Too much stuff or....

[tobee]

Just being nosey!

Are you the sort of person who has a beautiful capsule wardrobe of good quality items? One of each item of foundation, mascara, palette of lipstick etc, perfume?

Or loads of (cheaper?) products 15 pairs of jeans, loads of supermarket brands of make up etc?

I slung out loads of stuff a while ago and vowed to only buy the best of stuff in my price range, quality not quantity.

But then since then, I got loads of samples of stuff and a few cheapy versions of things have crept in. So I've got too much stuff again.

So do you have quality or quantity?

I tend to buy what i can afford, but usually high end High street. I find supermarket shopping a bit of a false economy. With make up I never buy super market brands, I like to feel as though I'm treating myself. I do own a lot of clothes, and have occasionally wondered whether I should buy less but designer, but then I'd never wear it and just keep it for best.

I just get very annoyed with myself. Sometimes I think it's about lack of confidence. My mum has always been the same as me. But my sister is more the opposite.

I'm a bit of both.. I buy some higher end,more expensive items that are quite versatile but I also buy a lot of high street stuff for casual wear. Interestingly I've started buying slightly higher end of high street stuff this year which is more expensive and I've found I wear it much more frequently than the cheaper items.
I have a wardrobe that is pretty packed full but I'm organising a charity clothes swap event in a few weeks time which seems like a perfect way to declutter my wardrobe.
In regards to make up I have way too much! I'm a total make up junkie and have everything from Estée Lauder, Charlotte Tillberry, urban decay down to make up up revolution. I'm always searching for the holy grail of foundation and mascara so I have loads of these.

Both. I buy high end stuff second hand and mix with high street.

I do like quality but a bit of throwaway fashion is a guilty pleasure too. I am very sceptical about investment buys.

I'm partly with Flo, as I buy at the top and bottom ends of the scale, but rarely in between. So. I would choose a perfect jacket, at full price, because I will wear it 250/365 and it goes in the washing machine. I would never buy a T shirt outside Uniqlo or similar because it's going in the wash after every wear. For special occasions, I tend to buy posh but in sales or on EBay, as it's never going to be worn that heavily, but it will tend to be quite classic so it can come out every few years and look splendid. I do need to get better at recycling my errors.

I mainly buy higher end, but do have some cheaper items.
My cheaper clothes are basics like jeans and t-shirts as I don’t think the more expensive ones last much longer to be worth it.
Also fashion items will be cheaper as I suspect I will tire of them after a season or two.

Most of my expensive clothes (and bags and jewellery) were bought on sale/offer.
I tend to buy fairly classic items, and really good quality (sometimes very quirky) items so I really enjoy wearing them and feel they work with anything. I do not keep anything for best as I want to wear my clothes rather than regret never wearing it.
Because I buy high end items on sale, on offer and in outlets, I often get really good quality items at high street prices.

I mainly have mid/high end makeup, and I have quite a lot of it.

I am no good at the capsule wardrobe/makeup - I get bored of just having one or two of something.

Nope, I buy stuff because I like it. Make up is mostly cheap high street stuff with a bit of higher end stuff thrown in (MAC,. Smashbox, Urban Decay, although I love Revolution make up too!) I buy clothes from charity shops, Peacocks, TU and Primark, as well as online (nice things that are harder to get hold of, like my Goth dresses and band t-shirts.) My jewellery is all cheap stuff too, except for my Pandora ring that I wear all the time, so was worth it. I like to mix things up and I like bright colourful make up. I can't bear the idea of a capsule wardrobe, I'd get bored!

I recently went through my stuff and got rid some of my clothes and stuff, and could probably do some more.

@saphire literally exactly the same as me!

Bit of both. Higher end pieces so I know I have greats outfits for work and going out. Cheaper bits for weekends/ dog walking etc.

Tend to buy and sell on eBay. So sold a few bits this year and treated myself to a Mulberry handbag which is a classic & I know I'll use it for years to come.

I too am sceptical of investment buys. Yes I have things that I’ve had for years and years and still wear, but that perfect item that will last you for ever? I’m not sure. Styles change subtly over the years and nothing is perfectly timeless in my view

I wish I could do higher end, but I find it hard to predict what I’ll wear lots. So I’m mostly Zara and H&M.

What higher end places are people getting on well with?

Same here Paintbox - I do have quite a lot of clothes that I've worn on and off for years but it's just as likely to be a jumper from H&M as something expensive. I guess I'm just not very good at predicting what's going to last (both in terms of wearing well and keeping my interest).

I also agree with you that nothing is timeless - but some things do come round over and over and only need a few tweaks to look current again so, if I'm bored with something or it's dated but it still fits and suits and is in good nick, I put it away rather than get rid of it.

The nearest I come to a capsule wardrobe is in summer as I don't get on with hot weather clothes so tend to stick to a uniform. But that's only for a few weeks!

I've tried to go down the higher end route, but tbh, the best cost per wear I've had have been the much cheaper items. And that is annoying when I've "invested" in something I don't routinely reach for, for some reason or another (it's too heavy, bulky or whatever)
however I recently decided that I won't buy new shoes anywhere apart from Clarks, (not exactly high end, but more ££ than I would normally spend in say the Tu sale) as they have been the absolute best value for me personally. Other (cheapy) shoes just don't get worn because they are uncomfortable or just wear out too quickly.
Makeup - I try and find the Revolution dupes of high end stuff. Feel like I'm saving a bit of ££ but still getting something that's supposed to be like high end, so it feels more of a treat. But I have way too much makeup. And shoes. And clothes. It's my weakness!

I'm not sure if Toast could be considered 'high end' (some stuff is ££££...) but I always get on well with their clothes. It is a bit of an acquired look though, as can tend towards shapeless. I just find it very wearable and it doesn't feel like 'for best' so gets worn a lot (and lasts well). Def good in cost per wear basis.

Case in point: I bought a navy wrap jacket in heavy soft fabric a couple of years ago (winced a bit as it was almost £200)- but have worn it loads.

A similar New Look jersey blazer has only been worn once or twice, as it just doesn't hang right... or rather it hangs ok, but not compared to the Toast one.

I find the initial outlay painful, but go with my gut- if I try it on and think 'yesss' then it's always worth it IME.

Make up wise, I tend towards higher end as I agree with PP that it's nice to feel you're treating yourself. I know red lipstick looks good on me so go for a high end brand when I do 'need' one.

Even higher end make up - £24 ish? is a more affordable treat than high end clothes....

Mixture
I buy expensive handbags but only have 2 or 3 at a time
Shoes I always go for reasonable quality but try and buy in sales or outlet stores
Clothes are a mixture so classic staples like coats, black dress, black trousers, cashmere cardigans go for the best I can afford then mix up with cheaper tops, summer dresses etc

I don’t wear makeup but do have an expensive perfume habit as it’s a mood or occasion thing and probably have 30-40 bottles on the go at a time!

Quality not quantity. I'd rather have one thing 1 thing I love, than 10 I feel mediocre about.

Neither.

Shoes are my weakness, I have 30-40 pairs and that covers everything from £6 Primark espadrilles to shoes from Russell and Bromley that were £200. Some are shoes that will never be worn again but I'll never get rid of (silver sandals I got married in), some are worn to destruction (trainers and work shoes). If anything I reckon I could do with more shoes for work, although I know I have more than most people. But cool shoes can really lift an otherwise simple outfit and date less than other clothes. I always dress from the feet up (nude t-bar sandals today).

Clothes I buy at the mid to top of the High Street (COS, M&S, Gap, Jigsaw). I don't know what my style is, but I think that's a function of age, I'm very aware that the impression I want to make today with my clothes is very different to the one I wanted to make 10, 20 or 30 years ago even though some of the items of clothes are the same! So to talk of a constant style over the decades is difficult. I do have a relatively small wardrobe of clothes and do wear most things to death, I've read some 'capsule' wardrobe descriptions that are bigger than my wardrobe but on the other hand I don't believe anyone in the western world really can operate with just 7 very expensive items, for one thing the constant washing will stop them looking expensive PDQ. I think that probably it's easier to pull outfits together if you have good basics and those are worth spending some money on because they will be worn a lot. But for your own interest (no-one else really notices) you need the stand out items to raise your day to day outfits. For going out I'm much more of the opinion you can probably have a couple of LBDs and that will do for most events.

I'm boring as all my clothes are from Boden (a lot second hand), I have one handbag 👜 (a gorgeous and old tan leather Coccinelle one), I have one pair of Fly boots and one pair of Steve Madden sandals. I always however buy higher end make up and love Clinique stuff. I am also a perfume tart and spend far too much trying to find 'the one'.

Oh gosh, I spend a lot on perfume. Scent is so important to me.

My make up is mainly Bobbi Brown or Clinique, but my clothes tend to be cheaper. I have a lot of Topshop stuff, but I'm starting to find that they just don't stock as much stuff I would or could wear nowadays (I'm 34), so I'm trying to find another shop that I like and not having much luck! I've got everything from Primark to Whistles (well, I have one Whistles jumper bought full price and two dresses via Ebay) and the odd occasion dress from eg Coast, Ted Baker etc. The vast majority of my things are Topshop or H&M at the moment. I don't think I've got a vast wardrobe either - although I have a fair amount of stuff that's currently too small.

I'd like to be more like @Onthewrongsideof30

@tobee it takes time. You don't need to spend lots, just find what's right for you. Depending on what your work/life style is like. I tend to spree at the start of the season, like a mini capsule then build from there. For example I did this last week to update my winter wardrobe (it's 'winter' here apparently)
Mason scotch grey sweater - looks great with existing jeans, denim shorts
Mustard pencil skirt - great with black for work, white shirt for weekends and tee shirt for weekends
Red pencil knitted pencil (sounds horrific, looks amazing - see above
Black and white check pencil, looks great with existing Tailored jackets or denim for weekend.
Fitted black cropped jersey (shows a hint of middle when worn with pencil skirts)
Black cami
White tee
Heeled pumps - leopard pony skin. Classic.
Everything works with existing stuff I have in my wardrobe.
My mum is like this, I guess it's rubbed off on me. I dry clean, hand wash and look after my clothes. If you don't feel amazing in it, would wear it at least a couple of different ways or be happy to wear it everyday for a week then don't buy it! Never buy something that's 'grown on you' - you should pull it on and love it !

Never buy something that's 'grown on you' - you should pull it on and love it !

I'm not sure about this. I have items in my wardrobe that I've been not so sure about when I first try but the more I wear them the more and more I love them. I don't think until you've properly worn something a few times you really realise how good the really great items are.

I never shop fast fashion I read somewhere the average item of clothing is worn eight times before being discarded surely that can't be true? Generally shop at Cos, J Crew and Whistles (but only in sale) occasionally designer I got a Comme des Garcons Play T shirt from Tokyo it was a ridiculous price but I've wanted one for a long time and I love it.