Clothing budget

purplegirluk1

Also try buying an outfit at a time. I often find that I buy a top in the sale and then can't find anything to go with it so it sits unworn in the wardrobe until it end up on ebay!

I now will only buy a piece if I have time and money to buy matching items or I know it will go with something I already have.

Sarahsaver

There is a list in this months Glamour magazine of what you need in your wardrobe, and its actually quite sensible, inspired me to have a rethink.
I would say try to get natural materials for knitwear, and you need black of the following - high heels, trousers, skirt, jacket, little black dress. It is easy to get a 'fashion' top from primark for £3 or so, but i find the most complements are those I get when i have one of my charity shop finds on! Today a next jumper which was£3 and a george of asda blouse under it for £1:) I would agree with trinny and suzannah, re. lucie's comment, you have to make the most of what you have rather than tryong to fit in with trends at the expense of looking indecent (whats with these low cut jeans on girls who should know better? letting all the flab hang out!)
Keep your shoes clean and in good repair too and you can't go wrong. You need lots of shoes but far fewer handbags!;)

kittiwoz

I agree it's far better to choose more classic looks and clothes that suit your body shape than to follow fashion trends. If your wardrobe is generally quite classic it's also much easier to forge your own sense of style by adding a few more individual items or accesories since they're less likely to clash.

Personally I prefer to buy clothes which I feel are good quality; well cut from nice fabric, and I feel I'm making a much better investment if the clothes are something I know I'll wear repeatedly over many years. Since I don't have the money to go on a spree in Selfridges for me that generally means charity shops and ocassionally department store sales. Really good quality clothes show their age so much less and are always worth repairing so they're often a good buy in charity shops. I think sales can be good too provided you buy things that you would otherwise look at and think, "I wish I could afford that," and not just stuff that's cheap.

Another thing to bear in mind if buying cheap clothes is that cheap decorative buttons look horrible but you can always replace them.

Well done you on being so disciplined! I have far too many clothes really. I have been through a few changes of style in the past few years which I guess has contributed. I think I've really cracked it now though and most of the clothes I have I really love. Maybe time to clear out the ones that I don't love either love or use as sports kits.

wigginsmum

Having had a major clearout of stuff I'll never wear again or which doesn't fit, I have 5 pairs of smart black/dark trousers for work, a few assorted jumpers and shirts, a pair of black leather trousers, a leather coat, and some relaxed trousers/jeans for the weekend. Plus a long party dress, some hippy tops/tunics, a couple of summer skirts and T-shirts. All fits in a single wardrobe.

Sarahsaver

Well done!:)

needmoney

Sarasaver was it you who said you were going to start a thread about charity fashion or something? That would be nice.

ladygrey_2

a few basics in black are always worth spending a little extra on
as the look can be changed easily with cheap coloured clothes

Queenie

amosworks wrote:

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

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

ladygrey - I agree that you should have one dark colour to theme your basics on and accessorise around :shhh: some people look washed out in black :shhh: Navy is a good alternative as is grey.

SoScrooge

Has anybody seen la Redoute clearance site?

http://www.redoute.co.uk/sHP_outlet.html

I do like the prices!

Lady_Pink

Here's my two pennorth (very new to this site and feel almost scared to post!) - the supermarket jewellery and accessory ranges are actually rather fab. No one compliments by £50 earrings but when I've had my £3 specials on loads of people have said how much they like them. It's a bit hit and miss but I've had some fab stuff at Asda, Sainsburys and so on - even superdrug does them now. Dorothy Perkins do some nice things too - that way I can get away with wearing the same old plain clothes but putting on some up to date or unusual accessoriess really "makes the outfit".

Ok, I feel like I should slink back into the background now....