it just matters that you have at least one staple you can go to when you want to feel put-together and ladylike.

6. A soft pink blouse.

First thing, I don’t think we use the word “blouse” enough in society, and that’s sad. Blouses are great, the flirtatious, sheer, flouncy cousins of the button-down, and there is no reason we shouldn’t be wearing them all the time, particularly when they are a soft, sweet shade of pink.

7. White jeans.

I know that we’re approaching Labor Day, and there are dumb “rules” about wearing white after it. But I’m actually a huge fan of white jeans in fall, with a blue blazer and nude heels or even riding boots. White jeans are more versatile than we give them credit for, on top of being wonderfully feminine and elegant.

8. “Diamond” studs.

The ultimate piece of jewelry with the least amount of effort.

9. A floral kimono.

Wear this around the house, instantly feel luxurious and beautiful and like royalty. Instantly.

10. Something lacy.

Everyone needs something lacy, for those days when you need an extra girly boost, and don’t want to be too complicated about it. Slip this in, immediately feel like a pretty pretty princess.

11. An envelope clutch.

Although they can be scary when carried around because, well, someone could steal it REALLY easily, they are still so adorable. And if you add a little chain strap, it’s the best of both worlds.

12. A tortoise shell headband.

When you want to get your hair out of your face and look incredibly sweet and refined at the same, what better accessory is there than this headband? The answer is none. No accessories.

13. A floral scarf.

A floral scarf is the ultimate “I am too lazy to put on anything but a white tee shirt and jeans, but still want to look pretty and girly” tool. It is the red lipstick of clothes.

14. A beige pencil skirt.

Not only does it make you look put-together with nearly any top, it’s one of the few truly office-ready outfits that still feels supremely girly, particularly when paired with a flowy, tucked-in blouse. The day I ripped my favorite beige pencil skirt after years of heavy use, I resolved to never be without one again. It’s a working girly girl staple.

15. A cute journal.

Why just write down your thoughts, when you could be writing them down in an adorable journal? Keep one of these around, and even your dream analyses will be girly and flawless.