who fancies helping me with a spot of virtual wardrobe sorting... please?!

[brokenlady]

Ok, it has been a tough tough year but I am pulling myself together and getting my life back on track. In the past 5 months, I have lost over a stone in weight. I am 5ft and a dress size 8. I am 35. Anyway, I have decided to have a big wardrobe clearout - getting rid of stuff that hangs off me and doesn't make me feel good. I plan to treat myself before christmas and have around £250 to spend on me... any suggestions?

This is what I think I am keeping:
SHOES&BOOTS - brown uggs, running shoes, silver Boden pumps, grey ankle boots, black knee boots, brown riding boots, black heels, leopard print heels, black shoe boots, navy heels

DRESSES - Navy tunic dress, floral tunic dress, black lace dress, spotty fitted dress (weddings and christenings!) black jersey dress, 2 patterned FC jersey dresses, denim dress

SKIRTS - black&white pencil skirt, fitted black skirt, denim skirt

JEANS&TROUSERS - black cigarette pants, black high waist skinny cords, 4 pairs of jeans in various cuts, skinny cargos, summer linen trousers, leggings, high waist denim flares, running pants

KNITS - oatmeal polo neck, brown polo neck, teal cable knit, camel stripe jumper, yellow cardigan, teal cardigan, black open front cardigan, ivory bolero, pink cardigan

TOPS&Ts - 2 breton tops, various spotty and stripy Ts, pussy bow blouse, navy patterened blouse, various vests,

COATS - Trench, navy rain jacket (school run / country walks only), black quilted down coat

ACCESSORIES - brown leopard print scarf, purple leopard print scarf, navy feather print scarf. Grey woolly hat, leather gloves

BAGS - Orla Kiely oilcloth bag, 2 leather clutches

And that's it. What do you think I need to lift my confidence and my spirits??

You have far more clothes than me, and to my untutored eye you seem to have all bases covered. How about a fabulous cut and colour and then use the rest for a brightly coloured coat?

Thanks. I had been thinking that maybe I would be better blowing it on one decent item that I will love and use for years to come.

I have my eye on a pair of prada sunglasses - normaly never spend more than a tenner on these!
Also another bag might be useful but not sure what sort?
A coat is a definite consideration too.

Nice leather jacket?
Biker boots? A few more smart/casual tops?
Can you get fake/look alike Prada's and use the money on something else? People may just assume they are fake anyway?

A feel good red dress? Somebody on a thread mentioned a red dress as a great mood lifter and I thought it was a great idea.
And only buy things from now on that make you feel fab, no 'that'll do' clothes.

Get your colours done?

I hadnt thought of a leather jacket but that is now defnitely a consideration as it is the sort of thing that I would wear.

I tend to shy away from bright colours though I would love to have the confidence to step out in a red dress.

TRACYK - you mention getting your colours done. Do you know much about this?? Is there a general rule of thumb when it comes to colours??

Leather jackets are great - you can dip your toes in the water with one from Next or TK Maxx and see how much you like it. I wear mine with everything.

There are quite a few threads about getting your colours done. It sounds v complex to me - thats why I'm booking myself in for a consult in the New Year.
Google House of Colour or Colour Me Beautiful. Also loads on youtube I think.
Might be an idea to get them done before buying anything new.

Definitely go to house of colour, you can find your nearest consultant here. They will group you into the correct season and identify best colours for you to wear, talk you through how best to shop for them and give you a swatch wallet of colours away to help you shop.

Best £99 I ever spent. I was a shopaholic with masses of clothes and couldnt figure out why I never felt great in most of them....getting my colours done has been amazing, now I see why a gorgeous blouse could make me look awful as the colours werent right for me. Honestly cant recommend highly enough. Since having ti done in Sept Ive sorted out my wardrobe, bought a few new things (mainly tops, scarfs etc) in my "correct" colours and I can honestly say Ive never felt better.

They also show you the correct make up colours for you too so its well worth the £99 investment. Will save you ten times that amount in the long run.

I contacted Denise Gillybobs. She has an open day at her house on 30th Nov - so I was going to go along - but bloody schools might be on strike that day! grrrr. Am going to get a sesh booked for me and my mum for Xmas though. She did say I could go to the other consultant that covers my area - but I think I'll go to Denise. Not inspired by the other one.

Oh fantastic, you need to come back and tell me what you think of her. She is larger than life but I liked her a lot!! I know two other MNers who have been done by her too and we are all obsessed by it now, Running around the Glasgow Fort with our little colour swatch books....enjoy!

Any idea what you might come out as? Have you read any stuff online ? Im a Spring as is one of the other girls, with the 3rd being a Summer. We have a brilliant FB group where we natter constantly about colours/styles shopping.Much fun!

yes, I had a little browse of Next as their petite range fits me well and there is a nice biker style jacket that would work well over the dresses I already have and would look good with my jeans I think... very tempting!

I am planning a shopping day on 30th - provided the teachers turn up for work! I will report back my buys!

I think there is a thread going on about Next biker jacket - v good reviews. I got a black one 2 years ago (not sure if it is real leather as it was only £50 odd) - but I wear it all the time.
Mint Velvet do the most gorgeously soft ones but are around £200! Luckily their 16 was too tight across my back!
I'm not sure Gillybobs. I think I suit dusky, muted colours ie greys, lilacs, plums, khakis - but also a bright winter white/cream. So hmmm - will be v interesting.

Tracy, lots of info on this site, worth a read through here

oh bugger I don't know - I just want to be Cameron Diaz!!!!

Yeah, you and me both. She is the same season as me mind you ; ) (A spring)

I think I may be a summer. Guess I'll have to make do and be Michelle Pffiefer!

Dont forget to let us know how it goes. We have a summer and an autumn in our Spring FB group by the way so if you fancy joining let me know!

The colours thing is a very good suggestion and once you know them, it changes shopping trips. You can put an item of clothing up to your face in front of a mirror and you can see what colours make your eyes sparkle, its about the tone. I can wear a blue red, but an orange red makes me look washed out.