I am all about building a basic wardrobe; I really believe that when you have a core set of pieces that fit your body and work for your lifestyle, you can look great for any occasion. And while there are universal core pieces, plus-size women have specific needs for their basics wardrobe.

Let's talk about the five things you MUST have in your plus-size closet.

A good bra. When your breasts are drooping, your whole top half looks heavier, no matter what size you are. Get yourself fitted for a bra (Nordstrom has great bra fitting services, or you can look for a boutique in your area). Be prepared to spend some money; a really great bra can be expensive. But the difference it will make in your silhouette is worth every dime.

A wrap sweater or blouse (or both). Plus size women are blessed with great curves, but often cover them up under over sized tops for fear that anything form-fitting will make them look bigger. Au contraire, my curvy friends! A big loose sweater makes you look bigger, while something that skims the body and shows your curves makes you look curvy. I don't mean that you should opt for skin tight on top, but look for wrap blouses and sweaters that clearly delineate your waist; look also for V necklines that extend your neck and draw attention to your face.

A pair of mid-rise, straight leg jeans, in a dark rinse. Jeans should fit properly through the hips and thighs; you can always have the waist taken in, but you can't have the thighs let out. The mid rise (just below the belly button) emphasizes your waist and lengthens your legs, while the dark rinse draws the eye up. Look for jeans that fall straight from the widest part of your hips; anything that tapers will make you look like an ice cream cone. Steer clear of cropped jeans--in fact, if you can, go for something that you can wear with a little heel, for even more length.

A slim skirt OR a great pair of flat front trousers (or, again, both). The slim skirt, like the wrap top, may seem counter intuitive, but when you wear a plus size, MORE is not necessarily BETTER. A full A-line skirt will indeed cover your hips and thighs, but the extra volume will also make them look larger than they really are. Opt instead for a slim skirt, one that falls straight from the widest part of your hips, or for a VERY slight A line, something with no volume to speak of. If you prefer pants, look for a flat front (that goes for everyone, no matter what size you wear--the pleated pant is a crime against nature, really). As with the jeans, look for a longer, wide leg, in a dark color.

A proper fitting winter coat. Too often, women put all their effort into a great fitting outfit, only to cover it with a gigantic coat. Go the extra mile and find a coat that really fits. How do you know if your coat fits properly? You can button it, for starters, without it pulling or gaping across the chest. It will also fit through the shoulders, with the shoulder seam actually AT your natural shoulder (not somewhere between your shoulder and your elbow). The sleeves will hit you no lower than where your thumb joins your palm, when you stand with your arms at your sides. What should you look for style-wise? Look for a coat with a long line and a V-shape at the neckline, rather than something with a very strongly defined waist. When you wear the coat open, it will create a long line; when you button it, the lapels will draw the focus up to your face. Three quarter length (just above the knee) is typically the most flattering, no matter what your height. Avoid puffy denim or fur-trimmed hoods, which just add bulk.

Coming Sunday: our own JenB takes you shopping, in the US and Canada. Pack your bags!

To tide you over until then, some plus-size fashion inspiration from the blogs:

The Budget Fashionista gives us the best and worst from the Emmy's red carpet.

Renae at Thick Misses has the scoop on Jennifer Hudson's role in the forthcoming Sex and the City movie.

Kiki at Project: Blog has the low-down on red for fall (shoes and lips, specifically).

And finally, this: Figure magazine is looking for bloggers. But they're not soliciting applications, they are asking for NOMINATIONS. Who would YOU like to see writing about plus-size fashion? Skip on over an nominate your favorite blogger, or check out the great blogs already on the list.

Susan Wagner writes about fashion at Friday Style and The Working Closet, and about everything else at Friday Playdate. For the next ten days, she's only wearing ten things from her closet; you can see them here and read about it here.