'Wardrobe overhaul' - what to buy

[Rugbylovingmum]

Hi all,

I recently posted asking for some style tips to get me out of my everyday jeans and fleece and into something a bit more stylish. I got some great advice and have booked a personal shopper session at Debenhams for a 'wardrobe overhaul'. I'm sure they will give me lots of advice about which items to buy so I can mix and match to make several outfits but I'm still a bit nervous and I'd feel better going in with a vague idea of what I'm looking for. So my question for all you lovely ladies is if you had to put together a wardrobe which/how many items would you buy initially to last until I can afford to shop again. I know that I don't have to buy everything at once but if I don't buy enough to see me through a few weeks I know I'll slip back into my awful jeans/fleeces combo. Here is a little more info:

I am a size 18 apple shape, very self-conscious and I hate shopping.

Apart from a lovely Monsoon dress (for a wedding), a nice grey cardi and some nice jewelry my wardrobe is filled with jeans, fleeces, unflattering stretch T-shirts, 1 pair of fading black trousers and some cheap trainers (I don't even have shoes just flip flops, ankle boots and trainers). Everything else is too small. and .

I work in a university research dept and the dress code is VERY casual. I don't go out too often as we struggle to get babysitters, just a nice meal now and then (in my faithful black trousers, vest and cardi ).

I only have about £300 to spend.

I'd love to wear more skirts/dresses and I think that thick tights and boots would make me feel more comfy until I get used to them but not sure boots are a good use of my pennies with summer approaching.

TIA - I'd just like to leave the house in the morning feeling good about the way I look for a change and not panic if we book a restaurant as I have nothing to wear.

I have recently sorted out my own wardrobe (things lurking at the back that had never even been worn ).

IMO it is helpful to stick to a few colours so that you can mix and match. Also try and buy in outfits rather than random items... you will get more wear from things and look more 'together'. I tend to wear navy, cream, tan, grey, shades of blue, white and the odd black item

with around £300 is suggest the following:

1 pair dark jeans (get advice from personal shopper about a shape to suit you)
1 pair linen trousers (Next has some nice ones that come in white or navy and are only £20)
3-4 vest tops in colours that suit you
1 light weight summer cardigan in a light colour (Monsoon will have them)
1 jersey dress (Monsoon has a couple of nice ones right now - you could wear with tights and boots)
1 summer dress ( to wear with the cardigan and flat sandals)
1 trench coat (great investment piece in a neutral colour - can be thrown on over all your other stuff. M&S Autograph have some good ones this season)
1 skirt (again get advice on a good style for you)
1 white blouse (Next has a cute one with stretch for a good fit)
1 pair black heeled shoes
1 pair flat sandals
1 pair wedge sandals

Also think about accessories - scarves, beads, jewellery etc... it can make an outfit!

If you want boots, check out clarks sale - knee highs reduced from £100 to £50.

Let us know how you get on

Thanks Meggles76, that looks pretty much like the list I had so I'm not too far off base . The only thing I wasn't sure of was the vest tops - I have a couple of long ones from H&M but I only wear them under jumpers as they just cling and make my tummy look huge. I'm a bit worried a skirt+vest+cardi will look awful but not sure what the alternative is. Oh well, I guess that's what the personal shopper is for.

I can't believe how nervous I am about a simple shopping trip but I'm so worried I won't find anything I feel good in.

I'd advise telling the shopping that you don't want to TOTALLY change your style over night.

It could be a bit dramatic appearing in work as a transformed being! So get some clothes that are roughly half way in between wear you are now and where you want to 'be' (plus a few outfits for going out).

If you feel self-conscious in all your new clothes you'll be more likely to wear the old ones again.

Good point ValiumSingleton, one of the things that really pushed me to update my wardrobe was all the comments I got when I wore a skirt, boots and top my SIL lent me. It was lovely to get some compliments but people were so obviously to see me wearing anything decent . It was the same when I bought my Monsoon dress for a friends wedding - all my mates commented that they had never seen me in a skirt or dress before. I felt lovely but was very aware of people 'noticing' IYKWIM.

So I know I will get lots of comments if I wear something new.

yeah.... maybe spend half your budget on new clothes now, and throw out HALF of your clothes. Ask a good friend who knows your lifestyle to be really honest, and to pick out the things she would throw out on your behalf!

I feel a bit freaked out by people noticing my outfits too. I like people to, if they think about it, think, eh, yeah valium dresses well for her height/size/age/lifestyle.
I wouldn't liek people to remember specific items. Well maybe because they like it, but not to remember it because it was so noticeable.

..... and then the second half of that point was, when people have long forgotten that you ditched the fleeces, spend the rest of your budget. Two step journey to dressing in a more feminine stylish way. Even Rome wasn't built in a day

Good advice from all, although I would get heeled shoes in a colour other than black (perosnally hate black shoes and think they make you look - and feel - like an aged seretary unless they are very funky), and go for a tan, blush, beige, patent pastel or anything that is more spring-like and can work with most of your wardrobe, basically.

Also, re: jersey dress - wrap dresses or dresses with draping and/or ruching around the middle are quite flattering on chubby tums.

Also think you should just bin all the drab old stuff making you feel like crap. Fleeces? NO. Keep one for blustery walks with the kids at weekends. You do NOT need more than one fleece!

Good luck. I am tall, 'curvy', skint and hate shopping, so feel your pain

Hi again Rugby - why don't you have a look at the Debenhams website before you go (apologies if this has been suggested before). You could look under dresses/skirts/etc and if you see anything that you like note the brand (e.g.John Rocha/ Collection/
Mantaray) to tell the personal shopper. It will give you both an idea of the colours that you like and the image that you want to create. I don't wear vest tops either as I find that they cling, I go for little cotton tops - think that they used to be called shell tops - slightly loose ('though not baggy!). Good luck.

Agree about black shoes - waste of money unless they are really special.

You sound like you are wanting to take quite a dramtic step - which is fine if they are going to be practical for your everyday life. If they are not they will simply get worn once and then fester whilst waiting to be dry cleaned or ironed (especially because you don't have to smarten up for work) and you will go back to what is comfortable and practical so bearing that in mind I would take baby steps:

I would buy the following:

One pair dark jeans (not necessarily bang on trend but classic and will slim you)

A blazer - perhaps something with a twist reasonably priced

Some ballet flats - no need to spend much on them I have had £8 pairs from Newlook last as long as £££ from bally

I would avoid the vest tops if you are concious about your tummy - either buy shell tops here which look particularly good under blazers with beads/pendants which also serve to seperate your bust thus avoiding the matron look or something with pleats from the top of your bust which gathers at the bottomhere

Play around with the tops - some very casual some more dressy and see how you go for the next couple of months then spend the rest of your money.

Also boots wont be wasted if you buy them now - I have plenty of "UK summer hols" pics of me in boots (and scarf and coat!)

Love Meggles' list, think its pretty spot on. I would add that more "blousey" type tops are quite flattering (Im a size 16 apple) like thisand can look casual with jeans and ballet flats then more dressy with heels. I find them much easier to wear than stretchy tops or shirts IYSWIM

other than that I'd also add a pair of black straight leg jeans, uber useful, again look great casual but can be quite dresy with heels and a top.

Finally, agree that nude/tan heeled shoes would be nicer than black

Have a fabulous time, lucky you!

I agree with Nancy and Gilly about tops with pleats from the top of the bust or a more blousey style. they're very pretty and flattering, and you could also try a more casual T shirt version abit like this, or this.

Agree with Nancy, get quite a few flattering tops in nice colours or prints to go with jeans. Maybe 3 or 4 tops in all. I noticed you said you already have some jeans so pretty tops for everyday wear will brighten up the look straight away and not be too far away from what you're used to.
Wearing ballet flats with jeans and a nice top, perhaps a cross body bag to go with it would look lovely.

Then you could also get a day dress, jersey is good and the wrap style is flattering. (often the mock wrap dresses are easier to wear)

Team it with a long pendant necklace or long beads.

Then a couple of cardis or a cardi and a blazer or jacket to throw on top of your new outfits.