to want a uniform?

[manateeandcake]

I don't mean medic/police officer/flight attendant uniform. I mean stylish clothes that suit me that I can wear most days without really thinking about it. I briefly fixated on this idea 5 years ago after reading a magazine interview with Charlotte Gainsbourg and saw how great she looked in a really well cut plain white shirt and trousers. OK, she's Charlotte Gainsbourg, but you get the idea.

So then my uniform was going to be well-cut trousers and white Tshirt (not Gap). I didn't wear it every day, but within a few weeks the Tshirt had a tomato sauce stain that wouldn't come out and the trousers were baggy round the bum area. I know this doesn't happen to Charlotte!! But WHY NOT?

Fast forward 5 years: I now have 2 DC, including an 8 month old in the midst of BLW. White Tshirts are Jackson Pollocks waiting to happen. But I still crave a "look" that I can put together quickly every morning without thinking and look reasonably good, instead of a wardrobe full of mismatched shite from H&M etc.

Anyone with me? And/or any suggestions for said uniform?

[JustGettingStarted]

Reviving this thread because I did a search for this subject.

I am going to be seeking out the perfect uniform. And I absolutely mean a strict uniform: the exact same dress in multiples, worn every day. I want to get rid of all my mismatched clothes that don't fit or work for me. I want to never worry about what to buy or wear, again. And I don't want anything trendy because I don't want it to get dated.

I'm going to go try on a variety of dresses. I think I want a sheath-style dress with a pencil skirt. Sleeveless maybe so I can wear it over a thin long-sleeved top (or under a cardigan.) Or I may better suit a shift dress. Or maybe something with a diagonal wrap thing going on. I really have to look and see.

My first goal will be to figure out exactly what style really suits me. Then, I hope to have a dressmaker make me a dress. Once they've got the pattern done you can have subsequent dresses done from it more cheaply. The pattern can even be varied. And you can do it in different fabrics from wool to cotton to silk. And hand-made stuff can be altered better as they will leave a better seam allowance so you can let things out or take them in over time.

I never want to shop for anything other than coats, shoes and scarves again.

[Newbrummie]

I would actually be bankrupt if I went to the banana republic's stylist, one in every colour please

[erinaceus]

YANBU at all.

Charlotte Gainsbourg probably has a stylist. This is what I resorted to in the end - one day with a personal shopper. It was expensive, exhausting and guilt-inducing but at least now I have clothes and a word document corresponding to . I do not have DC though.

Banana Republic offer personal styling at their Regents Street branch and you are under no obligation to buy anything. The downside is you end up dressed entirely in Banana Republic clothes. Another downside is that you need to get to Banana Republic on Regent Street.

Hobbs and Jigsaw will style you ad-hoc and no obligation, if you can find a quiet store and a good sales assistant - the visual merchandiser is a good bet - and ask. I get the impression that it cheers the sales assistants up to have a project, although that could just be them sales assistanting with charisma. I do not always buy anything.

I do not know if H&M will do the same. Some malls and department stores offer a complimentary personal shopping service. I suspect that the quality varies. I felt I needed an impartial eye and someone to keep me away from book and coffee shops in order to get the job done. I really, really hate clothes shopping, and have set out to go clothes shopping and come home with books more times than I care to remember.

YMMV.

[blitheringbuzzards1234]

I must add that it's a good idea to steer clear of pleated skirts (out of fashion at the moment) and v-neck cardies together, especially in grey. I used to work with a woman who frequently wore this combo and it really did look like she'd gone to work in her school uniform. Plus very dull.

[UhtredRagnorsson]

Because it's easy. Because it saves time. Because you don't have to think. Because it makes packing easy if you have to do a lot of work trips. Why anyone would want to waste time thinking about their 'outfit' every blooming day is beyond me. Don't people have better things to do with their time?

[LardLizard]

Why would anyone want to do this is beyond me, why not just a say six or seven nice outfits to rotate why would anyone want to wear say a white shirt n trousers everyday

[Wauden]

Boden seem to do these and lots of three-quarter sleeves. They seem to suit other people and have lots of colours. I prefer a lower neckline than the cardis they have, though, so I am a bit envious.
I found them out via a charity shop!

[Wauden]

Hotter do very comfortable shoes of all kinds, if you sift through the more frumpy styles. They also make comfy shoes with heels!

[exLtEveDallas]

I buy softlites from Shoe Zone. You have to have a good look amongst what my DD calls 'granny shoes' but their simple brogues and loafers are really comfortable and hard wearing.

[FireTruckOhFireTruck]

Oh shoes are another matter! I'd love to find a pair of comfy brogues.

[angstybaby]

i want a style uniform too! i guess it seem to be jeans but i regularly decide i'm bored with them or having a fat day and don't wear them because they're not comfy. today i ended up in a stretchy skirt, vest and big baggy cardi. luckily i appeared to be the only one in today!

would love to look smarter and more stylish but since having kids, i've have no idea what's fashionable or i think it's hideous (i was a teen in the 90s so all the 90s revival is hideous to me).

where do people get comfy brogues from? in fact, anything that is comfy, smart and stylish! i am so lost....

[newdocket]

Uniqlo?

[FinderofNeedles]

Google 'colour consultants' and you'll find House of Colour, Colour Me Beautiful and others. They are usually run by freelance consultants and hopefully you will find one local to you.

[FinderofNeedles]

YY to getting your colours done.

Where can you buy reasonable quality tops, with a modest neck, probably round; and below-the-elbow sleeves, in a wide variety of plain colours or subtle patterns?

I do not suit white or black but will happily wear lots of other colours!

[duro1]

how does one have one's colours done? :D

[newdocket]

and white isn't great on most either...

[newdocket]

I strongly recommend getting your colours done. I wore loads of navy and big patterns before having my colours done. Turns out navy is a big no-no and if I'm going to wear patterns they should be small! And that I should only wear v-necks (or layer a v-neck over a crew).

Upshot is that when I'm buying something new I buy from my colour palette (neutral basics, some extras in the right colours) in the knowledge that it should all work together. I think colour is a really big thing (as you can see from my evangelical report!) and can transform you from a bit 'meh' to 'oooh, you look well'!

[pandarific]

I am a bit evangelical about everything5pounds

It's high street stuff mostly, labels are often cut inside.

[pandarific]

Dresses. People underestimate how easy and simple they are. In winter, with tights, boots and a cardi. In summer, with sandals, espadrilles etc. I channel Jess from New Girl - it works for me.

I have about 15 dresses from everything5pounds which I cycle between, and then a few separates.

[exLtEveDallas]

I have a 'school' uniform.

3 pairs of M&S straight cut trousers - Black, Navy and Grey.
5 patterned blouses in varying red/back/navy/grey prints (winter)
5 patterned short sleeve tops in slightly brighter colours (summer)
1 pair black boots
1 pair black shoes
1 pair grey shoes

Life was so much easier when I wore combats and boots every day.

[Floppityflop]

PS if I need to jazz up I wear funky jewellery, a tweed jacket, some different shoes or a bright cashmere cardi.

[Floppityflop]

I'm another one with lots of black dresses and jackets. Boring, but always good to go to a meeting or court.

[Thisisfourty]

I have heavy, beige, charcoal and navy chinos any of these I can wear with any of my knee length linen, cotton or cord dresses. They work well for warm, hot and cold weather. Just add a cardi or wrap for temp change. I also wear Asian clothes which can be bought as separates.

[TheMightyMing]

In recent years I've planned my purchases on the basis that I love them enough to wear them for years and then waited for offers/sales. Lots of stretch jersey from Baukjen ( my favourite brand and wash and wear brilliantly on a quick thirty degree wash), bit of Whistles, leather trousers and skirts plus good jeans ( I got J brand from Tk Maxx for sixty quid). For example I need a pair of pointy nude courts as my old Lk Bennett ones are round toed and maybe a bit passe ( I've relegated them to work wear ), so today I bought the TopShop Grace court which are all leather and thirty quid in the sale. I nearly bought them a couple of weeks ago at twice the price.
As a result I have tons of clothes but I wear them all! The only bummer is weight loss which has rendered some too big, so I need a good alterations lady now....

I'm also an e bay addict, this week I've bought at least two items brand new with tags for a fraction of the store price.

[UhtredRagnorsson]

My 'uniform' for work is a pair of cigarette trousers from banana republic with a tailored shirt plus a cardigan. I have several different cardigans I might pick. My uniform for home is jeans or dungarees and a band/genre tee. and a jumper if it's chilly. I have a lot of band/genre tees and quite a lot of knitwear. If it was really hot I have some dungaree shorts to replace the jeans/dungarees. It's not often really hot.