What constitutes a basic wardrobe?

[Copperhead]

for you? We've had a little windfall and i have a certain sum to spend on clothes and i am looking to replace my supermarket bought jeans and t-shirts with stuff that is a little smarter and more stylish. I have a few ideas in my head but am wondering how different other people's wardrobes are so how many pairs of trousers/shirts/jumpers/skirts/t shirts could you not live without?

[Jen1]

on the windfall!

I wouldn't go by my wardrobe - I spend so much time dieting that I still have my skinny stuff in the hope I'll fit into it one day

I only wear smart clothes for work (well I will with this new job). I have about 3 pairs of smart trousers, one dress, couple of skirts, quite a few tops compared to bottoms then all my casual stuff like jeans and jumpers. I also have clothes 'in reserve' in case Grace pees/vomits on me!!

Have fun shopping

[Mrs F]

on the windfall, pass some my way please

For me, im a lover of classics. You cant beat a pait of black trousers/skirt with a crisp white shirt,

I have about 6/7 pairs of black/grey trousers. 2 pairs are pinstripe. Get a good suit if you can. The jacket can always be worn with jeans on weekends.

I have 3/4 crisp white shirts. Love them to bits. Lots of vest tops.
2 little black dresses.
a few other dresses
Loads of t-shirts
Oh and good undies. No point looking really smart on top but feeling like crap underneath it all.
As for shoes, a least one black kitten heel, one good piar of ankle boots and at leas one pair of knee highs.
I do buy a lot of fashion tops that can be worn with the 20 pairs of jeans i own. I live in jeans at the weekends. But jeans can be dressed up or down

[Ang]

What constitutes a basic wardrobe? A bit of wood with two doors? Sorry I've woken up feeling dafter than normal

YAY for the windfall!

I'm like Jen I have a whole load of size 10 and 12 stuff still in mine. I know I won't ever get into it again, have sold a lot on Ebay but am still left with loads although I have packed it up into storage bags now so it's out the way.

My wardrobe would be a crap one to go by really. I don't wear trousers, never have and I haven't worn jeans at all since I put weight on. I love my going out dresses and so have about 6 black ones and then about 10 other ones. When I was thin I had about 60

I have about ten black skirts in different lengths and styles, a couple of red ones, three different purple ones and probably 20ish in other colours. A lot of the 20ish are summery ones that I wear to death when the weathers nice. I have loads of tops some that I've never worn so obviously I could live without them! I have about ten shrugs, some summery dresses for pottering round the house and garden - I call them my housework dresses.

Shoes god where do I start? I have too many really. But I'd say my can't live without would be a pair of kitten heel sandals in summer for daytime, high heel knee boots for winter, plain black stilletoes - go with anything and all my high strappy going out sandals.

This thread has made me want to dig my wardrobe out and see exactly what I have

[saracat]

I obviously don't have enough clothes going on what you have in your wardrobes, must remedy that!

Sara

[Heather]

I have 2 pairs of jeans that I live in (Asda & don't fit me properly), too many t-shirts that don't fit me properly thanks to a long body & a hideous baby pouch, scruffy jumpers, about 3 tops that are "smartish" and goodness knows what else!

Most of my wardrobe space is taken up with smart "work clothes" that are all far to small since having Emma, plus I don't have a job to go to!

Hmmmmm, maybe I guess I don't have the answer or have been any use at all!

H

[Mrs F]

oh and add linen trousers to my list.. I have a white pair and a black pair and wear them all the time in summer with fab strappy shoes.

[Copperhead]

Originally Posted by Heather

I have 2 pairs of jeans that I live in (Asda & don't fit me properly), too many t-shirts that don't fit me properly thanks to a long body & a hideous baby pouch, scruffy jumpers, about 3 tops that are "smartish" and goodness knows what else!

Most of my wardrobe space is taken up with smart "work clothes" that are all far to small since having Emma, plus I don't have a job to go to!

Hmmmmm, maybe I guess I don't have the answer or have been any use at all!

H

Snap!!

[Copperhead]

Right, thanks for you responses.

I've had some time this afternoon to think about it (both boys are upstairs asleep!) and i reckon i don't need ultra smart/tailored clothes. As i work in a uni and in a not always clean backroom kinda job (I am cataloguing old medical records so things quite often get covered in red rot (ie decaying leather) ).

So i am after a few pairs of smart jeans, some nice tops, a couple of nice cardies, a couple of shirts and that sort of thing.

I've been making an initial wish list in a word doc which i was going to post for anyone feeling nosy but it's too big to upload here!

[Copperhead]

Incidentally, any other clothes websites i could look at? I've done John Lewis, Debenhams, Next, Additions, Monsoon and Marks and Spencer. i can't think of any others though i am sure there are a million high street type places that i haven't done!

[Amz]

Dorothy Perkins, ASOS, River Island ummmm.....

[KarenE]

Top shop is always worth a look for your size:
Topshop - Home

Principles:
principles - MAKING SENSE OF FASHION

Boden:
Boden UK Online Clothes Shop & Mail Order Clothing Catalogue.

French Connection:
French Connection (FCUK)

Jigsaw:
Jigsaw Online

Landsend:
Lands' End UK

Miss Selfridge:
Lands' End UK

Warehouse:
Warehouse - Fashion clothing online

Yoox:
Fashion & Design Shopping Online - Welcome to YOOX

hth

[Copperhead]

Wow, lots to look at there! thanks

[Lady Rools]

Coppers I do smart casual at work most days, I think a lot of the time I am sitting on my own in my office, so why be all suited and booted? I like being floaty and comfortable. I get most of my stuff from New Look, Linen Trousers, floaty tops, blouses etc, and then updating regularly doesnt cost too much

Good for you on the windfall too x

[vic-chick]

Congratulations on the windfall!

I'd recommend investing in some really good quality jeans - you don't know what you are missing until you buy some. I got some Ralph Lauren jeans very cheap in the US 2 years ago, and they are absolutely the best jeans ever. They have lycra in them, which means they move with you well - so they don't cut you in half around the middle, or cut off the circulation in your legs. I would absolutely spend more money on jeans like this (they also last better).

A good suit in a classic style is a 10 year investment - even though you don't wear them much, it's still worth having one. You can always wear the bits separately too.

Good quality crisp shirts to wear with jeans, skirts or suit are also a good investment. Ones with little lycra/something in tend to fit well and hold their shape. Get them in relatively classic/plain styling in a few colours. Also a really good skirt or two and/or trousers.

I tend to buy 'fashion items' of the season really cheap (like $10-20 Aussie $$) at discount or chain stores, as I'll probably only wear them for that year. Think about accessories too - they can really change the look of an outfit for a very small investment. So, you can have the classic black suit, white/pale blue fitted shirt and pearls as a posh/serious outfit, and then the same shirt with jeans and a chunky african style necklace as a nice casual outfit. Or, if animal print is in, buy a cheap scarf in that print (instead of spending lots of money on something you might only wear a couple of times).

I don't have lots of clothes (for some reason I'm a bit hard to fit....) but I really appreciate the quality difference when I've been able to purchase good pieces. They also last so much longer and don't go all shapeless on you. And they don't stick to the dodgy bits so easily either!!!

Happy shopping!!!!

[Copperhead]

Don't suppose i can afford Ralph Lauren at UK prices but as good quality jeans as i can afford are definitely on the list. As are decent shirts!

[KarenE]

Rach, Landsend have a facility where you create a virtual model of your height and shape, then you can 'try on' their clothes on it!

[bron]

la redoute do nice stuff

I'm just getting out of the situation you and Heather are in and have been buying myself a few classics.

[cariad]

Can't go past Primark (although that probably doesn't help you much Rach!) - when you can get black trousers for work at 4 to 6 quid, then you can get several! And I think they keep quite well too.

So yes, classic trousers (I have some black, some brown, a sort of herringbone beige pair and a white pair) - I'm a nightmare about my weight but find that if I have a nice well fitting 'sharp' pair of trews, that I feel really good!

I don't really do shirts as my boobs refuse to be constrained in anything buttoned, and if I do get shirts, then they are too loose around my waist. Stretchy material is the go. I got lots and lots of tops in the US (I found 2 stores - Forever 21 and Marianne that were MADE for people my shape. I could have kissed strangers!).
Nice longer line tunics/tops are great for fat days, and they look fab. Some v-neck tops in various colours always work well as a staple.

I also tend to live in fitted cropped trousers, it's a weather thing.

Umm....also, some lightweight knitted sweaters, either in v-neck or deep round neck in black and various colours are so useful. You can wear them with jeans, with a vest top (also need several) or wear a crisp shirt under them for work. And if it's extra cold, they are thin enough to wear under a jacket.

A good quality raincoat or belted mac - especially in a good strong colour - these go from season to season, they are always in style, practical, and I think women always look classy & together in a fab coat - it doesn't matter what you're wearing underneath (ok so maybe not a pair of trainers!) - red is my current favourite.

A great pair of jeans. I'm still on the search for a pair, but I'm an odd, odd shape.

Otherwise, I totally agree with vic-chick - always good to have some long term quality items and mix it up with cheap fashion pieces...