If you were to start your wardrobe from scratch

[Motherofmonsters]

What would you buy?

I'm 30 and dress like an unfashionable teenager, I'm totally stuck on what to buy. If you started all over what would you buy.

I don't have a massive budget and two small kids so really stuck in a rut

I’m older than you but feel the same. I took my 9 year old DD to get some new clothes yesterday & gave up looking for myself as I have no clue anymore what to buy!

I’d be devastated if I had to start from scratch. Very hard to find nice stuff in the shops. They are doing it wrong if people like me think their existing clothes are better.

I wear a lot of jeans so would have to start there. Any style goes these days.

Really well-fitting jeans, T shirts with a good cut and blazers that actually skim the waist rather than boxy.

Then some nice dresses either with sleeves or that could be worn with a blazer or cardigan for work or without for home.

I'm 31 and I feel the same really. I wonder if it's because proper women's magazines and good style blogs aren't really a thing any more, they're all just full of adverts. How am I supposed to know what looks good? Work it out for myself??? I don't think so!

I'm 40 and I realised the other day I dress as I did throughout my life too! I think you'd assume to start with something that makes you look and feel amazing, but I'd substitute that for something that is practical and you will definitely wear. I'd say always have a nice pair or trousers and a blouse/sweater (plain and work wear so that will do anything out of the ordinary) and after that jeans and a tee shirty top but one that makes you feel nice. Also a simple piece of jewellery eg bracelet. Also a dress, but one you feel great in but isn't too outlandish so you will definitely wear it. Best of luck OP!

I think you need to focus on making sure you have the right basics for your lifestyle - whether that be a well cut pair of jeans or a great t-shirt etc. Then once you have those, think about the things that life your outfit - for me, I always feel more put together with a pair of sunglasses, or in my winter my snood always feels more stylish than a scarf.

I didn't start from scratch, but I did have to really change my wardrobe after I had DC, got made redundant and moved house all in the space of a year!

I had to get rid of nearly all my work clothes, as I wasn't using them. I now have a wardrobe I'm reasonably happy with. It is small, but that actually suits my lifestyle at the minute. I don't go 'out out' all that much and very rarely anywhere which needs me to dress up. I mainly dress for school run, maybe the pub, running and walking these days.

I can tell you what's in my wardrobe if it helps, but probably won't be super relevant if you have a different lifestyle!

Blue jeans
Grey jeans
Navy harems
Shorts for summer
Casual skirt
Long sleeve tops (all blue and navy)
Short sleeve tshirts (all white and blue)
3 x knitwear layers (all blue and navy)
One dress for events or going out somewhere nice-ish, but which can get dressed down as well
An old skirt suit for interviews in case I ever need it!

Shoes:

Lace up black boots
Sturdy sandals for summer
All birds ballet flats
Running shoes
Hiking boots (these have just died and I'm thinking of replacing with cross trainers for hiking and running, so I can get rid of the running shoes too, as they are also on their last legs. One pair instead of two will save some space)

I think, for me, the important things are having a small colour palette, so things go together. Mine is blue, navy and white. Decent fabric, preferably natural fibres and comfortable (nothing too tight or heels I can't walk in for example). Also having hardworking items in my wardrobe. Preferably machine washable as well.

I think about this quite a lot sorry! Bit of an essay

Also, my clothes aren't particularly expensive. I try to buy secondhand or from sustainable brands and I think buying one item which serves more than one purpose means I inevitably buy less. So, no specific items, like super fancy dresses which I could wear to a wedding couldn't wear out for dinner or to the office, (if I had one), or loads of different colours which don't go with each other. If you buy one versatile, nice piece and wear it all the time, it works out cheaper.

Thank you for your replies, they've been really helpful. I've done some reading around my body shape and all the clothes I buy are apparently wrong for me. I've bought a few basic bits following the rules to see if I get more inspired

I'd have black and white quality v and crew neck t shirts in cotton and linen.

A couple of neutral cotton sweatshirts, some really good quality straight leg jeans in black and dark rinse navy.

A chunky cardigan, couple of cashmere sweaters in neutral colours.

2 or 3 skirts and a couple of dresses.

Jersey blazer and smarter coat

Trainers, ankle boots, belts, scarves and a couple of decent bags. Simple jewellery and a quality watch.

Now I do actually own all of this so could achieve a lovely streamlined wardrobe if I just got rid of everything else..

Am trying to steer away from patterns or embellishments of virtually any kind as I have a low boredom threshold and find things date. I'm really into the idea of having a very small capsule wardrobe where I replace anything worn or damaged.

I really like the idea of a simple capsule wardrobe to, unfortunately I just can't resist a pattern. I think that's where I run into trouble a lot

You have to find what interests you now and then invest in that. I overhauled my wardrobe from skinny cords, loafers, interesting shirts and plain fitted jumpers to mostly dresses, some wide leg trousers, loose cropped cardigans and trainers and birkenstocks. I've kept my old things because they're in great condition, but they're packed away.

Once you know what shapes you want look in the sales for better quality things.

This is my favourite blogger's take on the capsule wardrobe. She wears a lot of expensive stuff but also H&M and other cheaper alternatives.

www.wearsmymoney.com/shopping/your-15-piece-spring-capsule-wardrobe/

I would go to Gap and buy a minimalist coordinated capsule wardrobe. More quality and less quantity than my current situation entails.

I would only buy things that make me feel fabulous and not 'meh, it looks more or less fine' items.

You could maybe try Project 333 to start with? You put everything away except 33 items of clothing, (including jewellery and coats, shoes etc), for 3 months. Then you swap things round so you have a new 33 item capsule wardrobe every three months.

I sort of do this, because I haven't got a lot in my wardrobe, but I don't actually swap anything round, as my wardrobe does for the whole year.

I quite like the idea of a smaller capsule wardrobe and I've heard another formula, which is 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 per season; 5 tops / dresses, 4 bottoms, 3 knit layers, 2 pairs of shoes, 1 special item. So, 15 items per season. I think of struggle with 2 pairs of shoes actually though...

"I think I'd struggle"

@CaptainPigeon

I'm 31 and I feel the same really. I wonder if it's because proper women's magazines and good style blogs aren't really a thing any more, they're all just full of adverts. How am I supposed to know what looks good? Work it out for myself??? I don't think so!

Well...yes. I like Swedish architect. Or is it Danish?

Anyway, have a sit down and think how you'd like to dress but in a way that relates to your lifestyle.

Ahhhh someone beat me to the Wears My Wardrobe link on the Spring Wardrobe. I actually would replace a couple of items...( the gingham dress for a plainer shirt dress for example) because that’s a very “now” shape and not particularly flattering for my shape. I do think there are some really good basics in that list though... I’ve been buying items on Depop and EBay .... some absolute bargains to be had if you are confident about your size.

[quote MujeresLibres]This is my favourite blogger's take on the capsule wardrobe. She wears a lot of expensive stuff but also H&M and other cheaper alternatives.

www.wearsmymoney.com/shopping/your-15-piece-spring-capsule-wardrobe/[/quote]
Wow. This is amazing and exactly what I needed to see.

I would make a list of, for example, styles I like; clothes I am comfortable in; any body parts I want to make the of, or hide; colours/patterns I like; my lifestyle, in all aspects with general estimates of how much time I spend in each role (eg work, looking after children etc); do you need machine washabe ready to wear, or do you have time to iron, money to dry clean; shops I like; i'd also make a pinterest board.
Start with basics. Google capsule wardrobe.
Good luck OP