Putting Together Outfits.

[Hedwig06]

I've spent 10 minutes this morning staring into my wardrobe trying to work out what to wear, I have loads of clothes, so that's not the problem, but really struggle on what to put with what and what goes with what.

Can you please let me know your secrets.

I know a clear out is in order, I'm currently browsing the sales online and have seen this which I like :

www.newlook.com/shop/womens/dresses/shell-pink-jacquard-print-tea-dress-_265232072

But I would like a longline fine knit cardy to go with it, but I have probably 15 chunky knitted cardy's but no fine knit.

This happens to me every time I think "oh I'll wear this", I then struggle what to put with it to finish it off.

Thank you x

Sorry no secrets here but I am in exactly the same position! Loads of clothes but no idea how to put them all together.

One thing that has helped recently is Pinterest, where I can see what other people put together and pinch their ideas. I have some red jeans and had no idea what to wear with them but found this great board showing you so many ways to wear them and now I have much more confidence.

I will wait for the real secrets to come now!

Wrenster we'll wait impatiently patiently together x

Oh, this is me too! I have a warfrobe overflowing with clothes, but often feel like I have nothing to wear, and would dearly love to know how to put what I have together rather than feeling that I need new things, which I clearly don't.

Patiently waiting for the experts to arrive...Pinterest sounds like a good idea though...

Keeping your clothes within a definite palette/style helps. If you don't want to fork out for an image consultant to help you work out the best ones for you, Pinterest is a great place to see outfits, colour combinations, and pin potential wardrobe options. It kind of helps you see possible combinations, and shows you what's missing (e.g. you can see that one blue v neck might help create one outfit, but a navy v neck cardigan can help create 5. Or something).

I used to feel like this but I've recently started thinking a lot more about what I buy and how it fits in with the rest of my wardrobe. Since becoming a SAHM I've essentially developed a 'uniform' of jeans, neutral coloured tops and cardigans which ensures everything goes together. Accessories can make outfits look different especially if you can do scarves (which I can't as they look rubbish on me). I've found Pinterest invaluable just for getting inspiration but also searching for example blue cardigan and see how others style it

This site was linked in another thread but she has some good ideas.
www.puttingmetogether.com/2012/02/building-remixable-wardrobe-part-1.html

Queencadbury - just wanted to say thanks for suggesting looking up a particular item of clothing on Pinterest. For some reason I hadn't even thought of this before, I just randomly searched fashion.

Just had a go at searching for a few items in my wardrobe that I have no idea what to do with I.e. turquoise jeans and have found loads of ideas!

Hedwig06 - it looks like there is no magic answer but Pinterest is a good start! You can have a look at my boards if you'd like too - I'm certainly no fashion guru but I've pinned quite a few things

I was in exactly the same situation and did the following

• cleared out my wardrobe getting rid of any items that didn't suit me, didn't fit me, I hadn't worn in more than 2 years, and revisited things that needed repair or alteration
• had my colours done which makes shopping choices much easier, makes your clothing so much easier to put together
• read lots of books about style and fashion
• joined the MN Vogue threads for lots of advice and ideas
• joined Pintrest - this is my main source of ideas about what goes with what..... Once you have the basics of your wardrobe covered, accessories are great for ringing the changes. I also read lots of blogs now for ideas.

Shopafrolic - sorry if this is a daft question but where do you get your colours done?

Thanks for the suggestions, a wardrobe clear out sounds a very good idea I think. Probably have close to 30 pairs of jeans of which I wear about 5!

It's so much easier when there's less in your wardrobe.
In terms of getting colours done, used a local (Hertfordshire based) lady but House of Colour have people across the UK I believe. Hopefully is the colour expert. Happy to PM you my woman's details if you're local.......

I go through my wardrobe and do a clear out twice a year. Sort of spring and autumn time whenever I'm getting either my summer or winter stuff out.

Can also recommend a woman for wardrobe edits too.....

Shopafrolic - that would be great if you dont mind? I'm in Bedfordshire so not too far.

Ok will PM you. Wardrobe edit was something I won in a comp and is quite pricey in RL, a brutal friend could do the same job (or hire me for wine and hob knobs )

Have PM'd you

Even better is the polyvore website. So many ideas and looks especially if you search for an item you own.

I tend to put outfits together based on what I am trying to feature. It could be an item of clothing or an accessory which is like my version of a feature wall. So today I really wanted to wear my orange trench so worked backwards and decided I needed a dark dress. I decided to wear a dark jacket with it as well and then decided that I wanted the other accessories to complement both the bright coat and dark clothes so went for leopard print back, black pumps and discrete jewelry. Again for me it's all about starting with my main item and complimenting it, looking at materials, colour and shape. Hope that makes some sense!!

Put aside some time so you can:

Take everything out of your wardrobe and get rid of anything that doesn't fit.

Start working clothes into groups eg, neutral/background clothes (say a navy skirt or grey tailored trousers) and statement clothes (bold colours or prints). Make several of these groups according to your tastes.

Start taking clothes from say the background group and seeing what will work from the statement group (or whatever groups you have decided on). Photograph clothes together once you have worked out a new combination then try one of the successful items with something from a different group. Photograph again.

Get rid of anything that is unclassifiable/doesn't work with anything else.

Don't buy anything in the future unless you can picture it with an existing item that you already own.

It's much easier if you have a fresh pair of eyes looking at your clothes so perhaps invite a friend to help too. It is really satisfying when you find something you've forgotten about that works with lots of other pieces.

You are what you wear by Jennifer Baumgartner is also well worth a read

Do you know what I did recently when I had a bit of time on my hands? It's really a bit embarrassing and I wouldn't dream of sharing this in real life but I basically made a catalogue of all my clothes.

Well, not really, but I took loads and loads of pictures of myself with my webcam wearing all different combinations of this with that, including bags, shoes, coats, etc. I now find it really helpful to be able to look at it when thinking about what I'll wear. (There were also a lot of camera-won't-lie realisations of things that just don't work together at all so it felt like a bit of an edit at the same time)

And it's been good for focusing/reining in my wishlist too. By trying out so many different combinations it's made me realise I don't need nearly as many new things as I thought -- I actually have lots of different possible outfits. I do feel a bit batty to have all these pictures of myself on the computer, though

sorry, I've only just read lalalonglegs's message above. Very nice to have my bonkers plan backed up by the advice of a stylish sounding stranger

Thanks everyone sorry I was away walking around a DIY shop with DH exciting times

I have been thinking about sorting things out into colour blocks but wasn't sure if that would work. It seems I'll have to set aside some time to go through my wardrobe properly and see what works with what I never thought of taking pictures so I'll be trying that.

I am on Pinterest but have only set up an account I'll have to have another look at it.

Wrenster - I'd love to have a look on your boards I'll PM you - if anyone else doesn't mind adding me could you PM me I need all the help I can get x

One of my boards - feel free to follow if you want to
pinterest.com/shopafrolic1/s-s-2013/

Thanks shopafrolic I have followed x

Good tips about Pinterest and I've followed you shopafrolic. I've spent more time on my wardrobe in the last few months and it's really paid dividends.

I've been on the minimalist threads in Good Housekeeping and that motivated me to have a good declutter of my wardrobe. Then since December I've been doing Project 333 where you have 33 items for 3 months.

This has massively helped me understand what I like, what suits me and what clothes I need to buy. I've also been realising that it's worth spending more time thinking about what clothes to buy before actually buying something and that it's worth getting good quality things (even on my eBay budget).

Putting me together is a great blog. I also like Outfit Posts and Go Chic or Go Home. Jennifer Baumgartner sounds interesting, I shall explore further. Any other blog suggestions?

Also I can't work out how to use polyvore at all - any advice?

On polyvore go into the search box and put on either an item you own or a brand or store. Click on the item and it will show you what other items you like. Scroll down and it will show you whether someone has styled that item before. If its a popular item then lots of different people might have styled it to give you different ideas.