Help me put together a capsule wardrobe please?

[HmmmmNeedToDecide]

I am a pear shaped size 8 5ft2 34C and I'm 24.

I have fancy going out dresses and a work wardrobe, or really old baggy jeans/jumpers. I really struggle with casual/smart casual I either look completly over or under dressed

I need outfits for going out with DS, going to the shops, going to pub/cinema, having a chilled day at home if you know what I mean?

Please help me! I usually shop topshop/river island/h&m but am open to suggestions.

I have £400 to spend and prefer dresses/play suits due to my 27 inch legs! Oh and I own no jewellery or accessories of any kind

Thank you

Start with jeans - one indigo, one black. I am pear shaped and find Levis slight curve slim leg very flattering - I found mine in TKMaxx for £30. Lots of people on here also rave about Oasis Cherry jeans and M&S jeggings.

Jersey blazers are fantastic for being comfy, washable but smart. I really rate the Whistles one I have linked but H&M, Zara, Next etc all have them at various times. Get a neutral colour like grey, navy or camel depending on what suits you.

H&M for some vests and L-sleeved T's in colours that suit you to wear with your jeans and blazer. They have good cotton breton style tops ATM in lots of colours.

A fine knit jumper or two would be good to have - try Gap for a good selection

Footwear - flat ankle boots in tan or black depending on the rest of your colours. A pair of plimsolls also useful such as converse or superga, vans etc. Clarks do good leather plimsolls from time to time.

What I am describing is a bit of a mummy uniform but it's popular because it works and you can personalise the look with scarves, jewellery, nice bag etc.

Oh bugger, have just read your post properly and see you prefer dresses and playsuits!! Sorry.

What about Boden for some good casual dresses such as stripy tunic or the must have tunic

Brogues would look good with these and I stick by the previous recommendation to get a jersey blazer!!

I think key pieces are fabulous flat leather boots and a trench coat.

Any use? Afraid I know nothing about playsuits though.

I second Liberty's rec for Oasis Cherry and the M&S jeggings (but only the real denim ones).

I like that Boden tunic, and find dresses like that v easy to wear either alone or with a denim or biker jacket.

I really like tube skirts too. The Topshop double layer ones are good, or Whistles.

Yes to Converse. These are a recent thing for me and I love them - mine are leather, which I think are probably more hardwearing and possibly more versatile. I felt a bit too teenage in the fabric ones.

A fabric biker jacket is good too - Warehouse sometimes have them. Whistles have one in the sale but I found it was cut so big that even a ten was huge on me, the arms were much much longer than mine, and it's also polyester. Some of the Warehouse ones have at least a few natural fibres in them. :)

Great pin board Remus

Thank you. Just wish I owned it all. :)

If I had £400 and I was 24, I'd split it and spend about £150 on basic separates:

2x New Look high skinnies: blue and black (they do 27 in leg) £22/ea
5x vest tops £35/total (Primark)
1x jersey blazer £40 (Zara)
1 tan handbag (eBay probably)
1x lambswool jumper, Uniqlo £20/ea
2x leggings, Uniqlo, grey and black £20/t

Then £100 on shoes:

3x ballet flats: nude, black, colour (coral pos) £18/t (Primark)
1x sandals, most flexible colours being tan or silver I guess
1x ankle boot

Then I'd buy one or two very plain well cut dresses, but that is super boring (because I am old and boring) and perhaps you'd prefer to buy 5 fun dresses from the Joy sale. Great for young hipster dresses, Joy.

Get a good dark skirt as well and you can mix it with your tops/jumper/blazer. And a bright thin belt in coral, acid yellow, turquoise, or something like that. I would also get a long string of black cultured freshwater pearls (£25).

And finally, I would be surprised if you're a 34 back and a size 8. I'm very tall and can take a 16/18 jacket across my shoulders and I'm a 32 back. Have you gone on the bra intervention threads? (My guess is you're more like a 28F.)

In which case you will need at least one decent bra (£30).

Heh, I had this window open from the morning.

What libertychick said!

I read some great advice about capsule wardrobes. It basically said pick a main neutral, a second neutral (that goes with the first) and an accent colour. Then you want to buy 3 of things (eg dresses, tops, skirts, scarves etc) - for each item you want 1 plain in your neutral, 1 plain in your accent and 1 patterned including your neutral colour. For things like trousers buy a pair in each neutral and a great pair of jeans.

Once you've got the basics you will be able to create loads of different outfits and can start to introduce other colours.

The Putting Me Together blog is a great source of inspiration too.

Right - I've been thinking about this and if I needed to start completely from scratch for a casual wardrobe I would get:

One black column maxi skirt from Topshop - about £25
As above but midi and maybe striped - Whistles for about £45 or Topshop for about £25
2 pairs of jeans - one blue and one either black or grey
One black cotton jumper - probably Cos for about £40ish
One grey casual jumper - maybe Cos or French Connection and probably around £40ish
One denim jacket - Gap sale maybe?
One fabric biker jacket - maybe Warehouse or the Whistles one if you like it - about £45-50ish OR wait until it's cooler and get a proper leather one for £100ish
2 black t-shirts in your best shape - £30ish for two
2 white and/or grey t-shirts - £30ish for 2
A couple of layering vests - maybe a tenner-ish each
One pair of ankle boots - Dune sale maybe - £60ish
One black jersey dress or striped jersey dress - Westwood if the budget runs to it but otherwise White Company or Topshop - anything from £30 to £150
One casual skirt, for me it would maybe be pleated and just below the knee - in a bright colour ideally and if the budget runs to it, another in black, grey or perhaps a denim skirt
One pair leather Converse - £55ish
One denim shirt - £30ish
At least two cotton scarves - probably TK Maxx or Warehouse and I deffo wouldn't pay more than £25 each for these, and ideally much less (H&M v occasionally have nice ones)

I'm not sure I can/dare add that up though.

About £575 Remus sticking to the lower end of your estimates!!! A good list for a casual wardrobe though.

Where are you OP? Is any of this any help? Agree also with CoTa re getting fitted for a bra and bright ballet pumps and couple of bright belts to make it all more interesting.

Oh to be 24, a size 8 and have £400...

I love this thread. So much good advice and ideas!

Ouch.

I still need to find 'the perfect' version of some of my list, particular a really well fitting denim shirt and a couple of really perfect jumpers.

particularly

I found a good denim shirt in Oasis last year Remus this one - not perfect though, I would prefer matt silver buttons!

Yes, Remus, I love all that stuff on that pin board - exactly the kind of thing that I like to wear.

Ohhhh thank you so much! I forgot I posted this, have been very tired

Went shopping a little bit yesterday, Actually got my boobs measured, apparently I'm a 32D which is a bit more comfortable! So I've brought some bras and 2 white vests and a blue play suit from river island with you can glam up or casual down iykwim? And I was talked into buying a chunky gold necklace to go with it by the shop assistant in the changing room!

Will go through all the links and have a look at everything properly, but I am loving the pintrest board, thank you!

Libertychick even though I'm 45 and currently 9 months pregnant you have inspired me to order the Whistles jersey blazer! Am hoping it will make me feel human in the autumn!

You might like to look at all the bra threads. I suspect if you are a size 8 then you are probably not a 34C. I say this because thanks to remeasuring I went from a 36A to a 32C and I'm a tall big-boned size 10-12.

Sorry OP just read that you have indeed changed bra size! I didn't read the whole thread!

onlyconnect it's a great jacket - I have it in pale grey. I'm currently working out what I need/can afford to spend for autumn/winter and I am seriously considering getting it in blue. For post childbirth it would be great as it looks very smart but washes very well - mine had had bird poo, coffee spills and vomit (had a bad run of minor incidents) and still looks great

Good luck with CB!! 45 - you are giving me hope

Shamelessly stealing ideas here!

Sneaking in to steal ideas!

Just raided the Great Plains sale for some lovely items, there may be a few things left there that you might like too.

I second all the ideas on here, the whistles blazers are great for the money.

Cos also worth a look - sizing is completely all over the place so definitely one to visit rather than internet shop - I bought this silk T-Shirt there the other day in both navy and grey - a bit expensive at £39 each but they are 100% silk jersey, very versatile and best of all machine washable. Provided they wash ok I think I'll be wearing them for years.