Is it really possible to have Pretty Woman type makeove

[VerityPJohnson]

I don't mean I want a brown and white polka dot dress particularly, more the concept of replacing or overhauling your wardrobe in one go.

I find it pretty difficult to find things I like, as do many others bemoaning current offerings on this board, so even with a healthy budget I'm not sure where I'd go. I tend to do this much more iteratively so buy new pieces to go with existing items and slowly things evolve.

I recently spent £800 (on my credit card) as a kind of experiment to see if spending lots in one go would work for me. It hasn't really, I might keep £200 worth (three items as trying to buy better) and I don't feel particularly overhauled.

There is also the famous thread about the lady who strategically planned her wardrobe overhaul over time so she could identify gaps and buy quality.

I think it's potentially more a fantasy, that obviously we would like to think is possible, that we can somehow change ourselves overnight. Makeover stories litter TV and film etc. But really interested to hear people's stories

Have you ever completely overhauled your wardrobe in a short period? How? Do you think you could?

Sorry for typos in title, on my phone

I have in 2020. Mainly due to changing circumstances (went from working in the office every day to WFH) and putting on a shit tonne of weight overnight.

I did try to plan out what I was buying in advance, working out what would go with what and choosing colours that would work well together etc. I probably only kept about half of what I actually bought, but I still have and wear all of the stuff now. Although I am slowly working on the weight gain now. So am hoping to do it again next year.

I have but I am a lazy creature of habit so when I find clothes that work I buy multiple pairs/ colours. Dropped a dress size and went back to work so now I have three pairs of jeans all the same except one is in indigo the other two are black. Three pairs of fly London boots, two calf length one ankle. Boat neck t shirt with 3/4 length sleeves from Markies various colours . A work/ interview dress. A going out dress. Three swishy silk skirts from EBay for summer. A bunch of nice knitwear mainly cardies and scarves from my old wardrobe. I’m sure I look very samey most days but I care not.

Yes, especially if you have a personal shopper.

I used to use an independent personal shopper and she saved me so much money.

Previously me going shopping would be:
Trying on a pair of trousers, they wouldn't fit. I'd feel miserable and fat.
Buying random brightly coloured things that when I got home didn't make an outfit and barely got worn.

With shopper:
She would pick out 15 pairs of trousers in all the sizes and we just kept going until something fitted - suddenly it wasn't me that was the problem, it was the cut of the trousers
She would whizz round and co-ordinate tops, cardigans, dresses, statement jewellery - no random buys, everything co-ordinated and there was a capsule wardrobe.

I saved the money I spent on her by not buying absolute shite and having a timeless, wearable wardrobe.

I couldn't, personally, as I have too many vintage items I couldn't part with.

In Pretty Woman, Vivian was 'stuck' in the hotel with only the clothes she'd been wearing, but presumably she had other clothes at home. She didn't fully overhaul her wardrobe - she simply bought a range of outfits suitable for the social activities she was anticipating that week.

I did in 2020. In part because I'd lost two stone and nothing in the wardrobe fit any more. Previous to that, I'd had a completely chaotic wardrobe of all kinds of random odds and ends, a lot of which I took off as soon as I put on, because the colour or shape was nice, but not on me. I had been following the advice here for some time about working out my preferred style and working out too what I actually looked good in. I had my colours done (again as a refresh) at the end of 2019 which boosted my confidence too, and I did very sternly edit what I had and then bought specifically. Since then I've only bought things that go with the 'set'. Also following advice here, I've been trying hard to buy good quality investment pieces where possible rather than cheap rubbish that goes in the bin at the end of a season when it looks awful.

It's helped a lot. My confidence was rock bottom and I do feel much better about my body and that I wear what I enjoy wearing and feel good in.

Yes. I used Pinterest to save outfits and styles I loved and that suit my body type. I then only bought pieces that fit in with this style. I know what colours suit me so everything matches. I don't own many clothes and I only buy a couple of new pieces a year.

I did but more because I changed job than because I needed to find a different style.
I think that if you have £800 you should look around and buy one big investment piece that will last forever, like a Burberry raincoat ( my DD now wears my mother's and she looks amazing), a really beautiful silk blouse or a tailored suit or even a pair of jeans. They should not reflect too much this moment in fashion but be sort of classics.
Buy neutrals and understand which colours work for you. Do not invest in flowers or prints.

Following with interest

Yes, I went to an independent boutique with a budget. Their personal shopper did an amazing job. I made a Pinterest board of looks I liked to show them.

She didn't replace her entire wardrobe - she bought outfits for a week. If i had her figure and an almost unlimited budget I reckon I would find that pretty easy.

She didn't need to try to looks stylish while risking getting baby sick or a toddlers' dinner down her, or be able to walk across a city, handle a UK april day (6-21 degrees, possible rain).

I think if you picked say 5 outfits that would be a really good start. Say 3 bottoms and 5 tops that kind of go with each other. And say 2 types of foot wear for A/W and S/S.

I kind of worked out what I liked a few years ago and add to it as needed. Staples are jeans, v neck linen t shirts, wool jumpers, leather tan sandals, suede boots. I normally replace these when needed.

I then have a bit of fun with other items that might be more on trend. Kind of like ‘5 piece french wardrobe’.

I feel like I’m having a bit of a makeover moment right now - discovered Kibbe and it’s validated how I always wanted to dress but felt wasn’t “on trend”.

So I’ve got tight kick flare jeans and trousers, pointed sock boots with varying heels, draped long sleeve tops with an asymmetric slant, wrap midi skirts, cowl neck cami tops, long belted wrap coats, relaxed blazers. All in my season colours - mainly stone, camel, dusty blue, raspberry, olive and terracotta.

Everything goes with everything else and finally I feel like my wardrobe works for me.
Definitely check out Kibbe styles and season colours - game changing.

Definitely doable with a personal shopper. Even without, I could def do it. You need to be organised and know exactly what you are looking for though, you can’t just mooch about.

If I were to start again, I might need:

For Winter
3 jumpers
2 chunky cardigans
Wide leg jeans
Wide leg wool trousers x 3
3 midi-length day dresses
Blazer
3 Coats-one rain, one wool, one puffa
Plain t-shirts, long and short sleeve
2 blouses
2 dresses for evenings out
Flat, slim ankle boots for dresses
Chunky boots for trousers
Smart trainers
1 cross-body bag
1slouchy evening clutch

That would do. I’d buy jewellery, scarves, hats and gloves too.