Your entire wardrobe has been burnt, you have £500 to restock...

[reducingfootprint]

wwyd

hasnt actually happened but feel like i lack the basics after doing 2019 as a no buy year and then weight loss and change in style has left me not having much in my wardrobe, i currently only have 2 jeans and 4 dresses!

So your budget is £500, what do you get and why

Does it include shoes and coats?

@Hazelnutlatteplease hmmm includes coats and maybe 1 pair of shoes

Quite a nice problem to have!

I’d get some really decent quality basic stuff. T-shirts from Uniqlo, jeans from topshop, a jumper from mint velvet. I’d probably spend more on fewer pieces than get loads of stuff from primark.

What’s your style / body shape etc?

£25 on a Peter storm pack a parka
£80 On a tog24 packable down jacket
£15 On 2nd hand wool jacket
£120 Dr Martens
£30 non crocs shaped crocs
£150 2 cardigans from woolovers, one long one short.
Then raid primark:
Short tube skirts (£2-£6) either H&M or Primark
Basic tops summer and winter Primark
Thermal velvet lined leggings primark
Kinda is my wardrobe anyway

Because I dont like to be cold or wet so i invest in the functional bits. I'd upgrade the pack a Mac when I had more money.

Wow. Not a lot of money!
I'd get a pair of jeans - not my favourite shop but White Stuff cut works well on me and their denim is so soft. About £35.
A cashmere cardigan in the sales in a neutral colour - about £95
Cheap tees, tracksuit bottoms, PJs, slippers, dressing gown from Primark - about £100
A cheap and cheerful dress and couple of blouses and fine knit cardigans from H&M - about £100
Trainers from Sports Direct or Amazon - £35
Boots - probably from an online shop - £35
Then trawl second hand shops for dresses and suede or velvet jackets and blazers and woollen coats.

This post has made me realise how much it would cost to actually rebuy my basic wardrobe.

@ShirleyPhallus my body shape is as close to a twig as you can get! UK6 with a tiny back so my bras are a 26DD for reference!

I'd say my style is classic, minimalistic etc, i like to be polished and but together

i already have nike trainers for running and air force 1s for casual use (takes me back to childhood), have 3 pairs of dm's, wellies, black converse and smart work shoes so wont really need shoes in hindsight

I'd buy a wool winter coat and a pair of leather ankle boots. Then a couple of pairs of good jeans in different shapes. I'd get t shirts/tops from somewhere like Primark (quality can be good if you are selective). I'd also buy a couple of nice jumpers. I've found some pretty ones in supermarkets, which would free up money.
That would probably get to £500.
If you already have good jeans that flatter, then I'd get some cigarette trousers and a long tube skirt.

Jeans 1 x blue & 1 x black
White Tee
Grey Tee
White longline shirt
Black Leather Jacket
Black blazer
High top converse
Thick khaki or cream jumper
Thin grey jumper
Black block heel ankle boots

1 black jeans
1 blue jeans
I wool coat
I brogues
2 jumpers
2 t shirts

And then add to it as and when

What’s your lifestyle and style?

Oh and a khaki parka or other longline winter coat

I would definitely head to Uniqlo for some food quality basics.
Their jeans last years and are about 30€.

Their aesthetic is pretty minimal so will suit your style.

I'd head to ebay. So much really good atuff on there soooo cheap.

I recently bought a Phase Eight winter coat for £10

I can't even get past the idea of my wardrobe burning to offer any useful advice 😱 I have anxiety about something that never occurred to me before opening the thread!
What would I do? How can I insure for this? £500 wouldn't cover a drawer full if that's all I got back in the event of a fire 🤣

@JoJoSM2

work in central london finance district so dress business smart daily, but my workwear is all sorted
Fairly active, enjoy the outdoors and like dressing on the more dressy end of the scale

I couldn't do it!
But first:

Decent winter coat
Leather biker jacket
White trainers
Black boots like Chelsea or similar
Black/Blue jeans
Black/Navy/cream wool jumpers
Grey sweater
Lots of undies inc vest tops
Running gear
A couple of going out tops not needed for 4 months

This actually happened to me. A house fire a few years ago meant I lost everything including underwear, all clothes (including the spring/summer stuff that was packed away), shoes, coats and handbags.

500 isn’t too bad if you just need to top up your casual clothes. I’d prioritise a decent coat/jacket (potentially waiting till the sales). Doesn’t sound like you need shoes.

With regards to basics, I think it’s always worth working out your colour pallete, eg a dark and a light neutral like black and white or brown and cream etc. That keeps fewer things going together a bit better that getting clothes in black, navy, brown and a lot of permutations or grey and beige.

For me this wouldn't go far without sales. So I'd go to my favourite shops and load baskets with things I like from them. You have to decide whether it's £500 for all seasons or one. I wouldn't worry about accessories.

I've had a similar situ recently (not burning, but a wardrobe with 3 dresses and one badly fitting pair of jeans to see me through winter).

I am getting a lookiero box. I don't have particularly high hopes, but they ask you to share pinterest, and browsing that is giving me ideas of what I really like, which is helping.

easy for me I reckon, I’m a stay at home Mum who doesn’t go anywhere nice so it’s easier for me than most!

Coat, wax jacket type £99 M&S

Ponte leggings £16 per pair from Next I’d need 5 pairs I reckon

Jumpers probably just opt for cheap ones from Next between £20-£30 each. £160 for about 5

Brown Chelsea boots £50 Next again

Socks 2 packs of 5 £20 from Next

£50 on bras from M&S

£20 on knickers from M&S

Total £479

Then maybe another cheap jumper with the change

I'd be trawling eBay for black cotton skirts, and get maybe five or six in different lengths, I like ankle length and just below the knee.
Then I'd go and find some band t-shirts, because I'd feel lost without those.
Then I'd need long stripy socks, I'd get knickers from TU, and some black cotton crop top bras.
Then combat boots, black ankle boots, sneakers and black ballet pumps.
I'd also need cotton nighties.

I forgot coats, I'd need a denim jacket, a black velvet jacket, and something warm and waterproof that reaches my knees, my current winter coat is cream, and someone gave it to me, but given the choice I'd pick a different colour, although one that's still bright enough for me to be visible at night.