About £200 to spend on a few basics please help me

[neverright]

Hi,

Could you please offer any help. I have spent the last 3 years in jeans and very dull and non descript tops. Decided I need a more updated look. I'm 34 size 10/12, boobs none to talk of, slightly hippy, 5ft 6 with red hair & pale skin. I'm so fed up of looking a mess. I know £200 isn't much at all much hopefully with your help I will get the ball rolling.

Thanks

Will it be for work? Home? Going out?

I'd definitely start with a smart, well-fitting pair of jeans. I know you've been wearing a lot of jeans, but a nice dark pair to keep for slightly nicer occasions is something you shouldn't be without.

Maybe some nice knitwear. Waterfall cardigans (like this one) are invaluable for hiding bums and hips and elongating your silhouette, especially with a darker top underneath. Or you can belt them to give you more shape/make them look smarter.

Thanks KikiJane. I'm currently a SAHM so to start will I'd like to look at daytime wear for meeting friends etc things I can jazz up for eveinings. Will be going back to work this year so will be back for help on that one at a later date

go to a department store and get a personal shopper. i am a great believer in 'buy once buy well' so i would just buy a few really good bits instead of a load of shit from new look

I would agree - a few really good pieces are better than bags of tat.

Ok, so add to that list a nice white shirt. Can't go wrong with one of those. Get one with a bit of stretch in it if you can. I wear mine at work with a suit, but also at the weekends with skinny jeans and ballet flats or Uggs.

I would be lost without plenty of thin, long-sleeved tops for layering (this sort of thing) -- one or two of these, leggings, boots and your waterfall cardi and you're good to go! You'll be warm but not bulky.

Something like this would be lovely for evenings with the smart jeans and heels. And the double layer will enhance your boobs.

I disagree slightly on the 'buy once buy well' thing. It works for coats, jeans and perhaps suits for officewear, but with how quickly fashion moves, I'd rather spend less on quite a few things than a fortune on one or two. And I've never found the quality on New Look/Topshop/even Matalan clothes to be any worse than higher-end stuff. In fact, it's often better and easier to wash.

personally i am always in style never in fashion.

Buy a great day dress, which you can glam down for an everyday, and glam up for lunch out with girls..

Like this, with boots & cardi, or ballets and a scarf?

£30 white company sale dress

with bell sleeves

saw this too in sale, good staple.

knitted jacket

:)

I would say a great pair of jeans and a nice cashmere jumper in a colour that really flatters you (an olivey green would look lovely with your hair).

Jeans you really need to try on, try going to a department store, or order a bunch off Net-a-porter and send back the ones you don't like. Personally I think 7 For all Mankind's are the best, but its all personal really.

Brora is the best quality cashmere around and their sale is still on. Something like
this is lovely, and I have two of these and I love them. Yes they are pricey initially but the stock is pretty much consistent so the best time to buy is the sale, but the quality is the best, and they last forever. Look on it as in investment, like premium bonds only wearable

Outnet is also a fab place to find heavily discounted designer brands.

Wow thank you. I'm going to sit down tonight and go through your suggestions. Madammecholet I spotted that dress earlier I really like it but wasn't sure on what shoes to wear with it. I have a free delivery code so may have another look.

'personally i am always in style never in fashion' - I love that and so want it to my mantra

After buying a lot of tat beginning I'm to think that paying a bit more on things that will last is the way to go.

Thank you all so much how exciting.

I'd buy jeans from Gap or similar, dark wash and straight cut, great with ballet flats, kitten heels or converse type shoes.(£35 ish)

2 stripey breton tops/2 plain long sleeve tops in similar colours from H&M or Dorothy Perkins(£10 each?)

Sleeveless knitted long cardigan in a coordinating colour(great for spring over the tops) £30 ish

Jersey blazer type jacket, really smartens up jeans & tops (again £30ish)

Two blouse type smarter tops maybe in a nice pprint (love Oasis for this) prob £30 each

I would def decide on a colour palette before I start so everythin on this list is interchangeable. Lucky you, enjoy!

Should have added paying a bit more but still have to be a frugal whilst being a sahm so more bargains please ladies - Thanks

neverright can you share your free delivery code please... :)

Neverright, I share your measurements. I just bought 2 pairs of 7 For all Mankind jeans. What a difference! On me, bootcut and flare look better than skinnies. The denim is somehow much better quality than cheaper makes (especially in darker washes). Mine are from yoox.com and I paid £60 each. Additionally, I updated my wardrobe with a couple of well-made cashmere or merino cardis and a black wool one with silver lurex stripes from Zara and some V-necked good quality long-sleeved cotton tops (Benetton, for example). Finally some stylish calfskin leopard print ballet flats from Zara (£15ish). While none of these is high fashion, they make me feel nice and crisp and pulled together.

Oh, one more thing. I'm not bothering to buy almost anything polyester, viscose, acrylic any more. Synthetics often feel and look cheap and tacky and the clothes start to look horrible after just a couple of washes. Pure wool, cotton and silk feel much better. A bit of lycra makes some of these fibers easier to wear, but aim for less synthetics if you can.

I agree with someone who said on a thread a while back that you don't want to be thinking in terms of basics. Buy some good-quality things that you really like - things that make you excited about wearing them. I wouldn't go down the "good basics" route - I'd go for more what madamecholet is suggesting (although I haven't clicked on her links - I mean the type of thing she's suggesting).

NB I would still go for good quality - just that I don't think good quality needs to spell basics.

If I had £200, it would go on the following

Next 'Ultimate flare' jeans. They are dark, good quality denim and can be dressed up or down. £28

Gap Navy stripe breton top £10

Next white long sleeve top and blue long sleeve top £7 each approx.

M&S black leggings £10

Monsoon white 'felicity' tunic shirt £45

Monsoon grey 'tara' dress £55

M&S black leather ballet pumps £19.50

Boden light grey merino short sleeve one button cardigan (hunt for a discount code)

Slightly over budget but worth every penny

Madammecholet - It's a link through Ocado if you use the following site it will take off 15% (non sale) and free delivery.
www.thewhitecompany.com/OCAD8

Ohh I'm loving all of this advice. I need ds to go to bed so I can start reading properly and shopping