Help please ladies- total style novice needs wardrobe overhaul!

[SchmancyPants]

Hi all. I have been making an effort since the end of July to cut out the crap from my diet and have lost a stone :) Am 5'1" with small breasts, apple shape, legs and bum quite good. Currently am size 12 but aiming to get back down to size 10 in about a month's time and when I do, I have a shopping trip planned

My problem is that when I was a big size 14 I just bought any old crap to wear because I hated trying stuff on and thought my massive tummy made me look pregnant :( I would love to be stylish and wonder if you can help me with a cheap capsule wardrobe/key pieces which won't date too quickly. I would like to spend less than £250 if possible (hopeful face)

Thank you so much in advance!

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Congratulations!

If I were you, I'd start with a pair of indigo skinnies and a pair of black (totally rec the M&S jeggings at just over twenty pounds a pair) and a coat/jacket of some sort.

[SchmancyPants]

Thank you :) I already have some indigo skinnies from Next but I'm not sure I like them so will have a look at the M and S ones. Any other ideas?

[SchmancyPants]

Bump please :)

[poppy283]

Hello, I'd second remus' 2 pairs if jeans suggestion, plus perhaps some coloured ones? I got some forest green skinny jeans in New look for 16.99 last week.

Get a few jersey tops from New look/h&m/zara, personally i'm a sucker for a stripe but go with what suits you and get it in a few variations.

Also perhaps a lovely day dress or 3 and a chunky long cardigan.

Well done!

[mckenzie]

I'd go and have a session with the John Lewis personal shopper people. They will pick out clothes that will suit your style and shape and needs. You don't have to buy them all. I bought some of what they recommended but not all by any means. But i did listen carefully to what they told me about styles that suited me, brands that fitted my shape, areas to drawn attention to and areas to draw attention away from. I can now shop quite well by myself

[SchmancyPants]

Thank you. I am looking forward to buying some size 10 jeans so I am excited by the idea that I can buy LOTS of pairs in differengt colours I love stripy tops as well, so will buy some of thise, and I have some chunky cardigans.

Shoes are my worry though- never having owned any skinnies before, I'm not sure what I would put with them and I am really bad at buying shoes anyway. Any suggestions?