What would you buy to complete your wardrobe?

[BeCoolYolande]

This isn't a stealth boast or any other kind of boast , I've been given some money to spend specifically on clothes or shoes and accessories.

I've considered going to an in-store personal shopper but we live about 40 miles from the nearest one.
I'd also considered Lookiero or similar though the reviews aren't good.

Instead, oh wise people of Mumsnet I'm asking you.
For myself I would like to buy good quality but I'm interested in any suggestions.
I'm looking for inspiration.

Where are the gaps in your own wardrobe?
What would you add to it?
Or even what were the mistakes?

Thank you

This is interesting, thank you everyone.

I either own quite a few items or they are on my 'to buy' list.

Having looked through my wardrobe I have a very distinct work wardrobe and home wardrobe.
Work is very smart and corporate.
Home is jeans and big jumpers live in the countryside or pretty evening dresses and shoes for going out.

I've got a brilliant old waxed Barbour jacket, I'm going to keep that but was thinking of buying a new one I don't know what for dog walking occasional wear?When is that going to happen?
My thinking was coats/good quality bags/leather boots and some cashmere sweaters but it's the wrong time of year for them.

XingMing I've been looking for a good navy or black peacoat but it's the wrong time of year for them.

It’s actually a great time of year for A/W staples - coming up to sales and you will pay way less for them now out of season. I try to do as much as possible of my buying out of season.

Oh yes, I’ve got a couple of cashmere scarves already but I need one in camel or one in blush pink.

Check Hobbs for a pea coat. They usually have at least one in stock.

Which has reminded me I’ve been wanting a navy peacoat forever. I always end up buying a bag instead. 🙄

Hobbs doesn't have any peacoats at the moment.

As we live in 'ere be dragons country almost all of my shopping is done online...and Hobbs is usually my go-to.

Where do I look for very good quality cashmere? And silk shirts?

Don't bother with very good quality cashmere. Go to M&S or Uniqlo. Moths'll eat it anyway.

Just this (as recommended by palahvah on another thread). No events coming up but just to know it was there...

www.johnlewis.com/gina-bacconi-uma-satin-detail-scuba-dress-navy/p4145041

A Chanel style jacket. Lovely boots. Good trench coat in a great colour.

I would spend some of it on a personal shopper. I splashed out on getting my colours done was when I got a promotion and had to overhaul all my work clothes, did not want to make expensive mistakes. Now I have a much better idea what suits me.

My favourite item of late was a vintage Burberry rain coat in a beautiful honey colour petite cut . Immaculate condition for £65 .

Or, to save money, refer to this handy basic guide:

www.thelist.com/20621/best-clothing-colors-skin-tone/

I agree though. Buying colours that actually suit you (particularly the right neutrals) makes such a difference to your overall look.

Oh God yes, I very much want the perfect, flattering straw hat for summer. I need one with a high crown and not too wide a brim. And packable.

Literally every one I have seen has a too shallow crown and a wide, floppy brim. Horrible.

@yolande, mine came from Schneider, an Austrian company in Salzburg bought in Devon. It's mostly polyester, but a fabulous everyday, all- purpose jacket.

For cashmere, my MIL swears by the Cashmere Centre. I've got some decent enough stuff from Uniqlo and Pure Collection. If you want to go super nice then N Peal or Eric Bompard.

Silk blouses I used to get from LK Bennett or Escada but I'm out of touch these days as my lifestyle has changed to very casual.

That dress is beautiful StCharlotte have you bought it? Are you going to?

I've had my colours done NotMeNoNo. There's a story there, it was a team building type exercise at work, probably about 10 years ago now. Still a legit HofC one.

I'm a summer.
Thing is though there are lots of summer colours that I wouldn't wear and plenty of non-summer colours that really do suit me.

On the day the HofC reps couldn't decide what I was which is how I know that chocolate brown suits me! and there was a bit of a seasonal face off between spring and summer.
Summer was the eventual consensus but the fact that it took them so long to decide and that there were spring and summer colours that suited me made me think that I'd take my swatch thingy and make my own mind up. Besides, the thought of wearing a lipstick colour that makes eyes pop sounded a bit Hannibal Lecter to me

I know that black probably doesn't suit me all that well but I'll still wear it if I fancy.

The base colours I wear are: mostly navy, sometimes black, grey or beige/brown.
I also wear a lot of pale blue, pale pink, lilac, browns and cream. In winter I wear a burgundy/wine colour, sometimes purple.
Olive green looks good.
For brighter colours I've never met a blue that I didn't like. Some pinks and purples are good.

Oranges and yellows of all hues make me look like a corpse.

Flipping through this thread, I think you all, mostly, need to google Annette Goertz. German, and not cheap (I buy in sales only), but absolutely fricking geniuses at creating edgy clothes with comfortable fit and sensible washing instructions for the mid-life body. And no, I don't work for them.

That's a bargainous Burberry SpeckeldyHen was it in a sale?

JoJoSM2 thank you for the cashmere shops.

@Ninkaninus - I'm hunting for a burgundy perfect leather jacket too

not read whole thread, but for me it was always a soft real leather biker jacket - which I achieved last year! I was correct. It goes with everything, as long as I stay within a certain weight range.

It was eBay OP . I watched and waited and was very patient and then swooped .

Good going SpeckledyHen I never find that kind of thing.

For anyone looking for leather jackets my friend has one of these, they are very good quality and stylish Caine Leather Jackets.
Better quality than the ones I have.

The best places for All Saints leather jackets are their outlet shops.
There is one in Princes St, Edinburgh and I think there are other outlet shops across the UK.

thenightsky as long as I stay within a certain weight range

My list is forming.
1 x casual summer dress
1 x smarter smart casual summer dress

Possible jumpsuit experimentation.

1 x band t-shirt

2 x pairs of sandals

That's it for summer clothes, I've got everything else.

Aye... that bloody expensive All Saints biker keeps me on the straight and narrow!

BeCoolYolande

Sadly no

Well not this month anyway

Nude lingerie
Black heels
Birkenstock’s
A nice bracelet I’ve seen on Net a Porter

Hmmm, have been wracking brains but only gaps I can think of:

1. pretty tan/gold sandals (on way from Clarks now, thanks to a suggestion on another thread)
2. Excellent quality white t-shirt

I do have many beautiful clothes though. Enough for every kind of weather and occasion! Have cut down on clothes purchases as realise I don't need anything new for really quite a while (except the above!)

I got an All Saints leather jacket from eBay and it was BNWT with £145, rather than £300. I knew the one I wanted and just waited till it came up.