My new rule: I will from now on only buy a new item of clothing if I have something to wear it with already or if I buy a complete outfit at once....

[MakemineaGandT]

.....I can't tell you how many lonely items of clothing languish in my wardrobe rarely if ever worn as I bought them without thinking what they'd go with, or assuming I'd be able to find a whatever to go with....

This is especially true of sales "bargains"

If I think about things/outfits I bought at full price or in a big splurge of buying lots of stuff at once, I have had far more use out of them - they may have cost more to begin with, but have been waaaaaaaaaaaay more economical on a cost per wear basis.

Bought myself an outfit today - nothing fancy, just jeans, a belt and a couple of tops for layering - this is what i must do from now on!

Yes this was my new rule.

But then last week I decided I needed a pair of trousers having done a full wardrobe assessment (lol! ie tidied it up into categories).

I have lots of brown skirts.

So figured brown trousers = good.

Have now realised I have no shoe to wear with them.

I have knee-high clunky boots with skirts - but what colour shoes does "one" wear with brown trousers???

Black looks glary.

But most things go with jeans. I do see your point. I bought a jacket on Saturday that I am hoping will go with lots of things. It is really meant for work but I wore it out to Sunday lunch with jeans and a nice top. It will definitely go with my black work trousers and my patterned wrap dress and hopefully two of my work skirts but not sure on those yet.

Brown shoes too dull?

But darker brown, lighter brown, matching?

[hijack!]

GOod idea re the outfits, I never quite manage it and have ahuge wardrobe full of mis-matched things!
Re the boots I woudl go for darker brown or plum boots, agree balck with brown is not good.

What shade are the trousers?

Not chocolate. I would say mid speckly brown.

Now having a top crisis too - woman in shop brought me loads to try on - nicest with the brown was a pink silky shirt but the colour was horrible on me.

Beige is not good on me either.

I bought a navy/beige striped top to go with them.

Hadn't thought of purple - will try some when I pick the trousers up tomorrow (have been taken up).

Red shoes or boots - or that lovely cordovan colour, which is a kind of aubergine. There are allsorts of coloured shoes in the shops at the mo. Black is dull dull dull.