Paula Patton in Ralph Lauren

2 of 8
 The Fort Knox
... of evening skirts, this opulent embroidered metallic creation has a mermaid-worthy train (Ralph Lauren Collection). The dressy bottoms in your closet might not be quite as lavish, but you can make them relevant in exactly the same way: with an unexpectedly casual, absolutely basic black cashmere sweater (Ralph Lauren Collection, $898). It's an offhand, unforced evening look that Paula calls "classic through and through: unfussy, easy, beautiful. You'll have it for life." Clutch, Mary Norton.