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Original poster

You have £1-2K to spend on an ENTIRE new wardrobe…….

65 replies

Dunnocantthinkofone · 07/07/2026 18:18

I’m hot and bored.
I am also in possession of an appalling collection of worn out, ill fitting junk that passes as my wardrobe.
Having always fantasised about throwing the entire lot out and starting again Trinny and Susannah style (oops showing my age!) I’d love to hear what you’d buy for a very casual, sporty life.
More importantly, where from? Natural fabrics ideally (meno flushes) and decent quality for the cost. High street prices though - I could spend £1-2K max but that would need to cover everything…..so no £100+ jumpers please!

OP posts:
FabStick · 09/07/2026 14:28

(I spent my lunch hour thinking about this as it's quite a fun idea and only then realised that you want casual and sporty, which this isn't. But posting anyway in case of interest to someone.)

I would get the following, assuming you just want an everyday capsule and don't need to cover every conceivable occasion

2 pairs of smartish trousers- one black, one brown (ME&EM sale- £300 for both)
2 pairs jeans- one wide leg and one straight leg- £200 for both
1 smart jacket/blazer eg https://www.meandem.com/check-sharp-shoulder-blazer-brown-multi £245
5 reasonable quality T shirts, various colours- £100 from eg M&S
Cashmere cardigan that will work with all of the above eg https://www.broraonline.com/uk/cashmere-long-line-cardigan-caramel-wpc8509b4452 £369
Couple of cashmere round necks from eg JL £200 for both
Couple of statement skirts eg https://www.meandem.com/silk-satin-crinkle-maxi-skirt-ultra-red or https://www.toa.st/collections/sale/products/panelled-cotton-linen-poplin-skirt-forest-green that will work with all of the above - £250 for both
Trainers eg Gazelles in neutral colour- £100
Pair of brown leather boots- £250

Women's Brown Check Sharp Shoulder Blazer | ME+EM

ME+EM's Brown Check Sharp Shoulder Blazer includes a blend of viscose, wool and recycled fibres for the perfect balance of softness and structure. Shop now.

https://www.meandem.com/check-sharp-shoulder-blazer-brown-multi

madaboutpurple · 09/07/2026 16:50

I reckon if you buy everything new £2,000 would soon go. Far better to get lots of your clothes from charity shops. When I visit somewhere new it is the place I head for first. I get amazed that people donate such quality and in lovely colours. Also the things can re-donated if you get fed up of them or don't like them.

Original poster
Dunnocantthinkofone · 09/07/2026 17:18

madaboutpurple · 09/07/2026 16:50

I reckon if you buy everything new £2,000 would soon go. Far better to get lots of your clothes from charity shops. When I visit somewhere new it is the place I head for first. I get amazed that people donate such quality and in lovely colours. Also the things can re-donated if you get fed up of them or don't like them.

I love charity shops but I fear that may have been part of the problem. My magpie tendencies have led to lots of impulsive shopping of isolated pieces that don’t seem to go together. Probably because I haven’t stuck to enough of a true style

OP posts:
Floisme · 09/07/2026 17:44

Yeah I love charity shops too ..... once you've got the basics sorted out. They're great for impulse buys and those brands you'd never be able able to afford new (although less so since Vinted came along). But they don't exactly encourage systematic shopping and before you know it, you're the owner of 10 fabulous wool coats.

roses2 · 09/07/2026 18:06

I would go all out at a designer charity shop. Do you have an Oxfam near you that specialises in high end clothing?

madaboutpurple · 09/07/2026 18:31

I have only got 1 wool coat and 3 regatta waterproofs as I live in an area known for a lot of rainy days .I love charity shops as I will often end up with something unique and people often comment favourably about my clothes. Some years ago a lady at the local bus stop told me about Vinted. Like the lady I now have a great collection of clothes. i had been amazed as when I looked at the lady I thought she must have spent a fortune and she had a leather jacket on top of her clothes and she said No it was all under £20. Roses2 has a great idea of going to an Oxfam shop .Years ago my DH needed to wear ties and he got silk ties mainly from Oxfam and people used to comment on them. He donated loads of them recently .Even if it means taking a journey I would travel if needed to go to a well stocked charity shop. A few years ago I got a fair amount from Canterbury charity shops when we were on holiday and they were such good quality I still have some of those clothes. One of the staff also showed how to use a steamer instead of an iron and I went and got one.

pambeesleyhalpert · 09/07/2026 18:43

cotton dresses!

Newmeagain · 09/07/2026 20:09

Floisme · 08/07/2026 16:28

I'm not going to go through what I'd buy for myself cos we have different lifestyles and probably different tastes. But talking generally, there's no way I'd try and replace my whole wardrobe at once unless I'd literally lost everything but the clothes on my back. Because I'd make a lot of panic, 'that'll do' buys and probably end up with a wardrobe that wasn't much better than the one I threw out.

Also Trinny and Susannah's show was early 2000s which was arguably the golden era for the UK high street - prices were low, quality was still pretty good and 2K could get you a long way. It's nothing like that now and, while I think there are still bargains to be had, it can take a lot of digging plus a big slice of luck to find them.

So I'd treat it as a medium term project, meaning I'd expect it to take at the very least 2 years and preferably 5.

I'd start with 3 lists:
First, the cheap and cheerful - stuff I'd be happy to buy in supermarkets, H&M, Uniqlo etc and that I'd accept would need replacing fairly regularly. I'd probably include jeans here. (I know some people will disagree but I can't honestly say I've noticed a huge difference in quality between Sainsbury's and high end.) Also a few fashiony things that would by nature have a limited shelf life. (Yes I know, bad, bad me.)

Second list: things I'd pay more for because I've learned the hard way that it's a false economy to try and buy cheaply. I'd include shoes here and also a bad weather, waterproof or at least water resistant coat but you might have other priorities.

The third list would be things I'd happily buy second hand. This would be quite a long list because it's how I buy most of my clothes but it's a random way of shopping and it might take ages to find what I want so I might well have to buy a cheaper version as an interim. For example, I'd include a wool, winter coat here.

My thoughts on Vinted: Yes it can be brilliant. It's also full of crap that you can't return and it's highly addictive. With a limited budget I'd use it, but sparingly.

I agree with everything that @Floisme said

it’s quite tricky to find good items now, even when you have a larger budget.

for the last year or so I have been trying to properly refresh my wardrobe with a mix of new and vinted items and it is hard work!

Newmeagain · 09/07/2026 20:51

Has anyone on this thread actually been to a charity shop in the last 12 months?

I used to get amazing bargains from charity shops - cashmere jumpers, wool coats etc. Over the last 10 years - less and less. Now hardly ever. Combination of factors - people are selling anything nice on vinted, donating old or cheap clothing (that would not get sold on vinted) and then anything decent is priced very high.

Floisme · 10/07/2026 07:37

I think you’re right that the amazing bargains largely aren’t there any more @Newmeagain- I find there’s still good stuff in some of them but you have to pay more for it. But even in the charity shop hay day, I wouldn’t have advocated building a whole new wardrobe that way. If you’re upgrading your existing cheaper clothes then yes, but if you’re starting from scratch and need things now, it’s too hit and miss.

roses2 · 10/07/2026 09:18

Newmeagain · 09/07/2026 20:51

Has anyone on this thread actually been to a charity shop in the last 12 months?

I used to get amazing bargains from charity shops - cashmere jumpers, wool coats etc. Over the last 10 years - less and less. Now hardly ever. Combination of factors - people are selling anything nice on vinted, donating old or cheap clothing (that would not get sold on vinted) and then anything decent is priced very high.

I go to my local Oxfam and Cancer Research 1-2 times every week as it is on my way on the school run. In the past week alone I have bought the following all for £2/£3 each:

  • Nike basketball shoes
  • Nike football shoes
  • M&S school shirt - brand new with tags
  • M&S plain black school socks - brand new with tags
  • Hoss cashmere dress
  • Mint Velvet chinos
  • Baukjen top
  • Set of 8 Alessi dinner plates - £6

My wardrobe is bursting at the seams I am so addicted! But I am working hard to clear out my old polyester and generic high street brands to make way for the nicer replacements I am finding.

I am generally a very frugal person, don't buy lunch at work, don't buy coffees etc, takeaway once every 3 months but I do treat myself to clothes as I really feel that is money well spent vs a coffee and cake from a shop.

Newmeagain · 10/07/2026 11:39

@roses2 that sounds amazing- where do you live?

I am in London and charity shops charge £10 for a washed out T-shirt

roses2 · 10/07/2026 11:49

Newmeagain · 10/07/2026 11:39

@roses2 that sounds amazing- where do you live?

I am in London and charity shops charge £10 for a washed out T-shirt

North London Zone 2 in a run down area!

madaboutpurple · 10/07/2026 12:44

Just a few weeks ago I got my Joanna Hope coat for £5 and jeans same price and an M&S top for £4.50. Bargains can be found.

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