I've just charity bagged about two thirds of my wardrobe - What essentials should I restock it with??

[ConnorTraceptive]

Ok decided on a whim to blitz my wardrobe and have ridded it of anything that doesn't fit well, hasn't been worn in the last year or anything that makes me feel like an old scruff bag when I wear it.

I have a day all to myself tomorrow to go shopping so I want to know what to look for before I go. I'm a SAHM, early 30's size 10 - 12.

Things I know I need are:

A spring jacket (seen a nice red one in river island but it's over £90 was hoping to spend around £60)

Trousers

Nice tops to go with jeans

A top that is suitable for evenings out that would go with a pair of nice black trousers that I got from French Connection in the sale and have never worn.

And basically anything else you can suggest that will mix and match well together.

Thank You!!!

Ooh I need to do this but can't afford to restock! Will watch with a slight envious interest.

BUY WHOLE OUTFITS not bits and pieces .

Sorry to shout but I find myself saying this again and again and again on MN .

Jigsaw and Whistles have some nice new smart stuff in.

You're right BonsoirAnna, my past mistake is to buy bits and pieces and I've ended up with a wardrobe full to the brim of things that don't match!!

Why don't you start of browsing the web sites of all the stores you want to go to to identify things you would like to try on?

off, not of

That's a good idea - thanks

Pretty dress here that you could wear with a bright cardigan like this and some Birkenstocks (I'd get silver).

Pretty summer skirt in pale green that you could wear with www.jigsaw-online.com/Productdetails.aspx?id=1000172&itemno=J02677&colour=PU011 this and/or this (in contrasting colours) and these

I love this shirt dress and you, unlike me, are young enough to get away with it

Yep, agree with BA that you need every item you buy to go with at least 2 or 3 others either from your existing wardrobe or that you buy on the same day. Nothing worse than "singular" items which hang there unworn because.....you have nothing to go with them. Also, make sure you have the right shoes too and ensure any alterations are sorted within a week of purchase.....otherwise they won't get done!

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Sorry to op, I'm rubbish at shopping but BA you can shop for me anytime, love your suggestions.

Ooh I love that dress, cardi and birkies combo.

Thank you for the links those dresses are lovely BA

Christiana, which shops - just Oxfam? I have just sorted out my bra drawer. Have got loads of old nursing ones and normal ones.

Agree with the whole outfits thing, I do the whole outfits with alternative tops or bottoms and my wardrobe ends up having a lot of similar things but atleast they all look good and go together, so I often buy two different colour or two same colour tops if they are perfect, it makes it easier to always have something to wear even if I have to change due to baby puke just minutes before needing to leave the house.

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I am chortling like mad at BA's advice to buy Birkenstocks. I love them, but I never had her down as a Birkies kind of woman.

If you've seen a jacket that you like and that suits you, I'd rearrange the budget to buy the jacket and one fewer top than you were planning. Tops are easy to pick up, but anything tailored is worth spending the extra on, and buying when you see it.

I second the recommendation for a trip to whistles, I managed to spend 600 pounds on there last month on kitting out my wardbrobe with quality basics. Jeans, fitted tops and t-shirts, 3 quality woollens, belts and a dress.

The assistants were great too, really helpful.

Ah thanks Christiana, will ask around!

if you do bright colours, this coat- www.oasis-stores.com/fcp/product/Oasis/Coats/Full-Skirted-Trench/3930007526 and then you can wear it with black boots in the winter/spring and pretty pumps/sandles in the summer. under it you would just need a plain white or black tshirt www.marksandspencer.com/gp/search/278-1439250-3724016?ie=UTF8&bannerAltText=T-Shirts&rs=43075030&fro mPS=&mnSBrand=core&viewID=&bannerWidget=167090562&showAll=1&rh=n%3A43075030%2Cp_91%3A10&isBrowse=1 and jeans or a denim skirt www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/Womens-Skirts/Knee-Length-Skirts/WG319/Womens-Inverted-Pleat-Skirt.html nd lots of pretty fun accessories.

lovely t-shirts from white stuff www.whitestuff.com/showall/true/tees-CW_TEES/

Go to a store with a personal shopper Debenham are great and stuff reasonable