Capsule wardrobe-starting from scratch

[Whatthediddlyfeck]

I need to rebuild my wardrobe after losing a large amount of weight. In theory this is A. Good. Thing. In practice though it’s really difficult!

It’s so long since I was a “normal” size (like 25+ years) that I really don’t know what to be looking at and I’m a bit rabbit in the headlights!

I’d love if I could get a help to plan the basis of a wardrobe so I don’t buy things in isolation and have a load of stuff that I can’t mix/match…is anyone up for it?

I’m early 50s
5’7
size 14
have a waist
quite a small chest now 🙄😂
I prefer navy to black
I like pastels, but can wear most colours
Warm blond hair
Blue eyes
Usually have a bit of a tan
Healthy but not ridiculous budget

I don’t need clothes for work as wear a uniform
I’ve found jeans that fit (M&S Harper)
I like dresses with trainers
I think I prefer more of a classic style rather than high fashion
I’m more conservative than I thought I’d be!

Help!

I'd get an couple of pairs of wide leg trousers. A wide leg Jean and a straight leg jean. A pair of nice white trainers and a black pair. A denim jacket and a leather jacket. Then a selection of nice tops.
Air and grace for your trainers
Saint and Sofia or me and em for trousers
Mos mosh for jeans
All saints leather jacket
Cashmere jumpers from wrap or poem
Good luck, how exciting!

Dresses from me and em too

@minidancer thank you-I’ll go have a look at these brands you’ve mentioned!😊

Uniqlo wide leg trousers and some linen trousers
white t shirts - uniqlo again
Good pair of jeans
Cashmere roll neck
Oversized merino wool sweater
White linen shirt
Blue and white striped shirt
Black Chelsea boots
Camel trench coat for spring

Have a look at this thread before you buy anything!

www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/4753001-can-we-talk-about-clothing-brands-and-target-demographics?reply=124667549

@MetaDaughter thanks for that link-what a brilliant thread!

Sorry, I can't really advise as I need to start again after two babies.

BUT, I have air and grace trainers and I loathe them. They are imo an instrument of torture. Def not worth the money imo!

I've recently started this!

Blue slim fit jeans
Black wide leg trousers
Dark green tapered leg trousers
White shirt
Black long sleeved t-shirt
Stripy long sleeved t-shirt
2 White short sleeve t-shirts
Midi skirt, green
Midi dress, floral print
One pair white trainers (I chose puma)
One pair Chelsea boots with chunky heel
One pair flat shoes (I chose Moi pumps)
One pair Birkenstocks
One leather jacket
One trench coat
One wool coat
One non leather jacket
3 blouses/tops of different prints
2 cardigans one chunky one not
2 jumpers one chunky one not

....is as far as I've got!! I also kept a few 'occasion dresses' that were expensive and had them taken in to fit me.

There’s an inspirational thread on MN classics ‘in pursuit of elegance’ - the slow evolution of capsule style wardrobe. Also, I found the podcast ‘ The Everyday Style School’ helpful when I was having a wardrobe overhaul and didn’t know where to start. There are a few capsule wardrobe programmes early on and I found her advice to be generally very no nonsense and practical. I needed very basic advice early on. Finding your style, trusting gut instinct, starting with good quality basics. Important to have right basics in place so you can put outfits together, more fun, trend led pieces to lift the basics last of all etc etc Good luck !

@bravotango thats a really good list. I’m v handy with my sewing machine, but this is beyond even me-I’ve gone from a 28/30 to a 14 😂

@Noodle421 that sounds like a good thread-I’ll have a look

The thread kick started my desire to overhaul my wardrobe. I’m sorry I’m not tech savvy enough to know how to link you directly to the thread, I’m sure it’s easy when you know how…

Congratulations on your weight loss, what an achievement !!!

Yes, well done for your weight loss. There is a website called The Vivienne Files that is quite good. Although she is US based and a bit older demographic she has really useful wardrobe and packing posts.

Basically have some good quality basics, jeans, black pants, t-shirts and sweaters, then add flavour accents with colours that you love and look nice on you. Add a few pieces per season, sticking to the same limited pallet. Limited but not boring!
www.theviviennefiles.com/a-common-wardrobe/

I've been doing this for a while now. One thing that's worked for me is Pinterest. I pin pictures of things I've bought and things I like. It helps me see if items go with other things I already have.

Congratulations on your weight loss OP, that's really amazing!!

What sort of things are you normally drawn to? Each capsule wards individual and different and there's no set formula, apart from trying to acquire clothes that mix and match easily.

I definitely fell into the trap of thinking I needed something because it was listed in every capsule wardrobe list (like a white shirt) but realistically I'd not worn it before so I'm not sure why I thought I'd suddenly start when it was in my capsule!

I'd say start slow, do a pinterest board, buy the best quality you can afford, invest in basics and see what colours flatter your tone & what shapes look good on you. A "classic" camel coat would not look good on me, so be discerning with what you buy. I'd even go for a personal shopper.

Yes I also had a couple of online sessions with John Lewis personal shoppers. They are free and there is no hard sell. They email you the list afterwards too.

It does depend on who you get though. The first one was great - she had really grasped the brief. The second one was far less successful but that might have also been due to my brief being less clear.

Congratulations on your weight loss OP.

I would maybe go to John Lewis and see a personal shopper as a good starting point. Take your list and be brave and critical about anything they bring in that you really don’t like but try things on that you might not have considered.

Also have a good ratch in M&S if you have jeans from there that work.

First item I would go for is some nice navy trousers as you have already said you prefer navy to black.

Another thing to do is maybe get your colours done then you know what other colours you suit best and what goes with what when making new purchases.

I'd start slowly because you've got to get used to the new you. A minimalist wardrobe is quite liberating as sometimes the number of choices you have to make is overwhelming!

Secondhand is your friend when trying new things - and given your shape change everything is new.

What do you prefer to wear? I personally wear tops rather than shirts, and cardigans rather than jumpers. I like longer line coats.

Ultimately I think you need 4 bottoms, 8 tops, 4 jumpers/cardigans/other, 2 coats and 2 pairs of shoes to get by. Then you can add more as you go.

I'd go for cheap basis dresses while your new style evolves. If you find this is a good style, replace with nicer ones as you need them.

I'd only spend good money on the leather jacket, as this is a necessity.

If you're desperate to treat yourself, a good bag, as this will also not be a waste.

This is the link to the thread that @Noodle421 was saying about. Think it will be helpful: www.mumsnet.com/talk/mumsnet_classics/3797652-thanks-to-s-b-i-m-finally-winning-in-the-pursuit-of-elegance?page=1

sorry, first sentence should be "go for cheap basics"

Thanks Bunny. That is the thread I found helpful.
I also spent five minutes here and there pinning any outfit pictures I liked - it all seemed quite random until clear themes started to emerge.I realised I liked earthy tones in natural fibres, so I only shop for cotton/linen/wool. I’d rather have 1 100% pure wool jumper than 6 less expensive made from wool blends. Bit by bit I’ve felt my own sense of style emerge but it's taken time and thought and is still a work in progress. I am finding it easier to make decisions and am more intentional in my shopping, filling gaps in wardrobe etc. I also don’t have to rely on other peoples opinions as to whether something looks good. Good luck with it all. Take it slowly and make sure you buy only what you love and that which makes you feel good.

@Bunny2021 thanks for linking that thread-I was struggling to find it!

Im finding that I’m being drawn to clothes that are quite conservative-not quite “buttoned up to the forehead” but I have no cleavage left 😂so I’m going to get some proper boosting bras I think.

@Noodle421 like you I definitely prefer natural fibres and I’d definitely rather have fewer but better quality clothes.

Good shout on the personal shopper-I did actually book an online session once but chickened out-I’ll maybe book another one