The great wardrobe classics

Classics to invest in

 
Welcome to the Good Housekeeping fashion guide to looks that will never go out of style. These are the fashion favourites we should all have in our wardrobe, the celebrated women who wore them and the best way to wear them now.

The trench coat

 
Invented for British Army officers  by Thomas Burberry before World War 1, the trench coat has been adopted by stylish women the world over. Jackie Kennedy Onassis captured the effortless chic every woman wants, returning to the trench coat over several decades

Image: trench coat, Gap 

It\'s in the detail

 
Trench coat with leather belt, £150

Sizes 8 to 18,

In Wear

020 8871 2155

Check it out

 
Trench coat with check lining, £795

Sizes 6 to 14,

Burberry London

0700 078 5676

Style on a budget

 
Trench coat, £79

Sizes 8 to 18,

Principles

0870 122 8802

The floral dress

 
Feminity and flowers are a fashion perennial. What could be prettier than a well-cut frock adorned with blooms? Grace Kelly is just one of the legendary fans of the full-skirted ‘50s floral dress.

Image: Whistles, Autumn / Winter 2008 

Dressed up

 
Dress £129

Sizes 6 to 16,

LK Bennett

0844 581 5881

Grown up dressing

 
Dress £89

Sizes 8 to 20,

Boden

0845 677 5000

Glam it up

 
Dress £45

Sizes 8 to 20,

Wallis

0845 121 4520

The masculine feminine mix

 
This has long been one of fashion\'s favourite games. Katherine Hepburn popularised the mannish pant worn with a pretty blouse and tailored jacket in the ‘30s and it\'s a look we have loved ever since.

Image: Jaeger, Autumn / Winter 2008 

In black & white

 
Silk blouse £269
Sizes 6 to 16,
Nicole Farhi
020 7499 8366

Wool trousers £150
Sizes 8 to 16,
Malene Birger
020 8960 6161

Elasticated belt £49
Sizes 1 to 5
Nicole Farhi

Classic with a twist

 
Blouse £99
Sizes 6 to 16,
LK Bennett
0844 581 5881

Wool trousers £140
Sizes 8 to 18,
Daks
0800 288188

Ombre patent belt £85
Sizes 10 to 20,
Gil Bret
020 7411 0322

Simply stylish

 
Blouse £150
Sizes 8 to 16,
Malene Birger
020 8960 6161

Trousers £69
Sizes 8 to 18,
Hobbs
020 7586 5550

Belt £35
Sizes 10 to 20,
Gil Bret
020 7411 0322

The white shirt

 
Nothing frames the female face like a crisp white shirt, as legions of stars such as the incomparable Ingrid Bergman have found. The variations of this fashion classics are infinite.

Nipped-in waist

 
Drawstring shirt £75
Sizes 10 to 20,
Gil Bret
020 7411 0322

Wrap it up

 
Wrap shirt £75
Sizes 8 to 18,
Viyella
020 7200 2990

Keep it simple

 
Shirt £75
Sizes 8 to 18,
Set
020 7580 1474

The tuxedo

 
The sharp tailoring of a man\'s tuxedo, with its dramatic black and white, makes any woman who wears it stand out, as Marlene Dietrich knew decades before the legendary Yves Saint Laurent rediscovered ‘le smoking\' in the ‘60s

Image: Jaeger, Autumn / Winter 2008 

Tuxedo dress

 
Tuxedo-style wrap dress £327
Sizes 6 to 16,
Diane Von Furstenberg
020 7499 0888

Classic tailoring

 
Tuxedo jacket £395
Trousers £165
Sizes 36 to 44,
Agnes B
020 7520 6914

Blouse £250
Sizes 8 to 18,
Jaeger Black
0845 051 0063

Necklace £60
Malene Birger
020 8960 6161

Everyday glamour

 
Tuxedo jacket £65
Trousers £40
Sizes 8 to 20,
Wallis
0845 121 4520

Silk blouse £55
Sizes 8 to 18,
Principles
0870 122 8802

The little black dress

 
Coco Chanel is said to have invented it, and Audrey Hepburn immortalised it in ‘Breakfast at Tiffany\'s\' ... The LBD is fashion\'s number one staple.

Image: Karen Millen, Autumn / Winter 2008 

Show off curves

 
Dress £130
Sizes 8 to 18,
Viyella
020 7200 2990

Add a belt

Belted dress £250
Sizes 8 to 18,
Daks
0800 288188

Simple chic

 
Dress £200
Sizes 8 to 16,
Malene Birger
020 8960 6161