Help me find some boring basics please (when you've stopped yawning)

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

I have many nice clothes but I am still finding it really hard to get dressed lately and I've realised it's because I'm missing a number of basic things, or I have them but they are only 'okay-ish' instead of 'perfect' or even close to.

So I need 'perfect' versions of:

• a black straight or pencil skirt either on the knee or just above or below (but I am a shortarse), in a nice fabric that keeps its shape well and pref isn't polyester

• a white or grey 'floaty' top of some sort, long enough to cover my tummy, for wearing under a blazer with cigarette trews, in either cotton or silk or a mix

• some very comfortable black heels that will instantly smarten up an outfit but won't cripple me

• a fitted, black, scoop neck short sleeve t-shirt/basic top in really nice fabric

• same as above but in grey and maybe in a plum colour as well

• perfect camisole tops in black, white and grey

Please help! :)

No idea of budget, but:
heels?
skirt?

Sizes? Budget?

Thank you.

Budget is M&S rather than LK Bennet if that helps?

I like the shoes but they look high - have you tried them?

Hobbs skirts are far too long for me - and that one is dressier/workier than I'm after. I just want a really boring little black skirt - the type that were everywhere in the 1980s! :)

Am a size 12 hourglass with big norks!

No, sorry. My feet are too broad. Better? or also famously comfy is next sole survivor. snake? wedge? black version?

Don't like the Footglove ones but will investigate the ones in Next. I used to wear their shoes about twenty years ago but haven't looked in there for years. Thanks MrsL.

Any more please folks?

Black skirt in John Lewis?

Cotton skirt that might be good if you are short

I'm looking some of the same items. Some of them are insanely difficult to find.

Perfect white shirt - very difficult to find (I'm fussy - want a pintuck bib front, mandarin collar and 100% cotton).
Camis - I'm very happy with inexpensive cotton H&M vests.
Floaty top - still looking, there were some nice looking at Zara but they were linen. American Vintage has a nice one but it's 50% viscose. Am looking for 100% cotton.
Scoop neck tees. Old H&M ones too tatty - not worth your money. Old August Silk and Peter Hahn ones (silk/cotton and silk/wool mix) have worn really well. Worth looking for in department stores, they sometimes have house brands that do plain basics really well.
Good black shoes - worth spending on: the best I've found are ??? Högl and Peter Kaiser. You might check out Gabor too. Expensive, but I've used some of them for nearly a decade. For a cheaper and more on-trend option, investigate various black wedge court options. Mine are ancient and from Zara, but some people here have bought theirs from Boden.
Still looking for a great pencil skirt - want 100% wool.

Gap is good for camis, and scoop neck tees. Ditto Uniqlo.
As an hourglass I'd buy the first size 14 black wool skirt that you can find at a good price and get it tailored to fit.

Oh and GAPs 30% voucher starts today (40% if you buy 4 items)

Baukjen (aka Isabella Oliver) do a couple of fab black pencil skirts:

www.isabellaoliver.com/baukjen/us/600/skirts/SK476.html

www.isabellaoliver.com/baukjen/us/600/skirts/SK482.html

Zara also do loads of different ones:

this one

or this one

are just two of the loads in-store.

Personally, I love the first Baukjen one in pink!

Black heels - got some black Hush Puppies from Schuh for £60, but they look so pretty, look awesome with trousers and are sooooooooooooooo comfy.
www.schuh.co.uk/womens-black-hush-puppies-eternal/1152227020/

Thank you all so much.

Families - that Mango one looks to be exactly what I'm looking for.

Donna - will look at H&M for vests. How long in the body are they? The last one I tried on in there barely reached under my norks! Will also check out Gabor for sandals - my sandals from there are lovely.

Don't like those Hush Puppies, sorry Fay. I'd look like The Childcatcher in them. Just want basic black 'court shoes' as they used to be called, I think.

These ones from Schuh?

I think that primark's stretchy vests are brilliant. Adjustable shoulder straps and wash really well. They'd definitely be long enough for you I have to role mine up as they reach to about mid thigh on me! (am 5'3").

These look very comfy, and new look do wide fitting shoes too.

H&M vests are very long too, am 5'8", available in black, white, gray and many other colors.

Lots of basic vests and tops in H&M that are longer-line. And very pleased to see some in M&S recently too. Am a big fan of Whistles 3/4 sleeve t-shirts and the M&S ones are a good budget version.

Thanks again.

I don't shop in Primark so will look in H&M. I know there's probably not that much difference between them but Primark makes me want to murder everybody and H&M only makes me want to murder some people!

Don't like the New Look or Schuh shoes, sorry.

Purple - any links to the M&S ones please?

I'm living in the navy/red version of this at the moment. It looks better IRL than on here.

Can't find the link to the others, sorry!

There is 20% off Boden till midnight. I ordered a nice velvet trimmed cami and a basic striped crew neck this morning as I had hardly any basics after having a major sort out.

I have seen the Mango skirts in rl, and they are indeed v good.

For vests, I usually find Sainsburys have nice long ones (I like them to cover my bottom insode my trousers ), but Forever21 also have a really wide range of vests, extremely inexpensive.

I recently bought a black pencil skirt from M&S petite range on line. It's a very thick stretch jersey type material and fits really well. They also have a slightly longer grey pencil skirt that looks quite nice.
I also like the M&S scoop neck heat tec tops. Had some last year and they washed really well.
I second Boden for camis - especially with 20% off.
Have you looked at the Mary for Clarks range for black shoes? I find them very comfy.

Thanks. Do you have links to the M&S skirt please, Meggles?

No to Boden - can't be faffed with ordering online and sending stuff back.

Will look at Clarks and also have a proper trawl through M&S but really I want tops that are a bit more 'special' looking than that stripey one - maybe a silk mix or something. Perhaps Autograph?

The best cami vest tops I have ever bought are mamas and papas maternity ones they come in great colours, often with 30% off and are just longer in length. I have loads for under jumpers, blouses etc