What are your best quality clothes buys that are "affordable" for a capsule wardrobe?

[itseasybeingcheesy]

I'm trying to create a capsule wardrobe, my budget is fairly small but I'm really only interested in buying classic timeless pieces of very good quality that can mix and match to create different outfits with low effort.

My favourite places to shop thus far have been Braintree/thought for dresses. Marks and spencer (indigo range and similar) for tops and mantaray etc. I have a job that I can wear smart casual wear to and am a mum of three.

Please can you recommend your top buys from good quality brands, especially ones I've not mentioned above. If you have a capsule wardrobe where did you start?

I wear cashmere because I can't wear normal wool my skin won't tolerate it - Uniqlo quality has always been good enough for me - the increase in price for what I wear as an every day garment could not be justified, not only that but I couldn't relax while wearing it and doing household tasks. The elbows go in my jumpers after a few years - I can't imagine more expensive cashmere would last any longer.

Brora is good for cashmere. I also like willow cashmere. I have their 6ply polo poncho and its one of my favourite things.

Whenever I wash cashmere, I manage to ruin it, it either shrinks or goes out of shape. I now always have it dry-cleaned. How do other people clean their cashmere?

Johnston’s of Elgin are the place to go for proper cashmere, or any of the Scottish mills - they supply cashmere to all the big fashion houses. It’s expensive though!

I just wash cashmere on a 30 degree wool wash setting in machine with wool wash, usually woolite. Its survived years. It just gets folded on cupbaord also, no special treatment.

John lewis 100% organic plain cotton tshirts where my find last year. they only do long sleeve versions at the moment, but im hoping the short ones come back in summer as i will get another. £10 i think

M&S tapered trousers, dresses - in sales. Next for me is best for jeans, but also Boden dresses. Bought a boden dress for £22 from next, was still selling in John Lewis at £55, also from next a boden dress originally at £90 but bought for £21. Next is great for buying other brands a lot cheaper.

Massimo Dutti, especially in the sale. Looks just like Boss, loads cheaper

The tips are brilliant thank you especially cashmere care!

Thanks for the John Lewis tip @Nedzilla I love a simple top!

My go to colour has always been Navy and I seem to lean on dresses more that trousers and tops generally so I'm happy to pay a bit more for several lovely quality dresses that will stand the test of time instead of buying a large amount of separates.

You're all a wealth of knowledge here!

Also I'm really not a jewellery person but I love a watch. However every watch I've had (either designer or high street) has broken after a year or so. Does anyone have any recommendations on a good place to buy a quality watch but not at a bank busting price tag? (My recent monsoon one has just given up on me and I'm lost).

Bought my watch from watchshop.co.uk. Casio digital in silver and gold, £15 and £35. Always good offers and choice

i get my cashmere in marks sale, i have one that is three years old it has a little pilling, but one i got last year is pilling badly after only been worn a few times.

I went back to work after a six year break. Was broke so went to a clothes agency, good quality second hand. E Bay was also useful, found a few pairs of designer shoes worn once for a wedding.

My friend went to a charity shop in Chester, a footballers wife had dropped off a pile of clothes in her size some still with labels on. Now that was a jackpot find.

What's a clothes agency? I've had some amazing finds in charity shops but taking the time to go to the good areas and browse is tricky with two children in tow.

For best quality capsule wardrobe buys, it helps if you are clear about what you wear, want to wear and how you will wear it (the last is probably most important).

I wear jeans and jumpers 300/365 days a year with boots or trainers, because I am 63, live in a rural area and have a dog, but I think it looks better than okay. I like to think the jeans fit immaculately, the jumpers (mainly Uniqlo cashmere) work and are warm, and the footwear is a careful balance of fashion and practicality. I have more waterproofs than most outdoor shops. And I have clothes for specific occasions, like weddings, funerals and parties. I don't have office clothes any more, but could find a week's outfits from my wardrobe that would do if needed.

All of that said, I have a life's clothes saved up and preserved, and I am still basically the same size as I was at 30, but flabbier.

Wallis longline blazers and uniqlo shift dresses

I am an eBay addict. I have drawers full of cashmere sweaters, most of it BNWT, and have rarely paid more than £25 for any of them.

Same with my shoe & boot fetish, all of them only worn once, or BNWT, quality brands and all leather, but rarely pay more than £15 a pair. I have a pair of gorgeous Toast knee high boots that only cost me £20, I think they'd been worn twice.

I can't remember the last time I went into a shop and actually paid the full price for something.

Hobbs dresses are lovely and my go to work wear.

If budget is key look for their machine washable dresses/jackets and save on the expense and inconvenience of dry cleaning. They wash beautifully and if hung carefully don’t need ironed.

I buy 3 or 4 plain dresses and jackets which all mix and match and wear them over and over but styled differently with scarves/jewellery etc.

I am very fortunate to be able to buy new these days but in days gone by I bought all my Hobbs dresses from EBay (some of which I still have). Hobbs also do wonderful sales.

They certainly aren’t cheap full price but I reckon that cost per wear they are worth it.

I don’t have any designer bags, but I do have some good leather bags in shapes / colours that I can wear with most things. TK Maxx. Also great for footwear.
I like Benetton for knitwear, M&S for coats, Levi’s jeans. H&M for t-shirts.
TK Maxx has served me well for 20 years now, it’s my favourite shop. I always did well in sales, but so much of the high street is rubbish now... I like to find better quality brands, that I couldn’t otherwise afford, in charity shops. Often brand new, with tags on.

I could never buy on eBay 90% of everything I try on goes back!