Fashion experts have identified the key pieces every woman should have in their wardrobe

Fashion experts have identified the five key pieces of clothing every woman should have in their wardrobe.

Designers at the fashion house which has dressed Yasmin Le Bon, Emma Watson and Amanda Holden spent months examining trends from the last nine decades to reveal the five key pieces.

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The essentials consist of a smart white shirt, a confidence-boosting dress, a 'boyfriend' jumper, a sophisticated pencil skirt and a pair of wide-leg trousers.

The ultimate list of wardrobe essentials was put together by Winser London, who created the 'Miracle' dress, inspired by Grace Kelly.

Winser London Design Director, Jayne Cady, said: "A dress is an outfit in its own right - the easiest and quickest way to get dressed and look on point.

"If I had only one dress in my wardrobe, this would be it. The collar and shape of this dress has a slight retro feel, evoking the style of Golden Age Hollywood stars such as Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn."

Coco chic

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Since the 1800s, black was seen as a colour only worn for mourning, but in the 1920s, the 'little black dress' was born - and perfected by Coco Chanel.

Her 1926 version of the dress, often worn with a string of pearls, was described by Vogue as "the frock that all the world will wear."

Also inspired by the classic cuts of Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent, a plain white shirt is a staple for both the office and evening-wear.

And when paired with a neat pencil skirt, it creates an outfit guaranteed to get results.

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The Winser London pencil skirt was based on the silhouette of Marilyn Monroe, and is one of the first building blocks women will use to create a simple, smart wardrobe.

It was first introduced by Christian Dior in 1954, and is as relevant today as when it was first revealed to stunned fashion experts.

This Morning presenter Holly Willoughby is a fan of both Winser London's pencil skirt and the accompanying white shirt.

Woollen wear

Coco Chanel's influence can also be felt in the classic boyfriend jumper.

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Prior to the 1920s, knitwear and jersey was seen as strictly for military or agricultural use.

But the visionary designer once again bucked trends, and reworked the material into dresses, twinsets and jumpers.

And in ready-to-wear lines, the 'boyfriend' term is affixed to any item of women's clothing which has been adapted from a corresponding men's garment.

The fifth and final item every woman needs in her wardrobe is a pair of wide-leg trousers.

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Jayne Cady added:; "Wearing a glamorous pair of trousers allows you to feel relaxed, confident and sexy.

"Inspired by Lauren Bacall, these fluid trousers make a woman walk in a more sensual way.

"For those women who are not body confident, this cut is much easier to wear than a skinny design."

"With these five staple items, women will be able to mix and match to create dozens of stunning outfits, each one with its own chic elegance."