Please recommend boring but essential things to "hack" your wardrobe

[wildery]

Sorry, I do hate the word "hack" but this is basically what I mean. So this spring, I discovered I could wear leggings under jeans and I was so much warmer. This was a revelation! I was wondering what other tips and tricks I'm missing. I feel like I only wear about a quarter of my clothes because they're just not practical/comfy enough, but now I'm wondering what I could do. Thermals? Insoles to make shoes more comfortable? What basics could I start amassing? Thanks in advance, new to these boards.

Why would you wear your dress and tips backwards?

I'm happier now I have found mohair socks. Not fluffy, not itchy, never smelly, protect and warm my feet, breathable for summer too, come out of the washing machine perfect with still glowing colour and good as new. corrymoor.com/ No connection with the company but I just struggled with uncomfy, ugly and short lived socks for so long. Bamboo socks from Seasalt etc are an improvement over traditional ones too.

@roszie because sometimes the back has an interesting detail, or you like the way the neckline sits that way.
My DM is a big fan of this.

@grownup2, with you all the way on the superiority of corrymoor mohair socks. I tell everyone who will listen, and give them as presents!

I got my mohair socks from Cambridgeshire Sock co. Excellent colour range!

Do the mohair socks stay up your ankles? I find with so many socks (mainly M&S) they slide down my ankles no matter what shoes I’m wearing and drive me nuts. I had some amazing socks from Costco from a few years ago that never slid down. We aren’t Costco members anymore and I’m not allowed to join just to get socks...

@mommybunny

Do the mohair socks stay up your ankles? I find with so many socks (mainly M&S) they slide down my ankles no matter what shoes I’m wearing and drive me nuts. I had some amazing socks from Costco from a few years ago that never slid down. We aren’t Costco members anymore and I’m not allowed to join just to get socks...

I got some knee high socks for under my work trousers/treggings due to the horrible ring around my ankles.

Biggest hack for me is to find a decent tailor or learn the skills yourself to adjust your clothing to fit you really well, and/or to fit current trends better (even just ironing wundaweb to adjust a trouser leg length can make a big difference).

Suddenly everything in your wardrobe is a 'definitely' instead of a "nearly', so it gives you a lot more outfits - and I've also become a lot more discriminating about what isn't ever going to be quite right.

Oh yes, getting trousers and jeans tailored was a revaluation after years of too-big waistbands.

I have a tummy (size 18) and never got rid of the pregnancy tights or leggings after I had my first! I can now get the size my legs are (14) and have plenty of room for my tummy and no muffin top.

Little footies socks that don’t show when wearing trainers or shoes.

@mommybunny Mohair socks stay put on me...

Firstly sort out all your clothes and get rid of anything you have negative thoughts about. Then create a few outfits and hang them together. Then look at all your clothes and work out what you could really do with. So for me I realised if I had a good denim jacket and a white and black top I could create lots of wearable outfits.
This year I’ve really got into trainers and have made outfits up that go with my trainers. It’s really liberating going shopping and feel like I’m bouncing around!

Wind proof fleece lined trousers from Decathlon. They look like normal black Trousers, but are warm and cosy standing around in the park or a walk without looking too much like a hiker.

I need some recommendations for socks that have padded heels. I bought some from next recently but they already have holes in them.
Or wool socks. I do lots of dog walking and get sore heels due to being peri menopausal.

Menswear in general is my hack. I'm tall with long arms, a long torso and broad shoulders so women's jumpers rarely fit. Men's skinny jeans make ideal relaxed slim jeans for me, which is exactly what I'm after.

@TheSpottedZebra

Mens pyjamas! Longer, better made, warmer and fewer kittens/unicorns.

And of course this goes without saying. Silly women's pjs with their ridiculous patterns and slogans.

@ViciousJackdaw

These little things. They convert your bra to a racer back, invaluable for hiding straps.

I got these when I ordered bra extenders and had no idea what they were. Thanks!

Also a big fan of men’s clothes - M&S wool jumpers and cotton jumpers come in loads of sizes and colours and in the sale they can be as cheap as about £9 - cheaper that one of those awful acrylic ones in the women’s section.

if you like thermal layers, merino wool is worth its weight in gold. Not only is it very warm for its weight but it's also naturally antimicrobial, meaning you can get multiple wears out of it between washes without it getting smelly

I wear the M&S heatgen tops for about eight months of the year. I’m still in the really thick ones. I just have about ten. Last ages and you can tumble dry them.

My top tip is Spanx, the higher powerhouse that go from your bra strap down the mid thigh. They mean that if my weight goes up a bit, I can generally still get into some of my wardrobe.

Unless I am 100% sure that I already own something to wear it with, I only buy items as a whole outfit, not single items. Otherwise I end up with lots of separates that I don’t know what to do with.

If you're wearing boots, footless tights instead of ones with feet. Seems to help not have them work down your thighs.
If you lose a pretty earring, use the other as a "brooch".

Mens t-shirts here too. Longer sleeves, longer bodies and I'm luckily able to adjust the neckline to suit me. Men's crew necks are always a bit unflattering on my large busted frame, so I turn them into a gentle v-neck. I sometimes also take a bit in at the waist to make them less boxy. A further plus is that the fabric of menswear is always always always way better than the crap they use for womenswear. Mens t shirts are never see- through. They never twist in the wash. The jersey knit is much thicker, has a higher proportion of cotton than womens. I am so bloody sick of us females paying loads more for inferior quality. Boils my piss.

@Brown76

Wind proof fleece lined trousers from Decathlon. They look like normal black Trousers, but are warm and cosy standing around in the park or a walk without looking too much like a hiker.

Thank you. Just ordered a pair

Vests definitely! When I met my DH I realised with horror that he wore vests for 11 months of the year even in 35 degree heat. Now I realise why! Unless you are absolutely gorgeous, vests hide a multitude of sins, especially when you bend over and don't want to reveal too much. No wonder Italians love them.

Look on Pinterest for capsule wardrobe ideas. Try and stick to natural fibres. Get your colours done or research it yourself.