Summer is here, and with the change of season comes the urge to completely change your wardrobe. After all, fashion magazines are all about What's Hot Now, and What You Need for Summer, and of ccourse NONE of the things on their lists will last beyond the season and most of them will never leave your closet.

To that I say, bah. Most of what you need for summer is probably right in your closet already.

Let's start with some guidelines: summer basics need to be easy, not trendy (need I remind anyone of the Leggings Fiasco of Winter 2008? I thought not). Look for pieces that are washable, either by hand or in the machine; this will save you the hassle and expense of dry cleaning, as well as helping the environment (and we're all more conscious about the environment in the summer, when we're OUTSIDE all the time). Look for pieces that can work together, and that will move freely from work to weekend. And look for colors and shapes that you love, because the idea is that you will wear them ALL THE TIME.

Seriously.