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 can't remember the specific sites but googled and took a quiz I think about colours I prefer. You could probably work it out by putting colours near your face and seeing which ones suit you best

I don't think anyone can tell you how often you should be buying clothes. If you buy decent quality things (not necessarily expensive) and plan it so most of what you have goes together, you'd only need to replace something if it wears out. You'd also have a clear idea of what you were looking for. I hate clothes shopping so I leave it until I really have to go and end up buying something terrible in desperation. I should follow my own advice!

I was thinking that one think I am really lacking is accessories. I don’t buy enough jewellery , shoes, jackets, handbags, et; so this doesn’t help.

You only need one or two handbags, maybe 3 pairs of shoes etc. Jewellery isn't obligatory - I never wear it. In general, we have more clothes (and stuff in general) than we need and far more than is good for the planet.

Start with a nice leather belt. It can transform an outfit. I have one (but it is reversible so black one side and brown the other.) It was expensive but I wear it almost every day.

Thank you. This is the sort of advice I need. How many handbags, pair if shoes, belts, etc

I asked Chat GPT for a list of clothes to take on a week long holiday. It was brilliant! It gave me a specific list -far less then I'd usually take - and I followed it exactly, not giving in to the temptation to put more stuff in 'just in case'. I wore everything, never ran out and my suitcase was easy to pack and carry. You could try the same for your clothes and accessories.

I will ask chatgpt. Thank you

<Resolves to waste less time trying to offer real person help on S&B>

I understand what you're saying. However, if you ask a question on here you'll get hundreds of different answers. All ChatGPT or any other AI does, is scroll through thousands of 'real person' opinions and give you a handy summary. It can save time and, ultimately, you can make your own decisions. It's just another place to explore and I've found it very helpful.

No leggings or joggers; mainly jeans and trousers. I probably just need a few more clothes items plus more accessories to mix and match. Also spend a bit more time browsing and thinking my outfit instead of thinking last minute what I am going to wear. A bit more planning.

I stopped wearing dresses in the pandemic as haven’t got used to wear them with trainers but I wear them in summer with sandals. I also stopped wearing heels apart from small heels in boots.

Whats this mean?

Now you have to stop being so mysterious and help us all out!!

I think it's pointless buying jewellery etc unless you're the type of person who will wear it. I only wear my wedding and engagement rings and at a push a pair of earrings, so anything else is unlikely to be worn.

I’m not trying to be mysterious, I just wasn’t sure my answer would be helpful to the op as I suspect she doesn’t want to spend as much time on it as I do. But I did say I’d come back so here we go:

It helps that I spent my teenage years going into town any Saturday I could. I never had much money but I’d happily spend all day trying things on: clothes I might be able to save up for, clothes I’d never be able to afford but loved anyway, clothes that made me laugh etc. I hesitate to use the word training as it wasn’t work, it was fun, but it definitely helped me get my eye in and I think that’s how I developed a strong instinct for what I like and don’t like. I’m not sure though how this can be replicated in an age of internet shopping.

To get ideas I watch what people are wearing all the time. On the bus, train or in the coffee shop, I play a game of who’s wearing the best outfit and then I try and figure out why I like it.

I don’t read as many magazines as I used to but, for an overview of what’s on the high street, I quite like Hello and Grazia’s fashion specials. I’ve yet to try any fashion apps.

I read costume history books and my Instagram feed is full of fashion historians and vintage. I don’t follow any influencers.

I buy mainly vintage and second hand. I mostly like 1940s-1970s stuff which is becoming very hard to find so if I see something I like and that fits, I buy it if I can afford to. Then I mix it with contemporary pieces. I estimate that I’ve bought about a dozen new things this year, from Uniqlo, H&M, M&S, Margaret Howell and Grensons.

What I don’t do is worry about what’s supposed to suit my body shape. I used to but I developed a very negative attitude towards my perfectly normal thighs and upper arms. It was getting me down so I stopped. As I said at the start, I have a strong sense of what I like so I trust that. If I make a mistake, it’s not the end of the world.

So there you are. I did say it probly wouldn’t be helpful 🤷‍♂️

Editing as I forgot to say, I only bother with the things I enjoy. I couldn’t care less about handbags, makeup or beauty routines. I’m not very interested in shoes either although that’s a mistake as shoes and boots can change an outfit. But if I don’t find it fun, I’m not interested,

Thank you! I have just spent more time than I'd care to admit browsing the FT's style section, and have discovered a few new (to me) brands! I don't have the budget to buy them new but will certainly be keeping an eye out on Vinted.

Have a look at Angharad Jones, she's quite interesting, very classic with a twist.

@Moneyplantss You've had some excellent advice already. I experienced a similar epiphany last year - I lost a lot of weight and became more confident, and, rightly or wrongly, that meant I felt more able to experiment with my style and wear new things. What helped me was:

Reading this forum! Don't limit yourself to current threads - look back at older ones as well. I discovered lots of new brands by reading about them on the Style & Beauty board.

Reading other media, as per suggestions above - newspaper fashion pages; magazines (though I don't bother with them much); other fashion websites.

Watch YouTube! There are some excellent content creators on there (as well as lots of dross).

When you hear about a new brand, look at their website and see what you think. Do the cuts and colours and patterns grab you? Do they make you happy and excited? Are they interesting?

It took me a while, but I am now confident enough to decide whether I like something using my own judgement rather than others' - there are some 'cool' labels and items which just don't do it for me. It's fun to keep an eye on trends, but you don't need to participate in every trend.

Try to get a sense as to which colours and patterns suit you. You don't need to get a colour analysis professionally, IMO - I just figured it out for myself through trial and error.

Try lots of clothes on to get a sense as to which cuts and styles suit you. To be honest, I buy a lot of basics, including jeans and cotton T-shirts, at M&S, and I find M&S a good place to try clothes on - they have a wide variety of cuts (especially their jeans and trousers), so you can try lots of different options. Once you know what suits you - V-neck or round-neck tops; shirt dresses or shift dresses or wrap dresses; cropped boxy jumpers or long ones - you can then branch out and shop online.

I spend a lot of time on Vinted - my budget wouldn't stretch to buying much new, but I have picked up the most incredible things on there for a fraction of their original price.

@AstaEscapes Please tell us more about a few special items you have stalked and found!

I have been told my shopping style is joyless when I have shared a similar patient strategy. But I get so much pleasure in a delayed gratification of searching for The One. Equally, sometimes I fall with something on a spot, usually high street and learnt to just go for it or at least try it on, or live win regret. But my perfect trench, wrap coat and leather jacket are top quality, perfect fit and unlikely to ever need replacement or truly go out of fashion, all bought new, high end of high street and at a bargain price.

Have a look at this site and sign up for their e mail. It will give you loads of ideas.

That approach would be joyless to me because I don’t have the patience, which is failing on my part. Also the clothes I buy are frequently one-offs and won’t be around for long so I have to make a lot of snap decisions (which don’t always turn out to be correct but there aren’t usually large sums of money involved).

Where I do have to spend the time is in research, if you’ll forgive the grandiose expression. I haunt vintage shops and fairs (often not buying), read fashion history, watch videos and visit costume galleries whenever I can. All this so that, when I do find something, I can hopefully spot whether or not it’s a) authentic and b) right for me.

I’d start with some good quality neutral pieces that won’t date / you’ll go off and will last.

Every 2-3 years I’ll buy really nice cashmere winter jumpers, wear the new ones only for going out and the older ones at home. Cos ones are lasting very well and not bobbling.

jeans that fit properly.

neutral trainers.

black silk dress I can wear dressed up or casual with cashmere jumper and chunky boots.

stick to natural fabrics, wool, cashmere, silk, linen, cotton. They’ll last, they feel nicer and the look smarter.

if you are on a budget Vinted is great.

Ha! My wardrobe life is all joy.

I certainly don’t have a list of garments I must buy to ‘fill a gap’. Following @Floisme‘s example I shall now call the hours I spend overnight under the duvet going through entire sites, or the rabbit holes I race down on Saturday mornings whilst reading the FT’s HTSI research. (I remember my joy when, during my middle aged MA, I discovered that my much more professional, half my age, fellow students defined periods sitting in the pub or re-watching films as process.)

I think what I meant was that where possible I’d rather not pay an initial, egregiously inflated price if I don’t think it’s justified. But I want a certain level of quality, so I keep my eyes open. On the other hand I’m not interested in putting arbitrary limits on what I should spend on any particular item.

Look at what you have and how to make the best of it.
Iron or steam any clothes with wrinkles.
Add a belt.
Work out your colour season/palette - does ChatGPT still do this for free? If these colours suit you make any additions from these colours.
Add an accessory - scarf/earrings.

See Outfit Formulas app/insta for some ideas. I don't like everything and it is very much US style. It is a capsule with updates each season with a few trend pieces to add to classic basics.

Thank you. Will do

Apart from a couple of differences that is exactly me, so very helpful

Differences being Im obsessed with shoes and virtually my 'outfit' is built around shoes and that Im not on instagram.

I might have a conversation with you and not remember a word you say, but I'll know what shoes you have on and probably where they're from