These are the items every woman needs in her summer wardrobe, according to a personal shopper.

Everybody keep calm!

It's FiFi's annual summer shopping checklist!

The new key pieces to add to your wardrobe to take you through to sunshine and summer. (And which pieces are still right to pull out again this season).

What to buy. Why you want it. How to wear it.

Whatever your age. Whatever your shape.

A reminder of the FiFi philosophies:

• Build a wardrobe of what I like to call 'expensive colours' (they look expensive but don't have to be: black, beige, brown, white, navy and khaki).

• Stick to three colours on the body (two is too matchy-match. More than three? Who has the time to style lots of colours every day?).

• Tabletop dressing (keep the attention and focus on the top of the body).

• Try white shoes with… everything.

• Update the basics into new modern shapes.

• And remember don't compromise looking modern by trying to look slim (it's not the end game).

• Wear the fashion!

Watch: Mamamia tries 'Style Maths' with Em Vernem and Basmah Qazi. Post continues after video.

Your summer wardrobe essentials.

A short crop jacket.

Yes, you must have an oversized blazer by now. I've been talking about them for YEARS, so I presume you've got one. Good work.

I'll keep wearing my oversized blazer (actually let's just call it a blazer: slouchy is normal right?).

But this season a short crop jacket looks new and fresh. That's what I have bought and love wearing.

Invest in a crop trench, crop camel jacket, crop denim jacket, crop blazer or even a bomber. Go for a tailored cut, sharp shoulders, in a lighter colour, and an elastic hem.

All these jackets look great with high-waist jeans, high-waist baggy pants and skirts.

Take this crop trench, it's a few years old and still one of my favourite pieces. Image: Instagram/@shopwithfifi

A barn jacket.

Speaking of jackets: it's time to buy a barn jacket.

A whaaat??

It's a utility workman-style jacket. With pockets. Great for summer as it's more casual than a blazer.

You can wear it over a white tee or a simple tank. Go for caramel or brown. A khaki camo jacket is good too.

Try it with baggy pants, any jeans or over a floaty skirt. You'll wear into next winter and beyond. Investing early in a trend gets seasons of wear.

New shape jeans.

They might be barrel. They might baggy. They might peg leg. Wide or straight.

Please update. It's life-changing.

(Skinny jeans are so out they are nearly back in: haha.)

Models look cool in low-rise skinny jeans. Me? I will look as if I never stopped wearing them, eeek!

New shape jeans will transform your life. Especially in white. But also in denim. Make sure they are high waist. Tuck everything in.

Watch as your new shape updates all your old tops, your old blazers and jackets (because you don't need to update every single thing, every season, just one piece will do wonders!).

Wear heels. With flats. With white loafers. With ease.

My new barrel leg jeans and a cool utility vest. Image: Instagram/@shopwithfifi

The vest.

Gives coverage and tailoring of a blazer without arms = cool (in every way).

It can be a waistcoat or a long-line vest.

Loving a utility vest with pockets and zips too. Chic and sophisticated.

You can wear it as a matching set with pants. Wear it over a white tee (a knit in chilly weather) or with nothing under it. Loves jeans but also a flirty skirt or slouchy pants.

Shorts/culottes.

Think of these as short pants. They're for the city and are meant to be sophisticated. Not for the beach!

They should be knee-length. Narrow or pleat front in black/camel/khaki/brown. With a blazer, crop jacket, a shoulder pad tee or matching vest.

Wear them with heels or chic, strappy flat sandals. Not with sneakers. They need to be jooshed up (unless you are on holiday which is a later discussion!).

Baggy pants.

Core piece of your summer wardrobe. Because they go from work to weekend to dinner (easy: just by changing shoes).

They instantly update your old pieces. So your old tight blazer or neat top gets another season!

Go for black, white, brown and khaki (you know the drill).

Love baggy chinos, love baggy black pants, love camel baggy pants. Make sure they are long; they need to puddle over and cover your foot.

Most importantly: Tuck in your tops to create shape so you are not overwhelmed with fabric. They can be linen, cotton, floaty viscose or twill.

Core piece of your summer wardrobe. Image: Instagram/@shopwithfifi

What fashion pieces should you keep wearing?

Or invest in, if you haven't!

All of these pieces will keep going for a few more seasons, I promise.

The skirt.

Make sure it's over the knee or midi. An ankle-length skirt looks wrong to me: very hard to pull off. Unless you are at the beach (show some skin from ankle to shin to break it up, otherwise it's ALL fabric).

An A-line skirt is what to buy. Or a pleat skirt. It's versatile. You can wear them with flats. Or heels. it's day to evening.

A-line looks more casual than a pencil skirt (too jooshy on weekends don't you think?).

The key piece for summer is a white full skirt (channel the Prada runway!).

Keep wearing your denim skirt, pleat midi skirt, khaki wrap skirt and camel utility skirt. They are all here to stay for a few more seasons.

Channel the Prada runway! Image: Instagram/@shopwithfifi.

The long dress.

It could be black, brown or white. Navy is great. So is beige or camel. Love khaki.

Make sure it's long, long, long (mid-shin long!).

And go for a looser shape, strapless or halter-neck. Puff sleeves are great if you want arm coverage.

You want a fit n flare cut as that looks great on everyone. Looks best with flats. If you want height, try a casual mule or a kitten heel (heels can look too done).

Love cotton, linen or chiffon for the evening.

The blazer.

It's your cardigan for summer. It can sit on your shoulders. It should be slouchy but you knew that.

Oversized is the new normal now.

You need a white blazer and you want a camel blazer of course. Navy is great too.

Single-breasted or double it just needs to be slouchy and effortless when undone, it should sit across "the situation".

It's your cardigan for summer. Image: Instagram/@shopwithfifi

Wide-leg pants and white jeans/chinos.

The reason to love them is that they are so versatile. You can wear them anywhere and they will be right.

From BBQs to a weekend breakfast to a summer drink. They always look right. Always chic.

A shoulder pad tee.

It's all I actually wear in summer (I have 4!). They give a good structure. They make a statement. They give good arms.

Hint: Buy in every (non) colour!

A statement white tee.

Gives good muffin arm coverage (I should know). Looks dramatic but is still casual, usually in a stiff, non-clingy fabric that holds its shape. And looks sophisticated.

Sooo much more interesting/flattering than a boring tight white T-shirt that shows every nook and cranny.

Oh, and white next to your face takes 10 years off. Just saying.

A blue (striped) shirt.

It's the way to add a pattern and colour to your neutral wardrobe.

Yes, stripes are a FiFi-approved print and blue is all the colour you are allowed to wear. Joking not joking.

The thing is: a light stripe blue shirt loves and adores white. Wants to kiss camel. And marry denim.

Layer under a blazer when it's chilly. Then wear it right into summer on its own with rolled-up sleeves. Gorgeous!

The accessories to buy that are perfect for summer.

Shoes.

You need white anything, white net flats, white strappy flats, strappy heels and a mule or two.

Yes, a pointy flat but you should have those already!

Best to avoid black: that's because white shoes instantly transform any old daggy thing into chic!

Tip: Make sure the tan or white sandals have a white or tan sole. Black soles can be limiting though not wrong: I LOVE these with black dresses, etc.

My obsession with white shoes continues. Image: Instagram/@shopwithfifi

Bags.

A straw basket /shopping tote is so right. Grab a tan/white clutch or a brown suede shoulder bag.

It will break up the neutrals, add texture and it's an easy way to add that sneaky third colour into your outfit.

Don't worry about matching shoes and bags. But it's ok if you do.

Sunglasses.

I love the idea of brown-lens sunglasses. Black suddenly looks too dark when wearing lots of neutrals and browns.

Go for an exaggerated shape for more drama!

After all, everyone is looking at your face.

Now get shopping!

FiFi Milne is a former fashion editor turned personal shopper and expert wardrobe detoxer. Superpower? Predicting fashion so you don't have to.

For more style tips from her, head to her website and follow her on Instagram.

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Feature image: Instagram/@shopwithfifi.