No clothes & no money - so fed up. What would you do?

[Jemster]

I am so fed up right now. Since my second child 18 months ago I cannot fit into any of my clothes. I have just taken a load to the charity shop as they were just taking up room and it was pointless keeping them. I am not massively bigger than I used to be but I am bigger round my hips and thighs and tummy, although my waist goes in nicely.

As a result I have literally hardly anything to wear. What I do have looks old and tatty. The problem is I have hardly any money to buy anything as we are struggling money wise as it is just with the cost of living, as I know so many people are at the moment.

I work every morning in an office and the ladies I work with are younger than me, no kids and have new clothes on every day! I have one pair of trousers but no well fitting tops so just wear horrible cardigans and a couple of dresses. I feel such a mess next to the other ladies and it is really knocking my self confidence.

I need a new winter coat as mine is out of shape from wearing when pregnant and my boots are ancient.

I could probably afford £50 a month and have £50 of Debenhams vouchers but I just don't know what to buy. I spent the whole of Sunday traipsing round town trying to find things but I haven't got a clue and it looks like I'm not going to get much for my money!! I don't have the time to spend all Sunday going round the shops only to come back with nothing and I felt guilty as weekends are our family time.

I used to have loads of nice clothes and always look smart for work. I know now my family comes first but I feel such a mess and hate getting up every morning thinking I literally have nothing to wear!

Please can anyone give me some advice or suggestions? At this rate it's going to take me years to build up my wardrobe.
Would be really grateful for any help thanks.

Parka, not duffle.

bargain H&m coat

Haven't read the whole thread but what about ASOS? There's always a huge sale selection and you can order and then return anything that doesn't fit fairly simply. Beats traipsing round the shops.

ASOS quality is so awful though (IME, maybe I've just been unlucky with the stuff I've seen).

Thanks, I've never looked at Asos so will do. I have had a good look at Next site and found some nice things for work. Lots of them are saying sold out unfortunately so that's a shame. I do find Next so easy with delivery & returns. I've heard that H&M online is not so good, anyone know?

This really really absolutely works (sound like charlie and lola!). Go to a very wealthy area and go to their oxfam. There you will find beautiful clothes for very little money. I do this regularly and have a few favourite haunts, last week I bought a fabulous coat, very good label, excellent quality, ten quid. Even when I was extremely short of money people always asked me how come I wore such good clothes.

Some of the loveliest, poshiest things I have came from the local charity shops. I could dress like Jackie Onasis (showing my age here) for £50 a month ...

Charity shops sound promising although I have yet find anything but will definitely keep looking.

I have also saved some searches on ebay but am worried about buying something that doesn't fit and wasting my money and having the hassle of re-listing to get money back. I vary so much as to what size I am in different styles and shops. It is so tempting to bid though as nice stuff for not much money.

My advice is buy some scarves to go with your basics buy them in autumn colours until you can afford things you really want. Get a really good hair cut perhaps there's is a hair and beauty training College near you. You can get great treatments and your hair cut and coloured very reasonably at these places. Buy a flattering lipstick, foundation, blusher and mascara (check in pound shops) quite often good brands end of lines to be found.check bargain baskets in smaller independent chemists a nice perfume and most importantly of all .....SMILE:) I have never been so hard up are clothes poor in my life before but EVERY day my make-up is on and my hair styled (it takes 15 mins to shower put makeup on and dry hair ( I have a simple hairstyle!!) most of all I hope things improve financially for you :) :)

Not sure if anyone has suggested this already but I'd definitely look into ebaying any clothes that don't fit you to free up some spare cash. Also, what I find is that I think clothes are old and tatty because they have been in my wardrobe for ages, but they still sometimes get compliments from colleagues who aren't looking at them the same way. I'd look into buying a simple shift dress in black or navy and then buying some cheap colourful cardigans and matching necklaces to wear with the dress. M&S outlet sometimes have cardigans for £2.50.

For work I would say buy a couple dresses as you only need to pay for one item and then have a whole look. Get some black opaque tights and maybe some black brogue type shoes to update yr look for work so you feel a bit more put together. Don't try to blend in too much, sounds like you need a confidence boost too.

I like the idea of navy trousers & a navy dress as basics for work but what shoes should I wear with them? I only have black long boots or black shoes which I'm guessing woukd just look wrong.
I think this is where I get frustrated as I think that if I do buy anything new & decent I then have no shoes/tights/cardigan to go with it so have to buy all that aswell. I know I need to start somewhere but what shoes/boots work with navy? Also, with work trousers and shoes what's the best thing to wear, the lovely pop socks and if yes, what colour?

I think nude/camel shoes look really classy with navy dresses (and red for that matter). There are lovely camel shoes in M&S and I think Tesco too that will cost you less than £20.

Personally I wouldn't opt for trousers for work - dresses are the way to go to keep things simple.

I have navy M&S Court shoes for work- they were £15 last year and honestly are really comfy
£17.50 now but still a bargain- I walk to and from work in mine and never had a problem:
www.marksandspencer.com/Collection-Stiletto-Court-Shoes-Insolia%C2%AE/dp/B00CQF5O7G?ie=UTF8&ref=sr_1_2&nodeId=2040223031&sr=1-2&qid=1383728361

I think black boots with navy dress is fine.

I have the M&S court shoes linked too - they are very comfy but the patent does mark easily.

Tesco, Tesco, Tesco.

I have an awkward body shape, not an awful lot of spare cash and a sparse wardrobe. For the last year now, I've been buying stuff (especially for work) and Tesco and I get nothing but compliments and people asking me where I've got my clothes from.

I really need jumpers so I'm going next weekend to have a good scout round.

For work though, I have this dress which is lovely

This looks gorgeous so I might order this wrap chiffon blouse

Actually at work so can't spend too long linking on here but have a look on their website. I can usually spend £100 and come out with a good few outfits, so £50 would definitely get you some good basics I think.

Might be worth getting trousers that are partially elasticated so they go in around your waist and don't gape. If you are heavier on the thigh then go for wide leg styles. I have had a bit of success on Crazy Clearance (trousers £6). Now I know they are styled up gimmertastic but they are actually good quality and look good with a stylish top/jumper.

A chocolate maxi in a heavy jersey is a good staple. A size 12 will fit .Ebay and per una are your friend here. We are talking plain so not obviously per una. The older style skirts were cut exquisitely and if you get a flippy one they look great. Go for the longest you can to avoid the frump factor. Layer up with a cami in camel/kingfisher/rust etc and then one of he jumpers to create a bit of interest.

As an Autumn, trousers in camel,brown and khaki would be a good start. Then get three jumpers in similar shades- scoop or v-neck- you can then rotate them. Primark and Peacocks are good for cheap basics as is Matalan. Next get some scarfs- the light snood style ones are good , in various tones- that you loop around. you can pick these up for £3 in Primark. A couple of statement necklaces can be good for pulling it together too- charity shops are good for these.

Boots- if you stick to maxi skirts and trousers you only need higher ankle boots- which are cheaper. Spend on a good leather pair in a rich chestnut colour so they go with everything.

HTH

There is a cotton v-neck on Matalan for £7 and it seems to be in three autumn shades......

Lose weight so you can fit into your old clothes?
Spend the extra money each month on a gym membership.

I 2nd the Next but keep an eye on what you spend on.

My colleague gets some clothes from Tecsos, £25 for jersey dress (below) and £16 for a knitted dress

www.clothingattesco.com/page/search?termtextkeywordsearch=jersey+dress

www.clothingattesco.com/f+f/f+f-supersoft-cable-knit-jumper-dress/invt/bm323230