If you had a £1,000 to spend on updating your wardrobe, what would you buy?

[NewShoesForSpring]

Please don't say 'pay bills', 'put it into the mortgage / pension pot / kids savings / rainy day etc -assume they're all ok)

Would you buy one or two expensive things or loads of cheaper stuff?

I'm saving at the moment after a couple of years of low spend on myself & I aim to have around that amount by the end of the summer so I can invest in some nice new clothes for autumn/ winter

I need non work stuff (I keep a separate wardrobe for work)

I'm early 50s, 5ft 9" & size 12.

I'm torn as I'm considering looking for a killer jacket, / coat & some v nice jeans but not really sure yet

Would love to hear what's on your (fantasy or real) shopping lists

A decent coat, nice bag, some fun trainers, then a Vinted splurge as well!

I could actually get alot for £1000 because Im a cheap shopper! Wearing anything expensive just makes me anxious TBH (too worried I'll spill something on it or lose it!).

A Max Mara coat
cashmere jumpers
blouses from Sézane

How are you going to do all that on £1k, @festive? (Unless mostly pre-owned?)

You can pick up a MM coat for £500-600 in the sale or outlet.

Birkenstocks Tokio x3( beige, dusky pink, off white.
All saints leather jacket
Dusky pink A line cord dress( if I can find one)
similar one in Powder blue
pink blazer
brown Chelsea boots( probably Ecco)
short Ecru wool jumper ( Woolovers or similar)
Uniqlo for underwear
wool socks for wearing with above Birkenstocks
Have I blown the budget yet?!

I have to say, most of my wardrobe is from Vinted and I now can't bring myself to buy new( crap quality too)

MaxMara coat
Russell & Bromley boots.

Thats if I could get both for £1,000.

Look at Lanx boots- they’re gorgeous!

Personally, I think it would be insane to spend £800 on one thing. There are a few people on here who have no understanding at all of how very privileged they are, if they really are spending the money they claim to on clothes.

I’d be working along the lines of:

boots - around £150 - my first ports of call would be the Dr Martens sale, followed by Clarks

a coat - I think I’d start looking at either old sale stock online, or on Vinted for this

a bag - maybe Longchamp or maybe Coach in the sale

2 pairs of jeans - Levi’s or Marks for me

Black trousers

Some long sleeved T-shirts - a couple of plain and a couple of striped

a couple of day dresses

a black or denim skirt that goes with the boots

a couple of thin merino jumpers

a couple of scarves

I’m convinced by the “buy fewer, better quality” and keep myself to a strict one in one out policy. So yes, I’d keep it until there was something I wanted. I have lovely clothes for all the occasions I am likely to encounter, so may not spend it for a while.

I've just ordered this gorgeous Plumo sale sweater and have my eye on a few other items but am restraining myself.

I also bought a dress from the Oliver Bonas sale which I had my eye on for a while - just waited for it to go on sale.

I don't agree it's insane, Remus (spending £800 on one thing). For me this would be an opportunity - and one that probably wouldn't come round again - to own something utterly fabulous that I could never normally afford. I probably wouldn't have considered it 20 or 30 years ago but I had fewer clothes then and besides, life has changed.

I also disagree that it’s insane to spend a lot of money on one item. I bought a MaxMara coat many years ago now and wore it every weekday in winter for nigh on 12 years (it was the lining that eventually shredded, meaning I replaced it). On a cost-per-wear basis, that’s excellent value. I have handbags, boots etc now that I’ve had for years and years (my expensive sheepskin lined winter boots I bought to go to Scandinavia in winter before I had children - my oldest child is now 15!).

The main thing is picking classics that you will wear for years to come.

Anyway, on topic, I’d probably buy a good trench coat, as an outer layer to wear for those couple of weeks in springs and autumn when you need a lightweight coat is a perennial gap in my wardrobe. I would also buy a couple of good belts.

A simple, elegant, really well made black dress that fits really well and looks fabulous. An investment piece.

plus a pair of smart but comfortable dress shoes.

hopefully a little cash left for some fun clothes too!

I wouldn’t do what @RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie suggests. Spending an average of around £60 on 15+ garments/bags/shoes - plus a coat! - doesn’t make sense unless one is starting from scratch.

Assuming OP wants to spend her £1000 on enhancing an existing wardrobe, I would definitely go for just a few quality pieces that make her feel fabulous and comfortable in her skin and will last for years.

A couple more waxed Barbour jackets.
Already have several but with a couple more, I could have a different one for every day of the week.😁

Seriously though, with there being different jackets available for the different seasons, I would buy another lightweight one and another parka.

A new dog-walking coat from Seasalt.
This gorgeous cashmere sleeveless hoodie.
And whatever I could afford from Gudrun Sjoden.

I’d consider something like:

Sezane or similar - a jacket, belt and jumper or cardigan (about £500)

Somewhere like With Nothing Underneath - two shirts (about £300), or one shirt and a pair of good jeans

A pair of lovely earrings (about £100)

A pair of mid-range sandals or trainers (about £100)

If you’re looking for underwear, my Chantelle bras are my absolute favourite, but not cheap at about £60 a pop.

Hmmm. We will have to agree to disagree. For many people (and all of the people I know) £1000 to spend in one go on clothes is a huge amount. Shopping carefully could create a really useful capsule wardrobe.

T-shirts from Cos or Arket are up to about £35 each. Merino jumpers from Marks are about £35 each. Good quality boots for around £150. A coat for a similar price tops. Jeans between £30 (Marks) and £80 (Levis on offer). A bag at around £100 to £150. All of these would be good investment pieces to serve as foundations for other buys later.

You're welcome to disagree. Perhaps it's my Northern roots.

I bought a cotton Marks and Sparks one earlier this year and it has been a really good buy. I do have to wear red lipstick with it though, or I look like a dead thing that's been dug up.

I'm still here & I'm finding the answers very interesting to read.

To be honest I can see & understand both perspectives - buy an entire wardrobe or just one or 2 splurge pieces.

Personally I veer towards the one or two special pieces & ive always been that way as much as my budget allowed.

I think a good plan is to go through everything in my wardrobe ruthlessly & get rid of everything & anything that doesn't fit properly or that I'm tired of wearing.

And spot the gaps left

Shoes/ boots / trainers are always a great shout as they can transform existing stuff & give it a new lease og f life.

I'm considering a mix of both approaches - 1 splurge item & the rest on more everyday stuff which admittedly I'm low on.

Sounds like a good compromise.

There are a few people on here who have no understanding at all of how very privileged they are, if they really are spending the money they claim to on clothes

You seem to have no understanding that people have different tastes, wants and needs. Is it only high earners who spend money on clothes whom you disapprove of? Can they spend their money on cars, holidays, hobbies, houses?

To go through your list- I don't wear or need t-shirts so that would be a waste of money.

I'd never buy a new jumper at £35. If I wanted new knitwear I'd spend a lot more than that from a UK based manufacturer or at £35 buy second hand from a vintage shop (but not Vinted)

Coat for £150 - Again if I wanted new I'd spend a lot more or for £150 second hand from a good vinted shop (not Vinted)

I don't wear jeans or trousers so that would be a waste of money too.

@Lifestooshort71
I have this - it's lovely :
https://www.avoca.com/en/teal-pheasant-lambswool-coat