£500 - what can I buy - starting from scratch

[bissydissy]

Hi

Advice greatly appreciated. I am now a size bigger (14) post pregnancy and after 8 months of making do its time to admit my old clothes are no use and to go and buy some new things.

Thing is I have form for buying bootleg jeans, grey cardis and black t shirts. I feel I want to look more put together - even if only to slog to baby rhyme time.

Can people help with some ideas as feel this is a chance to start afresh before I hide in gap.

I have about £500 to spend. Am short, newly chunky with left over baby belly and a youngish mid 30s.

I currently own:

1 x flat knee high brown boots; 1x black uggs; 1 x decent dark blue jeans; 2 x winter coats and a bunch of tatty maternity tops I'm still wearing

Any one any ideas?

Do you work in an office? What does this new wardrobe need to be for?

At the moment Im at home with baby so need everyday
clothes with maybe a couple of smarter things should I ever venture out at night.

I'm simply sick of slovbbing around in hand me down jean (donated by a dieting riend)ando shirts. I feel like I need some ofits to build my confidence up and help me take a bit more pride in appearance.

My phone has gone mental. I slob in hand-me-down jeans given by a friend obviously.

I also wear t shirts and need outfits - sorry.

Do you know what suits you? Perhaps you could try a personal stylist. Some shops do them and some shopping centres have them (so you can buy from more than one place).

I guess if I was in your position I would want a basic capsule wardrobe that I could add to. A couple of pairs of jeans (black/grey and blue), black trousers, plain ish dresses that I could dress up or down, decent t shirts, shirts, cardie, good jumpers, pair of casual shoes (Converse or something) and smart shoes.

Ideally so any outfit you wear out and about during thr day can be dressed up with heels or something.

Idea here: www.freedomcolours.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/capsule-wardrobe-1.png

And www.lifestylecoach.ie/cms_files/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/capsule-wardrobe-545x349.jpg

And idoallmyownstunts.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Capsule-wardrobe.jpg

Minus the tiny shorts this is good 4.bp.blogspot.com/-_9a3zckgduA/UDHnAKOe49I/AAAAAAAAFVs/DByfxdjq_5k/s1600/the-perfect-basic-wardrobe3.jpg

Plain dress m.asos.com/mt/www.asos.com/ASOS/ASOS-Midi-Dress-With-Pleated-Skirt/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=2593489&cid=8799&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=12&sort=-1&clr=Black Wear with heels and boots out or flats and denim jacket during the day

Tshirt m.asos.com/mt/www.asos.com/Oasis/Oasis-Drop-Sleeve-Stripe-T-Shirt/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=2754401&cid=2623&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=12&sort=-1&clr=Beige+stripe

Shirt m.asos.com/mt/www.asos.com/ASOS/ASOS-Shirt-In-Mono-Spot-Print/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=2648436&cid=4169&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=12&sort=-1&clr=Spot

Here for nice bits to wear at home www.hush-uk.com/loungewear.html

How lovely having £500 to spend :-)
I would start by having a look round a good department store like John Lewis and seeing what styles you like. Also what colours you like and what suits you. If you are looking for a capsule wardrobe, stick to neutral and a couple of colours.
I would think about including:
Dark blue and black straight straight leg jeans
jeggings in black, teal or a berry shade
plain or small print jersey dress
cord skirt
Blazer in black or charcoal
cardigan / jumper in neutral shades
long sleeve T-shirts, a Breton top, vintage lace style blouses, white shirt
Black suede heels for going out

Scarves and bags and jewellery are all great for pulling an outfit together

I have found the best long sleeve stretch tops on primark. They are £3.50 and come in lots of colours. Perfect for layering and brightening outfits. Their fleece lined tights and leggings are great too.

I'm in a similar position so watching w interest. I'm going for m&s jeggings as my maternity ones were so fab, plus long sleeved Ts in my colours plus a thin but warm jumper plus blazer plus scarf. S&B-ers may weep at my mumsiness, but it's better than maternity tunics surely? ;)My budget isn't great so am planning on buying 3 jeans/jeggings and 3 jumpers.
Footwear is Asos aggies, bear paws and flat riding boots.

Could you spend some of the money getting your colours done? Would help move away from the black/charcoal and help make sure your new clothes suit you.

Come back and link to what you buy!

Thank you ladies, how nice to wake up to all these helpful replies.

In terms of what suits me; the thing is I'm not sure as I have this new shape. Before I was a definite pear but now am more the same size all over. I'm pretty sure its the belly thats keeping me out the size 12 jeans and sadly post c section i don't think its going anywhere fast.

I really liked the first and third of those capsule wardrobes flour face posted but perhaps because I was immediately drawn to the grey knitwear! (Would look a child dressing up in their mother's clothes in a maxi skirt though.)

I like the midi dress and think a dress with a slightly high waist would work as I no longer have a waist in the place waists are normally located. I'm still breast feeding so two pieces work best at the moment. I'm not brave enough for jeggings.

I do still have some black and neutral heels from before and a tan mulberry bag.

My thoughts so far are:

• try some black or charcoal straight leg jeans (never felt confident before but with appropriate tops why not?)

-good quality sloppy knits as can be seen in flourfaces's link -some similarly bum skimming t shirts but aim for rock chick rather than mumsie -couple of shirts - maybe printed ones -nice printed scarf -pair trainers, maybe converse, maybe pumps instead -see if a blazer works - i had too big an arse before

Would it be awful to stick to blacks and greys and add some berry tones in?

So as ever this new look seems to boil down to me getting some jeans i feel confident in - any suggestions for straight legged or (gasp) skinny jeans for my size? I'm happy to spend more on jeans and knits and then get cheaper tops.

I think whats clear is a quick run round the shops with baby is not going to work out but that i need to put some thought into this.

thank you once again ladies.

this would look nice with skinny jeans - and is cheap, comes in loads of colours and is easy to wash and dry?

You want tops that will 'skim' you, not too big and bagger as that will make you look bigger than you are.

this in both colours?

grey cardy with coloured top under?

this worn with leggings or woolly tights, boots and a cardigan

Or am I way off mark and these are all too 'mumsy'

I know Next can be a bit hit and miss, but you can have stuff delivered to your door, or pick up and return in store.

The jeggings from Marks and Spencer are good, high waisted and flattering in different colours. Purple range in Dorothy Perkins do nice tunics and dresses that you can wear with leggings or thick black tights.

Nothing wrong with having a palette and adding tones to it. So you could have your black and grey for winter with berry and maybe some pale pinks for spring/summer.

I would have a good look round the shops and then build some lists online before hitting order. Perhaps look over the next couple of weeks, get a list and hit buy on Boxing Day when you might get some of it in the sale. You'll also have a nice new wardrobe for the new year!

soaccident
I think you are nearly there with the grey knit. Think the top in green might work. The rest of the colours are the kind of thing I buy then feel frumpy in. The dress is so not what I'd usually buy but that's the point of this thread. I'd need to see it in real life I think.

flourface
I like your shopping technique - so considered I usually try to do all in one go. I think I'll try it