I would like to dress well

[Moneyplantss]

I don’t dress terribly but could do better. I don’t think I spend enough time and money on fashion

How often should I be buying clothes, shoes, accessories? How much time looking at fashion? Any websites reg trends, etc? I am looking at mid range clothes. Not over the top expensive. Any shops I can look at? The quality these days is rubbish.

I am 52, ok figure, not overweight.

I think you need to decide what your priorities are. Are you looking for sustainability, natural fabrics, investment pieces. Or are you happy with cheap and cheerful mixed with a few good pieces? Do you want a signature look or do you want to ring the changes? Are you dressing for work or social occasions? I don't really think anyone can make recommendations without a fuller picture of what you're looking for. Once you're clear about that, think about a capsule wardrobe. What is essential? What pieces do you have already that are investment and/or would work with a wardrobe update?

Something like Mint Velvet or Poetry?

Following. I’m exactly the same . Same age but I am overweight.

The time invested in looking at stuff is central, and crucial. Really it’s about honing your own instincts, which can only be done by constantly exposing yourself to the best - regardless of your actual spending power. That way, when you look at more affordable brands you’ll be able to assess what’s up to scratch in terms of design, cut, fabric quality, etc, and what isn’t. And you’ll know where to spend serious money and where to economise, rather than never looking beyond ‘mid range clothes’.

If you didn’t grow up reading Vogue it might not be worth starting now (unless you’re keen) as its focus has shifted a bit, but obviously decent newspapers and instagram provide a huge amount of info nowadays

The one source I would recommend most is the Vogue Runway app. (This is not the magazine.) They now charge for a subscription, but it’s worth it as regular browsing there will help you to see.

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/vogue-runway-fashion-shows/id289380413

I spend a lot of time looking at clothes online. Usually thinking I need something specific- eg a jacket/ blazer to wear for work, and then narrow it down once I’ve seen what’s available, eg fabric, style, colour . I will have an idea already of the shape I want.
If you’re not sure what you like or what suits, then go to a big department store, or M&S where you can try on lots of styles and colours. You need some plain basics but also a few special pieces to jazz things up a bit. If you have the funds it might be worth buying several items that work together, all in one go. I’m really limited by my size and shape but from what you say, you can probably wear most things, it’s a question of finding what you like. Look for a variety of textures if you don’t want too much pattern, and there are loads of style content creators online to check out.
Read “ The curated closet”;to give yourself some ideas.

Hi OP, I'm not going to pretend I have nailed it but what has helped me is working out the colours that suit me and then trying to buy in that palette e.g. I suit navy and grey more than black and brown. I'll then put some burgundy into the mix which goes with navy or grey. I like Wearsmymoney site for inspiration too.

What Ive learned is to wear things that are fitted and fit properly. Dont buy something with a loose fit, or baggy or drapey. I think in reality very few people look good in that sort of thing. I think you have to be fairly young, slim, lithe to get away with it. Dont wear things that are too big, it just looks scruffy.

I have short legs although Im not short and I have to wear high waisted trousers with tops tucked in in order not to look dumpy, makes my lengs look longer

Also I have started ironing after a 20 year break, rehab if you like but Ive gone back to it after seeing how different I look with things looking presentable.

I stay away from dropped shoulders, always make sure the shoulders fit.

I wear a belt as much as I can, I dont have a waist so need to pretend I do.

I also dont like things too long now, used to wear things that covered my bum and made myself look like a dumpling, scruffy and bumbly.

Thank you all. That is helpful

I definitely need to spend more time looking at fashion and buying more often. I will look at the sites recommended. I am looking for work clothes, causal and going out; everything really. I would like good quality but not overly expensive

How do you find this out?

What really helped me was a style session at John Lewis. You are under no obligation to buy ( although it’s impossible to resist). My stylist changed my mindset completely . It was transformative.

I follow Claire Lopez on instagram and find her suggestions really helpful

I never have a lot of clothes (by choice) but am trying to buy so that things last through the years. Im not interested in what’s in fashion as stuff but want stuff that will take me from year to year that I can then add accessories to, to make it look diff or “current”.

I have also changed the way I dress this year. I have for 15 years been in pencils dresses but even I feel like these have had their day. I used to wear midi dresses too but they are so big- well I think I must have shrunk - because they now drown me. So I have moved more towards trousers and for me it’s about looking smarter. So if you usually live in leggings change to trousers, I moved to wide leg elasticated waist as I work from home but 100% more smarter than leggings. If you wear joggers, wear with a smarter top not a sweatshirt for example. My last tip would be statement coats - and they don’t have to be expensive. In winter if I’m out it’s all about the coat, so it’s often a black outfit underneath and then coat does the work.

Have you got pintrest? If so, start a board for a curated closet. If she see an outfit or style you like, save it. See if there is a common trend. Then see what you have in you wardrobe. Can you make an outfit from what you have or did you need to purchase something? Would accessories raise the look of the outfit?
This seems to have worked for me. I still but stuff, but it’s better quality and goes with my existing clothes. ATM, my focus is on jewellery.

I don’t know about buying more often … I mean, there are sometimes threads by posters who say they haven’t bought any new clothes in a decade - which prompts all sorts of questions in my mind. On the other hand there are the people who are buying cheap shit every week. Neither is ideal.

I tend to buy expensive, outstanding quality items a few time a year, simply because I’ve fallen in love with them and think they’ll work with what I already own. I expect to wear those things regularly for at least the next five to ten years, so I want the best I can afford, at the best price. That may mean stalking an item for months or even years until it reaches a price I’m prepared to pay; or finding it pre-owned. And then I add one or two cheaper, more ephemeral and of the moment things to add pizzazz. I’m rather older than you, @Moneyplantss, and don’t want to look too serious day to day. But I have very little truck with most of what the High St offers (though a few places are improving now) and love the freedom of being able to shop online from an infinite number of sources.

I think you need to understand your shape and proportions and find clothes shapes that flatter you and fit well.

So for example if you have a bigger bust, you might look more balanced with open necks. If you’re tall/short, make sure you get trousers at the right length. I’m an hourglass and look so much better in classic cuts than the modern boxy shapes. I’m also broad shouldered and look better with arms cut at the shoulders rather than the modern dropped shoulder cuts.

Looking polished is as much about paying attention to things like hair, nails, accessorising well, cleaning your shoes, cutting loose threads off your clothes, making sure your coat fits well across your shoulders, match your bag to your outfit etc.

So, where to look?

Vogue
FT HTSI (for decades now this has been an invaluable and stellar source of information on everything from ancient crafts and traditional artisan workshops, to only just established fashion houses. I wish I could give this publication a prize.)
Vogue Runway app
Newspaper fashion pages. Have really upped their game in the last few years.
Instagram, obviously. But I prefer it as an extension of sources I already trust. There are of course knowledgeable individuals - but I cannot stand the pouting, phone in the mirror posing, or the solipsism.
Large multi-brand sites like Net-a-Porter, Ssense, from which you find out about brands new to you, and pursue those to their own sites. Sign up to mailing lists just for a few months, so you get to understand the style, ethos and rhythms of specific shops.
I save brands I want to observe to my phone screen and check on them regularly (slightly obsessively) to assess their ongoing quality. Then delete when they stop being interesting.
The one fascinating change is how much TV now cares about clothes. That feels tremendously new to me.

Op, I don't spend time looking at fashion. I think you can dress in a way that makes you happy once you find what you really like versus what is just OK or fine. For me, what really helped was getting rid of the things that I wore when not working. Those things weren't nice. I found truly comfortable clothes, and now I tend to look the same everyday, much smarter than ever before. I am always happy to answer the door, pop to the shops or suddenly host or pop into work.

Op are you asking because you want to take a greater interest or because you feel you should? From your posts, it feels more like the second, which is a perfectly valid point of view but I think requires a different answer because if you’re basically looking for a few short cuts, then you’ll be horrified to hear all the things someone like me does (but that’s because I enjoy it).

I think you’re obliged to share, for the benefit of the thread, @Floisme!

Ha that will take more time than I’ve got at the moment, I’m afraid but I promise to come back to the thread later!

Thanks. I want to look better I guess and I have a bit more time now. I want to learn and reinvent myself a bit.

I am just a bit clueless. How many items, shoes, accessories should I have? How often should I buy. It prefer to spend money and time travelling l, but I also want to look good.

Most of the time I don’t know what to wear; especially if going out or going to the office

I dont have pinterest; will sign in

Someone on here recommended watching Melissa Murrell videos on You Tube and that is a really good place to start. Watch her Bodyshape masterclasses. Also agree with Claire Lopez

I'm 51 and a couple of years ago decided I was going to try and start dressing well. I began to follow some people on tik tok who seemed to have the kind of style I liked. I ended up doing the opposite of what you are proposing. I invested in good quality items but less of them. I did make sure that i had good accessories such as good quality belt. I also invested in some lovely shoes and boots.

I tend to wear a combination of a plain dress with a belt and jacket or t shirt and tailored trousers/jeans/long skirt and a belt or trousers and a shirt/fitted top. I also bought a couple of nice jumpers in different styles. A nice gold necklace, earrings and a watch.

I do have some high quality brands such as Max Mara (mostly bought in the sale) but I tend to shop at places like Hobbs, All Saints, Levi & Uniqglo.

I treated myself to a leather jacket a trench coat, blazer & denim jacket and which I wear changes the vibe of the outfit. I have a couple of going out dresses that can be dressed up for a wedding with a jacket or dressed down with a leather jacket for a gig.

Will look at the sites recommended.
Thanks for the recommendation, I have started watching Mellisa, looks promising