5 Key Pieces That Will Reinvent Your Wardrobe for 2025

These mix-and-match classics can be dressed up or down for any occasion

Cindy Weber-Cleary,

AARP

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Published February 04, 2025

Classic women's outfit collection includes a stylish blazer, a versatile top, tailored pants, and fashion wear

Left to right: J. Crew New Icon Trench in Vintage Khaki; NYDJ Wide Leg Pants in Black; L.L. Bean’s Women’s Cotton/Cashmere Sweater, Crewneck in Classic Navy; Lands’ End Women's Long Sleeve No Iron Special Edition Shirt in White; Vince Long-Sleeve Ruched Crewneck Dress in Black.

AARP (J. Crew, Bloomingdales, L.L. Bean, Lands’ End, Neiman Marcus, Getty Images)

I’m usually wary of suggesting what every woman should have in her wardrobe. After all, our lifestyles and locales demand different wardrobe elements. But, I can certainly tell you what the five items are that I can’t live — or travel — without!

These are my must-haves:

A belted neutral lightweight trench coat
A pullover sweater
A black knee-length or midi dress with sleeves
A pair of ivory or black high-waisted trousers
A crisp white cotton shirt

I guarantee that with these five pieces (and a few accessories) you can be well-dressed for almost any occasion.

New Icon trench vintage khaki outwear by J.Crew

J. Crew New Icon Trench in Vintage Khaki.

AARP (J. Crew, 2)

Classic outerwear

Let’s start with the trench. Whether you live in a warm climate or a cold one, a classic, belted trench coat such as this Uniqlo Trench Coat in Beige ($130, uniqlo.com/us) looks good over almost anything you can think of. Pair one like the J. Crew New Icon Trench in Vintage Khaki ($348, jcrew.com) with a black dress and flats, boots or heels. (If it’s freezing outside, layer the coat over a fauxfur or a light down vest.) Add a printed silk scarf, oversized sunglasses and a shoulder bag to a black trench like the Banana Republic Factory Timeless Trench ($115, bananarepublicfactory.gapfactory.com).

Left to right: J. Crew High Rib Pullover Sweater in Wool Blend in Ivory; L.L. Bean’s Women’s Cotton/Cashmere Sweater, Crewneck in Classic Navy.

AARP (J. Crew, L.L. Bean)

Layer up for warmth

Put the trench over a crewneck sweater such as the Banana Republic Merino Blend Crew-Neck Sweater in Cream White ($95, bananarepublic.gap.com) and jeans, or over a white shirt and trousers, and you can’t go wrong. Dress the look up with slingback pumps — or dress it down with cute lace-up white sneakers.

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A wool or cotton sweater in, let’s say, navy blue, such as L.L. Bean’s Women’s Cotton/Cashmere Sweater, Crewneck ($50, llbean.com), spells chic when worn with cream trousers and flats. The same style of sweater in ivory, such as the J. Crew High Rib Pullover Sweater in Wool Blend ($118, jcrew.com), looks great with black pants and black ankle booties or loafers. Either combo is an easy way to dress for work or casual daytime events such as meeting a friend for lunch.

Left to right: Lands’ End Women's Long Sleeve No Iron Special Edition Shirt in White; Talbots Extended Shoulder Boyfriend Shirt in White; Gap Organic Cotton Poplin Classic Shirt in New Off White.

AARP (Lands’ End, Talbots, Gap)

Add a light and bright top

NYDJ Wide Leg Pants in Black

AARP (Bloomingdales, 2)

A crisp white shirt such as the Gap Organic Cotton Poplin Classic Shirt ($29, gap.com) or the Lands’ End Women's Long Sleeve No Iron Special Edition Shirt ($78, landsend.com) and high-waisted trousers in black, such as the Theory Flared Pant in Good Wool ($215, theory.com) or the NYDJ Wide Leg Pants ($119, bloomingdales.com), worn with a narrow leather belt and flats, can be your daily go-to uniform. Ivory trousers such as these Athleta Pinnacle High-Rise Trouser in Bone ($129, athleta.gap.com) are equally versatile. For evenings out, slip on the Talbots Extended Shoulder Boyfriend Shirt in White ($70, talbots.com) — add a statement necklace, switch your flats for comfortable heels, trade your shoulder bag for a clutch — and you’re good to go out to dinner or a cocktail party.

Left to right: Vince Long-Sleeve Ruched Crewneck Dress in Black; Lauren Ralph Lauren Surplice Jersey Dress in Black.

AARP (Neiman Marcus, Macy's)

Finish off with a LBD

A black dress with sleeves in a matte fabric such as wool crepe or jersey such as the Vince Long-Sleeve Ruched Crewneck Dress ($265, neimanmarcus.com), the Calvin Klein Crepe Midi Dress ($195, calvinklein.us) or the Lauren Ralph Lauren Surplice Jersey Dress ($145, macys.com) possesses superpowers. It can go to the office with a shoulder bag and stacked-heel pumps, to the theater with a clutch and a pointy-toed slingback, to a funeral or court (god forbid!), or with understated accessories to a fancy soiree with dangling earrings and strappy-heeled sandals.

Honestly, I could travel internationally for weeks with just these five items (plus undies, sleepwear and some fun accessories) — and you could wear two to four of them on the plane! No need for a carry-on bag besides a tote.

As we get older, the less baggage we have, the better it feels. Presto, change-o!

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Cindy Weber-Cleary is a freelance writer, consultant and on-air fashion expert who has appeared on Oprah, The View, Good Morning America and the Today show. She began her career as a fashion editor at Vogue and was fashion director at InStyle, Glamour and Cosmopolitan.

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