Please help me spend this money!!

[Inthepotty]

For my birthday, last month, my lovely lovely M+D and fab DP gave me £600 to spend, on new clothes, just for me!! Under strict instructions not to buy any clothes for the DCs!

Problem is, I can't find ANYTHING I like. I have a basic uniform of jeans, vests/ts, cardi, sometimes a blazer but more usually my barbour chucked on over the top for dog walking. Everything is pretty much navy/white/grey, but I do like the odd bit of coral/red. Sounds really boring but i do wear lots of costume jewelery and am always up for buying more

I desperatly need new jeans or trousers, jumpers or long sleeve tops, and shoes!! Currently always in wellies (when will it stop raining!?). New shoes also needed!

Need comfy things as walk for roughly 3 hours a day, have tried jersey dress and leggings combo but never feel right!

Thanks!

Would you go for a personal stylist session to help you find a really nice few things?
I have heard good things about Debenhams personal stylists.

Oh, am just over 5ft, very fair hair and skin, few freckles, stumpy legs, fat tummy and hips too many babies ,32dd boobs, non existent arse. Basically odd shaped!

I always think the clothes in Debenhams are a bit old-fashioned? Am 27. I mainly shop in Zara, Topshop, before it went mega 80s bit of Gap and Oasis, but qaulity seems to have really gone down hill recently.

Ok, yes, I get what you are saying about Debenhams but couldn't think of anywhere else that I know does personal shopping.

Debenhams does have a lot of the high street stuff too, though, doesn't it, like Oasis?

I just have heard great things about people going through with the personal shopping thing to really maximise the bit of cash they have on styles that suit and flatter
(and I don't work for Debenhams, honest - I live in Canada!)

I might not be able to help with your list but I'm your height and I'm a leggings/dress person - the trick is to go for three quarter leggings rather than full length. Full length can look very odd.

I have 3 butler and Wilson necklaces from [www.qvcuk.com] that people always ask where I got them. Good return policy too. I also buy kirks folly stuff from there, again always gets comments.

I'm a fit flop girl but there is amazing shoes/boots on kurtgeiger in the sale - I have the nine west peep toe wedge shoes in nude - perfect for everyday, only 2 inch heel - think they were 29 in the sale. I also have the Hobbs version in navy but they were 120 and the heel is higher so not everyday shoes for me.

With that money I'd treat myself to an amazing Brora cardigan, I got one in the sale last summer, it's never been off me.

I think your shape would suit the skinny jeans / tunic tops combo. And with your legs I would go for the darker coloured jeans like indigo, plum, red etc. Then any tunic type things like from WhiteStuff or FatFace or even new look or wherever and ballet flats or moccasins for casual and tan coloured leather knee high boots for when it's colder but you're not in wellies.

A variety of scarves are fabulous for hiding your chest and tummy area!

Off to check out long ts and tunics at fat face, any idea of sizing?? Usually a 8-10.

I'm your shape and sorry but skinnies and tunic tops just emphasise my big hips and boobs and nothing else. Get a good dress or two with a waist and try on a lot of tops and trousers to get a good fit. And a good bra for those boobs. I have 32dd at 5'2 and they need hooking right up to show of your slender rib cage/ waist.

My hips are a funny shape, , as my shoulders/hips/ankles arnt wide as such, just a bit fat round the front, sort of thick??! If that makes any sense!

Hi, with that sort of money to spend, I wouldn't buy loads of cheap things but buy a few really good things. I would go to shops in the expensive high street region e.g. Hobbs, Jigsaw, Jaeger? Then get a killer pair of trousers, skirt, jacket, cardigan - these items would be over £100 each but worth it. These could last for a longer time and be the basis for a lot of really nice outfits. Get the very best fabric and get shapes that suit you, don't bother about fashion. Then go to cheap places for fashionable tops to go with them.

I agree go for a personal shopping day, maybe do that in a big department store that has some quality brands in as concessions.

I once bought a few dresses from Hobbs, they are all natural fabrics, great colours, last amazingly well and haven't dated. I also have an ancient coat which still looks pretty good, it has never got saggy or grotty in the way cheaper ones have.