Nowhere to go, nothing to dress for, can we go on?

[PersonaNonGarter]

The reality of WFH, lockdown quiet and general stay-home-and-chill, is hitting me square in the wardrobe.

I am ready and willing to do my bit for the retail sector and hit the new season stock. I want to be planning updates to work outfits, or outfits for travel, or wearing to catch up with friends. Rishi, my wallet is open.

But - my diary is empty! EMPTY. Theatre tickets cancelled, friends’ staying home, hotel visits postponed, concerts moved online. And WFFH. No jacket required. Or any bottoms at all.

How do I add meaning to my shopping? What is the point? And can we make hats on Zoom calls a thing?

Gonegrey yes I will, it was such fun buying it and they treat you like royalty in the Coccinelle shop ( whilst trying tosell you lots more like a foulard ,matching purse and charm!!), even though its not 'posh designer'.. I loved walking out of the store with the big pink carrier bag over my shoulder.....and which sadly I left there because of easyjet bag policy!!

.... if you were terribly stylish, well off, and lived La Dolce Vita then this sale 'bargain' would be the perfect throw-on accessory.. Along with the perfect sui , fab sunglasses , great hair, heels, a small dog and an Alfa Romeo in a matching tones.... I am more often covered in mud!!

.. the perfect suit, that was meant to be..

That is lovely! With daughter living in Milan at present, I’ve done well from her generosity with scarves from the various outlets near Lake Como.

Oh Laska stop it, you are killing me
I've just spent £65 on amazon replenishing beauty supplies but now I NEED both tobacco and denim - the slouch on that bag is making me weak at the knees
I have a £200 JL voucher and they used to stock coccinelle years ago - bugger.

Oh I adore you all! I think i whinged on another S&B thread after wine had been had that I had no "new dress" level events in the diary at all. At all.

I work in a school so am back in from Tuesday, but i do tend to be boringly dressed for work, I want the going somewhere nice clothes too.

That said, as my summer was basically walking in various woods, im thinking a lot of weekends in autumn will be the same, just with added layers needed.

This is why I've been ordering cashmere.

Life might be dull, but at least it'll be soft and toasty.

Laska - that silk scarf would be very nice as a quick throw on over a t shirt before a zoom. And you could put it round your face as an impromptu face covering when you park up at sainsburys and remember your masks are all at home.

Oh it looks like my bag and I have started something! .
I love the idea of the stylish silk scarf as a face mask at Sainsburys.. But sadly I cannot afford one after all my summer sale purchases. So If you all buy the Coccinelle bag please do remember to mention me on your order and maybe they will send me one! ..
Btw JMAngel I saw it in Denim in the shop and it is lovely . Yes you need one (or two) most definitely..

Grey they locked down Milan just a few days after we left.. I do hope that your DD kept safe.. how lovely that she sends you beautiful scarves though.. I must look for Lake Como discount stores when I next get back to Italy. Hopefully in not too distant a time 🤞🤞.

I bought some lovely things for a cruise next month. Cancelled, of course. So I'm looking frightfully posh down the curry house these days.

@Laska2Meryls yes, you and your bag have started something!! The denim bag is calling to me.... Even without a pandemic I don't have much use for a bag like that (I work as a dog walker) but boy is she gorgeous!

I’ve started dressing up to go to the post office, chemist, etc. Silk shirt, new loafers, the works - they must think I’m a loon. Like PP I fully intend to rock that school run! On the plus side, not going out has definitely made me focus less on fast fashion and more on shopping thoughtfully/sustainably, spending more on fewer, better quality pieces, which is no bad thing at all.

Thanks for asking about my dd Laska, she coped admirably with the tough situation. I just hope things don’t get worse again. In the meantime, she feeds my interest in fashion through her Instagram and writing about her life in the city. I’m always intrigued by her take on interesting trends .

Now I'm with my people..

It got very bad during lockdown. I discovered the miracle of the yoga jumpsuit and big pants. A complete and wonderful outfit. I've spent enough time in the Southern Hemisphere not to bother with shoes unless I'm leaving the street.

Having rewatched the Christmas Wurzel
Gummidge two weeks ago and realised I would blend in perfectly, I've now upped my game. I am now the proud owner of new black jeans, shiny black brogues, a tweedy jacket, a silk shirt and a leather mini skirt ( it's Boden, it's not that mini). I plan to wear these about the house, in endless Zoom meetings, writing at my desk, or in my clinic, where the primary aged children I see will obviously be overwhelmed with appreciation for my effortless sense of style.

I hadn't thought of striking up a chatty relationship with any of my new clothes, who lets face it, aren't getting the social interaction they need at this stage in their lives. But after the handbag stroking suggestion, I shan't rule it out.

I think i might have to join in the bag chat. Perhaps I'll position them together so they don't get lonely...

I think i need nice slippers. If I'm just going to sit about the house of an evening, I do think some nice slippers are in order.

Picking up on the last post about nice slippers, I'm wondering what else i should be coveting for autumn?

After reading this post, i realised that i need a clear out so i can dress for my new life and get rid of suits, heels, bags i will never use again.

I've emptied a full wardrobe and stuck things on ebay / given to charity shops and it was extremely cathartic.

I've now invested in some nice items to suit my new lifestyle but I'm wondering what else i "need". I've bought a lovely new didriksons jacket, some light merino wool jumpers and an ultra light gilet from Uniqlo.

I'll probably be working from home for the foreseeable so i have also invested in a lovely big hoodie from Hari and the Gang.

So tell me - what other items should be on my list now, so i look and feel nice in autumn and winter, now that the suits, heels and some of the handbags are gone / going?

@curlytops21 - it feels a bit like when I went from working in Mayfair to being a SAHM in the home counties - once id got back into my pre-baby shape, the clothes didn't suit my new lifestyle, yet I found myself making a bee line for shift dresses that would look lovely with the jackets I already owned etc.

I used to not spend a lot on jeans and jumpers, because I only scuffed about in them at the weekends. Once they were my every day clothes, I needed more of them and could justify spending a bit more. (I now work somewhere that's more smart/casual so can do cross over work and non-woek wardrobes).

So flat boots, not heels. Casual dresses and skirts, as well as jeans and jumpers.

And warm socks. Lots of warm socks.

[quote DisgruntledGuineaPig]@curlytops21 - it feels a bit like when I went from working in Mayfair to being a SAHM in the home counties - once id got back into my pre-baby shape, the clothes didn't suit my new lifestyle, yet I found myself making a bee line for shift dresses that would look lovely with the jackets I already owned etc.

I used to not spend a lot on jeans and jumpers, because I only scuffed about in them at the weekends. Once they were my every day clothes, I needed more of them and could justify spending a bit more. (I now work somewhere that's more smart/casual so can do cross over work and non-woek wardrobes).

So flat boots, not heels. Casual dresses and skirts, as well as jeans and jumpers.

And warm socks. Lots of warm socks. [/quote]
Yip - that's it exactly. My style has changed a little bit in the last couple of years as I've got older but also dashing from work to get kids etc the heels have got lower etc but I've still hung on to my old work wardrobe.... I don't know why. This thread has been a boot in the bum for me to help me see that i need to dress for the life i have now.

I don't even feel sorry for the loss of my old things - for the first time ever my wardrobes will be more streamlined and hopefully full of items i love and wear.

Now... I'm off to look for beautiful socks and slippers 🙂

I completely agree about not feeling sad about the stuff I have been able to get rid of (seeyaHobbspencilskirt).

It is the prospect of no good reason to purchase all the lovely new things that are coming in. I do love a cosy cashmere sock - but a reason to buy a cashmere scarf would be so much nicer.