Photos via Talbots

Going back to work after a stretch at home with the kids can be stressful. Streamline your mornings with a wardrobe of basic, easy-to-style pieces that can be dressed up or down depending on what your week holds. Stick with neutral colors for maximum flexibility — these pieces are the building blocks, not the showpieces. Choose a silhouette that works for your figure and your style; you’re using these pieces to create a consistent, coherent look.

What do you need in your closet? Start with these five pieces and work from there.

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The midi skirt has an irresistible appeal; long enough to cover all your lady parts, but not so long that you’ll step on it or get tangled in it. If you’re looking for a chic skirt option for the office, the midi is it.

But the midi skirt can be difficult to wear — style it wrong and you’ll look like you’re on your way to the convent. Here are three simple ways to make a midi look hip.

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I love a little bling; I’m all about wearing sequins for the school drop and piling on the necklaces for a grocery store run. But I am baffled by the ongoing popularity of embellished jeans.

Unless you are an actual rodeo queen, you do not need all that going on behind you. And if you are an actual rodeo queen, I have to wonder if it’s really comfortable to ride a horse with your backside all bedazzled like that.

Let’s go in for a closer look, shall we?

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Recently at The Working Closet Facebook page (did you know that The Working Closet had a Facebook page? Well now you do!), Shannon mentioned that she doesn’t own a blouse. “Can you tell I never go anywhere nice?” she joked.

But here’s the thing about a blouse: when you’re wearing a blouse — instead of a t-shirt, for example — it makes everywhere you go somewhere nice.

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Color is big for spring — always, of course, but this year’s colors are some of my favorites, a mix of preppy pinks and blues and greens, paired with navy and white stripes and polka dots. It makes me want to give away all of my black pieces and start fresh.

Color can be daunting, especially if you’re a neutrals girl at heart (as I am). Neutrals are safe and classic, while color — especially bright hues — can feel a little over-the-top. But you can make a vibrant shade work with a neutral closet; the trick is to let the color speak for itself.

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I’m not a big fan of New Year’s resolutions, largely because by the end of two weeks of everyone who lives in my house home from work/school and with me all the time, I’m pretty much resolving to go live in a hermitage and not talk to another person for the next 365 days. It’s hard to be rational after the holidays, people.

I do, however, like the “fresh start” feeling January brings, and I typically take a moment around the new year to think about my wardrobe. I don’t know if it’s because I’ve been hiding in my closet for the past week, staring at my clothes while I try to get a little peace and quiet, or if it’s because all the stores are rolling out their spring lines, but I’m ready for a sartorial change this new year. I don’t have the energy to overhaul my whole look, though, so I’ve decided to do something simple and make 2012 the Year of Color.

I own a lot of great neutral pieces, bought with careful thought and focused intent; neutrals are practical and versatile and are easy to mix and match with everything. Recently, though, I’ve started to notice that my winter wardrobe options consist almost entirely of neutrals that I’m combining with … other neutrals. Which is a little boring, frankly.

I’m looking for ways to inject color into my existing wardrobe, for pieces that I can pair with my neutrals. I recently bought a pair of red skinny jeans and I’m still a little stunned by how versatile they are — and also by how many navy and black tops I own. I’m currently on the lookout for a bright green cardigan and a hot pink maxi skirt, among other things, both of which will liven up my navy-and-black closet considerably.

What’s your New Year’s style resolution? On Friday, we’ll talk about strategies for making over-the-top color work with your classic basics. It’s easy, I promise.

Photo via Kate Spade New York

Do you know about Birchbox? This may truly be my Favorite Thing of 2011.

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Jane is 15 weeks pregnant with baby #3. “I loaned all of my maternity clothes to a good friend in the summer,” she writes, “and she’s due in about 3-4 weeks. I’m at the point where I can’t use the belly band much longer because my regular jeans are starting to feel uncomfortable everywhere, not just in the waist/hip area that I can’t button or zip. I can do without tops for now…I borrowed some from another friend, and I can make do with my cardigans to cover up the bump that is slowly emerging.

But I feel very strongly about having one good pair of jeans. I think I have two in my stash (on loan to the girlfriend), and I love them both. But alas, I don’t have them. Should I just stick it out until she has her baby or should I bite the bullet and buy a new pair? I tried a pair of full-panel maternity boot-cuts at GAP maternity, and I gasped — they looked so amazing and felt soooooo comfortable. But it was about $70 at the store. Right now, as I am typing this email, there is an online promotion for 40% off your purchase, and the jeans would be just under $40. that’s still a lot of money to me, ESPECIALLY for one item of maternity wear.

“What should I do? Any other cheap/free alternatives come to mind?”

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It’s party time, which means that most of us are standing in the closet wondering what the hell to wear to the next gathering. Sometimes, we’ve got the big picture down but are lost when it comes to the details. Specifically, what to wear on our legs.

“I’m going to a holiday party in a few weeks,” writes Laura, “and have a great sleeveless, knee length black wrap dress that I’m going to wear. What kind of hosiery and shoe style would be appropriate this season–not crazy about the vibrant colored tight look. As an additional note, we live near Chicago so it’s quite cold already. Any advice is appreciated.”

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Thanksgiving totally snuck up on me this year — I looked at my calendar on Monday and nearly fell over dead because how is it Thanksgiving already??? OMG.

(I love Thanksgiving; it’s my favorite holiday. Lots of eating and no gifts — hooray!)

I’m a big fan of getting dressed up for Thanksgiving dinner, but I know not everyone is. I am totally opposed to showing up at the table in your elastic waist yoga pants, though. I promise you’ll feel more thankful if you put on something more chic than what you wear to pick the kids up at school.

Fortunately, that’s an easy thing to do.

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