How do you shop?

[freddiefrog]

Do you arm yourself with a list, or just wander round aimlessly hoping for inspiration?

I'm awful at shopping, if I've got a bit of spare cash I tend to go for a mooch round the shops, end up buying stuff for the sake of it, or because it's reduced and it'd be rude not to, and as a result, I've got a fair few disasters and a wardrobe that is bulging with stuff I never wear.

I always end up wearing the same old stuff - skinnies, top, boots, and any attempt to deviate from that ends up with me not entirely comfortable with my outfit.

I've got a board on Pinterest, and I was just looking at it and realised it's just a mad mix of things I love, nothing goes with anything else, I don't seem to have a style, just a random mix of stuff, which seems to be reflected in my wardrobe

I don't want bulging wardrobes of stuff that doesn't really go with anything else, or stuff I don't wear, or stuff bought because it seemed like a bargain at the time. I can't find anything, my husband is moaning and I feel like I've just got too much stuff

I really want a few key basics that I can wear with everything else, if you see what I mean

So, how do you organise yourself?

I tend to query when I buy something how I'm going to wear it: what do I have that would work with it, what occasion do I plan it for (work, home, going out). I do seem to favour greys and navys at the moment, so lots is mix and match.

And I weed my wardrobe out a couple of times a year (it's ready for it again actually), ebay stuff of value, charity shop the rest.

Oh, and I almost exclusively shop online now due to a combination of things: comfort, range, two young children plus I work during school hours, so rarely get time to properly look in shops. And also there seem to be some amazing bargains - I now tend to shop for better brands and use codes / sales to pay High St prices.

Definitely start off by having a really massive, thorough clearout. As another poster said - EBay what you can (it can be surprising how much you can make doing this, I usually make about £200 each time I do it) and charity shop the rest. If you live in skinnies and boots, stick to that its not a bad 'uniform' as they go! Make sure you love every item, and you can then identify gaps, perhaps a long cardi or a better pair of boots.

Be really strict and only buy basics for a while, in your fave colours, then add a couple of items like a couple of scarves, a statement jacket or new jewellery. The best wardrobes don't have much in them but what's there is all loved and interchangeable.

And stop impulse buying! There are very, very few items that won't still be there in a day or two once you've had time to think about it an crucially work out how it would fit into your existing wardrobe. £25 isn't much to drop on a top but if you do it four times a month, you could have a gorgeous top for £100! Buy less and buy better.

I use Pin too and it can be great for stopping impulse buys - pin things instead, it's like that sport where you take photos of game animals instead if shooting them

Thanks!

I definately need a clear out, although I find it hard to chuck things out. I'm OK with the 'if I haven't work it for 6 months, it goes' rule, but I've got so much stuff that only goes with one other thing in my wardrobe, I'm not very good with thinking about what I've already got, what it'll go with, whether I already have something to wear with it, as a result I end up with 5 pairs of ballet flats in different colours as I've impulse bought something that doesn't go with anything else - I'm not very good at the capsule wardrobe.

I use Pinterest a lot (great work avoidance/time wasting website), but looking at my board, you wouldn't think it had all been pinned by the same person, there's no cohesive style there.

I like skirts and dresses, but other than summer maxi-dresses, I feel an dick in them, DH says I look fine in them, but I just feel uncomfortable and 'not me' but I'd really like to find something different - I'm bored of skinnies/tops/boots every day

I must get ruthless!

Or find a personal shopper or something. I did go and see one once but she made me look like a newsreader

I agree in having a big cull and getting rid of anything that is old, doesn't fit properly or is just not you. I have much less clothes now but find getting ready each morning is so much easier than when i had loads of random stuff to choose from.

I had my colours done a year ago which makes shopping much easier and enjoyable. I tend to wonder round my favourite shops on a regular basis just seeing what available and, budget permitting, buy stuff as and when i see it - obviously only if its 'perfect' on. I have to love it to buy it. Also, everything goes with everything else but not in a boring way - in a handy way iyswim.

Hi Freddie, when you look at your Pinterest board can you group looks? For example when you put all the dresses together are there common themes like length, colour, neckline, silhouette shape etc? This might help you work out that you have several different styles?

For your wardrobe I'd pull everything out, categorise- tops, trousers, jeans etc. and try to make outfits, starting with variations on your skinny jeans and boots. I'd then look at other uniforms you an create based on Pinterest themes.

You've probably got loads of choice in your own wardrobe, you just need to try things on in a different way. I do this around September and April and always discover things I've forgotten or can wear in a different way, it also helps identify gaps and repeat purchases.

I impulse buy in TK Maxx, but I have a good idea of where it'll fit in my wardrobe. Otherwise I usually go out with something in mind, eg ankle boots, or a top to go with jeans.

I have a style similar to yours (jeans, t shirt, blazer) and I have stuck to that for years, bringing in the odd different style. I have one black leather look mini skirt, and one dress.

I like to go for a simple look with one statement item

For example my capsule wardrobe consists clothes in black, white, grey, nude. I have jeans, tops, scarves and jackets in these colours. I also have blue jeans.

I then added some other colours into tops and accessories. Cobalt blue cami top, neon pink saddle bag, neon orange shell top, cobalt skinnies, patterned scarves etc.

I like to keep to my colours but go for a change in shape, e.g skinny flare jeans, leather look leggings, hareems, blazers with shoulder pads, slouchy blazers, plain t shirts of different shapes/thicknesses for layering (I don't like jumpers). Boyfriend jeans, roll up hems on jeans, roll up sleeves on tops etc.

I'm also in the process of adding pattern, floral trousers will go with all my plain tops and blazers, patterned top or blazer will go with all my plain coloured trousers etc.

I have plain coloured shoes in black, white grey and nude in different shapes e.g brogues, ankle boots, heels with pointed toe, heels with rounded toe. I also have some zebra print sandals.

I have mostly silver and diamond coloured bling with some neon and black/white and a bit of gold for when I have a tan.

I find that looking online and using pinterest for ideas helps me focus when I get into the shops. I pin all sorts but always have a wardrobe gaps board so I know what I need and that it will fit into my current wardrobe.

Sorry that was long and probably not helpful but it took ages so I'll post anyway!

I use Polyvore in conjunction with Pinterest. I find an item I like (or have already) then search for it on Polyvore. You can then look at how other people have styled it. I pin styles I like to my board.

Thanks!

I've had a bit of a chuck out today and removed all the stuff I'm not really keen on and I don't feel is 'me'

I've come to the conclusion that I just don't suit dresses or skirts, other than denim skirts and maxi dresses in the summer, or more formal occasion dresses

I suit jeans, either skinny or boyfriend/slouchy so I'm going to use them as a base and build outfits round them

I've been back on Pinterest and got rid of the weirder stuff so will look for statement shoes or a blazer something that will work with the base outfits

So, I've given myself a talking to, made a list of basic items I need to pull certain things together and will go from there.

What is having your colours done? What do they do? What do they look at? I'm a nightmare for changing my hair colour, it was a darkish brown a couple of weeks ago, it's now a toffee-caramel-y colour. It has been bright pillar box red, streaky blonde, etc, do I need to take that into account when working out colours?

Will also have a look at Polyvore!