I've just thrown out most of my clothes - please help me not be naked.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

After reading a thread in AIBU about people looking polished, I've snapped. I'm fed up of looking like a scruff bag. I've evaluated my wardrobe. All my every day clothes are ill fitting, old and very very sad.

Almost everything is in ragbags now. I'm starting again. Down to my shoes.

My usual style is jeans, plain t shirts and hoodies with sketchers or converse. Im still dressing as though Im a student despite having left that behind 20 something g years ago. I'm 5' 5" skinny, but top heavy. I need stuff that is comfortable, practical (for things like cycling into the shops) but looks nice.

I've no idea where to start without replicating my usual style, My total nemesis is shoes. I like leggings for instance but have no idea what shoes to put with them.

I need serious intervention for anyone who is willing. I'm going to make a start shopping on Sunday.

OYBBK fancy seeing you here!

Go look at the dresses in the stores you usually shop at, like uniqlo. Buy a few and ease yourself into grown up dressing.

Don’t try and go all out with places like whistles and jaeger. Too formal. They’ll blow your budget as well. How about a biker from all saints when you’re ready to spend more (currently will take up your entire budget so this is for later)

You do need to go to a much bigger shopping centre and try stuff on. Make a resolution NOT to buy anything you’ve already got ie a nicer pair of trainers. Buy some brogues, or boots. Buy a shirt, a skirt. Even if they are casual, they’ll look more polished than leggings and jumper. You need to push yourself out of your comfort zone. You can do it!

For example, this dress from uniqlo:

www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/product/women-extra-fine-cotton-a-line-striped-sleeveless-dress-417908.html

Good for high summer as cotton and sleeveless. What to wear on your feet? Look at what the models are wearing on their feet and buy something similar. This could also be made more formal with a blazer and pointed flats or heels. It can be worn with trainers. Definitely with sandals. Probably even open, with a vest and jeans. A cardigan and brogues. You see where I’m going with this? Try and buy things that you can make work for you for various situations. It’s the key to a capsule wardrobe.

Grown up, who'd have thunk that would be a word that I'd consider

It does sound like I've got a good plan coming together. Thank you! I'm starting to see it now in my head. Comfort zone is going to be tested by the sound of it. But I can't keep looking like I do.

Honestly, I'd chuck out leggings except for home or gym use (ok, bike too). Not a huge fan, but they do not make you look polished or grown up, and do require baggy long tops.
Instead, get one pair of skinny and one pair of more comfortable jeans, preferably in a dark colour. Choose a good brand that fits well, preferably with a higher waist.
Then a pair of nice wide linen or cotton Summer trousers in a lighter colour.

Get a fitted jacket, preferably with a waist.

Shoes: high boots, ankle boots, trainers and sandals/peep toe for the Summer.

Don't buy dresses if you already have them.

Tops: try a few, avoid clingy fabric and don't choose anything that's too tight or too baggy. Look for structured tops that allow space for boobs, but create a waist, which can be at waist level, or under boobs. Unfortunately it's not so easy on the high street these days. [grr]

Look at colour combinations to avoid major clashes. Sadly, I like greens and reds and have to use them separately.

Yes I agree on leggings. I never wear them in my day-to-day, relaxed life. I actually do wear them at work here and there (smart/casual office) but that’s because I smarten them up with smart longline shirts and high heels. They also are not plain black. They are black/grey leopard print, black jacquard, studded or always have some point of interest. I’m one of the smartest dressed people at work. But I wouldn’t wear them out and about a) because I dress markedly different in my downtime and leggings would just look shabby and b) a lot of people wear them as trousers (I mean with hoodies and such) in this town and it just doesn’t look good. I’d rather stay well clear.

I agree that dresses are a great option for starting a new wardrobe now that summer’s almost here - Dresses are great because they don’t need any coordination in the way that separates do - once you have a cardie and/or denim jacket that goes with all your dresses and one pair of sandals plus one pair of trainers that also both go with all your dresses, you’re ready to go! If you want to dress your dresses up a bit you can get a pair of suede booties and another little jacket or blazer and hey, presto it just looks a little more special!

The main problem with dresses is that they only make one look, even if you accessorise.

You can pair tops with different sorts of trousers/jeans and skirts.

I also use loose shirts to pair with plain tops or on their own.They're good for layers.

With a small budget, get one item of a different style or type of clothes, each in different but coordinated colours.
For example: one pair of black skinny jeans, one pair of comfy denim jeans, one pair of tan cotton trousers, one grey skirt.

True! I was thinking more like maybe three dresses, and three pairs of trousers, plus however many tops one wants, as a sort of starter wardrobe.

They'red for layers.
Is code for "They're good for layers."

oh no! Disagreements!

I do definitely need a jacket, I've just looked at my usual summer jacket and, well, I suddenly remember having to sew buttons back on about 15 years ago. , if I bought a denim one would that go with jeans as well as dresses and stuff?

I might be good with weather and numbers and stuff, I am Hopeless at other things.

It’s not a disagreement, it’s just a friendly chat!

I don’t personally like denim on denim for me - I’m not young lithe and fashion forward ending to carry it off anymore, IMO) so I always have a denim jacket and at least one other one, so that I don’t have to wear my denim one with my jeans. My casual other coat for this spring/summer is khaki. I’m also looking for a dusky pink jacket for the days where I fancy something lighter and more ‘pretty.’.

Something like this depress would be great. You could wear it with black converse or a pair of Dm boots or dm sandals. There are some great denim jackets in primark and mixing something more expensive makes the budget pieces look more expensive too.

A khaki jacket could work well I think as a start. Oh I dunno, I've never owned a denim jacket precisely because of the jeans issue. But they do look nice,

I think that dress might drown me Mumunderthemoon It is pretty, but I'd just vanish.

I think I need quite fitted dresses.

I’m too small for some shop sizing too - as well as being short - it’s frustrating having to find clothes that do fit.

Am considering tailoring clothes to fit me - is that an option for you? I haven’t done it yet as so expensive, but of your budget can stretch, could be worth keeping in mind.

Tbh I hardly wear my denim jacket anymore. I’m not sure I’ll buy one again (don’t fit the one I have this year). Kind of feel like there are other styles and looks that I like better.

My uniform seems to be smart blue jeans and a shirt with loafers
Or chinos with a peasant type shirt.

Easy to wear and presentable, but everything must be freshly ironed.

A khaki jacket is much better than a denim one.

There are also quite a lot of linen jackets around. Other stories have a few.

, if I bought a denim one would that go with jeans as well as dresses and stuff?

No, never with jeans.

Ok with dresses, but check the proportions.

Jackets aren't really my thing. I'm always cold and you don't wear them indoors do you? I like cardigans. Cropped, slouchy, fitted, long, I have about 30

I'd stay away from denim jackets.

More like this, if you don't want a blazer type
www.next.co.uk/g14268s5#603727
or this
www.next.co.uk/gl2492s4#l94234

Or this for a more classic look, but still versatile and more summery
www.next.co.uk/g72754s6#614337

I might have an embarrassing amount of jackets and coats but with jeans I might wear a blazer type, I have a charcoal grey thicker one and a thin taupe one. My denim jacket is in fact a blazer, so has a different look, I would wear with non-blue jeans, other trousers/skirts/dresses. Biker jackets are good too, they dress down slightly smarter stuff.

I have lightweight “jackets” that I wear indoors made of jersey, silk, boucle, knit etc but then I don’t own any cardigans.

I do like the last two of those jackets Lweji.

I definitely wouldn't do tailored clothes. I don't think clothes matter enough to me.

What size/shape are you @OhYouBadBadKitten ?

Top heavy, but the rest of me is a 6/8 depending on the shop.