Today, we’ll outline the 16 key pieces you’ll want this month to keep your closet on point.  And for the rest of January, we’ll show you how to mix and match these pieces into key looks that you can recreate with your own wardrobe.

Without further ado, let’s get started.  From left to right, top to bottom, here are the 16 pieces you’ll want to have in your closet this month.

The New Winter Coat
J Crew Stadium Cloth Striped Wool Blend Coat | $400 at Net-a-Porter
January 2012’s answer to the winter coat.  Cozily warm, and just a little bit cheeky with the variegated stripes.

The Statement Denim Jacket
Current/Elliott The Snap Leopard Print Stretch Denim Cropped Jacket | $270 at Net-a-Porter
Make a statement with a fun color or pattern. Here, we’ve chosen the pattern of the season, animal prints, to liven up the classic denim jacket. 

The Wear Everywhere Sweater
Knitted Cable Lurex Jacket | $90 at Topshop
The beauty of this sweater is that it can be dressed up or dressed down.  We love the black trim that gives it a more formal feel - but the pink stripes keep it from getting too serious.

The Classic Parka
Burberry Brit Gabardine Drawstring Parka | $795 at Net-a-Porter
The classic parka, as envisioned by the quintessentially British Burberry Brit.  If you don’t want to shell out for the designer version, there are plenty of more accessible versions at the likes of H&M and Zara.  Mine’s actually a children’s version with a faux fur lining on the hood, unfortunately past season & not available for purchase online.

The Silk Blouse
Blythe Blouse in Silk | $98 at J Crew
It’s the classic silk blouse in a casual camp shirt style.  But what really makes this blouse is the rich, purple color.

The Chunky Knit Vest
Malene Birger Anninas Chunky Knit Wool Cardigan | $395 at Net-a-Porter
Vests (aka gilets) are fantastic layering pieces that are great for transitioning between outdoors & indoors.  And they’re a great way to add texture to your wardrobe without adding unflattering bulk, as you can offset the chunky knit with a slim arm.

The Bright Tank
Curve Hem Tank | $20 at Topshop
Instantly make the winter blues go away with a brightly colored tank. 

The Comfortable Hoodie
T by Alexander Wang Knitted Cotton Hooded Top | $170 at Net-a-Porter
The ultimate in comfort - the hoodie.  We love the neutral grey color, which goes with everything in your wardrobe.

The Colorblocked Dress
Diane von Furstenberg Colorblock Silk Dress | $375 at Net-a-Porter
It’s the perfect work dress - serious, with a splash of bright color.  But paired with the right items, you can wear this dress out to cocktails - or on the weekends.

The Layering Shirt
Chiffon Placket Shirt | $70 at Topshop
Airy chiffon makes this shirt the perfect item for layering.

The Sequinned Dress
Vince Sequin-Embellished Crepe Dress | $495 at Net-a-Porter
We love sequins, period.  And this sequinned dress does double duty - wear it by itself at night, or dress it down with a pair of leggings and wear it during the day.

The Bright Shift Dress
Tuck Neck Clean Shift Dress | $72 at Topshop
Cobalt blue is big for Spring 2012 - and this shift dress works great alone, paired with neutrals, or even paired with other brights.

The Grey Cords
Madewell Rail Straight Cords | $89.50 at Madewell
Why go with the standard camel colored cords when you can sport them in a refreshing grey?

The Bright Denim Pant
Toothpick Jean in Garment Dyed Twill | $108 at J Crew
Colored denim is just what your closet has been coveting.  We love this bright blue color - it’s gorgeous, easy to wear, and it pairs beautifully with spring’s brights.

The Leather Panel Legging
Faux Leather Panel Legging | $56 at Topshop
Consider this piece to be Leggings 2.0 - the original legging made better with (faux) leather panels.  You can dress this piece up and down, and it’s the ultimate in comfort.

The Pleated Skirt
Invert Pleated Flippy Skirt | $60 at Topshop
This A-line pleated skirt is fresh and youthful - but it has enough structure to give it gravitas.