Total new wardrobe needed - please comment on my choices

[SalLikesCoffee]

I never know how to start my plea on here - Hi everyone, your advice on here always looks good so I hereby throw myself at your mercy or just please and here goes?? Anyway, will stop my babbling. Here is my predicament:

I need lots of new clothes for as little money as possible, and has browsed as much as possible. I've come across the Peacocks website - has anyone ever bought anything there? If they are relatively ok, I'd like to buy there as it's so cheap.

Here are my 18 favorite choices - please tell me what you think.

I'm size 12/14 (14 hips), D or DD chest (really need to get measured again after I've stopped bf-ing!), light skin, dark hair and desperate.

Thanks.

FairyMum, do you think it looks cheap and nasty in real life? I've (obviously) noticed that it's a lot more synthetic than good quality, more expensive clothes, but was hoping to get away with it. If it's obvious though, I guess there's no point.

My problem with Next lately is that their quality is rubbish anyway. Maybe I was just unlucky, I don't know. (I do realise this sounds ridiculous, but I thought that I could wear the Peacocks clothes a lot and, well, if it disintegrated or something, not that a big loss and I would have bee covered up for a good time! ) If it looks rubbish though I'd rather not.

I guess could try M&S for clothes too, they sometimes have nice things.

I really need more clothes as I used to be in suits everyday and now need a combination (ok, and some casual stuff doesn't fit anymore post-baby ).

From other shops, I love this Bravissimo dress (thanks to someone else's link on mn the other day) and will probably order that today.

I also need an outfit for when my baby gets Christened in Nov, so will at least have something good quality too (high temps, probably late 20's or low 30's), so have decided on one of the Karen Millen dress or this Ted Baker trousers, shirt and waistcoat combination.

Hmm, while I went to the TB site I saw this lovely dress... Hmm.

Oh, re color. Dh said exactly the same, I do this by default, think it's because I've always felt fat and safe in black. Would accessories (bag / beads etc) be ok in brightening it up, or not enough?

Well, personally I would go for black trousers and a black skirt and more colourful tops or if black tops go for colourful shoes (I got a pair of lovely red shoes from Next for £20 last week) and accessories. Grey is a really difficult colour to wear unless themed with other colours I think.

Have a look min the Next catalogue. I think they do nice work clothes.

Grey and Black can for example be brigthened up with these shoes;

www.peacocks.co.uk/Womenswear/Footwear/Heels/RED_PATENT_MARY_JANE_COURT_SHOES_-15289088.html

Hi Sal, you can definitely do colour & prints and I think that Bravissimo dress will look good on you. V-neck suits you too. Have you had a look at East? They have a lovely blue linen v-neck dress on sale - unfortunately not in your size online but there's an EAST at bluewater which might have one.
Also the type of clothing you've pulled out at Peacocks strikes me as being most similar to Wallis or Principals - which I think would be a better bet for quality (although obviously a bit more expensive) - they have sales on online as well.

Hmm, ok, might keep this scoop neck Peacocks dress in the basket, add this and bin the rest (or at least think about it later).

Fairymum, good idea re the red shoes - I've got similar to those so will wear that when wearing black/grey more often.

Ooh, Ladybee, I love some of the colors on the East website - now off to browse some more there.

I think I might be backtracking on my master plan of last night - maybe I should buy less but more classic looks / nicer materials.

Or rob a bank.

Ladybee, is this the East dress you had in mind? I love the color, and it will work great on holiday in Nov.

Just had a look at Next's current Signature Collection, it's really nice, although not all will work for me.

Does this Kimono dress look like old fashioned maternity wear?

I have bought a few bits from next lately for work and i usuually despise Next with a passion, I think they have been from the signature collection.

I am not sure of that kimono dress though, but they are good about returns.

if you need a lots at once you may need to buy cheaper however if you can space it out it does pay to buy better quality. Cheaper trousers are often I mistake.

I tend to buy quite a lot from ebay as well so I can buy quality, it does take more effort and there is an element of chance.

Hi again twinsetandpearls. Good to hear re Next - I haven't really looked in a while because I got annoyed at the quality, but they seem to have improved again. And like you say, they're good with returns (and I walk past one every time I go to central London, so would be easy enough to pop in to return).

I don't know about that kimono dress - I rather like it, but something's bugging me, I don't know what. Probably a sign that not the perfect dress for me then.

Hmm, ebay, never though of buying clothes there for myself, but it makes sense. However, last time I tried buying my ds a door bouncer there I ended up with 2, so might have to start a vintage shop if I'm not careful.

I'll take your advice re trousers - will buy good quality suits and pencil skirts and then try to look for cheaper tops, as it's easy enough to get bored with those after one season anyway. I've got nice work shirts (most TM Lewin type, so good but not exciting), so no need to add those.

I think Next workwear nicer than Next casual. And I like Next jeans too.

Fairymum, I have to admit I've seen quite a lot of things on the Next website now that I really like, so thanks for that!

Probably won't work with my breast size, but for someone else this is just lovely, don't you think?! (Hmm, I do realise I always pick the blacks/greys)

Still browsing, as I want to order some peaces tonight. I'm going to South Africa for a month in November, so want to try and order now and not leave it to the last minute, which is what I normally do.

I think that kimono dress has the potential to look really boxy and bulky. I think it might be the arms that are doing it, there doesn't seem to be any flow or drape in the fabric.

have you looked at the waistcoat thing - I saw someone wearing something like this on the station platform the other day and looked great - on a curvy figure too. The chocolate/mocha type colours would look good on you, I think. Waistcoat shaping emphasises waist and v-neck flattering.

I think this is a nicer kimono..

What do you mean "on a curvy figure"??? Seriously though, I really like that as it accentuates the one bit of my body that I do actually like.
I've got a black one already, but am thinking of buying a brownish one (with suit trousers so that I can have it for when I go back to work). At the moment wondering whether to go with the Ted Baker or the Next option you linked to. Next cheaper and single breasted, which is better, but I like the slightly different take of TB on it. Oh, the choices.

With your figure I would go for a single breasted waistcoat.

I have actually looked at that for me.

I have just bought this dress with a shrug and it looks fantastic on. Great with godd boobs.

Oooh twinsetandpearls, that's nice! Love the neckline and folds from middle up. I promise I won't copy you exactly, but just so I know for something similar - what would you do with the rest of the outfit? E.g. shrug - which color - do you go for the color or a black one? And tights - black or, say, purple, or shoes - black? I never really know what to do with the rest of the outfit (and this is after having taken ages to even decide on the dress itself!)

If I ever win that lotto I promise to send you your consulting fees!

Sorry Ladybee, just saw your post re kimono dress. For some reason the link won't go to the dress itself if I click on it, but I think I know which one you're talking about - yes, that's lovely, I looked at it before, so glad to see it's in the sale now! Their website is acting up (maybe just in Firefox, not sure) - will try in Explorer in a second.

am wearing it with this shrug pink tights and purple patent heels.

I wear a cami style top underneath as I teach so can't have the norks on full display.

Very nice, thanks!