Clothing budget

SoScrooge

Hi, all

Sorry for a girlish question....

In a moment of madness I took a lot of my things to a charity shop - got borred of it all.

Now I am trying to build a modest wardrobe...

My debts are my priority, so the shopping spree I plan, will most certainly take place in Tesco and Primark.

What is that optimum number of tops, jeans, dresses, shoes, etc a lass can have? Has anybody have any suggestions?

I work in a very casual office, so suits and boots are off the list! Thank God!

PS: please feel free to move my post to somewhere more appropriate - I am still trying to work out the maze of this lovely forum.

Becles

I don't know what optimum numbers of items are, but this is what I do!

Try and buy things that don't date. Things like pencil skirts don't go out of fashion, whereas a gypsy skirt will date quickly.

Try and buy things you can mix and match with, such as a pair of plain black trousers that you can casually dress down with a t-shirt, wear with a blouse for workwear, then wear with a glam strappy top for going out in!

Queenie

I printed this one and put it in my son and his g/f's Household Notebook because she wanted to know the same thing:- Building a Basic Wardrobe by Clusters (PDF)

Others you may wish to look at (but I haven't read through them thoroughly)

10 Rules for a Fabulous Wardrobe

Basic wardrobe on a budget

And if you want to keep an inventory of what/how many etc., you might want to save/print/adapt this PDF file: Basic Wardrobe Checklist

HTH

Linda32

A few knitwares are good, cardigans are more trendy now. You can have them over T-Shirts thus still using your summer clothes.

mirakl

You can get some great bargains on clothes on ebay!

naughty_10382

Saw an ad in the paper yesterday for a site called Under Five Pounds which basically is exactly that - clothing, jewellery etc all for under £5 - I had a look and it isn't all cheap tat either. Unfortunately (for me!) most of the women's clothing is sizes 8 to 14.

amosworks

Wow I'm a 14 I'll check it out

SoScrooge: Why not also shop in charity shops? You can get some fantastic stuff and some great designer labels if you're savvy enough! Who cares about having a small wardrobe? Half my loft is my wardrobe too! But shop at charity shops and you can get a million great clothes for hardly any money, plus you're helping charity and recycling. You know it makes sense ;D

Good luck!

Edit:
Queenie: The woman who wrote the first wardrobe guide you suggested should not be trusted! She looks like a combination of the grim reaper and paddington bear :-O

SoScrooge

Thank you, all very much.

I have made up my mind: need three bottoms ( a skirt, jeans, shorts - have all that already ;-)) and four tops.

Anyways... tesco are doing now 75% off clothes

naughty_10382

SoScrooge wrote:

sorry, the attachment did not work ;-(

Try uploading your image at photobucket or imageshack (both free to join) and then post the URL you are given when it is done.

Lucie_2

I read something the other week about having 3 tops to go with every "bottom" (skirt, trousers etc). Obviously you have some tops that go with more than one bottom, so it's a case of careful mix n match co-ordination to ensure that you can wear most things together.
Watch a few episodes of What not to wear or get their book out of the library. Trinny & Susannah might be cruel, but they're usually right!

Netty_Sprack

I have a 'capsule' wardrobe of black, coffee & pink for work.
2 skirts, 1 trouser and 5 tops gives me 15 outfits add in a belt, skinny scarf & necklace I am kitted out in a different outfit for each working day. Having a colour scheme saves time too in a morning.

Evenings and weekends I have a similar principle and will only buy if I already have something to go with it already. NEVER buy to then have to buy again because it goes with nothing.

Also I made a skirt this weekend from a £1.75 remnanant, I added 50p of ribbon and a couple of beads and ended up with a skirt you would pay £60+ at Monsoon. I bought the machine for £30 (market value £175) from Ebay and the pattern too for 50p. Read the instructions, take your time and you can't go far wrong.

Good Luck.