How do you clothes shop? Help!

[raininthenightgarden]

I'm embarrassed to admit this as in other respects I'm a very organised person and fairly logical.

But my non work clothes shopping is dire. I panic in shops and buy endless versions of the same thing so I have a lot of shirts and nothing to wear with them. If I go off piste it's because o want something really specific which I can never find.

I'm fine for work wear for some reason - perhaps because style choice is limited.

So those who buy well - how do you do it? Do you have a list of all the gaps in your wardrobe? Do you shop by outfit rather than piece by piece? Do you do it all the time or twice a year? Any tips gratefully received.

I am very interested in this. I find work wear fine too as a suit is like a uniform but struggle out of hours. I'm stuck between wanting to look my age (35) but knowing I will inevitably look too frumpy or like mutton dressed as lamb.

I have an ongoing list of gaps in my wardrobe, which is on my phone, so I can access when I'm out - it's very detailed, I note the exact colour/shape I need, plus what I want it to go with.
I'll also do a few recces round the shops before buying anything, just to get an idea of what's available and where.
If I see something I really like, I'll get it even if I'm not sure exactly when I'd wear it. Not sure if that's a good thing or not - it means I do have some very nice items of clothing, but sometimes end up having to buy something to wear with it. But on the whole, I know that if I get something in a fabric I really love, I will end up wearing it a lot. Fabric is very important to me, it has to feel nice and the colour and patterns have to be right .
I am fussy about fit, so always try on, and reject anything that doesn't fit right on me. Because of this, internet shopping for clothes doesn't always work for me, and I wouldn't buy anything fitted online unless I had already tried it on in a shop.
I do spend a lot of time looking at clothes online, and if I see something like, will then go to a shop to try it.
I am fortunate in that I am quite near a variety of shops, so it's not a big deal to go and browse.

I have a very long body, very bulbuous calf muscles and size 9 feet. I buy what fits.

Every so often I "shop my closet" - put outfits together and see what's missing or what looks a bit worn-out.

So at the moment on my mental list are black long-sleeved tops (mine are all starting to look a bit faded), a charcoal grey cardi, and a black, knee length long-sleeved dress for work. When I have the chance to go shopping, these are what I'll be looking for.

I tend to go for things that are very plain and know the cuts that suit me, however I also have a "wild card" setting - if I see something amazing that really calls out to me, I try it on - and it's still amazing on me AND I can think of plenty opportunities to wear it, I buy it. I also think about whether I have things it will go with in my wardrobe - I usually do because I wear a limited palette of shades.