"High Quality Basics"

[SteveBuscemisRheumyEye]

I hear this a lot, but I'm wondering what do you lovely people count as basics? And where do I buy them?

I'm currently losing weight and once I'm at a healthy and stable weight want to treat myself to some lovely quality, decent things.

Like lots of women I've lost my way a bit: becoming a mum, weight gain, getting older etc. I have an idea of how I'd like to look but don't know if and how I can get there?!

For me, it means t shirts and tops that will last more than a year, so the more expensive M&S ones (Autograph for example) Jaeger, Cos and Arket.

I would say stuff that goes worh anything. So good quality jeans and trousers, tops and skirts you can dress up or down.

I don't know about other people but these are the things I've spent money to buy really good versions of and not regretted it.

• Leather jacket
• Plain black T shirts
• Jeans (this should be right at the top of your list if you wear them, makes such a difference)
• Winter boots
• Havaianas instead of cheapie flip flops for comfort reasons
• Cashmere jumpers
• Raincoat

I tend to spend on jeans - I have a small waist and big bum/hips and find Levi’s are the best fit - and knitwear. Generally buy cheaper summer than winter things because I live in Scotland and know I will definitely get wear out of winter clothes! I bought a couple of really nice plain t-shirts from Arket a few weeks ago which were a bit more expensive but feel like a good investment.

I bought a Levi 'perfect' white t shirt today. It's very good quality.

I agree with this^ . For me it’s also about natural fabrics which won’t become loose or small after the first few washes.

I spend most of my money on basics because they are the things I wear everyday. They need to go with lots of other items and work with them colour and style wise. Then you will never have nothing to wear. They provide a back drop to the more dramatic or trend pieces.
They have be good quality as they get worn out otherwise. I prefer natural fibres like wool, cotton, leather, denim and silk but I do have things like faux leather jeggings, jeans and a skirt which get worn almost daily and are more hardweaing than people give them credit for.
It's easy to mix and match clothes if you have mainly lots of basics in a cohesive colour combination that are comfortable and you will wear often in your day to day lifestyle.
Everyone is different but personally my most versatile basics are
Navy silk shirt
Blue cotton shirt
Grey, navy and ivory t shirts and cashmere/wool jumpers
Dark blue denim skirt
Grey wool kilt style skirt
Dark blue, light blue, grey and white jeans
Faux leather bottoms
Black cigarette trousers
Biker jackets
Dark blue utility denim dress
Stone cotton shirt dress
I shop all over and have had many things for years, but mainly shop in All Saints, Levi's, Mango, Boutiques/designer.
Occasionally Arket, M&S, Zara, chazza.

If you look at it the other way, it can be quite easy to get attracted by and spend most money on wow items like a Chanel style blazer or a sequin something and then buy cheap T-shirts. ‘Magpie dressing’, often trendy items or sale items. The accepted wisdom says spend the money on good basics as you will wear them more and they’ll be more versatile. Wow pieces tend to be harder to match and also you might feel less inclined to wear something distinctive more than once with the same people.

This is so helpful!!

Where do I look for good quality jeans when I'm an 18 with huge hips and thighs??

Have you considered Stitch Fix?

@SteveBuscemisRheumyEye in answer to your last question, I can only say that I don't know where you'd start looking mainly because I have been approximately the same size since I was 25, but my shape has changed via pregnancy and menopause. I like clothes and fashion so I spend lots of time thinking through what is likely to be most flattering. T shirts that work on your body are vital as a first step.