What are your must have items?

[iamalearner]

I'm 42 and really want to be more stylish.

Please share your must haves, with pics even better!

Eg white trousers, white shirt, navy cardie, tanned belt etc.

What are your favourite high street brands that don't look so cheap?

I don’t think that I have any as such however the things that fit my personal style and that I buy different versions of are; Breton tops ( Mango and &Other Stories),Broderie Anglais tops( &Other Stories and bought various ones from charity shops), jeans (flared
style from Mango that are currently in the sale),knitwear suitable for the season( Zara and Mango) and Converse for shoes as well as espidrilles.

Wide leg trousers, Birkenstocks, stripy tops. Have been wearing them for 15+ years.

Flattering dress, flattering jeans, striped tops (but I got one from Zara last year which I like but the quality is appalling.

A decent bag, can be any but love eg my Chanel boy bag but don’t use it nearly as much as I should.

Earrings! But I wish they’d make something to magically find/replace the ones I’ve lost!

A pair of pale denim mom jeans, preferably vintage Levi's.

White T shirts from Autograph, Cos and Arket (ditto black)

Navy blazer (for white T shirts and jeans days)

Shortish fitted jumpers in different colours (the M&S supersoft ones- have about 10 in different colours)

Bretons though have worn these less over the last few years. Seasalt for quality v price.

Wide legged trousers

Fitflop Rally

Tan belt

Tan leather work bag

Those are the non trendy evergreen constants in my wardrobe.

I have some expensive things I have brought second hand; Hermes scarves, Gucci scarf, LV bag, Dior bags, Solid gold jewellery etc .

But clothing I spend less on and buy from Vinted and general high st like Primark, new look and marks and Spencer and Shein.

Scoop neck long sleeved tshirt from Baukjen

Pair of straight leg jeans that fits

Linen jacket for Summer, Tweed jacket for Winter (I am a blazer and shirt with jeans type of person for work)

Soft 7 black and white pumps/ trainers from Ecco

Personally I think must haves should be quite individual & whatever items you chose the important part is you feel good in them & they are comfortable.

I don't really subscribe to the capsule classic wardrobe & I have lots of clothes. I live in sandals & trainers so have dozens of pairs. Lots of dresses & jeans. I like matches, nap, cos & zara.

It's very individual, isn't it? For me I have to have a decent bra well several really as I only wear them once and wash. With my massive boobs, I can't just wear anything. I'm also wobblier than I'd like to be so Maidenform and M&S shapewear is better than Spanx in my eyes. I either get the knickers that come up to my boobs or the wear your own bra short suit.

I have to have decent sunglasses as it prevents wrinkles and eye damage and I can hide when I don't want to see someone or wear make up. They also shield from hayfever. They are prescription sunglasses and so worth the extra money.

I must have comfortable neutral sandals in the summer. I have navy, tan and black and they are incredibly versatile. When I like something I get multiples.

A maxi or midi black dress in natural fabric with pockets. The sort I can dress up or down.

Properly waterproof coat. Seasalt is great.

A decent eyeliner that doesn't melt on my oily eyelids and stain. I recommend Kiko and priming your eyelid.

Must have decent SPF that doesn't leave a white caste or block pores and cause pimples or sting eyes. I liked Sheer Neutrogena one however I'm on the hunt for a mineral SPF rather than chemical because I'm feeling conscious of endocrine disruptors due to recent health issues.

Favourite high street are Cos and Seasalt.

Wide leg jeans. Stripy tops. Cons or brown leather sandals. Dungarees. Baskets. Men's stripey shirts.
Denim. Navy. White.

Floaty cotton shorts with fitted Tshirts.

Everything here https://www.instagram.com/smythsisters/?hl=en

Personal style very All Saints and Vivienne Westwood (a bit edgy). Work style very Me & Em and &other Stories (pretty classic). Must-have pieces, off the top of my head would include biker leather jackets (current one is a berry shade from Michael Kors - bloody love it), chunky boots, kitten heel sling backs (just because I love them), and dresses, lots of dresses!

I'm slowly building my capsule wardrobe of as classic and long lasting items as possible
so two waterproof coats - one from rains (more casual) and one from protected species (smart/goes nicely with work wear)
A biker style jacket, I got at a charity shop and perfect over casual clothes to smarten up!
A decent waterproof parka for winter
Washed blue mom/boyfriend jeans
Straight solid black jeans
Decent knitwear in classic colours - navy/cream, from Finisterre and navy grey
Plain round neck t shirts, I've got these from various places including Bam
Graphic t shirts, mix of colours generally a bit over size, h&m
Oversized shirts that I wear in summer over shorts- white and striped
Cheesecloth material/cotton summer dresses- from various places usually mini but always a bit longer on me as I'm short- have concluded maxi not an option
White blouse for evening/more dressed up
Sweatshirts in classic style and neutral colours
Wide legged trousers in a few colours and styles
Linen shorts
Birkenstock sandals

PS high street brands that don’t look cheap? Depends on the fabric for me. I dont do polyester, recycled or otherwise personally. But I just got a lovely linen mix blazer from H&M for work. If you mean price point, rather than location, then maybe try Free People (American label) - got a lovely top and jacket there recently. Also Top Shop (online via ASOS) surprised me recently - got a linen waistcoat and trousers from there and they are good quality.

My must haves
Cotton, leather and faux leather, suede, silk and
lots and lots of denim- jeans, shirt, shorts, skirt, dress jackets
Interesting details - buttons, sleeves, metal, studs, metallic,
Anything classic with punky/edgy/rock chick twist
Having lots of different jackets, belts and well made footwear makes everything easy to wear and I have three handbags
High street has some good quality items just like expensive shops do. You have to assess each piece. Look for how robust and well made things are, what fabric and how see through/thin it is and buttons, zips (I hate plastic) etc are used
I personally like All saints, Mango, occasionally Zara and M&S but mix it up with boutiques, a bit of ebay/charity shop. Boutiques aren't always more expensive - one in a town near had lovely things in, in good quality material, very reasonably priced.

Find your own style and be inspired by others but don't copy because it never looks or feels right.

Good choice!

I definitely do not have a capsule wardrobe. Thinking about items I wear a lot and love, if I had to start again from scratch I would want:

Light blue and midwash jeans in a slouchy fit - currently loving the Levi's 90s 501
Black jeans in a tapered fit - Levi's 80s mom would be my preference
Cashmere or alpaca sweaters, maybe black, camel, and grey - I like the Arket ones
Cardigans as above
A couple of Breton tops - the Monki soft cotton stripe tops are my fave
Boxy fit tees in plain colours - Arket again
Slogan/graphic/band tees - this would be VERY hard to recreate but I think Joanie do this sort of stuff pretty well. At a higher price point, Anine Bing and Ganni please
A few nice summer midi dresses - I have great seersucker Monki ones and also like their jersey ones for winter
Trainers - at a very minimum I'd have white Stan Smiths, a coloured pair of New Balance, and something in black, maybe Adidas Samba
Dr Marten Church boots - I have these in the black and in the oxblood and I couldn't be without either
Birkenstock Boston clogs
Really good tights - I like the Falke 100 denier matte ones
Merino striped socks from Finisterre
Black knickers from Chantelle and black bra top things (bralettes?) from Thought
Nike running tights and a couple of decent sports bras. I'd need running shoes too actually
Black leather biker - mine is an oversized one from H&M's premium collection and I love it
Denim jacket - mine's from the Ragged Priest sale, again, oversized
Puffer coat - maybe from Monki
Smarter winter coat - possibly a faux fur?
Slouchy leather crossbody bag - the one I have at the mo is black from Arket, but I also have a bright green smaller one from Free People which is fab

I reckon I could manage away with that lot for a bit. I don't have a corporate dress-code type job, and while I do keep work/not work clothes separate I could integrate them if I had to.

In terms of quality items I like Arket, Cos, some H&M stuff, &OtherStories, and buy a lot on Depop

Flattering jeans (my favourite are M&S boyfriend, Levi cropped leg, New Look Tori and Whistles Barrel leg) and cropped T shirts or decent vest tops to wear with them.
Decent black trousers
For summer tan leather sandals, for winter DM boots
Decent knitwear - my 3 favourite jumpers are from Toast, Eribe and Finisterre
A good wool coat for autumn/winter
One or two decent 'going out' outfits; a simple but well cut black dress and a nice blouse come under this category.
I have way more than these things as I'm a clothes addict but these are my essentials.

Oh yes and my All-saints Cargo leather biker

Ignoring clothes with mine because its the usual, good jeans, decent basics etc but in terms of accessories. I have a thin Ralph Lauren leather belt which is black and brown reversible, I wear it most days goes with everything. Nice leather bags with minimal design/hardware. I wear the same earrings everyday, small gold hoops with a pearl on them. Minimal rings, thin gold watch, nice necklace etc elevates everything.

Black spray on jeans - Topshop
Trench coat - Kooples (charity shop)
Long wool overcoat - Autograph (charity shop)
Slightly blingy watch - Emporio Armani
Pale grey linen blazer - Autograph
Boat shoes - Timberland (super comfortable)
Wayfarer sunglasses - Ray ban
Big fun summer straw hat - Monsoon
Birkenstock thong sandals
Suede heeled ankle boots
Silk scarves (charity shop)
Lots of deep V neck T-shirts for layering under blazers
Stud earrings in various shapes and colours
A couple of good quality non expensive gem bling knockoffs rings

It has taken nearly 30 years to build this capsule, after years of discovering what is best suited to my shape.

My top treasures have been found in charity shops the vast majority of the time, I only buy new or next to new. Whenever I go to a new neighbourhood, I pop in… it’s a 5min at a time practice that has really paid off…
I also give high quality items to charity instead of selling… what goes around comes around! Let’s keep things in circulation! Everybody wins.