Capsule Wardrobe help

[Comefromaway]

I need to replace some clothes due to changing shape a bit and need a bit of help.

I am 5 ft 3, a size 12-14 (usually buy a 12 for tops as 14 the shoulders are way too big but some fitted blouses with buttons do gape & I buy 14 trousers/skirts as they are a bit too loose but a 12 is tight around my tummy.

I have a good waist but a menopause tummy.

Current items of clothing I love and want to incorporate

Black All Saints leather jacket
Black wide leg trousers from Sainsburys
Black high waist fairly skinny trousers from Mango
Fat Face 5 pocket plum jeggings
Seasalt 3/4 sleeve v neck teal coloured top
White short sleeve Mountain Warehouse shirt
Navy skater style thin wool dress from Sainsburys
White short sleeved fitted top from Sainsburys
All Saints shimmer v neck t shirt in a dark blue/teal shade
Long black cardigan from Sainsbury's (needs replacing as it's bobbly)

I've also got a few Seasalt etc summer dresses but I want to concentrate on winter for now.

I forgot my new Hobbs black blazer.

I should say my lifestyle is

Work in an office where the dress is smart/casual (smart trousers/skirt and top but not suits)
Weekends mostly spent walking in the local park, shopping etc, pub lunch etc. Adult kids at uni.
Ds is in a band so I sometimes go to gigs in pubs or underground music venue type places.
Regularly go to the theatre.

Why d’you need a ‘capsule’ wardrobe, though? Other than work you can completely please yourself as to what you wear - but your clothes sound a bit … dull. In both sources and colour. (Though it may be that you shop from other places you haven’t mentioned?)

Anyway … For colour and interest, you could look at

American Vintage - excellent Outlet pages
Community Clothing
Joanie Clothing
ThinkingMu
And maybe an extravagant, or pre-owned knitted Winter accessory from Jo Gordon

Essentially, it looks as if your wardrobe could do with some more risk and adventure. But I could be completely wrong, of course.

Charmingly put @PerditaProvokesEnmity 😄
I like the sound of the clothes you want to incorporate but if doesn't actually add up to many outfits.
Do you want work outfits? If so how many?
Or casual - say jeans/knitwear?
What's your style?
Colours?

They are dull. We don’t have many shops where I live so I tend to buy clothes when I’m on a day out to Cheshire Oaks, Manchester or Leeds.

thecrest of my clothes (black trousers, tops and some skirts either no longer fit or are worn out.

I used to shop a lot in Debenhams but many of the clothes o got from there about 10 years ago are either faded, threadbare or don’t fit.

I want a capsule wardrobe because I’d prefer to spend more money on less clothes that actually fit/suit me.

Also it has to be physical shops where I can try things on because of lengths/fit.

Okay … If you’ll forgive me, the insistence on only shopping in physical shops makes you sound left behind in the 20th century and excludes about 97% of your options! (I’ve done pretty much all my clothes shopping online for the past decade - and really love the almost limitless access. I try to take every possible care over colours and measurements, and much prefer sites that show videos of clothes in movement on a person.) What’s the worst that can happen if you don’t like or suit what the courier brings?

Besides which - mass produced clothes are never going to fit everyone, even if ostensibly the right size. That’s what your friendly local alterations service is for.

I completely understand a preference for in person shopping, but it seems perverse to refuse to consider other options that would enable you to get the sort of clothes you might like to wear.

(Not me over-invested in someone else’s wardrobe … )

I do humongous orders from Next online and send 90% of it back. Then I can try on the clothes with items I already have and my own accessories, different bras etc.

I am unable to picture whether something online will suit me unless I’m buying a duplicate of something I’ve had before.

I have lots of stuff that I’ve ordered and not got around to sending back also.

I’ve also stopped buying clothes from Sainsburys since they closed their fitting rooms. I currently have an unworn top that’s too big that I’m unable to return as Dh threw the receipt away.

I’m open to any shops you can find in The Trafford Centre, Cheshire Oaks or Leeds City Centre (which includes John Lewis & Selfridges)

If it was me I’d just go shopping for some jeans, jumpers, t shirts and winter dresses. Maybe 2 of each? I’m not a fan of teal but I love black white plum navy so I’d stick to that palette. And get some winter boots you love.

i have a capsule wardrobe and find it works really well. Once you have the basics you can operate a one in one out policy that really makes you consider every purchase carefully.

Have you ever had your colours done? What’s in your colour wheel?

@Comefromaway if you bought the top recently then Sainsburys will give you a gift card with the amount on instead of refunding to your original payment method. I had lost my receipt for a jumper and they did this

I don’t know anything about colours.

I tend to gravitate towards burgundy, dark blue, green, navy and black.

I do have boots I bought last winter.

You can get decent Levi’s at Cheshire Oaks. Say a black and indigo. The sizing and styles are so comprehensive that you’re bound to find something which suits. The Jigsaw outlet is pretty good with some nice tops. A lot of the stuff at Cheshire Oaks isn’t that great-clothing made for outlet shopping or stuff they can’t sell. For knitwear, I would try and buy online. There are some good sale bargains at the moment-see Me and Em, Arket, White Company. Easy returns.
You've described your body shape-but have you tried on different cuts and styles to see what suits? For example, do you suit structured tailored clothes or softer, more drapey styles? I love wrap dresses but they look awful on me. When you buy something new, do you think about how it fits with your existing clothes? For example, I’ve just bought a green linen/cotton midi skirt from Seasalt-but I only bought it because I could identify which shirts and knitwear it would look good with. Go through your existing wardrobe and see which clothes you’d like to keep-what things work hard? Which colours suit you best? Analyse the kind of style you like. Then you can look at shopping to fit that.

Amazing! Re-reading this thread I find I recommended a website I now have no recollection of whatsoever.

Anyway, @Comefromaway - I hope you’ve found some lovely things since you started the thread.