Help me decide what I need to buy to wear in my new life

[Worldgoingmad]

I'm in my late 50s and due to retire in April from a long career in the corporate world. My working life has mainly involved being 'suited and booted' for much of the working week. Post retirement, I'll still do a few days a month freelance but I can use my old work wardrobe for that - the problem is I have no idea how to dress for everything else!

I've approx £600 - £800 to spend on what I'd describe as a smart casual wardrobe. Lifestyle wise, I am well kitted out for hobbies like hiking, and also have a lot of rarely worn gym gear. Where I'm at a total loss however is what to buy for general day to day living and doing things like meeting friends for lunch, visiting family, theatre trips, UK travelling, general days out etc. I don't want to descend into middle age frumpsville!

I'm 5'3", size 10 - 12. I'm fairly curvy and would describe my figure as hourglass on a good day, more apple like when I gain weight. Legs and arms OK, but my biggest challenge is my 32F chest which along with my short torso can make me look bigger than I am and quite matronly.

I like fairly classic styles, navy is my best neutral and prefer my colours to be strong/autumnal rather than the muted shades you get in seasalt/White Stuff etc. I do wear patterns sometimes but nothing of the quirky/'fun' type look.

So - what would you buy if you were me?

So - what would you buy if you were me?

Very little to start with! This is with the wisdom of hindsight. Because you’ll probably still be in the habit of dressing for a competitive, heightened life - and, trust me, there’s nothing more frumpy than turning up for a casual meet up with family or friends in acres of beige, tailored MaxMara (or in my case black Jil Sander - years ago) when everyone else is in shiny sportswear and Zara.

It can be a huge shock (though perhaps less so post-Covid) to exit the corporate space and enter an entirely informal, non-hierarchical ordinary world. So I would wait - until you try out retirement and discover how you’ll actually be spending your time, and with whom.

I’m a bit older than you and still working full time in a corporate environment. My first question would be what do you wear at the weekend? As @BlossomBlossomBlossom mentions, I would be inclined to wait. Also, hopefully you will have more time to go shopping once you retire.

One thing I would be cautious about is looking frumpy at work. At the moment I expect you refresh and update your work wardrobe on a regular basis. When you aren’t working so much there could be a danger you just rely on your old clothes and then start to look out of date.

Do you have anything you've enjoyed wearing for smart casual or casual?

What do you think you might enjoy wearing?

I agree don't go out and buy a whole wardrobe. Do you already have something you could wear to meet a friend for coffee, a museum and walk in the park tomorrow?

Thank you all - some wise words here!

@BlossomBlossomBlossom it's helpful to hear your real life experience of things not necessarily panning out as planned. I do want to wait a little before splashing out (partly to lose a few pounds!) but I guess I'm just concerned I'll fall into a rut.

@LadyLapsang @Mulledjuice re the questions on what I currently wear at weekends and what I'd wear for lunch out tomorrow, I think that's the nub of it really. My current go to in these scenarios is cropped/raw edge jeans and a linen shirt in the summer and jeans and a jumper or shirt with tank in the winter. I've really struggled with winter this year particularly - I've always been most comfortable in skinnies tucked into boots with a loose jumper or shirt really but the wide legs at the moment are a challenge. I never know what boots to wear with them and although I realise I should go for more fitted tops, this can just make me look so busty that I feel really uncomfortable.

I think I'd like a few things at least for the summer that just make me look a bit more 'put together' if that makes sense.

Also @LadyLapsang good point about not getting stuck in the past re my much reduced work wardrobe. That's a whole other challenge!

Do you like wearing skirst/dresses? One way of avoiding trousers you don't like.

@Mulledjuice yes to dresses but I haven’t worn a skirt for years. Mainly due to the issue re what top to wear with them. The ample bosom/short torso combo make it impossible to tuck in anything without looking as if my waist is directly under my boobs!

I've been retired for a couple of years and agree with previous posters about taking your time. I should add that my situation was different from yours as my workplace was mostly very dress down, especially for my final couple of years post pandemic. So most days there wasn't much difference between what I wore in or out of work and I owned very few corporate looking clothes.

From what you've said, it sounds like you mainly wear jeans off duty so I'd start with them, especially if you're struggling to move on from skinnies. I know some posters are happily holding on to their skinnies until they come around again (as I'm sure they will) but it sounds like you want to look current now and there's no shame in that - so do I! I honestly believe this is the best time ever for choosing jeans as there's so much choice and I'd take the time to try loads and loads, because even jeans that are supposed to be the same style don't all look the same.

And then shoes. I'm not the best person to advise on that as there are very few shoes I like but I'd tackle them next.

Retired recently and it took a while to find what I really like wearing and feel well turned out in. I have a small variety of jean styles, I've upgraded my jumpers (less but better) and shirts and have a few plain longer line dresses. Where I have fun is the jackets, shoes and accessories. Great advice already, to look at what you wear and use that as a starter. You have time to play with clothes, just enjoy trying new things.

@Worldgoingmad I have just splashed out (😁) on a pair of straight leg Autograph jeans from M& S - I too wore only skinnies - and have also sent off for some white linen mix trousers , wide. It hasn't broken the bank but a foray into more updated styles (£87 for both- the wide linen ones might go back if tehy don't suit ) I know M&S might sound frumpy but I think if you avoid some of their colours and patterns ( which are often quite baffling and ugly to me ) basics in plain colours are fine. Other opinions are available.

Good luck !

I am getting a capsule wardrobe sorted mainly from Vinted. Personally I rate M&S for basics and I think it is a good idea to pop along there. When I was in work my work wear mainly came from there .I like charity shops as well and have more time to rot through the stock now.

Ah I forgot to add, I do spend time when I go out somewhere looking at other people's clothes. I only came across Vinted after telling a lady on the bus how much I liked her clothes. That was a few years ago and I am amazed at prices on there. It is often a lot cheaper than eBay, but recently got a waterproof jacket on EBay as I was the only person to put a bid in. This was due to the zip breaking on my last totally waterproof jacket.

I'm definitely an M&S customer so glad to hear the positive feedback. I've already got a few pairs of their straight leg jeans and recently bought some which I think were called slim flare (?) so I'm building a mini collection! I was actually pleased to read recently that flare/bootcut styles are making a reappearance as I think they are also quite flattering on my shape.

I'm encouraged by the advice to take my time. Partly because I want to shift a few pounds and I think this will happen when I'm not sitting down eating biscuits for most of the day. I'm going to plan a day after I retire to go shopping and just take armfuls of things (starting with jeans and other basics) into the changing room to see what things look like.

I'd also really like a casual but slightly structured denim dress but that's proving a bit of a struggle to find at the moment. I have quite a few pairs of sandals for the summer but thought I might buy some new trainers and possibly a pair of loafer/boat shoe type shoes.

If you like M and S, then some of their other jean shapes might be worth trying? Their wide legs are great - I have them in several colours. Also barrel legs are very forgiving too. It's great that they do different lengths - I'm only a little taller than you and the short works for me.

I would consider looking at upgraded knitwear too. Just splashed out on a couple of long cashmere cardigans in grey and a neutral which can be dressed up with bright colours, or down with more subdued colour. Suede trainers are also on trend - and the whole denim, suede, cashmere, silk vibe can be a lovely individual but understated, stylish look.

For inspiration I look at Italian Vogue and the websites of Luisa Via Roma and Net a Porter - they put together outfits and can give you ideas as to what works. I tend to buy new jeans in the main and also some new cashmere (House of Bruar and M and S) but also cashmere from Vinted as well as designer stuff - got a lovely Etro bag that way which is my mainstay summer bag. I find using Vinted gives an eclectic, individual look which I love. If you make a mistake it's not a huge expense. It's lovely being retired - hope you enjoy it!