Rubbish wardrobe, money to spend - what should I buy?

[shoppingblah]

I wonder if anyone can give me some advice!

I have about £400 to spend and I think I should improve my wardrobe. It is very basic, functional, made up of low quality supermarket/Amazon/multi pack stuff. I have decent trainers, handbag and some nice formal dresses and that's about it for the decent quality stuff.

But I don't know what to get? I am a rubbish and impatient shopper 🤣 I need to order online I think as I have young children so getting time to shop is tricky. I don't want to buy anything that needs delicate care - it needs to be machine washable.

I am 5'8", size 10-12. I like high waisted jeans/trousers and tucked in tops, classic shapes and silhouettes. I don't like high necks, assymmetric hems, or holes in weird places!

Does anyone have any advice please, or could suggest anything? Thanks in advance!

There's loads of content on Pinterest and Instagram about creating a capsule wardrobe. Might be worth a browse?

I think it very much depends on your lifestyle. Also, I’d say boots and coats are worth investing in.

I’d probably start with those, at up to £100 each. Then I’d go to Marks or Next and try on twenty pairs of jeans in the hope there would be one I like, which I’d then buy in black or dark blue, plus a lighter blue.

Then I’d want a plain black dress, a black and denim skirt and a couple of jumpers.

Excellent OP!

OK - to start, could you have a look at everything here and say whether it’s all too plain for you, or perfect?

https://communityclothing.co.uk/

I think.. too plain. And baggy? 🤣

Uniqulo for upgrading basics?

Okay … So more … French? Fitted?

Like this:

https://www.thekooples.com/gb/en_GB/women/ready-to-wear/see-all

Or:

https://uk.maje.com/en/ready-to-wear/collection/new-collection-1/

Others can suggest more. I know the names of the brands but it’s not my strongest area. 😅

How do you spend your week? And your weekend?

Who's style do you admire and think, I wish I dressed like that?

Maybe you’re an active wear dresser?

https://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/article/best-activewear

She’s got £400 altogether, so suggestions of £300 cardigans and £200 dresses is probably not going to be very helpful.

Apologies for the grammar- it won’t let me edit it!

Okay I've been thinking about it and I've decided to start with work/meeting friends for drinks etc. To be honest that will probably be the difference, as I'm not bothered what I look like when just running around in the park with the kids!

How does this sound for the start of a capsule wardrobe:

Black twill wide leg trousers
Black pencil skirt
Black button down midi dress
Cream boat neck top
Ivory 3/4 sleeve blouse
Navy button through sleeveless top
Brown cape top
Cream cable knit cropped jumper
Natural block heel ankle boots

Deliberately choosing neutrals so I can mix and match/add colour in later if I want? All comes to about £300

I’d get:

• A modern style (wide or barrel leg) pair of jeans.
• A loose-fit blazer - perhaps in a tweed/check
• A heavyweight white tshirt
• A loose-fit cotton shirt, probably pale blue
• A chunky knit round-collar cropped cardigan
• A pair of low-heel square toe suede boots

OP this sounds great! Cross-posted as I was thinking about what I’d get while you must have posted this.
anyway - sounds as though you have made an excellent plan. Update us when you can!

I don't think black will work with brown very well and I am not sure about black with navy but I guess it depends on the navy and the outfit overall.

I don’t think I have worn a black pencil skirt since the nineties!

Can you plan a trip to a big M and S and try loads of stuff on. That would be a good start.

I think you probably need to choose black OR navy as a starting point.

Pencil skirts are supposedly going to be’in’ but personally I’d find a longer jersey or knitted tube skirt more useful than a classic pencil.

Are you looking at one shop in particular for the things you’ve listed?

Oh and I’d go for black boots over natural, as they should last better.

Thanks for feedback! Point taken on the skirt, I do like that shape though... I guess it's not a need right now. (This is what I always do btw! Well I don't need it... I'll put it back. 🤣)

I actually like the blue/black and brown/black pairings, I didn't know it was a fashion "no" but I've been looking at pictures on Instagram etc and I like it, so no issue there for me.

No I can't go to a shop and try on, I need to do online ordering. Not all one shop, happy for any shop really. I think I'd rather get a few things with my budget though rather than just one or two so can't go too expensive.

Re. the boots, do you mean last longer in terms of fashion changes or just that the boots themselves will last longer? I already have a pair of black boots. They are very boring. But they are black boots! 🤣

Oh and I've had to get rid of the dress as it's gone out of stock while I've been dithering ha ha

Do you know your colours/season? (Mid) navy or black could be a better neutral than black depending on your skin tone. Likewise, whether you suit ivory/cream or white best will depend on this.

Think about a colour or two to accent your neutrals with as well. Again the best ones will depend on your skin tone but one or two are universal e.g. teal.

No idea about my colours, but I want some black trousers as a staple to possibly put other colours with in the future, as you said. This is just a stray hopefully? I also am looking at some camel trousers to switch things up a bit... but I don't know if I dare 🤣 I don't like navy trousers at all.

*start not stray

I would start by building a capsule wardrobe items that go with various other items. Start with some basic T’s (Uniqlo and Cos do nice quality ones), trousers and layer with jumpers /tops of tonal colour (colours similar that compliment each other) perhaps a nice pair of good fitting jeans with some kitten heels for evening and trainers for more casual daytime look. A nice neutral jacket also looks nice that will go with anything.

I’m not keen on your method, @shoppingblah. I think it’s a mistake to pre-ordain what you intend to buy. (Unless you’re a professional in the fashion industry.) Surely it’s better to browse as many sites as you can and see what leaps out at you as being perfect.

One perfect pair of trousers, maybe. Or a particularly easy to wear jacket that would go with everything. Something in a contemporary neutral colour that will work with other contemporary, neutral colours. (I wore a lot of black when I practised at the Bar, but I wouldn’t choose it as a base colour for any less formal setting because it’s going to look garish with any colour.)

But it’s your money!