I am a scruffbag, please help me reinvent myself

[ScarecrowofScotland]

I've just turned 30 and have done a bit of reflecting. I have never been into clothes, hate shopping and fashion, but never really noticed just how scruffy I am I have two pairs of cheap jeans and a pair of joggers, and numerous bobbly jumpers and t-shirts. A couple of pairs of old converse trainers and my walking boots.

I have recently come into a bit of money and I just want to start my wardrobe from scratch, but I have no idea what I'm doing. I'm worried I will spend a fortune on more unflattering clothes that I don't truly like! I would be so grateful for some guidance.

As a starting point, I got a beautiful pair of brown leather knee-high boots and matching bag for my birthday, and a lovely orange and green tweed coat from Joe Browns. When I put these on I realised that I looked "together" for possibly the first time, and thought if only I could sort the rest of my stuff out I might look presentable.

A bit about me -
I live rurally and spend my leisure time either curled up with a book or exploring the great outdoors. I go into town maybe once per year! Though I do go to the village pub sometimes, or meet friends for lunch in little cafes etc from time to time. This year I became a SAHM, but looking back even my office clothes were a bit worn and ill-fitting. I would obviously be after a casual and relaxed style - I keep seeing adverts for a brand called Fairfax & Favour on social media and like the look of their stuff. I don't own any makeup and am not really interested in starting, though I do take care of my hair, skin, eyebrows etc.

Sorry this is a bit long - can anyone help sort me out??

I have wasted money over the years on clothes I like but don't really want to wear. Now I accept that I only really want to wear jeans out and tracksuit bottoms for slouching on the sofa.

I bought myself a grey wool knee length open coat which I can wear with jeans and 'best' trainers and instantly look much smarter.

I have also invested in a a tan wool coat which does the same thing. I have sold off most of my previous (hardly worn) clothing and bought investment pieces second hand off eBay.

Sit down with a pen and paper in hand and think about your everyday activities. If money/storage space was no barrier, what would you love to wear? Then jot down the basics.

I now wear very expensive jeans because I have recognised that as it is all I really wear, I should only buy ones what make me feel happy and comfortable.

I would have thought Joe Browns is for an older age group? I would still to more fashion focused shops like Zara, OP

And a really well-fitting bra and flattering pants are a must.

I wish I knew the answer. I

You could probably get away with anything from the attached link. It’s a casual but classic look. You want dark washed jeans, a couple of Breton tops (those are the striped ones), button down Oxford shirts that can wear under a jumper.

www.johnlewis.com/brand/collection-weekend-by-john-lewis/_/N-1z13vfc?suggestion=true%3a%3aweek#_search_suggestion_referral

Also Joules is having a good sale.

www.joules.com/Sale-Clothing/Womens-Sale/n12+m+ml+medium+mediumlarge+smallmedium+onesize+set+double+no+yes+blue+grey+pink+cream+black+gold+silver+bevelled+plain+cricket+englishrose+football+golf+heritageunionjack+hockey+lurexhockey+irishshamrock+lacrosse+navystar+rugby+scottishthistle+shooting+skiing+tennis+traditionalunionjack+welshdragon+goldbee+goldcrown+goldstar+pineapple+silvercrown+silverstar+eagle+duckfeather+hollowfibre=size?highlightID=WomensClothingS12&icid=Womens--Sale--Size12&page=0

If I were you, OP, I wouldn't buy anything straight away. Because you probably have little idea of the vast number of brands available.

Too late for a Christmas present but I suggest you get yourself a subscription to Vogue and make a habit of looking up all the brands listed at the end of each edition. Just to broaden your shopping horizons - there's no requirement to attempt to reproduce editorial or advertised looks.

Eventually you'll arrive at a better idea of the sort of clothes you want to spend your money on.

If you’re in the UK I’d do a John Lewis stylist session (when we’re allowed again!). They’ll bring you a big selection to try - things you’d walk straight past - and it’s amazing how someone else can spot what’ll suit you. There’s no obligation to buy and they’ll help you put together a capsule wardrobe list that you can build over time.

You could also explore blogs and Pinterest and save things you like - it takes time to crack your style but here are so many lovely brands that’ll suit your lifestyle and make you feel great. Enjoy it!

Build it around things that go with your lovely coat and boots. For example some dark brown or green well fitted trousers, jeans, leggings or jeggings and a couple of nice co-ordinating tops. And make sure everything you buy makes you feel good and is never a compromise.

I’d add couple of well fitted bras and when you can a really good hair cut.

Most helpful thing I ever did was to have my colours done.

Have a look on Pinterest and find some boards that you really like. Buy similar items as a starting point. That's how I started when I felt a bit lost, bought a basic capsule wardrobe and found the confidence to buy bits to add to it once I'd rediscovered my style.

I’m a little older than you but have a very similar lifestyle.

You’re only 30 OP. Do you have a good figure? If so, steer well clear of the likes of Joules, Boden and Seasalt. Everyone on here seems to love them, but they’re a surefire way to instantly look mumsy and frumpy.

I noticed the other day that Me & Em have some fantastic looking new loungewear at the moment that’s both stylish and comfortable.

Uniqlo is great for quality, affordable basics (the heattech thermal tops and cotton t-shirts in particular - I don’t rate their cashmere or jeans).

I have shifted to EBay for a lot of my more expensive purchases after researching good brands and got some fantastic items for a fraction of the original price. Some examples being a Barbour waxed jacket and a pair of Le Chameau wellies, several cashmere jumpers/scarves etc (Cocoa London, Pure). I picked up a fabulous black wool military-style Jaeger coat for £10 a few months ago and have worn it loads.

The coat/bag/boots you have recently bought should be a brilliant starting point for your colour palette too.

Ooh thank you all, this is really helpful advice and has made me feel quite positive and less daunted

I hate shopping so just buy everything from uniqlo. Their heat tech stuff is really good and generally there stuff is comfy but neat and interesting

Their!!!

Guessing your location OP perhaps a nice hat, gloves and scarf.

Its probably long out of print by now but if you can find a second hand copy, the late novelist Olivia Goldsmith (who wrote the first wives club) wrote a book with a fashion journalist called 'Simple Isn't Easy' about this problem. She decided to go back to the drawing board and completely reinvent how she dressed and looked. It's basically the opposite of most of the advice today about mix and match separates, where someone has one vest top they use in 83 different ways and it's always miraculously clean and ironed
It teaches you to how to find looks they suit you, make a coordinating outfit that you then hang up as an outfit on one hanger and pull it all out in the morning to get dressed without thinking iywim. I've made it sound quite dull but its honestly great.

I second finding out what your colours are. I did mine from a book I found in a charity shop. We had little spare money so I bought cheaper things new, like t-shirts. Then used charity shops and tried on only things that were in my colours and the right size.

OP you should look into House of Colour! I had a colour and style session with them and no it’s not cheap but I got them as birthday and Christmas gifts from my family. I now know the best colours, makeup and styles for me and honestly haven’t looked back. I figured I could keep wasting money on clothes that didn’t look right or I could take the time to learn about my body proportions, best colours and how to translate this in a way that reflected my personality and how I want to be perceived by others. I absolutely love the Facebook groups as well. They are the most supportive, uplifting bunch of women you could hope to find.

If you want to spend all your time in jeans etc just by really good versions in neutral colours so stonewashed, indigo, black.

Coats, Barbour or similar are fab and machine washable so no dry cleaning bill. Tweedy woollen hacking jackets etc with jeans & boots look fab.

Wellies, la chameau etc. Durbar boots.

I had a very simple blunt bob in jan, never had so many compliments on a hair do. Easy to blow dry and straighten.

You have the coat colours to start you off. And it sounds like you prefer footwear in brown, not black. Speaking of black, it suits some people, but on other people it just looks wrong (as it does on me).

I would hazard a guess that your colours are in the Autum part of the colours system.

A good way to ‘start’ is to get smarter (and probably a bit more fitted) versions of what you like and what you feel comfortable already. This gets you used to buying and trying on, and making decisions, but in a comfortable arena. They don’t even have to be some fancy pants shops - M&S will do! Once you’ve done that and feel more comfortable in your ‘smarter’ clothes and with shopping and choosing and buying, you then move into different items - ie stick with jeans, but try a shirt or blouse or some kind of t shirt to get you out of jumpers, or vice versa and try black trousers or a skirt and tights.

I also think that at 30 you're still young so don't get caught in the trap of looking frumpy or dressing like youre in your 50's! Maybe get pintrest and start pining looks and outfits that you really would love to wear. Just spend a while browsing and getting an idea of how you would love to dress - browse on younger websites like Zara ect
Start off with nicer versions of things you wear all the time - maybe slightly nicer jeans, jumpers and shoes ect
Don't buy anything you're unsure on as you'll just keep wearing your old clothes and the new ones will just sit in your wardrobe.

Hi Scare. Right I would personally tackle it considering firstly:

1. Your body shape- there are loads on online quizzes to establish this
2. general sense of colouring to work out your best neutrals
3. Build a capsule for the lifestyle you lead rather than fantasy one.

Sounds like you would like comfy yet lux pieces? But they need to be practical for the climate you live in.

Have a look at Celtic and Co for starters- I am thinking Cashmere/merino wool jumpers, well fitting jeans and a few different pairs of good quality boots might be a good starting point.

I have tried Fairfax and Favor and have been a bit underwhelmed- although others rave about them.

I too only like jeans so I got a few nice tops and I've not looked back. "Jeans and a nice top" is a look for going for lunches etc and with a nice coat and bag you really do look put together. So if I'm just in the house or going to post office etc, I'll maybe just chuck on a plain jumper or long sleeved top. If I'm going out for lunch, a nice blouse with jeans and a wool coat. If I'm going for a night out (rare), black jeans, nice top and leather jacket. Definitely start looking at people, and what they wear. Browse in a shop or online to see what's out there. I too don't wear makeup often, but I always moisturise and curl my lashes each morning, makes a HUGE difference to making you seem more awake and together. Do you have "trendy" friends? Where do they shop. Joules sounds ok for your kind of style, a department store may be your go to initially. Good quality accessories always help you feel more together, a nice scarf, a watch, a necklace can jazz up a plain top etc. Oh and treat yourself to some lovely comfy new joggers for around the house!

This sort of thing---

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