I feel like I have finally cracked it........

[Nearlyadoctor]

After 44 years I finally feel that I have the wardrobe I want and I know what I like and what suits me..
About two years ago ( when moving house) I had a really good sort out and found a lot of my clothes that I didn't like or didn't wear were either 'bargains' or impulse buys. I decided that going forward I had to really love something, not have as good or better at home, be prepared to pay full price, which didn't mean not wait until an offer or sale but if I wasn't prepared to pay full price then it wasn't for me.
Yesterday I decided to have another sort etc - nearly all the the items I wasn't sure about 2 years have gone to the charity shop today as I haven't worn them in that time. So I now have a wardrobe I am really happy with, colours that go together, items that I feel good in. This means I never wear something because I feel I ought to when I have others that I know look better. I have never really done 'disposable clothing' so mistakes can be costly.

I have spent probably a couple of thousand over the last 2 years but that includes things like R&B winter boots, Barbour waterproof jacket and really like everything.
Most items are now fairly plain in colours that suit, navy, grey, taupe, burgundy, dark green. Stripes suit me so have a couple of Bretons, minimal black as close to my face makes me look pale, very few patterns.
I much prefer dresses to skirts as I feel more finished, ( like hush dresses for casual and shift dresses for work) . Basics M&S, some Boden cardi's, Mint velvet, M&S jeans, some white company and jigsaw knitwear. Shoes/ boots R&B, Du Barry, Clarks, Dune, Fly, Birkenstocks etc.

Nobody else is probably really interested but I feel much more 'sorted' so to speak, and much less likely to waste money as gaps in the wardrobe seem more obvious

[Nearlyadoctor]

Just felt I wanted to share somewhere and I don't suppose anyone in RL would be that interested..

[lasttimeround]

Well done! You must feel great. So nice to have a good wardrobe

[Aoibhe]

I'm interested! I love your list. I've had to do similar due to huge weightloss over the past 2 years.

Can I ask, how long do you think it will be before you update your wardrobe? For once, I don't need a single thing, and I kind of miss that

[RainIsAGoodThing]

Very jealous. I'm considering taking annual leave to have a proper sort out.

[Nearlyadoctor]

I love shopping so I'm sure I will add to it fairly regularly. I love winter clothes much more that summer and always allow myself 1 pair of short and 1 pair of long boots a season - this year I have this week bought Dune tan Chelsea boots, and Olive Fly mol boots. ( last year bought heeled black ankle boots R&B and Navy Boden suede ankle boots - no long ones needed).
I think it's more about knowing exactly what you like and what suits you, I kept saying no more navy and no more stripes but actually both suit so why not as long as you're buying items you don't already have lots of variations of.
Less is definitely more- although I still have a reasonable size wardrobe.

[Nearlyadoctor]

Rain it is very cathartic, and I think you have to be very honest with yourself and a bit ruthless.

[Hopefully]

Oh that's so pleasing to read! I have a wardrobe that I largely love (although there are still a couple of doubtful choices), but budget limitations mean some of it is cheap and looks it - I am trying to spend the next couple of years replacing the crap with naice stuff so I feel put together all the time. And nice basic accessories too, I have lots of cheapy accessories and would like to save for better quality ones.

[29redshoes]

I'm interested too! I'd love to be able to do this but not sure if I'll ever manage it!

[Floisme]

That's great to hear and you're definitely talking to the right people!

The only thing I would add - and this isn't to piss on your chips, it's because I made this mistake myself - is not to become too rigid in your ideas about what suits you. I now have quite a different style to what I had 10 years ago, not because of some stupid notion of looking 'age appropriate' but because my body's a different shape.

So I try and keep an open mind about trying new looks and I still enjoy the odd impulse buy

[Nearlyadoctor]

No that's absolutely fine Flo although my size and shape haven't really changed in the last 20years, but what has changed is fashions and my style. Although not a great follower of fashion I cringe at some of the 'granny styles' I wore in my twenties.

[Floisme]

One word: Menopause. I was flat chested for 50 years. Now I'm an F cup

What's even funnier - I didn't even notice. I just couldn't understand why all my carefully chosen outfits suddenly looked so grim and it was only when a friend pointed it out that the penny dropped!

[Nearlyadoctor]

OMG, I went from a B to D after 2nd pregnancy and thought that was change enough... Something else to look forward to

Still pleased with your new leather coat?

[Floisme]

It's nature's very own boob job....

Yes I love my coat thanks. Just need autumn to start now.....

[Oh2beatsea]

Nice to see a positive post like this. Thank you for sharing. Some good ideas - noted!! 😊

[Ladybirdbookworm]

Ooh I love a wardrobe thread
Sounds lovely and organised
I've just had a good clear out and gave 2 boxes of handbags to the charity shop because they were taking over my storage cupboard
I use the same few handbags that I love over and over again and yet I was holding on to bags from years ago that I couldn't let go of 'just in case' I need them !!!
It felt so good I swear I will never let my bag obsession take over ever again - I feel strangely serene and zen like

[EmpressTomatoKetchup]

I'm interested OP.
I had a wardrobe cull forced upon me by a moth infestation a few years ago. I had put on weight, grown some boobs and become a SAHM so got rid of all the size ten workwear as well a load of vintage clothes ( they just suddenly felt wrong) while I was at it. And then I started again, completely reassesing what suits me and how I want to dress.
I feel quite smug when I look at my wardrobe and compare it to DHs massive chaotic mountain of clothes.

[Kennington]

Nearly: lots of fun isn't it. I did the same a couple of years ago and now my yearly spend has dropped like a stone.
I am more boring than you and am mainly black and navy with a little white. I now only really shop at uniqlo, stories and Cos.

[Nearlyadoctor]

Kennington I think some of it is relief at being brave enough to ditch stuff you don't really like - especially the patterned stuff.
I have bought quite a lot for this winter but really happy with all of it.
Another thing I think is to make sure you wear things nearly immediately whilst you really love them. I was very guilty of buying items keeping them for best so to speak but actually being fed up of them before I actually wore them.

[BlueEyedWonder]

Around 3 years ago I lost just over 2 stone and so had to buy new clothes as my old ones all started to hang off me.
I'm nearly 40 and more comfortable in my own skin now than I've ever been. I think this helped when overhauling my wardrobe.
I don't buy designer but I do buy reasonable quality high street: M&S, Boden, Topshop, Pure cashmere, Clarks, Dune, Jigsaw etc..
Less is definitely more. I have under 100 items which includes bags, footwear, sportswear and scarves.
I enjoy shopping and work hard but limit myself to a couple of nice things a month.
At the moment I'm keen to get some nice accessories to replace cheaper ones. I'd like a mulberry leather bracelet, a Pandora leather one, a Mondaine watch, a cashmere winter scarf, a red leather bag.

[RebelandaStunner]

Are you Claire Underwood OP?
I'm interested too!
I love an organised wardrobe. My wardrobe is so sorted I had to think hard about what I am after for the Autumn/winter thread.

[TheDowagerCuntess]

Interested, too.

We've had a 'walk-in' (step-in is a better description!) wardrobe built into our bedroom - just waiting for the fittings to be built and put in. I'm hoping to use it as an excuse for a bit of a ruthless cull.

We were in London in July, and I was so excited about the prospect of a day's shopping. I hit the usual high street shops that I've missed since moving home with high anticipation, and was so disappointed to come out of them with nothing. Shops that I'd loved when I lived there now just felt cheap (admittedly, they are - H&M, Zara, etc), and I have come to the realisation that my disposable fashion days are probably best behind me now.

I love the idea of stopping and considering, and only spending on decent stuff that I really need and love. It will be hard though, as I love killing a few spare minutes having a wander through shops and picking stuff up. The result is a less than pleasing wardrobe though, so just need to focus on the end result.

Glad to see that it's been worth it and paid off for you, Nearly.

[Nearlyadoctor]

No definately not called Clare Underwood!!

[ihatethecold]

Well done op.
It's so nice to have a sort through.
I don't have a disposable income atm but will do next year.
I can't wait to be able to buy clothes that are full price without any guilt.
I know what suits me in terms of colours and shape but my budget is more lower end high st.

[FlamingoFling]

Well done - I started taking photos of what I was wearing every day and realised how much I hated a lot of my clothes.

I'm now in process of putting together a collection of things I really love rather than making do.

[SimplyNigella]

This thread inspired me to do what I've been putting off for ages and last night I did a major wardrobe cull. I've done this in the past but only half heartedly and wasn't brave enough to let go of lots of things.

The size of the charity shop pile is terrifying but the relief is enormous, it really is so liberating.

I've recognised that I'm no longer the same person I was 4 years ago when I was child-free, working a few days a week in Soho, had lots of disposable income and had a very different body shape. Now I work in a corporate environment, have a toddler, big nursery bills and rarely leave the countryside outside of work time. The clothes I have now may not be the most exciting but they suit me and that is the most important thing.

From now on I will be channeling my money into better versions of the things I like and the shops and labels that work for me. Instead of poorly executing the look I am unrealistically aspiring to I am going to focus on doing the look I can do really, really well.