£500 to update my wardrobe - help please !

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For Xmas, DH has given me £500 to upgrade my wardrobe - I had a baby last year and just feel like I’ve lost my way !

Pre baby I used to wear a lot of shein but it all just looks cheap and tatty now and since baby I’ve lived in leggings and a baggy sweatshirt.

I want to look polished & classic but no idea where to start! I guess jeans seeing as I’m still wearing skinny jeans which are looking a little faded on the knees now!

Im 5ft7 and a size 10, im back to my pre baby body, my legs and bum are quite muscular and my boobs are seriously saggy and deflated now! Can anyone steer me in the right direction please ??

I would suggest a session with a John Lewis personal shopper you don't necessarily have to buy anything there and then just to have a play around with different styles (then head to vinted).

Some ideas here perhaps? But JL shopper is a great idea. Maybe find a few key new pieces then hit Vinted as above

https://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/article/capsule-wardrobe-essentials

Going from leggings and hoody to polished and classic is quite a jump- is that your pre baby style anyway or something new?

Pre baby I wore a lot of dresses but just not practical for me now ! I used to wear mainly my skinny jeans, stripey jumpers and brogues or trainers but I feel ancient in my skinny jeans now lol

@NotBreckfastAtTiffanysItsBreckfastInSouthampton @Shmallow great ideas thank you xx

Another vote for JL personal shopper I did this after having my first baby and felt no pressure to buy anything but it really changed my mindset as to what suits me now etc

I was going to suggest a stylist as well, to find your shape and colour palette. Makes all the difference. I used an online one where you sent photos, filled in a questionnaire etc.

Start with a pair of jeans in a modern shape that fit well and suit you. Cost per wear jeans can be the most hard working thing in a wardrobe.
Then new trainers.
A jacket.
A jumper or two in a colour that suits you.
they’re probably the items you’ll wear the most.

Hair is important too if you have any spare budget.

Thank you this is a brilliant starting point & I think jeans are definitely the thing letting me down the most atm!

I don’t think the baggier styles will suit me hmm are straight jeans still ok?!

Any jeans are ok op.
Have a look at high rise “mum” jeans if you’re nit keen on baggy but fed up with skinnys

Wide leg cords
Great fitting jeans
Some plain base layers
Tank top
Crew neck jumper
Great trainers
Plain coat with a lot of wool content ( vinted or eBay)
Denim skirt
Classic dress - again loads on vinted / eBay after Christmas
Tint your brows
Any Christmas money you receive use for a fab hair cut
Moisturise your face and body to within an inch of its life .
Drink 2 litres of h2o add lime cordial if you struggle
Walk walk walk
Paint your nails even if short
Then start following some Instagram influencers - grr wee t a wish list of outfit ideas you like
Vinted & eBay
Also as a trim size charity shops in ‘good’ areas will be you friend .

How old are you, and what's your style? Do you have any people who you really like the outfits of generally? Any current stuff you love, any you hate? Can you have a little scroll on insta, and show us any screenshots of things that jump out at you?

By the sound of it, a few of the things normally suggested (wide leg comfy trousers, etc) might not be your style- I don't think it's the path I would go down as an athletic figured size 10. It sounds like you might feel better in a straight fit, maybe with something looser on the top.
I like these straight jeans currently:
jeans
A classic looking outfit I would wear at the minute, would be those, with a loose but not oversized jumper, a pair of loafers and a long length coat. The coats I tend to get from Vinted, as an older coat means generally a higher wool cotent, so warmer, my loafers ae M&S but these are a great price for real suede from Schuh.
loafer
Loafers can be switched out for a ballerina pump, a boot (I'd go for a chisel toe at the minute to look more up to date), or a slim trainer.
The jumper can be switched out to a shirt, maybe layered with tops
The coat- I use a lot of 'feature' coats at he moment- red, leopard, studded, it's an easy way to change up an outfit.

Skinny jeans are out (though you can get away with them in long boots)

It’s all about bootcut and flared jeans and trousers, so get a few of these in several colours (black/grey/blue etc). As you have muscular legs and bum, fitted trousers should look good.

It might be worth getting refitted for bras so you look your best in tops.

Get some nice tops and jumpers that go with anything.

Baggy, oversized jumpers and coats are in.
Boxy cropped cardigans are in.

But for all clothes, focus on what flatters your shape rather than what’s trendy.

Mary Jane’s shoes are in, ballet pumps are back. Bootcut and flared trousers go with many shoe types.