Women wear a lot of hats such as professional, mother, wife, student — just to name a few. As a member of three of those categories, I know that each comes with special wardrobe requirements. Since few of us belong to just one category, it can all add up to an extensive, and expensive, wardrobe.

That’s why it’s important to buy the right combination of versatile pieces and style-changing accessories to allow you to transition easily from home to work to a night out without having to wear three completely different outfits.

Here are some tips which will allow you to move between your “worlds” with style!

Make a habit of dressing up

Most of the style mistakes I’ve seen are a result of someone being under-dressed for the situation and I honestly can’t recall ever seeing someone flagrantly over-dressed. That’s why I suggest making a practice of dressing up a bit and you’ll not just be ready for a surprise date or meeting, you’ll also get noticed, get lots of compliments, and save money by buying more versatile pieces.

What do I consider ‘dressing up a bit’? You don’t have to wear a prom dress around. Instead, think business casual for the bulk of your wardrobe. Choose slacks or skirts instead of jeans, blouses instead of t-shirts, cardigans or structured jackets instead of hoodies, knee-length lined skirts instead of flimsy mini-skirts, ballet flats instead of sneakers, and so on.

There’s no need to throw out all your super casual clothes, but if they make up the bulk of your wardrobe then you might have problems dressing up when the occasion calls for it.

Change your accessories to change your style

I’m not suggesting that you wear the exact same outfit to the office and then out on a hot date; the idea is to mix things up by changing your accessories, particularly your shoes.

For example, let’s start with a gray, knee-length skirt suit with a turquoise-colored blouse and gray flats. Just switching from the flats to a pair of high heels that you keep in your car can make a huge difference. Then switch from a suit jacket to a feminine cardigan or just leave off that layer completely. Stash the briefcase in the car and just bring a cute clutch with you to dinner. It’s really that easy. If you want, though, you can also change your hair, makeup, and jewelry.

Dressing up doesn’t have to be uncomfortable

I know a lot of women who have told me that they’d love to dress up but that they just aren’t comfortable in more formal attire. If you’re emotionally uncomfortable, ease into it. Changing styles is a big life change for some, but, like a new haircut, sometimes it just takes time to become a part of you.

As for physical discomfort — that’s a lot easier to deal with. Don’t buy clothes that are uncomfortable! If it’s too tight, too stiff, too hot, or too scratchy-feeling, don’t get it.

The same goes for shoes. While we’re all permitted a few 2-hour shoes for that hot day, for everyday wear there are plenty of comfortable shoes that don’t resemble sneakers or Crocs. My most comfortable pair of shoes is a pair of black ballet flats that I got at Payless, followed by the red pair of ballet flats that I got there (in a “buy one pair, get one pair half off” deal). I’ve worn them to school, on shopping trips, on dates with my husband, and through the streets and tube stations of London — and never once did I regret choosing to wear them. Finding a brand of stylish shoes that fits your foot comfortably is like making a new friend.

Make life easier on yourself

Check tags before you buy things. Avoid dry-clean only items whenever possible. Hand-wash items are generally alright: I toss mine into the wash, but I put them into a delicates bags and turn the machine to a cold, delicates cycle.

Also, avoid items that need constant ironing. There are now plenty of wrinkle-free and wrinkle-resistant clothing out there — so much that I can’t remember the last time I ironed something.

One nifty item which helps me out is my Tide to Go pen. Keep one in your bag, desk, or car (or all three) and you won’t have to run home for a clean shirt if your shirt gets splattered with your lunch — or your kid’s.

Of course, there’s more than one way to dress that’s easy to change for different situations, especially since we don’t all have the same wardrobe requirements where we work and hang out. How does your style reflect the roles you play from day to day? Are there times when you don’t feel like you don’t have the right outfit for a situation?