Please build me a wardrobe

[WhereTheFuckIsMyFuckingCoat]

Hi! Totally new to this topic and needing some help. I live in Aus (have for four plus years), am 36, slim and short, but not really petite.

I will be coming to the uk for just over a month in spring 2016, and plan to bring one weeks worth of clothes (will be staying in a house with washing/dying facilities). So approx 7 outfits plus jacket/shoes/boots? I'm recovering from cancer treatment and surgery and have very low self esteem, so want to look and feel classy and chic, but in no way want to come across as mutton dressed as lamb. I will have a couple of nights out to attend while I'm here too.

I have somehow forgotten what weight of clothing I will need (I'm very cold rifted, coming to Scotland if it helps).

Would really love if any of you lovely ladies could design me a capsule wardrobe for my time in uk. Obviously not exact brands/shops, as I may not be able to get them here, but just want to know what's 'in' or not - what might make me look effortlessly awesome (or, on the flip side, totally ridiculous!)

Fwiw, I have slightly heavy thighs, and no idea what kind of breasts, as I currently have none and am waiting for my surgeon to determine this, but am otherwise fairly evenly proportioned! (Oh, and I'm blonde with light tan skin).

I like jeans, and don't mind skirts but have struggled to find dresses that suit. xx

I will have a think about this, but in the meantime I want to send you a hug, it sounds like you have been through a lot.

What kind of style do you like, do you like pretty, embroidered/embellished kind of things or more streamlined clothes?

Also colours, what do you lke, what suits, etc. I can't wear black for instance, find navy or charcoal much more flattering. I hate yellow with a passion, but l love pink as it brings my face to life.

Is there a celeb whose style you like, Olivia Palermo is always popular here, she always looks elegant, I'm more of an Alexa Chung kind of girl 40 year old

My first though re jeans is boyfriends, they can be very flattering to the heavy of thigh (ie me), look good with ankle boots if it's cold, as it probably will be in Scotland but in Aus you could wear them bare ankled which looks great.

I got a lovely pair last season from Mint Velvet, in a lovely vintage wash blue.

Hi Milk! Thank you for responding so quickly, I honestly didn't expect I'd get anything for days (if at all!)

I quite like a streamlined look, frills make me look heavy. I can wear most colours, too much black makes me look a bit office/funeral like, as for colours, I seem to suit darker/muted colours, olive, aubergine. I really like bright colours but I'm not sure if I pull them off well. Yellow is not my friend . I tend to suit white because of my tan colouring.

In all honestly, if I was reborn I'd like to be Charlize Theron, but that's never going to happen - I look more like princess Diana's ugly sister!! xx

When I travel for a week, I take a couple of trousers and perhaps a skirt, or three pairs of trousers, in neutral colours, so that it's not too noticeable they are the same.
I'd think about layers for the cold, so you could pair up different tops with different woolies.
If you are restricted in terms of volume, think that a scarf for example will give a different feel to the outfit.

If you are travelling only in 2016, though, and you want to be in fashion them, you should ask about closer to the time. If you must buy stuff now, I'd go more classic.
Whatever you choose, if you feel good in them, you will be fine, regardless of fashion.
Try lots of clothes, be a bit bold and purchase the ones that give you the best figure and you really feel happy in.

I like me&em, massimo dutti, zara, some stuff from h&m, gap. I tend to wear dresses, it's easy. If you try A line shaped dresses/skirts, it will disguise the thighs, if that's what you are after :).

It's currently 9 degrees here. I am in navy jersey trousers (meandem), white shirt (levi) and navy box wool jumper (gap). Flat shoes from stylesnob, gray and navy.

Why don't you buy just a couple of things and then when you come here, you could go to John Lewis/House of Fraser etc and ask for a personal shopper. They're free, much cheaper than Australia and you'll be able to try them on?

For starters:

Denim boyfriends
Khaki trousers, maybe boyfriend cut that you can roll up, Gap are good for these
Denim shirt
Silk shirt, Uniqlo are good for these
Cashmere or merino jumpers, one grey one is a lovely bright colour that suits you
Pretty blouse for going out, try Mango or Zara
A line skirt, flatters the thighs
Jersey blazer, maybe in navy
Trench coat, look at Gap, banana republic
Ankle boots like Ash Jalouse
Trainers, I like Gazelles but New Balance are v popular here
Small, bright cross body bag
Clutch for going out

Dresses I am thinking about, but Whistles do nice drapey jersey dresses, they call them bodycon, which are v flattering.

Thank you! I would love to be able to wait until I got over and buy things cheaper, but apart from the fact that my anxiety would cripple me if I wasn't totally organised, I'm having to budget to buying one or two things a month. I don't mind so much about being 'in fashion' as such. Kind of classic will be ok. But those are great ideas!

??

Hi

If you feel the cold, in your place I'd want a really warm jacket like this maybe look in the end of the winter sale next year? I would recommend warm, waterproof sheepskin lined boots too, I wonder whether you'd be able to source those in Australia smile

hmm I wonder whether it would be early or late spring and also how far north you'd be? We went to Iona in late May last year, although it was unusually warm for them, there was still a tendency to light drizzle. It seems to be such a "thin place" that the water seeps through.

The advice was "It is useful to bring both warm, waterproof clothes and light summer clothes at any time in the season. ... Good rainwear, preferably including waterproof over-trousers... strong shoes/boots with good support... waterproof jacket and trousers".

In fact I ended up getting pneumonia (I have a tendency to chest infections) and a friend living on the island told me that the best plan would have been a supply of light, long sleeved tops with which to layer up or down. Plus, of course rainproof overgear and warm layers.

What's the budget?

Not much help on the externals, but I would look out for some fine silk thermal underwear. Noone will know you are wearing it, but it would keep you warm while wearing lighter weight clothes.

I never travel without it, to be worn outside usual underwear, anytime its a bit chillier than you expect. And the good quality silk stuff doesnt overheat you, if it turns out to be warmer than expected.

Gives a lot of flexibility. Hope you enjoy your trip.

Sorry! I wrote a huge post but it appears to have disappeared!! It's early spring - late march until late April. My budget isn't great but I will spend more on bigger things eg. Jacket. It might make more sense for me to buy a coat when I get over there, as really nice warm coats can be hard to come by here and are flipping expensive. I liked that one linked to! although did envisage myself swanning around in a chic trench but realise I'll probably just freeze my ass off

Oh and it's the west of Scotland and will be mostly City based. The only outdoorsy things we will do will be parks and walks etc with my littlies.

Can you link to the kind of underwear you mean please? I'm not sure I've come across it before but will have a google also.

I really loved the ankle boots mentioned earlier too, and have seen lots of those here in a sliding scale price wise so they are a great idea!

Hey. I would buy a coat from maybe somewhere like North face which is waterproof and is smart enough in a nice colour but also has maybe a detachable inner bit to make it more versatile, or a waterproof lighter weight jacket and a gilet.

I think spend the money on the jacket and then buy a contrasting longchamp
Rucksack which will go with everything and be really stylish.

Then I would say a pair of waterproof knee high boots, like dubarrry, a pair of trainers like new balance ones and then a pair of leather versatile flats.

Then maybe a couple of pairs of black leggings and versatile tunics, a couple of pairs of skinny jeans, and then maybe four long sleeved t shirts, maybe Breton style, and a couple of baggy off the shoulder t shirts with patterns.

That should do for almost every day, then bring an emergency outfit to go out in but go shopping in maybe river island to buy something nice for nights out.

Have a lovely time