The Style Insider could stand to gain from a few fashion resolutions. Despite our sage advice for you, we’re as bad as everyone about adding new wardrobe items, getting rid of things we’ll never wear, ‘fessing up to what fits and what doesn’t, what looks good and what doesn’t.  

Thus, our collective brain trust has come up with 10 resolutions for 2009. Perhaps some apply to you: 

1. Act as if we are French. The French have it nailed when it comes to wardrobe and style. So we will proceed with a red beret and perfectly tailored clothes. A

couple of their tactics: Pare the wardrobe down to high-quality essentials that mix and match. Hold on to things we will actually wear, then take good care of them. Also, never leave the house looking like a slob. The French look as good at the grocery store or pushing a pram as they do at the theater. We frequently do not.

2. Don’t give up our mani/pedis. In a tight economy, these are usually the first style casualties. “Oh, we can do those ourselves,” we think. Well, we can’t and when we try it’s not pretty.

3. Obsess over our skin. Vitamins and supplements, peels and retinol, and high quality sunscreen for the face, be you 25 or 55. There are also great facial serums, moisturizers and other skin care essentials that don’t have to cost like Crème de la Mer. Sometimes, CVS is just as good as Bergdorf. (We particularly love all of the Oil of Olay products, and Patricia Wexler’s Skin Regeneration Serum from Bath and Body Works. But we spring for pricey Ti-Silc heavy duty sunscreen from the dermatologist)

4. Look at our most beloved, darling, favorite pair of shoes (like our black suede Donald J. Pliner booties or these shiny Prada jeweled mocassins, above left) and then go get another pair (or something almost exactly like it), in a different color. Or get two extra pairs. What good is a closetful of beautiful shoes if you never wear them because you cannot walk after 10 minutes? We must wear beautiful tall heels that are comfortable, though, because they make us confident and just a little bit taller than the boss. These Valentinos (above right) look comfy because of the platform for a little more support, as do some flashy red Lanvins.

5. Get a good eyelash curler, Sephora’s Go Curl to be exact (left). We’re wasting a lot of mascara if we fail to put that saucy flip to the tip of our lashes.

6. Pare the casual part of our closets by half. We do not need hundreds of concert T-shirts (like those below), jeans we’ll never fit in again or “fat clothes.” Fat clothes are an excuse to get fat, so we are giving them to Goodwill. (Or a resale shop if that’s an option.) While we’re talking tossing, just because something has a designer label on it doesn’t mean we must keep it. Classic looks are one thing, but that YSL sheer wrap skirt that looked wonderful 8 years ago isn’t working for us any more.

7. Think twice about a clothing item that consists primarily of feathers. If it looks bad on Madonna, how do you think it’s going to look on you?  In that same vein, don’t take wardrobe advice from a 17-year-old girl. (Don’t ask.)

8. Find the most fabulous handbag we’ve ever seen and buy it, then carry it for many, many years. We’re leaning toward a beautiful Burberry, like this degrade alligator one from their spring collection (below left), or Armani’s slinky anaconda print handbag, or — if we could have anything at all – Chanel’s “essential handbag” from the spring collection (below right).

9. Add five chic, flattering pieces to our “grown-up” wardrobe. (Oh, and stop calling them our “grown-up” clothes.)

 10. Pick out one trend from the spring collections that we will incorporate into our wardrobe. We’re thinking about a single chunky, long, multi-strand statement necklace (like one from the Louis Vuitton runway show (on InStyle.com) or this from the Vera Wang spring show), something in very bright pure white (like this look from the Givenchy lineup, or something from Calvin Klein) or something that just reeks of spring. Perhaps a colorful floral print (here’s one by Oscar de la Renta) or a bold color (like Michael Kors’ brilliant red top and belt)         

(Resolutions also contributed by Diane Porter and Ashley Gilroy)