GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. -- Mall of America trend specialist Sara Rogers is also a model who knows how to put her wardrobe dollars where they count.

"I put as much as I can afford on classic pieces," said Rogers.  If she opts for "trendy," it's in a lower-priced acessory, such as a neon-colored belt.

Building that basic wardrobe of classics doesn't have to take a lot of money for women or men.

For the guys, Rogers suggests a couple of suits in black or grey and 5 or 6 shirts should do the trick.  For women, you can build a series of looks off one basic dress.

For that, Rogers says an overlooked neutral is navy, which can serve as a backdrop for a variety of colors.  Pulling it all together for women also includes a pair of neutral shoes in a color close to your skin tone.  Rogers says that draws the eyes upward and allow for more varied looks.

All of the women's clothing and shoes came from Ann Taylor at Mall of America.  The blue print dress used for the base of the outfits cost $88.00.  The most expensive piece was the navy jacket at $198.00.

The men's clothing came from Express at Mall of America.  The grey suit used for the base of the outfits was $298.   The shoes came from Steve Madden at Mall of America. 

(Copyright 2012 by KARE. All rights reserved.)