I have no clothes

[bronze]

Ok I do really, I'm not sat here naked but I do seem to have fallen into the pit of frump

So I have a few hundred pounds to get myself a basic wardrobe. Not much to some, loads to others (including me)

So will you help me? What do I need for a basic mix and match wardrobe?

What age, size, body shape and height are you?

What's your lifestyle - do you need office wear?

What do you already have to build on?

I think you need to start by going through what you already have. Try everything on, bin/recycle the absolute rags, charity shop anything too big/too small/too frumpy or that you don't feel comfy in.
Then think about the sort of things you would like to wear and what suits your lifestyle. Have a look in fashion magazines, wander round department stores or, if confident, book some time with a personal shopper.
Think about what colours you suit you and if you really are starting from scratch, then I would stick to a palette of neutrals with 1 or 2 tonal colours. That way everything will go with everything else iyswim!
The following are some wardrobe basics ideas:
wool winter coat
trench / rainy day coat / parka
blazer / denim jacket / leather jacket
dark denim jeans (straight leg, skinny, skinny boot)
trousers (think cigarette style pants)
denim skirt / cord skirt
jersey dress
jersey tops / ts
knitwear
leather bag
shoes/ boots
acccessories - scarves/ jewellery

I'm 31 about 5 11 and shrinking
A size 14 (sometimes 16) around my hips with a size 12 (sometimes 10) around my waist. I normally wear size 12 tops. Does that make me a pear? Basically I'm very wide
I'm a sahm and don't really have much in the way of clothes anymore, i even need shoes, have one pair of boot cut jeans etc so need the whole lot really. I need to be pretty practical.
I love fabrics, prints and embroidery but am not great with frills. Though have lost my confidence so wouldn't wear the stuff I may have worn before (not to mention got old and completely changed shape) I can't walk in heels.
Is that enough to go on?

I

I'm also a pear (which it sounds like you definitely are) and somewhere between 5ft 10 and 11 so some experience in shopping for your body type.

I would recommend reading the "does my bum look big in 40" blog as she is a similar height and inspirational for that reason.

I suggest you look at the tall section on Dorothy Perkins online. It's somewhere I've only recently started using but the black jeggings (£23 but 20% off and free delivery today) are absolutely fab. They retain their shape, have a decent high rise and are really long. I also have the same in a beige colour. There are a few other pairs of jeans/trousers on the site which you could also experiment with.

I do think you can It sounds like you will have slim lower legs but you need longish tops to mask your hips. I have long stretchy spaghetti strapped vests from primark in a range of colours only £2 each which mask my widest point and tend to wear these under long cardigans. Get all my cashmere from a local mill so can't suggest where to buy these from on the high street but think they would be good for you with trousers. I've also done well for long narrow tunic tops from uniqlo. Avoid any of the current boxy styles though or you'll look wide all the way down. I spent a long time sourcing Breton style things that were fitted - Zara and top shop in the end.

Mumsnet cliche but I do wear Boden jersey dresses to work. Avoid the large prints and a lot are very good for pears - go for the ones with a cross over front. It really helps that they do a long in every style.

Will follow this with interest! Similar shape (10-12 top, 12-14 bottom) but only 5'2.

Only thing I can contribute is H&M long vest tops - wear them with everything and they cover hips easily. Loads of colours, can't remember how much - prob £3.99 each or so - and they are stretchy and wear really well.

Good luck!

Go shopping without your DCs
Try things on even stuff you aren't sure about...I have picked some favourite things up like that.
Write a list before you go even down to the colour you need
Never buy seperates skirts/trousers without either having something to wear with it already or buying the top too.
Try unexpected places... I got a fab jersey wrap dress in tesco ...it's better than my boden one.
Look at some web sites before you go to inspire you or think of a celebrity who dresses the way you would like to and then when you are shopping refer back.
Little touches individual jewellery try craft fairs, change the buttons on a cardigan... paint your nails ... even a little touch can lift an outfit.

I've come downstairs so I can link which I can't do from my phone.

Dorothy Perkins miracle black jeggings

See also their other tall clothes - cement jeggings also good and blue butterfly midi looks like it would be nice for a pear and fulfil your love of prints:
dorothy perkins

Long cardigans
gap grey would be nice for "summer" and go with lots

zara super long and stripey navy and white jersey open jacket or same thing in neutrals

cheap monday long hoodie - great for casual

mint velevet if you want to spend more

not surprisingly plenty in monsoon but all looking a bit mumsy imho

Zara - fantastic clothes at the moment if you have the right figure - and you do!

Thanks people

Mystery someone who knows the trouble will definitely look at that blog

Will have a look at a these places. I had stopped shopping for clothes completely I had lost faith in finding anything that looked good so hadn't even heard of uniglo until recently on mn.
Will also try and get my creative head back on. I always used to customise stuff but lack of confidence and money made me stop

I will get looking

Last thing
What types of shoes are essential

I have some lovely leather flip flops and some gorgeous brown knee High boots but that's about it

Ooh more lovely things have appeared while I was posting

thank you

Mystery

Do you find tops from 'normal' shops are long enough in the sleeve? not saying I'm a gorilla or anything

Also as you sound like you are currently losing weight I would buy the minimum of neutrals and then brighten up with scarves etc which will always fit and you can use to finish outfits and also feel a bit warmer without looking as if dressed for mid winter. Primark has a huge selection for £4 including lots of designer rip offs which I obviously can't link to. These in Zara are both lovely:

leopard print

zebra

but every high street store will have a good selection at various price points - dorothy perkins, warehouse with currently 25% off

These jeans from next are good for pears and come with extra long (33) or tall (35) inside leg but they do stretch so pretty much need washing every time you wear them:
next jeans

Also look at top shop - jamie and kristen in various colours

sorry, missed your posts as was so busy wittering on.

I normally don't buy tall people tops. The selection can be pretty dire as I think is evidenced by the Dorothy Perkins link for instance. Most of the time I find sleeves are ok but coat/jacket buying is a challenge. I have a barbour international which is just about ok, though a bit of a cliche in other ways - have found it very useful in this weather without looking like I am going out in mid winter.

I just got these shoes and I love them:
ash high tops

You could also think about super ga if you wanted to spend less, have something comfy and flat and be warm enough in this weather

I'm so excited.
Will be doing a big online shop tonight. Want to start now but kids are bickering and mil will be coming soon.
Will have to order huge amounts and send stuff back, getting to the shops especially without a small person is just not practical

Plus am hankering after these ankle boots - they have 4cm heels which is totally my limit:
h by hudson

I bought the Marni for H&M flat sandals which are no longer on the site but I imagine could be picked up on eBay quite cheaply e.g. here . They are totally flat and actually a bit grannyish so quite comfy. I wore them for that one glorious week in march but obviously haven't had opportunity since!

My feet are a 6 so not outside the bounds of normal shopping - what about yours?

Ooh - please let me know what you buy. Don't know anyone in real life as tall (or pear shaped) as me so always interested to here what people come up with.

Definitely drag a small person to Primark and fill a basket with vests, scarves etc though, it'll probably cost less then £30. Depending on how small small is you might be able to bribe them into being placid by letting them pick something, hence why nine year old DD here is sporting hot pink leg warmers and a fake breo watch (50p) which only worked for the first day!

When I was in your situation I started with a few gorgeous gym/track suit outfits and it feels great knowing if anyone ever pops in unexpectedly I am always looking good. This was good for sahm. Then I bought the best fitting jeans I could find and built up a dressy and casual variation.

Feet are 7s so 'normal' too
I have these which I adore. Look better on too
Also have these which are things of beauty but find I dont wear them enough as I dont have any fitted trousers, the fear always being they would make me look wider. Will try those leggings etc.
I had a quick search on here and though it will have changed as it was less than a year after ds3 that 'I have 44 hips and a 29 inch waist. I have to wear 14s otherwise they wont go over my hips yet I'm being labelled as big and large. I'm 5foot 11 and have a pretty flat stomach (slight bag due to loose skin from 4 kids)'
gives you some idea of my pearage (phone tried to change that to peerage- wouldnt that be nice, a castle please)

Sleepless- I would feel a fraud in anything gym like though I love the look of yoga pants for slobbing in

I have nothing constructive to add but I am in very similar position, loads of clothes I could wear to weddings/parties/work but next to no casual clothes. I am a 14/16 bottom and 12/14 top and five nine. Have lost two stone and want to lose another two but in the meantime I do have to leave the house from time to time!

Bronze we could be twins. My measurements today are 35-29-43. If I could just lose five inches from my arse I'd be a lovely lovely 12.

And let me guess it would involve shaving bone to get five inches off your hips?

Yup - hip bones are jutting but there's plenty of lard sat above them.

Oh me too. I could lose weight (and am) but I wouldn't get any narrower at my widest point

Right wheres my bank card. Time to start spending