Skint but need new clothes....help?!

[therealmrsk]

I work in an office. I am wearing black work trousers. How did this happen to me?????? I feel like a tramp.

In current circumstances, I have approx £150 per month available to spend on makeup, clothes etc.

Please help me find clothes I can wear at home and at work that are classic, will last, and wont make me look 50. (I'm nearly 40 btw).

I am size 10/12, small but wide hips, fat cankles, massive thighs, thin arms, large bust.... nothing suits me!

I just seem to buy 'bargains' that don't go with anything. I have a wardrobe full of crap. Are there any websites I can look on for style advice? Websites that are not full of clothes I can only dream of buying?? Please help me get out of this style rut. Pleeeease.

PS. I have invested in a MN scarf for starters.

EBay is your friend! In the last two months I have bought the following;

M&S Autograph dress with a scottie dog print (smart) BNWT - £2.90

George black and white polka dot tea dress BNWT - £3.99

M&S Autograph animal print dress BNWT - £7

Monsoon embellished tunic hardly worn - £8.20

You need a capsule wardrobe for work, about 6 pieces that can be mixed and matched so a decent skirt/trousers in a neutral colour with a few smart tops that can be worn with either. You can then add scarves/different pieces of jewellery to make the outfit feel different each day.

How formal is your office? Are you able to wear smart jeans/smart top? or Is it suits only? I also have wide hips/huge thighs and I live in dresses. They are so easy to wear and float over the bits I hate. Tea style dresses are a winner for our shape.

I do a lot of ebaying too - I sell to finance my buying. I have £166 per month for my clothes and make up budget and I have always felt that is quite a lot!

I buy some new items for work from the shops I like - Hobbs, Coast, Whistles and have an eye open for dresses that look good for social things first and can then be worn with plainer accessories etc. for work. I supplement them with ebay purchases and if you look in the shops at new things you like but can't afford you can quite often pick one up a year or so later on ebay. I am sitting here in my office in a very nice Hobbs dress I couldn't afford last summer but fot for £20 on ebay in February. I like to wear dresses and jackets for work, with trousers maybe once or twice a week depending on the weather. dresses are an easy ebay find. My office is informal so I have a collection of jersey and boiled wool jackets and a couple of linen blazers for the summer all picked up for between 99p (Hobbs linen jacket, unworn) and £20 ( Boden photograher jacket, as new).

Ebay is particularly good for work clothes as black and other dark colours often don't photograph well and so don't attract as many bids as other. colours.

Thanks higgle I know what I'm going to be doing for the rest of today not working

Can I ask what shoes I should be wearing? I used to live in heels, but only feel comfortable with trousers and my legs are huge. Flats make me look feel like a weeble. I also have to change when I get to work as I walk sprint to work in the rain and get soaked every single day.

I have a pair of knee high boots that I love, but it's Summer apparently. Are tights worth thinking about?

thanks bupcakes can I ask which make up you use? I usually stick with Max Factor but willing to try alternatives if I can get them cheaper on ebay

I try not to scrimp on make-up usually. I use Estee Lauder foundation/Guerlain eyeshadow/Benefit eyebrow powder BUT I have recently been converted to Bourjois after reading on MN that Bourjois is Chanel make-up. I don't know how true that is but I've bought their 10 Hour Sleep foundation, mineral powder and a lipstick and I really like them. They are on 3 for 2 in Superdrug at the minute so got all 3 for under £20.

Beware of buying make-up on eBay as a lot of it is counterfeit and potentially dangerous.

I have just bought some midi-wedges from River Island. I am sick of wearing flats and feeling frumpy but can't deal with heels. these are them I wear them on the school run as well as to work. Iwear them with jeans/dresses/leggings under dresses. Two of the mums at the school have bought some now! They are so easy to walk in/flattering and they really do make you walk taller/make your legs look leaner.

Just been looking at the Wallis websiteand found a few things in the sale that might work for you...

Nice polka dot dress could be worn to work and out

Long-line shirt that could be worn with trousers for work/jeans outside of work

Another long-line shirt (These really are flattering as they cover the thighs)

Polka dot top, could be worn with smart trouser or skirt for work

Animal print dress

I like wearing dresses as it is a complete outfit. Also they are comfy.

For shoes I like a keds wedge. I tried to do a link from eBay but failed miserably.

£150 pm to spend on clothes and make up and you're doing a sad face?

I know some people hate it but next has nice work seperates. Say she who wears jeans and a polo shirt to work

I love the links . I just never know where to look really. I hate going clothes shopping so tend to do a lot of endless internet surfing.

£150 is only if I have no other bills to pay, car MOT, vets, etc. I know it sounded a lot, but once I've bought shampoo, shower gel, a mascara, etc there's not much left for leather boots which I have seen and desperate for now!

I never get my legs out usually, but that's the style of dress I think would suit my weird body shape! Love it.

Still searching on ebay.... Maybe I'm just not good at finding bargains!

Lovely dress for work

Zara dress for £13! Would looklovely in winter with tights/boots

[[

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-BODEN-NAVAJO-WRAP-ESSENTIAL-JERSEY-SUMMER-TEA-DRESS-4-STYLES-6-20-/230810066326?pt=UK_Women_s_Dresses&var=&hash=item35bd5a1d96 Boden wrap dress in various colours/patterns, cheapola]]

[[
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LIMITED-COLLECTION-COBALT-BLUE-NAVY-CHIFFON-BLOCK-DRESS-SHORT-CUFF-SLEEVES-/280857043164?pt=UK_Women_s_Dresses&var=&hash=item41646260dc M&S dress nice for office]]

[[
www.warehouse.co.uk/casual-animal-dress/All-Clothing/warehouse/fcp-product/307929 Leopard print dress Warehouse, £17! Both me and my stepmum have this dress. It's really flattering on]]

Bargainous smart dress (with on-trend coloured zip at back!)

Shirt dress. I have got this too, and I wear it over skinny jeans/leggings. Very flattering

Good blouse for work and out

I love them all!

Can I ask if black opaque tights are ok???? I really want to get the dresses but my legs are vile.

cosmetics wise you could get free makeovers to gauge what suits. body shop do a free makeover, there must be other places.

try charity shops for clothes?

also, if you are 10-12 legs cant be too bad...

draw attention to good bust, small waist etc. and 'ignore' bad areas, opaques sound ideal.
nude? opaques i mean...

Opaques are fine :)

Seriously, my legs are horrible. As I'm quite small they look even worse as they are really chunky!

You have all given me some real inspiration so thank you! I just had a mind block when it came to looking for clothes but now I have a good starting point and think I can gather together a sort of capsule wardrobe.

mrsk I'm in a similar position - need some workwear but feeling a bit clueless after a long time out of the office environment. And I too am feeling at your £150 per month - I DREAM of that kind of clothes budget at the moment!!

Love bupcakes suggestions too - and I'm now going straight to ebay for a good look around.

everythings5pounds.com

:)

I've recently started using charity shops a lot more as I've moved to an area that has a lot. What I've fund is you need a strategy - if you go in one shop, once, there's not much chance. But if you have time once a week/fortnight to do the rounds, you will be able to check for new stock quickly and catch the best stuff.

Besides lots of great children's clothes, I have bought lovely tweed trousers for £3, very nice cashmere cardigan for £10, plus other cardigans, dresses and tops.

Also agree ebay is great.

I think I over estimated at £150. I would say thats a good month. eg I have 3 weddings and 4 family birthdays to deal with next month so there will be nothing for me. I am going to venture out and see what I can pick up in the charity shops. I'm watching a few items on ebay but sods law, whichever item I really want, the bids go up and out of my budget!