Wardrobe overhaul - your must haves!

[parkgate]

I bet this has been done a million times but I am basically starting my wardrobe from scratch - I've lost 3 stone and need to dress my age (28) rather than my mother's.

I'm a size 10/12 and pretty fashionable. I love Alexa Chung's look most of all and have the accessories to go with the kind of things she wears.

Although I want fashionable, I also want capsule - things that i can mix and match and that will last... Budget of around £1000...

So what are your essentials... I'm lost at where to start.

What kind of job do you do? - that will help us if you need work wear.

Casual/Weekend Stuff:

A couple of pairs of skinny/straight leg jeans.
Some biker boots to go with your new skinny jeans.
A dark grey cardigan (I think looks much nicer than black)
A slouchy jumper
A tube miniskirt (to be worn with slouchy jumper, plaid shirts, or a 'going out top' and blazer for going out.)
A couple of plaid shirts.
A Blazer.
Some tea dresses to be worn with your blazer and biker boots.

Plus look what I found for inspiration!

Wow-wee thanks so much!! I work in an office, I manage it and promote a smartish, but not corporate, dress code..

Found a tube mini on H&M.com for 1.99!!

Yay, glad it was helpful. I love vicariously shopping for others :)

My capsule wardrobe would consist of:

Well tailored black blazer
One flattering pair of jeans - I find a slim straight leg the most versatile
A white tailored shirt
A dark pencil skirt
A well tailored pair of dark trousers
Long sleeved striped tee shirt
cashmere jumpers in black, cream, blue, grey (good value ones at Uniqlo)
A wrap dress
A shift dress
a dramatic scarf

I'd go with Sofaqueen.
Also a pair of smart black boots, some mroe casual brown boots (good with jeans or more casual dresses)
Some tights in interesting patterns and colours.
Several long sleeved tops to wear under a small selection of cardigans, ranging from formal cashmenre type to longer more unstructured.
Small selection of nice jewellery ot mixsand match

Arent you a bit young to go too classic capsule wardrobe? Agree you want quality jeans/jacket/bag etc but if you like Alexa Chung's look you will need to mix that up with more on trend pieces... try this for inspiration ..asos outfit ideas

Wow that websites fab, haven't been on asos for ages! I think Im at an awkward time where since 22 I have been dressing older than I am and although I love fashion, I've always admired from afar...
I do like quality mixed with cheaper/ throw away fashiony bits hence y wanting a capsule wardrobe as a base... but I don't want frumpy...

Thanks so much for all your advice

Using bits from everyones I'm thinking:

White silk shirt
Blue & Black skinny jeans
Black ankle boots (Chelsea or biker?)
selection of jersey/light cashmere tops
A long grey cardigan
Some tea dresses
coloured tights in dark colours
some funky scarves
a black shift dress

and what do we think of this...?

www.riverisland.com/Online/women/dresses/day-dresses/purple-midi-dress-608483

OOh and the black tube skirt... although I'm not sure about plaid shirts..

Have a look on Isabella oliver - do a non maternity range. Some great, really good quality basics, suhnas wrap dresses, pencil skirts, jeans etc. Have just got the catalogue and literally want all of it! I have a couple of her wrap dresses and they are great.

Happy shopping and well done on the weight loss.

www.isabellaoliver.com/womens-clothing/uk

Loved the dress very demure but quite sexy in a buttoned up sort of way. Would be fab in an office. Well done for the weight loss, I am sort of facing up to a slide along the other way and realising my currently clothes are looking a bit ahem stretched at the seams!

Check out Warehouse and Oasis for some lovely bits and pieces. I've just bought this and this with the 20% off in Oasis. They're both very on-trend, but can be mixed and matched with all my wardrobe basics and should still be useful for a couple more seasons. Animal print is also very in, so many get yourself animal prints scarf/ballet flats to jazz up your basics?

Boden have a very nice stripey long sleeved t-shirt. Bought it last week and it's very versatile.

Ant - I have just spent a happy half hour copying lots of pictures from the IO site into my 'nice outfit ideas' folder!

OP - my current Autumn casual essentials are:

Breton style striped dresses worn with a short sleeved cardigan, tights and boots;
Skinny jeans worn with a pretty blouse and a thigh length short sleeved cardigan or a trench coat plus ballet flats or boots;
Draped maxi skirt worn with plain vest and denim jacket;
Denim mini shirt dress worn with navy or grey opaques plus boots or wedges;
I have also bought a couple of v cheap scarves in H&M (including a fabbo leopard print one) to wear when it gets cooler.

Remus where did you get your maxi skirt from? Am on the lookout for one myself...

It was from Linea at House of Fraser but was a year or two ago. I love it - tis charcoal with lovely draped pockets in a v thin fabric. DD2 says it is the most horrible item in my wardrobe though!

I think this is it, although it looks black there.

Remus, where do you get your Breton striped dresses from? They sound lovely.

Thanks S&Bers, all points noted.

I would also like to know about the breton dresses!

M&S - but Isabelle Oliver do some lovely looking ones too. Mine are 'Breton inspired' rather than true Breton: one is navy and grey stipes and the other is red and a beigey collour. They are v cheap and surprisingly nice.

colour

The Breton dress was in Isabella Oliver this summer, I think they've sold out now. They are very short though, I wear mine with leggings (but I'm old)

Have a look in COS for some great pieces - looks much more expensive than it is!

Primark skinny jeans and jeggings - excellent fit for only approx £9. I have denim jeggings in dark grey, blue and black.

I bought a breton dress yesterday from get me - Jack Wills.

I'd also take a look in whistles and reiss and comptoir des cotonniers from stuff.

And well done on weight loss

I looked in Jack Wills with the dds once but the dresses and skirts were soooooooooo short that not even my dds would wear them (literally knicker-length some of them!). That one doesn't look too bad length-wise though. Tell us more!