Significant purchase to make me look and feel grown up

[LlamaofDrama]

I'm a regular on all the "how to look groomed/ stylish/ put together/ not like a bag lady" threads. I'm doing better, but it's safe to say I still have my less sorted days, probably about 360 a year of them.

In the next 6 months I should have what is to me a significant amount (probably around £500) of frivolous money that I can spend on sharpening up my look. If I'm spending this much, it needs to work hard and will need to be used almost every day, I don't want something special that will sit in the wardrobe and only come out once a year. I've got two ideas of single big ticket items to spend it on and I can't make up my mind. Or I could get neither, and instead get some style advice and supplement my wardrobe or get some better makeup or...

I'm short, busty but not overweight, and my personal style is fairly pared back. I wear neutrals, no fuss, very little jewellery, rarely patterns, rarely bright colours. I aim for tidy; classic would be a high point. I've never in my life been stylish.

Idea 1. A good handbag. It would need to be reasonably large, to take a small laptop, a packed lunch and bits and bobs. So I could get everything I need in one bag, not be loaded down with several. Ideally leather.

Idea 2. Get my ears re-pierced and get some good earrings I can wear every day. Maybe platinum and diamond studs, if I could get anything in budget. My ears were pierced and closed over because I was allergic to so many earrings but I'm not allergic to my platinum rings so I have hope about ear rings.

What would you recommend, stylish ones?

A smart watch? Would last longer than a handbag!

@ncnoclue nice idea, but I live in my Fitbit. Actually, I hate watches, and didn't wrest one for years till I got the Fitbit! Thank you though, I like the lateral thinking!

@LlamaofDrama earrings might be tricky - only I let mine close over to and found it very annoying trying to wear them again!

Could you buy a cheaper pair to test the water before splashing out?

Or a beautiful long lasting wool coat?

A nice showerproof trench coat - hides if you are wearing an old t shirt and you can layer up underneath as needed in colder weather. As a fellow busty lady they give great shape. Karen Millen used to make nice ones but a Burberry would be the ultimate splurge- I have found bargains for both on eBay before too.

Don’t bother with diamond earrings. You can get a pair of cubic zarconia and no one will know.

Invest in quality shoes and handbags

Boots for winter and low heeled sling backs for summer

Elegance is low key

Get everything on sale

What is your hair like, OP?

You can get CZ studs that look real for £20
A decent quality leather bag can be had
I would consider a really good coat.
Maybe even (so a trench for autumn/spring and a warm winter coat)

I always think a good coat is an investment. You can get "good" bags on the high street. A good coat, well cut and in a good fabric is an investment that ends up costing pennies per wear after time, as long as you look after it (dry cleaning, professional mending if required).

You'll wear it over your outfit so you don't need to be expensively dressed underneath it, and if you're in the UK you know you'll get a decent amount of use out of it as we only get about 3 months a year where we don't wear a coat!

The Putney might give you some good ideas re bags. I would also go to a second hand jewellery shop for earrings if you really wanted them.
I would consider a nice, cashmere camel jumper- v chic. Just store it properly from moths.
You could get a lovely bag, and the jumper.

I'd spend it on my hair and skincare to be honest, whether that's regular blow-outs or a high-end colourist.

I disagree about the czs, they go cloudy over time and will be in sterling silver so not really suitable for permanent wear.

I'd buy two loose moissanites and have them set in platinum by an independent jeweller, you can get them made with safety backs so there's no risk of loss and they can be worn all the time. That would be a piece of fine jewellery that will genuinely last and last.

Earrings.. handbags do date and you can get a lovely one for £150 anyway

*the outnet, just read my post!

I'd say a good coat and handbag, and/or maybe some good quality leather boots like classic Chelsea boots? A good quality classic trench coat works most of the year (try Hobbs, even better in the sale or at least online new customer discount). A good quality leather bag too, doesn't need to be a £1k+ Mulberry just good quality leather: £250 each on a coat and bag is a great budget to have you looking put together. Or a good classic wool coat (maybe camel) maybe spend £300 on that and £200 on a bag. Depends on your lifestyle; I find I wear a trench much more now and rarely a wool coat except on weekends as I drive to work etc and don't walk far!

I love my diamond studs but I doubt anyone else even notices them and £500 is not a great budget for that anyway. I'd suggest trying some simple studs first- I've worn tiny square studs for years which sound your style, I have both gold and silver, just from high street jewellers. Simple, classic, hopefully classy!

There’s no one in the world, aside a jeweller, who would know the difference between a pair of real or fake diamond earrings. I’m assuming the OP isn’t moving in glamorous circles, just wanting to look more expensive. It’s all in the shoes and handbags.

Fab ideas, thank you! I do have a good winter wool coat which I always like wearing, and a pair of gorgeous long boots that get worn so much in winter. Good ankle boots are a thought though, and a trench. My mac is approx 20 years old and I'm not sure it was ever the right shape for me.

@HelloDulling my hair is meh and incurable as far as I can tell. Straight, brown, fine. Can't do anything with it. It's been coloured in the past, highlights or balayage but I'm not convinced by the shade and don't seem able to get the shade I want (I'm quite red faced, so I want a fairly cold ash blonde, not a brassy gold). I get it cut regularly, it's in lovely condition, but it's basically just covering my head as opposed to doing anything decorative.

Love the suggestion of buying loose stones and getting them set for earrings. Would be perfectly happy to buy second hand as well, ditto for a handbag.

I think it's all those good quality extras I need to pull me together a bit.

I have 2 trench coats, one navy and one camel, they were around £150 each I think and always make me feel smart and I get compliments when I wear them. I also have a couple of coach bags (who have brilliant sales)
Wearing both together makes me feel like a proper grown up

Sorry just re-read the OP on earring allergies, not sure if plain gold or silver or white gold would work for you!

I personally would spend the money on haircut and coloring, get decent basics (jeans, tops) that would last years, make sure I have good pair of sunglasses and decent leather handbag. I'd think about what do you think makes you look 'cheap', for me it's cheap jeans and t-shirts.
I'm sure you look lovely, end of the day you should get some joy out of spending this money.

While jewellery make me feel smart and good, I really don't think a pair of diamond earrings at that price are going to make a difference. A good handbag is a good shout - I have a DKNY bag that fits my laptop and note book and various other bits (might not be quite big enough for a lunch box as well though) but it definitely makes me feel smarter and pulled together.

I'd also be inclined to look for good shoes. At £500 you could get a couple of really good options for different occasions.

Would also agree that a good cut and colour can make a huge difference.

Also, have you considered one of those services? Stichfix or similar? Or a personal shopper at a department store? With £500 and a good personal shopper you could revolutionise your look.

On the previous posters diamonds give you rainbow sparks that no other stone does. I can see them. They don't make you look put together just more expensive. If I know you earn enough, have your house and wear diamonds that's cool, but if you don't have these things you don't have to wear diamonds.. it's sort of a signature of wrath not style at least to me.

Perfume. And a quality purse.

I wouldn’t go for bag or earrings. I’d go for… well fitting jeans
Good bra
Leather boots
Some good tops

And a coat of a style that you’ll get good wear of. If you think you’ll never wear a long coat, don’t get one!