Ideas for a simple wardrobe of outfits - going shopping tomorrow!

[Littlemiss74]

I have too many clothes & yet nothing to wear. I’ve always been terrible for sale ‘bargains’ & impulse buys but without thinking what the item will go with. I have a wardrobe full of random items that don’t go together.

I’m 46 work f/t, 2 dc’s, & perimenopausal so struggling a bit with my body changing & feeling too tired to deal with mountains of clothes.

I would like to start again & have less clothes but more that work together. I want to look modern but not like a teenager. I’m 5’3” and size 12.

I’m going shopping tomorrow. Could anyone suggest some ideas for some staple items i could buy and where from? There aren’t loads of shops where I’m going but think there is a Zara, Mango, house of fraser, new look, tkmaxx, oliver bonas, next & a few others.

I’d like clothes for casualwear when at home or wfh & a few smart casual for when I need to go to office.
I don’t go out much but I’d like one outfit for an evening out & one outfit for a day out/lunch with friends/family. This should do to start with!

Really would appreciate any suggestions or maybe some instagram pages I could follow for ideas of how to put things together as this is what I struggle with.

OP Zara is a strange shop- the shapes and sizes are really off.

I am short and never felt things fit my proportions!

H&M can have some nice basics, as can M&S.

I would avoid polyester items like the plague. So no primark! I wouldn't bother with TK maxx today as it does not sound like the day for a rummage round. You need to see clothes set out.

Toast, or whistles, and some of the concessions you will find in House of Fraser should be better. X

Or of all the shops you've mentioned, M&S is probably the best bet. If it's a decent size it'll have a good range of jeans styles and t-shirt cuts. Try and navy on as you can have, even the ones you're unsure about.

The last M&S cashmere I bought was appalling quality and the sizing was ridiculous.

I've just bought these M&S jeans and these ones. The second pair are nicer irl so try to ignore the hideous styling here!
I also second/3rd/4th the suggestion for plain old straight leg Levi jeans.

Thanks so much to everyone for all the suggestions. Unfortunately my shopping trip yet again ended with me buying nothing for me but I did get dc’s school uniform😩

After my coffee break I went to Next only to find that had also closed down, along with Gap & of course Debenhams. I was quite shocked really at the number of shops closed since the pandemic.
Starting to think online might be the way but I still don’t know where to buy from. I gave Zara one last try on my way back to the car but i just didn’t love anything enough to spend my money. I nearly went to Primark as was feeling so fed up that I hadn’t got anything I knew this wouldn’t be right
either as i’ve just got rid of a load of now tatty Primark stuff. House of Fraser was just bizarre, looked very jumbly. I ran out of time for M&S, I wonder if I might have found anything there..

Feeling a bit fed up tonight after wasting 4 hours of my life trudging round the shops today. I can’t believe how hard it’s become to dress myself! I just want to look nice & not be a frump but it’s not proving very easy.

Anyone got any online suggestions? Time for a glass of wine

I get a bit anxious shopping. There is too much choice, and I get panicky. I know that you don't have that particular problem, but what I do might help.

I start with something easy : jeans, socks, or a particular colour of t-shirt. Choose 1 item to search for and go shopping for that. Only look at jeans for example, and no matter what else you see, keep only looking at jeans. In all shops. Until you find something. Then you get a sense of achievement and can go next time for another thing.

it might work online too. Instead of looking at one shop, then another put something into google image search like "dark wash straight leg jeans" or whatever. Then look at all the pictures till something catches your eye.

Best of luck!!

I think it would really help if you could find some images of items you like, items you have that have really worked for you (and you might just need new/updated versions of if they have had their day, and think really carefully about how you actually live your life and your body as it is now. If you show us what you like we might be able to recommend things. Is there anything that you really like,? What makes your heart sing?

You say you're 5'3" and size 12. It would help if you could add your shape eg hourglass, straight up and down, apple, pear etc. It has an impact on what clothes would suit you.

You say you work full time, but where and doing what? We need to know if you're eg a cleaner or a payroll assistant, makes a huge difference which clothes you'd need.

Those things you tried on which didn't suit you, that wasn't a waste of time that's important information. You'll reach a stage where you learn to recognise these on the hangar so won't waste time trying them on.

5'3" you say? What might be really helpful is to watch a 5'3" person get a makeover- there are a few a great Trinny Takeover ones where she literally kits them out in Zara but with great advice about shape and colour. You can easily find them on YouTube then you can hit the shops with a clearer idea about colour and shapes. Your skin, hair and eye colour dictate what colours will suit you - nothing else!

@Littlemiss74

Also knitwear is a problem a I get hot easily and also have sensitive skin so alot of knitwear makes me itch like crazy. I can tell just by looking at it. It’s a shame as Zara had some lovely knitwear but I just know it would make me hot & irritated - does anyone else have this problem and what do you do?

Same here. I am only comfortable with Uniqlo's extra fine merino tops.

@Littlemiss74

Also knitwear is a problem a I get hot easily and also have sensitive skin so alot of knitwear makes me itch like crazy. I can tell just by looking at it. It’s a shame as Zara had some lovely knitwear but I just know it would make me hot & irritated - does anyone else have this problem and what do you do?

I don't wear wool, angora or anything like that, fat too itchy! Just don't buy it.

You say you work full time - are you able to wear jeans to work? Or do you have a uniform?

I would either book a personal shopper appointment, or do everything mail order - shops are rubbish at this time of year.

I think the capsule wardrobe 'rule' is four tops to go with each bottom, and if some of the tops go with more than one of the bottoms, even better. Also it helps to choose a neutral (black, navy, grey, brown) for trousers and skirts and then all tops and jumpers in colours that coordinate.

I never really manage to do any of that, though 😂

Have a look at M&S.

I love this outfit but would choose a bright t shirt.

I'm 5' 3" and get jeans from Levi's or Next. M&S jeans fit me really badly. I'm an hourglass size 10.

So if you bought the trousers, 3 T-shirt’s and the jacket, you would have 3 outfits.

Now add this dress.

Love these trousers too

I like a plain capsule wardrobe which I can mix up with scarves and jewellery.

If you bought everything I have suggested you would have

2 pairs of trousers
3 T-shirt’s
A jacket
A dress

8 ish outfits.

Pale pink denim jacket would look nice too

Sorry to hijack but i noticed the M&S recs.
Which M&S jeans would suit a size 14/16 muffin top? What's the difference between Sienna and Sophia?

Sorry to hear your trip wasn't as productive as hoped. I've had lots of trips like that and for me it seems that finding good stuff is more about luck ! I tend to buy less these days as I wfh but I have had some great items that were brand new from eBay , and of course in charity shops. It tends to be hard to find a number of items at once Joe because the quality of new items has plummeted.

I also agree try m&S 😀 I have some of the dresses that the poster above linked and they're very easy to wear and so comfortable.

Your shopping centre sounds dire. Where is it ?
Are you able to shop outside your area/ larger town / city ?
Yours has so many shops that sound closed down but are still going in other areas.
Good luck for next time.

I’ve bought some bootleg magic jeans from M and S. I’m 5’2and a size 14.
They look stylish on a night out.
I also buy from Hush in the sale. John Lewis own brand can be good quality and reasonable in price.
I think as you get older it’s worth spending more and getting a better product.

I think you were a bit premature trying to shop before you really worked out what you wanted - you’re just going to end up with more random things. Do you have a Pinterest board? You should start saving pictures of any outfits that catch your eye - this way you can work out what you’re drawn too and what your personal style is. You also really need to go through your wardrobe and try what you have on… even if it’s worn out. Consider if it’s the thing you would replace with a modern version? Ie updated style of jeans or whether it’s no longer meeting your needs at all. Sort out the keep and donate clothes and really see what the holes are in your wardrobe. For help there are loads of videos about capsule wardrobes on Instagram & You tube but they can be a bit formulaic and not always appropriate for all lifestyles. I do like “ useless-dk” on Instagram though - her wardrobe is gently cool looking ( but not super edgy) and she has a lot of useful video content about building a wardrobe and how to wear items in a dressy versus casual way. I also like “A small wardrobe “on you tube but she has a more arty style - however the advice is good even if her taste is not your taste. I have one more to post once I’ve checked the name.

“Donna Tweedale stylist.” On Instagram. She promotes slow fashion and has just done some features on holiday packing which I thought interesting - I always overpack. She does an online course on building a considered wardrobe I’m thinking of doing.

I'd start with a couple of pairs of work trousers in charcoal, navy, stone/camel or black - one in each of the colours that suit you best, cut in a style that you know suits you - could be straight legged or cigarette. I'd go for on the ankle because you can turn them up if cropped becomes fashionable but not vice versa.

For a capsule wardrobe avoid the impulse to get patterned clothes. Better to add colour and interest with accessories. You need some tops - a crisp white shirt, a cream or oyster silk blouse and a couple of tops that skim any perimenopausal bumps, in striking colours that really suit you, then some cardigans or jumpers that work with them. Again, I 'd get these in neutrals - always good to have navy, grey and camel knitwear imo. (But not black - it can be aging too close to the face once you hit mid life.) I agree that good quality cashmere in classic styles will last for years and not date. Avoid John Lewis - the stuff I've had from them is rubbish. But M&S cashmere is very good. My best cashmere is from Jaeger but they seem to have gone out of business. Might still have some in outlets and online.

For home, a good pair of jeans depends on your body shape. I agree with PP about M&S Sophia or White Stuff if you have bigger thighs. Can't help with good jeans for skinny thighs. Some really soft tees (I got some gorgeous ones in Zara for £6 this summer.

I don't have a capsule wardrobe, I have two wardrobes so I can't help you there(hot flushes mean no re-wearing)
But the trick for the hot itchy wool problem for me has been to get decent Dunnes(not sure you have that) or M&S thick white and black plain long sleeved tees then thinner jumpers to wear over.
So they are not touching your skin and if you get hot and need to take them off the top underneath looks ok on its own.
Also for the really cold weather my DM knitted me some with expensive wool, but appreciate that's a rare privilege.