right got some £ to spend! Want classic good-quality stuff. Any suggestions?

[RanToTheHills]

have finally come into a bit of money - to spend on me, lovely for a change!
I'd love to invest in a timeless capsule wardrobe (yes, I know!) - but mine is full of clothes which don't suit me, in the wrong colours or just way out of date or too dressy. I'm mainly looking for practical but chic looking SAHM stuff plus a couple of work-related things - tops to go with suits etc.
I really don't want Topshop/zara/M & S type clothes but am out-of-date on what "quality" stuff within reason is worth it and affordable.
Any suggestions? Thank you kindly!

what do you want then?

god, I don't know! Why i'm posting, I suppose. Practical, stylish, well-made stuff - Hobbs/Jaegar/Max Mara? Hell, Boden?? Some shops - Jigsaw for one seem to fit oddly on me - i've got v broad shoulders & am v tall so need to get round that. Wildly out of date, so not really sure.

well, that's that then.
No-body got any pearls of wisdom? (or has this thread been done too many times before?!)

If you have a bit of cash to spend (and would prefer high quality clothes) I would suggest booking an appointment with a style advisor. Most department stores have one - we have one in our local John Lewis or perhaps worth a trip to London and booking one in Selfridges/Harvey Nicholls etc. They will talk to you about your lifestyle and then pick out suitable clothes for you to try - you obviously don't have to buy anything if it is not right.

alternatively Mrs Badger is usually good at this sort of thing. Perhaps give an idea of your hair/skin/eye colour, shape weight and height.

thx incey - have always wondered about seeing a stylist/personal shopper. Have you tried it yourself? If so, was it worth it?

if you have a Kew near you, they are quite good. I've got broad shoulders (though I'm sort of average rather than tall) and I find their stuff fits me OK. Some of it is a little mumsy but most of it is v stylish and I love their colours. Monsoon is also worth a look and I know you've written off M&S but I cut through M&S yesterday and they had some fab stuff in Per Una and the other collection bits.

hmm i dont go tot hsoe
am ceapskate
what about going to a presonal shop in slefies of jl?
kew monsoon>

ok - will check out Kew (and may re-visit M& S). I quite like their Per Una stuff, must admit though still doesn't tend to quite hit the mark on the style front for me

Ooooh, def def make an appointment with a personal shopper in Harvey Nics or Selfridges! It's free, they can work to any budget and will gather hundreds of fab outfits from all over the shop whilst you lounge in a lovely dressing room with coffee or bubbly. They don't work on commission, so no pressure to buy - but they will come up with lots of things you would never have picked up in a million years, but which really look great. But don't go for a provincial dept store if most of the clothes there are of a Hyacinth Bucket style.....

NO kew LOVELY in winter

get good keans elsewhere though

Rantothe hills, have not done myself but a friend did it for a wedding outfit (Selfridges) and they picked out a fab outfit which she never would have chosen for herself. I think they can be objective and honest.

they have some lovely stuff in Kew at the mo

oooooh didn't know they had an online shop

I think that the 'timeless capsule wardrobe' is quite hard to do to be honest. there are very few items you can invest in that don't show their age after just a few years.

If i was investing in anything I would get:

A pair of wool crepe wide legged trousers - from somewhere like French Connection
A really classic trench coat
Some chunky boots from somewhere like Hobbs
Some good quality knitwear - have a look at the cashmere stuff in M and S
A couple of pairs of jeans - from Gap probably although I also like the French connection jeans.

I'd probably get a really nice bag too - probably one from the red direct catalogue.

I'd mix all of this up with some cheap stuff.

I did the personal shopper thing a few years ago and got some gorgeous DKNY stuff which I still wear all the time.

thanks, everyone! Have checked out Kew - looks promising! Will have a think about Selfridges or similar for personal shopper.
Satine, do you mind if i ask roughly how much you spent? Don't want to look a fool going in there with a relatively small amount, And re yr DKNY stuff, has it lasted well, did it seem much better quality than high street?

oh and puddle, thanks for the tips! Good guide to get me started - yes, I intend to mix with gap tops/jeans/2nd hand stuff (or should I say "vintage" )etc.

The DKNY stuff was about £160, I think - I got two tops and two skirts in black stretchy material. They have lasted so well, despite being machine washed and even occasionally tumble dried, and they still look really elegant and stylish. They are some of the oldest things in my wardrobe. The personal shoppers really can work to most budgets - although I'd be lying if I said you'd get much for Primark prices - and can give you lots of ideas of styles and shapes that suit you.

if your budget stretches that far, make an appt with the by appointment team at harrods. but be prepared to spend >£500 (and if they ask, tell them at least £1,000). i went last year and got great jeans and tops and a jacket - all from the whistles, seven for all mankind, dkny and joseph concessions.

you'll feel like a princess.

ooh, Harrods! Is it really worth it? Sounds wonderfully indulgent but isn't it more money for the same thing, IFYKWIM? Happy to be persuaded otherwise though.

The one I went to was in Harrods. Most of the big London stores are packed full of lots of clothes franchises, so they all have a good range of labels. Personal shopping means you only have to get undressed once, rather than in every little franchise!

Just go to Matalan or QS why dontcha!!

no more expensive than the same clothes in other shops rtth - the concessions price the same as in selfridges, house of fraser etc. the consultation itself is free.

big advantage is having lots of clothes in one shop, someone to whizz you straight to where you want to be, and trying everything on all at once - much faster.