Charlize Theron | Born 7 August 1975 in South Africa, Charlize won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Monster, becoming the first African to win an Academy Award in a major acting category. She received another Academy Award nomination for her performance in North Country. | Photo: Archives | Related: Charlize Theron, satin pants, actress

I woke up the other night in a cold sweat. Panic-stricken as I thought about a must-attend mixer I had the next evening with nothing readily available (or at least that I could recall). Without going into the gory details, the moral of this story is that, as a politically active fashionista, there are certain items that must be stocked in your wardrobe and other resources you have to have at your fingertips to save yourself a little money, a lot of heartache, and mega lost-working-hours of productivity.

As a wardrobe stylist and image consultant with clients all over the country, I have only recently become fully aware of the frenzy that is known as election season: fundraisers, galas, poll watch parties, mixers, debates, television appearances, etc. Make no mistake about it ~ as much as the candidates gear up for this, so should you because it's all about putting your best foot forward. Your party may not win but you want your style prowess and acumen to be remembered for the ages (not that you wore the same dress to two separate functions eight weeks apart). Ready your pens and wallets as we cover the staple items.

Election Season Essentials

(to be kept season after season and interchanged at will):

• Satin pants ~ The best pair I've seen are by Emanuel Ungaro because they're high quality, straight leg with a hem that falls perfectly at the top of the foot, and has no distinguishable markings which makes it remarkably unremarkable (the ideal quality for anything that will get multiple uses)
• Cropped tuxedo jacket ~ It sounds fancier than it really is. Cropped means you were intentional about wearing it and didn't just come from work with whatever you had on; and the tuxedo part shows itself in the traditional satin texture or trademark strip. This jacket will be indispensable for more casual weekend functions that require you to neither appear in a skirt outfit nor jeans.
• Metallic clutches ~ Are you a gold or silver person? Whatever your answer, those are the (minimum of) two clutches you need to own. One clutch should be for formal affairs and the other should work for after-work cocktail hours, etc. If you just can't do without glitter, add that requirement to your more formal clutch.
• Metallic footwear ~ I have done more shoe-shopping than anything else at the 11th hour! Heels are always the right answer plus they are the ultimate in demonstrating femininity. The best option is a no-platform pointy toe or peep-toe high heel. If your feet have long since lost their tolerance for high heels then opt for the D'orsay pump (approx. 1-inch) to give a slight heel without all the discomfort.
• Glitter/shimme

  As a politically active fashionista, there are certain items & resources you must have!

  r tops ~ If you're really active then adjust up but a minimum of four tops. These should vary in terms of short sleeve vs. tank, v-neck vs. crew vs. cowl neck, etc.
• Dressy bottoms ~ as a woman, you can fudge in this category if the material is shinier than everyday wool. We talked about the abovementioned satin pants but add to that at least two or three more bottoms (I have seven different styles of black satin skirts with varying degrees of embellishment or detailing).
• Undergarments ~ this is the second most popular last-minute purchase for clients during election season because clients buy dresses they love but never quite plan out the mechanics of wearing it until it's time to actually put it on. At a minimum, secure a convertible, flesh-colored bra, seamless underwear (thongs are best), pasties (to avoid headlights), and three pair of ultra-sheer tights and stockings.

After these essentials, the world will seem like a much friendly place come election season even if your candidate doesn't sweep the primaries. From here, it's all about personal style and preference, what you want to hide and highlight, your favorite colors, etc.

The second line of defense is a service called Rent the Runway: it allows you to complete your entire look (jewelry, handbag, dress) in one place, have it shipped to you the next day, and then you can return everything when you're done. It's the perfect option if you know what you want and what works for you - I love it!

If all else fails and you're crumbling under the pressure of a black-tie fundraiser and haven't been great about your choices before, let me know and I'll be there in a jiffy with your finishing items!