Most of us have one. A budget that is. Most of us have a spring and summer as well… unless we live in Florida—which has only two seasons, summer and January. Independent of your budget or where you live, anyone can add style to their wardrobe—you just need to have the basics and then know which pieces to purchase for the new season.

The easiest and most cost-effective way to do this is to build a capsule wardrobe: a handful of carefully selected pieces that can be mixed and matched to make different outfits. The key element for women in business is a great black suit. If you don’t wear black, any neutral color will do. Black is great because most of us have accessories that work back to black. It’s also the easiest to find, if not the most slimming. For those who stay at home or work from home, a pair of black twill pants and a novelty cropped jacket are perfect staples. We’re going to assume you already have these things in your closet, along with a classic white tee.

Below we’ve recommended some fun (and some must-have) pieces to buy as the weather gets warmer. Whether you’ve got $500 to spend or $3000, this guide will help you get prepared. If you already have any of these items, just add something from the next category up.

$500

This category is the base for all of the price points that follow it.

· Tunic top ’a la Tory Burch in a geometric pattern

· Tank or tee in the newest yellow. Try Michael Stars.

· Tweed or herringbone pants for business, casual white pants for home based

· High-waist, wide-leg jeans in dark wash

· Love Quotes scarf from Pink Mascara. Hilary Duff and Cameron Diaz love them!

· Color-block shoes for fun.

$1,500

At this price point you can add more pieces to your capsule wardrobe or upgrade the quality of your items.

· Silk wrap blouse in a jewel tone

· Short dress to wear with leggings in spring and bare-legged in summer

· Unconstructed cardigan to wear open or belted

· Black, high-waist pencil skirt. Milly makes the perfect one.

· Trench coat in metallic fabrication. Karen Millen has a great selection.

· Stiletto pump in glossy gray

· Cuff bracelet with lots of bling

$3,000

This may sound like a lot of money, and it is. However, if you choose to upgrade the quality of the clothing you buy, it’s not hard to spend this amount.

· Blouson style top to wear under suiting or with jeans [http://activeendeavors.com/product/1/2/5398/]

· Tissue weight cashmere sweater in a delicious citrus color from J. Crew

· Wrap dress (Prints for boyish figures, solids for voluptuous bodies)

· Cropped ladylike jacket to pair with black skirt or jeans

· Clutch style handbag with a bow

· Gladiator style sandals in a bright color

· Basic sports pieces from Adidas by Stella McCartney . These are great for home based, days off, or the gym.

· Black vinyl motorcycle jacket (Surely Natalie Wood would have worn one in Rebel Without a Cause had they been in fashion then.)

With the cost of clothing forever on the rise, we need to get the most out of each item we buy. Make sure the clothes you choose are classic, but not necessarily conservative. Try not to go too trendy in terms of embellishments or anything that will date clothing down the road (unless you can afford to wear something for only one or two seasons).

Two great websites for designer clothes at discounted prices are swayandcake.com and tobi.com. Shop for items that can be used for work and play based on what you pair them with. Mix and match. Think capsule wardrobe!