A (fashionable) capsule wardrobe for a SAHM?!?!

[Scruffybear]

Hi folks
OK, I really need your help! I used to work full time until 2010, but have ended up being a stay at home mum since, we now have two daughters and I never, ever buy any clothes. I have heaps of clothes that were 'work clothes' but I don't wear anymore and I scruff about in the same jeans and tops day in day out.

I look like one of the people that Trinny and Susannah (where DID they go, did Gok bump them off?!) used to berate and then drag round town to sort out! My 2 yr old Starts pre school in the autumn though and I want to spruce myself up a bit and feel better about how I look. I want a few things that are decent looking for the school runs so i dont look like an enormous frump to other mums i could make friends with too ;-) DH has told me to go on a shopping spree for clothes that I will wear and have a clear out of the other stuff but I don't know where to start. I never read mags, or even watch the fashion bits on tv really either, so I have no clue about what's trendy (not that I plan to be cutting edge here, just avoid looking like a total disaster)

So, what would your recommendations be for a bit of a capsule wardrobe, the absolute must haves, or is there even a shop that you would recommend I focus on? Thanks in advance for any tips, I shall become an avid S&B board reader for starters

alibaba yes I'm pretty sure it's cotton. It's in the wash at the mo or would check, but it certainly feels lovely and cool as cotton would.

I love this thread! I recently needed to update my wardrobe but made the big mistake of buying far too glamorous stuff which is really no use in my toddler focused life. I think the balance of how to look good yet practical is a really difficult one. Thanks for the ideas. Am going to search h n m for cowl necks. Also planning on good shoes and boots and coloured cords this season.

I ventured to M&S again earlier and was amazed by the plethora of wearable skinny jeans/jeggings in various colours (and varying leg lengths, Gawd bless you, M&S) that don't make me look like mutton, AND longer-length cotton t-shirts that cover my mummy-tummy for a bargainous £9.50 and do the job just as well as my beloved threadbare ones from Whistles.

Chuck on a scarf from Fat Face and some ballet flats or loafers and I'm done.

I sound like an ad for M&S...I'll stop now.

Hi all

Fantastic, I must admit I hadn't thought to check out m&s, but the leg length issue is not to be taken lightly, so I must add it to the list. H&M will get a look in for sure, although probably sold out of cowl neck tops . All I have bought so far are a couple of tops from White Stuff so that in the short term even though I am wearing them with the same old jeans I feel psychologically as if wardrobe issue is on the mend!
helloitsme yep, that is exactly my problem...just not enough glamorous social occasions in my life these days somehow...maybe next time DDs play dress up, mummy will join in with all the clothes she holds on to but never wears!

oh I sooo know what you mean...i keep thinking about social occassions I could attend, just to wear the outfits! oh dear, i think i sound like a teenager :-(

I am a SAHM and I tend to wear Topshop Baxter skinny jeans, which I have in a variety of colours, with different coloured vest tops. Primark vest tops are good (the £2.50 ones with thick straps so that you can wear a bra underneath), and come in loads of colours, I tend to buy them in neural, brown, black, white etc. H&M vests are good too, they are quite long and are flattering, and only £3.99 each. Occasionally instead of the jeans I might wear a denim mini skirt. Then I wear a boyfriend cardigan, a blazer, or a leather biker jacket over the top.

I then jazz up the outfit with different accessories, again just from Primark or H&M really, but it's amazing how a necklace or a chunky bracelet can really pull an outfit together.