In a desperate clothes rut - what would you buy with £150 John Lewis vouchers?

[Poppysball]

I have lost my way completely with clothes. I open my wardrobe to a lot of mismatched, tired looking clothes. I just don’t know what to wear or what to buy. I’m ok for work clothes but have nothing nice to wear at home/weekends/going out socially (not that I do that much!)

I have £150 vouchers for John Lewis from my bday. I don’t live very close to one so have been looking online but have no idea what to buy.

I’d be so grateful for any help. I’m 45, size 12, 5’3 if that helps.

Have a look at Hush (within JL) and I suggest trying the amie joggers at least.

They have a personal stylist facility in store and online which can suggest outfits - you can give feedback on what you like and don't so you can find outfits you like and which work with your existing clothes.

Not a lot - £150 isn't likely to go far in JL!! I was in there the other day with £100 voucher and came away empty handed as couldn't justify buying one jumper with loose change. Think I'll save it for smellies.

I'd probably wait until the sales and then buy a coat or boots, or a pair of jeans and a couple of jumpers. A decent pair of jeans and a plain jumper can serve so many occasions!

Wait for the sales and get jeans and top or dress from good quality brand like Hobbs or Ted Baker.
Don't waste it on lots of cheap bits as they will just look shabby quickly.

Buy a scarf too to give a put together outfit feel.

They will probably have discounts around Black Friday so worth waiting until then. If you can get to a shop it's worth booking a session with a JL personal stylist, even if you don't buy anything - there's no obligation. You can book in for a 'wardrobe refresh' session and it's really worth it; I did this recently and came away with several items that all work well with my existing clothes. If you can't get to a store then I'd be inclined to go for a single item, like a coat. I'd be wary of Hush unless you can actually see the items in store - they look great in the catalogue but the quality is really variable; I've had some lovely blouses from there but the knitwear is rubbish.

Poppysball you sound exactly like me. I never have anything to wear outside of work. I never look “put together” or smart. I just recently went through this dilemma so for the first time in my life (and inspired by various threads on here) I actually planned some outfits and purchases. I looked at a few blogs too and I reckoned I had a few items, a wool camel coat and black boots, that I could build an outfit around. So I bought a pair of decent black skinnies and a black blouse with a bit of sparkle and I have an instant outfit. I’ve now ordered a cashmere polo neck jumper which will also work with the same jeans and boots. I’m going to pick up a scarf and a cross body bag which will go with everything. So I’m slowly but surely building up several day and evening outfits around a simple colour palette and a few key items. I found a leather black pencil skirt on sale and realised it would also go with all of the above. Next on my list is another top that I can also wear with the same bottoms (skirt or skinnies). This should all cover me for weekends and random outings plus the rare night out. Another thing that helped is I installed the “Stylebook” app which helped me plan and catalog the (fee) decent things I already own.

By the way I’ve done the John Lewis style thing a few times in the past and it is good at identifying shapes and colours that suit you but on the other hand it doesn’t draw on items you already own in your wardrobe. I also found I was deferring all clothes purchases until I could next get an appointment and it was as if I gave up on clothes shopping for myself by myself altogether. This might just be me though.

@1984in2019 your new wardrobe sounds fab. I find I buy nice pieces in isolation but can't always see how to link them together. I think I need to thin my wardrobe out and simplify it.

With £150 I'd buy a really well fitting pair of jeans and a nice top.

Just FYI if you go off the idea (because Im in exactly the same situation) I gave up and used them in Waitrose had many many food shops with all the fanciest versions of everything

The shops are filled with long and midi length dresses at the moment but as I am the same height I am avoiding them all.

Personally I am loving oasis at the mo which John Lewis has. Recently splurged on a gorgeous berry coloured cord pinafore, two above the knee skirts that have stretchy waistbands in a tiger print and black and white spots, so comfy and flattering, and a couple of plain black tops that work with all of the above, one polo, one a gorgeous scallop neck.