Last week we covered the five essential items for girls this winter 2009. Most people found it to be pretty easy to follow, no matter what their personal style. So this week we have a look at the same idea for the blokes.

Armed with this list, you can boldly enter any store of your choosing and know exactly what you are looking for.

Simply arrest the first half-awake looking shop assistant and say the following: "I am looking for my winter essentials. Please help me find the items on this list." Then thrust this paper in front of the designated assistant and let the magic happen. I am really too good to you.

1. The cardigan

The cardigan is such an essential item for chaps this winter that it deserves the proper noun application of a capital letter. Guys, I don't mind if your cardigan of choice is vintage grandpa or retro '80s. It can be plain and subtle or patterned and gratuitous. But a cardigan there shall be.

I do have some guidelines to assist in terms of choosing the right style. For the well built among you, leave the horizontal stripes for the skinny blokes.

For the office workers, keep the cardigan plain, but funk it up with a skinny tie.

Other than that, you can choose anything that appeals to your own style. For the more fashion-forward guys who embraced the cardigan last year and are looking to move it on a bit this year, you should go for the slightly looser, over-sized approach for 2009. It is less fitted and constructed and more like an over-layer for your outfit. But don't try it with bold colours, keep a neutral palette and all should be good.

2. Big top/small bottom

The overarching silhouette for winter 2009 is very similar to the ladies, but in practical terms, more suited to the boys. This is a combination of quite narrow, fitted trousers in neutral colours (grey is a particular favourite) and bigger, more substantial tops and jackets with subtle volume.

Make sure your wardrobe this season includes a pair or black, grey, green khaki or charcoal narrow tailored trousers — the sharper the better.

Jeans can work for this look if they are skinny and your lifestyle is casual, but the trousers are more universally flattering and can work for the office.

Then combine this with a bolder-shoulder top or jacket. Think shoulder emphasis, dependent on a strong, masculine shoulderline. The jacket can be fitted or loose, but should finish at the trouser top-line, i.e. slightly cropped. A good cropped puffer jacket or biker jacket both fill this brief.

3. High water trousers

This is a slightly risky look for most South African chaps so I will be gentle with you. High water trousers are those with hems that finish at the ankle, rather than on the arch of the foot. It is also a tapered or skinny leg, so that it has a limited circumference at the hem point.

This type of trouser is worn with argyle socks and long, pointed shoes for the fashion crowd. But for those of you who are a bit more conservative, a good quality ankle boot or Chelsea boot will work very well for you when wearing these trousers.

If you keep them dark, and combine with a longer length suit jacket or pea coat, it can be a very elegant look, with just that little bit of flair that tells people that you are up to date and fashion-relevant.

4. Checks or tartan

Now, I don't want to encourage you to go too overboard with this look. May I just suggest an item or two for this season that really works well with the rest of your wardrobe, else you do risk looking a bit like a fashion victim.

One of the easiest and most conventional options is to go for a lumberjack shirt — one part grunge, one part winter 2009. It will keep you warm and on trend.

Alternatively, you can go for more of a check shirt, with the squares slightly more bold and dramatic than a standard work shirt. Think more picnic table cloth and you will get it right.

Finally, I really like the idea of restraining the checks to a pair of narrow trousers — it can be subtle browns and beiges from Woolies or bold red tartans from Viyella or Jay Jays.

If all of this is too frightening for you, limit this fashion trend to a good quality wool scarf or the lining of your jacket.

5. Boots

And then make sure you have a good quality pair of leather ankle boots for the season. They can be wonderful old vintage Cuban heels or an excellent quality, pointy toe, brogue design. But make sure that they are an investment purchase and you can't go wrong.

Additional wardrobe basics for winter:

• 1. V-neck long/short sleeve t-shirts for layering &38212 in black, grey, blue and white.
• 2. V-neck jumper in your favourite colour.
• 3. Black waistcoat.
• 4. White dress shirt — to be worn at all occasions, possibly with the sleeves rolled up.
• 5. Skinny jeans or dark trousers.
• 6. Classic blue jeans.
• 7. Vintage black leather belt and leather or knit tie.
• 8. Leather biker jacket — bought a size smaller than usual.
• 9. Beige trenchcoat.
• 10. Converse All Star trainers.

Now go out there and stock up your wardrobe. It is clean, simple and easy to do.

For more information on Robyn and photos of people in great outfits, go to: http://styleguidecapetown.blogspot.com