my cheap clothes addiction is OVER! help me shop for a capsule wardrobe

[Heathcliffscathy]

I have always restricted myself to cheap clothes shops. H&M is my favourite.

I have cupboards and cupboards full of cheap clothes that have had very little wear.

When I have walked into a more expensive shop (rarely as I have felt intimidated) I always head straight for the sale rail and never even look at the full price thing.

(clearly there are issues here and i've been working hard on them!!!).

So enough already! I am done with buying loads of cheap stuff. I want to only buy beautiful clothes that I love that will last. I reckon I'll end up spending the same anyway!

I bought this DVF dress last week and it is beautiful. But I can't be going from H&M to DVF all the time!!!

I need to find out about midrange shops...jigsaw feels a bit old now, what else is there in that price range or a bit higher?

i like rock chic look. don't like the classic yummymummy look: boden and white stuff i don't like much at all. like boots/skinny jeans/batwing top. like dresses a lot (dressed down with boots). suit strong colours, acid orange is a favourite. love greys too.

I am size 10-12 (12 at the moment as am 17 wks postnatal). good bits are legs, shoulders, bum. very bad bit is belly!

will you help me buy a capsule wardrobe of really good quality stuff?

high risk strategy. point me in the right direction and i will!

Do you have a big dept store near you with lots of concessions? Mine has ted Baker, mint velvet jigsaw etc etc .Good for an instore browse without traipsing all over town

Orla kiely has nice stuff - suitably expensive and quite quirky too.

Again would suggest ASOS- or do you mean point you to specific items?- free delivery, free returns, so many higher end high street things on it...

I find it impossible to buy clothes online, so I can't be of much help on that front...

Mmmm getting a breastfed baby to take the bottle is not easy ime.
My advise is to try with NUK bottles (very soft and chewable nipple thingy) and get someone else to try... other than that... you need more knowledgeable people than myself!

yes i expect me doing it is a total no go.

these things do creep up on you! he was mrflexibaby til a couple of days ago!

asos is a good plan.

I buy lots of tops/tshirt at petit bateau, today I tried on a fab dress there, shame it looked shite on me . It had a vintage vibe, a bit of naughty 1950 librarian kind of thing...

And don't underestimate Zara for good tops/tunics.

I think in the UK it is easier to buy online, as you can easily return stuff. ASOS is a very good website.

Off to bed, it's late here. Have fun with your new dress (and new baby )

I love that DvF dress.

I am a similar shape to you and I love Nudie jeans. I have the Long John Skinnies in blue and black and Sky High Kais in dark denim - they are fantastic for holding in muffinage / belly issues. Look at Coggles too for Nudies.

Worth having a browse at my-wardrobe in general even if only for styling ideas.

Slightly off topic but seeing as we are similar shape wise, I'm a big fan of tailored harems. Have you every tried any? I wear them like jeans with biker boots. They're very comfortable too and because they're loose on the stomach they make you look slimmer. It is cold atm and I've been wearing mine with a Uniqlo heat tech top and cashmere / merino jumper on top.

I am lusting after a few different shoe boots atm. Ash are generally lovely - I am getting these this week but these Jeffs are lovely too.

Believe it or not M&S are doing some great shoes this season. A few of us on another thread have these and they're great for going out. They have a new embellished Limited Collection pair which look quite nice too.

thanks for the fabulous post monkeysmama.

all looks great.

oh oh my new boots are fab and so comfy too
they have since reduced the black ones to £89

I have picked up a few bits from the M&S Limited Collection range this winter. Have been pleasantly surprised by how modern and on trend some of the clothes are. Really well priced too.

that DVF dress is vair odd!

Don't know where you live, but I would really recommend a personal shopper at an upmarket department store with a range of concessions. that's what I want to do when I have some money and when that final half stone has gone (so in about a million years then!). Will help you to get things that complement each other and perhaps some things that you wouldn't normally choose. If you're spending £300 on a dress, you want it to look good and go with other things. My sister used one when going back to work after maternity and was really impressed!

agree those marks shoes are nice, i had similar fromomg three years ago when EVERYONE on here said they were gopping
still going strong, and are ONLY shoes DH has ever opined on.!

dont like the other ones

agree mint velevt for ideas - if you want clothes they come in ,,, er ,.. grey

I LOVE that DVF dress

Hobbs for jumpers, dresses, sometimes coats, MintVelvet for tops and jackets, Gap for jeans, Jesire in JL for dresses, jumpers, Phase8 for dresses, LK Bennett for dresses and shoes if you have narrow feet, Desigual on Regent street for fun stuff and bold prints, Cos and Zara for basics

Netaporter is brilliant for styling ideas too and for good quality items at £££.

Agree that whistles is cut for tall pears and also agree that VW Anglomania is brilliant.

Agree with MM on nudie jeans - I got some lovely ones from my-wardrobe.

Nice cashmere on the outnet today too.

I'd love some lowere heeled shoeboots for every day. Like MM I have the M&S high ones but they are strictly for going out.

Banana Republic worth a look perhaps.

Oh gap and topshop have some nice coated black skinnies in at the momen.

And depending how rock chick you're feeling -pleather skinnies in Top Shop too.

I am going to say you should get a really nice bag in a 'useful' colour - black, choc or oak. A great handbag will really kick your new wardrobe off to a good start. Somewhere like House of Fraser/Selfridges if you want to browse instore or Matches/Net a Porter if you want to do it online.

A good pair of sunglasses will be necessary for the summer.

Actually, you like grey and a grey bag would be ace, goes with everything and does summer and winter.

The pleather Topshop skinnies are the new love of my life . Banana Republic have 30% of jumpers for the next three days. Men's stuff better than women's but some nice bits.

Monkey can you link please. i feel like I might be needing those trews

I've worn this dress lots over the last few months, it's a good base layer. The colour seems to go with evereything - it's worked out as very good value on a cost per wear basis!