I feel like I have finally cracked it........

[Nearlyadoctor]

After 44 years I finally feel that I have the wardrobe I want and I know what I like and what suits me..
About two years ago ( when moving house) I had a really good sort out and found a lot of my clothes that I didn't like or didn't wear were either 'bargains' or impulse buys. I decided that going forward I had to really love something, not have as good or better at home, be prepared to pay full price, which didn't mean not wait until an offer or sale but if I wasn't prepared to pay full price then it wasn't for me.
Yesterday I decided to have another sort etc - nearly all the the items I wasn't sure about 2 years have gone to the charity shop today as I haven't worn them in that time. So I now have a wardrobe I am really happy with, colours that go together, items that I feel good in. This means I never wear something because I feel I ought to when I have others that I know look better. I have never really done 'disposable clothing' so mistakes can be costly.

I have spent probably a couple of thousand over the last 2 years but that includes things like R&B winter boots, Barbour waterproof jacket and really like everything.
Most items are now fairly plain in colours that suit, navy, grey, taupe, burgundy, dark green. Stripes suit me so have a couple of Bretons, minimal black as close to my face makes me look pale, very few patterns.
I much prefer dresses to skirts as I feel more finished, ( like hush dresses for casual and shift dresses for work) . Basics M&S, some Boden cardi's, Mint velvet, M&S jeans, some white company and jigsaw knitwear. Shoes/ boots R&B, Du Barry, Clarks, Dune, Fly, Birkenstocks etc.

Nobody else is probably really interested but I feel much more 'sorted' so to speak, and much less likely to waste money as gaps in the wardrobe seem more obvious

I've almost gone the other way, having lost 20kg I'm opening up stored boxes of clothes and rediscovering some old favourites. Although I've rediscovered some frocky horrors as well. Bit worried about the menopause comments though. I'm an E cup as it is, my plan was to lose wright before the change hits ( I'm 46).

Well done on being so organised.
There was a thread on here a little while ago about wearing everything in your wardrobe to see if you still like it, and that's helped me to have a good clearout, and not to be wearing the same old things all the time.
And, as you say, it helps to identify gaps in your wardrobe, so that when you do spend money, it's spent more wisely.

SimplyNigella well done, it's a great feeling once you've done it isn't it. DH said I should have e bayed a lot of mine but a) couldn't be bothered, too time consuming b) took it all to Hospicare so a good cause.
I'm very aware that the shops will never run out of clothes so as and when I want to buy there is still the thrill of a new purchase albeit a considered one.

I'm ebaying a couple of things (VW Anglomania Cardigan BNWT for example) but it's such a faff and items go for so little that I'd rather give them away than sulk because they went for £3 on eBay. Charity shops all the way!

Bit worried about the menopause comments though. I'm an E cup as it is, my plan was to lose wright before the change hits ( I'm 46).
Oh I was probably an extreme case I was just trying to say that if you're heading towards it, bear in mind your body will probably change in some way. I made the mistake of getting into this investment dressing thing just as I was coming up to 50 and quite frankly I pissed away a fair bit of money. I'd have been better off sticking with relatively cheap and cheerful (while still buying what suited) for a few more years. The magasines never tell you this!

SimplyNigella I am so happy for you. It's great, isn't it?

Floisme would you like to go into detail - what kind of changes can I expect? I had my children quite late and childbirth really changed my shape, including my foot size - any pre-DC investment dressing was not a good investment. Now I am near perimenopause and curious about what's ahead...

Thanks Frustrated. Childbirth has really changed my shape too and my old style really doesn't suit me anymore. So many investment pieces that have had to be culled!

I'd better hang on to my 38g bras then!
Tbf, I suspect I'm already on my way - dreadful skin, bonkers periods, hair falling out, insomnia, appalling memory. I'm taking comfort from the fact that I'm successfully dieting before it all goes tits up (or tits down more likely). Although no hot flushes, I've been cold my whole life, it would be nice to be warm lol.

And sorry OP, didn't mean to derail! Would love to have such an organised wardrobe...I don't even have a wardrobe!

Frustrated I don't mind at all! Basically I'd been flat chested all my life (pregnancy and breast feeding aside) but when I hit the menopause, my boobs grew. Weirdly, I didn't put that much weight on - maybe 3 or 4 Lbs tops - but I went from very pear shaped to practically hour glass.

In lots of ways I've been lucky as overall, my silhouette's not bad; in fact arguably better than before. But everything's much, much saggier and I'm lost without decent underwear.

And I now suit very different things. Before menopause, my style was a bit Boho - e.g. I'd have loved Mint Velvet. Now I look terrible in anything floaty as it accentuates the sagginess. I need structure: not necessarily tailored but fabrics like denim, leather, good quality jersey. On a positive note, I now suit pencil or tube skirts - which I'd have never worn before - and V neck jumpers. So it's not all bad! But before I sussed out what was going on, I made the mistake of treating myself to some lovely, floaty, chiffony, expensive Ghost dresses. 'Because I was worth it'. Grrr.

Obviously this didn't happen overnight - in fact I barely noticed at first. All I knew was that none of my clothes looked right any more. I'm sure that's how a lot of women lose their way.

I should stress it's not the same for everyone! We all age differently but your body does change and it's why I'd caution against becoming too fixed about what suits you and also against too many 'investment pieces' unless you can afford it. Also it never stops. I'm now close to 60 and am bracing myself for more change... So when I buy something now, I never assume I'm going to get more than a couple of years wear out of it and I pay accordingly.

Sorry for long post!

Also no-one warned me about it, which is why I pontificate on here. I was braced for putting on weight and for lots of wrinkles; neither have really happened (yet..). What I hadn't expected was to end up a different shape and also for all the sagginess. I always tell people on here not to worry about wrinkles because at least they give your face a bit of definition. For me, the sagginess is worse because you kind of lose your own face, if that makes sense.

But hey I'm still here and - if I do say so myself - my lower legs and ankles are awesome

This is perfect timing. I stood in front if my wardrobe this morning looking at my endless skirts and didn't fancy wearing any of them. I wear a tiny percentage of what I own, so am now inspired to really go through everything. We may be moving house next year so even more reason to get on with it.
I love the idea of buying less but better quality, just need to disengage from the instant hit of buying!

Great thread.

If you are getting rid of professional clothes, please consider donating them to charities like Dress for Success or Smart Works. They lend or give unemployed women appropriate professional clothing for interviews and give coaching and support to help them secure jobs. They do brilliant work and they deserve our support.

Thanks for those links. I don't have any work clothes to go at the moment but have bookmarked them for next time I do.

Flamingo that is a great idea!

Floisme thanks for the details - very good to know - and sorry for the distraction!

Well done OP! I'm interested and I know exactly how you feel.

I had the same euphoric feeling recently, after getting a new wardrobe after years of wearing unflattering and frumpy clothes. I've been doing Marie Kondo and have been ruthless with the contents of my wardrobe. I kept lots of decent basics (mainly from Primark!) but most of my tops and bottoms were sent to charity as they weren't doing anything for my figure and I didn't actually like them. So I cut my losses and started from scratch.

I had a John Lewis stylist help me choose new clothes and it was fantastic. I was introduced to many new styles that I would not have considered before and I learnt that tucking tops in to a well fitting skirt or trousers does actually suit my curvy shape. The 2 hour session was free but I loved so many of the clothes on me that I willingly spent over £500....and it is the best £500 I have ever spent! Everything goes together now and it's easy to get ready in the mornings. There is a lot of space in my wardrobe, so I can actually see all of my clothes and select an outfit with minimal effort.

I plan to book another John Lewis stylist session for Winter, because I have very little to wear in cooler weather. I think I'll continue to shop in this way now as I have a cohesive wardrobe and I'm getting better wear out of all my clothes. I will also spend less time thinking about and shopping for clothes, which is good for me as a busy working mum.