Sick of being scruffy.......

Spain_Shopper

Start putting some some money away to invest little by little in basics. I don´t know how old you are or your size, shape, lifestyle but I would recommend a pair of New Look Hula bootcut jeans which are ten pounds, a couple of basic flattering fitted tshirt, a fitted shirt etc.

floss2

LeedsLass wrote: »

...... All the girls at work always look nice and manage to buy new clothes all the time......

But how do they manage that....on credit & store cards?

Idiophreak

Do you have anything that you can sell to make a little cash, or anything in your budget that can be cut?

If you're really not bothered about getting labels or high fashion stuff, I'd have thought that £50 spent wisely in primark would get you enough new stuff to give you a substantial ego boost...

GotToChange

LeedsLass - don't be downhearted sweets, it's true there are much worse things in life than being "scruffy".

Generally speaking though, clothes shouldn't make you feel scruffy - frumpy, out of fashion, drab or gloomy maybe but if the clothes themselves are cleaned and pressed (if required) , it's the person inside who is most important. With that in mind, you will I'm sure want to take the very best care you can of your appearance not including clothes; that's good place to start.

So with cleanest possible skin, hair, nails, teeth etc etc, you must consider what you do actually own. Is there a problem with fit? Are any of your issues connected with your weight (over or under)?. For now, I suppose you will have to make the best of what you have but now - with a holiday in mind - is a good time to make a plan for what you want and are aiming for.

With the best will in the world, I would actually avoid the fashionista thread as chances are it will make you feel worse - and although the general take is meant to be "less is more", reading about what everyone else has got/is throwing out/is wearing every day isn't likely to do you much good.

What you would need for a holiday is so basic that it's a good place to start - swimwear, sarong, sandals, beachbag, T-shirts, vest tops, shorts, mini-skirt, jeans, linen trousers, shirt/tunic, dress, cardi. That's it. Simples.

(I am having a clear out and sick of ebay (just sold a Monsoon top for £1.00!!!!) - so if you are the size I used to be and want some good clothes PM me. You'd be doing me a favour.)

Oh - and stay away from catalogues/credit if you can. That way madness lies.............

Chin up. You've got a job, a boyfriend and a holiday to look forward to - there really is more to life than clothes.

LeedsLass_2

Got to Change, thank you so much for your post, it really makes sense (ive pm'd you btw!!!)

Thank you to everyone for your responses, i really thought id get shot down and told to get a grip but you've all been fab. :A

I do need to work on the "inside" i think to make the "outside" better

FairyShazza

First things first - go through your wardrobe piece by piece and make a list of all the things in it as you do note whether it is in a decent condition and how much you wear it. This will give you and idea of the items you wear a lot and need replacing. If you have a T Shirt that is on its last legs that you know you wear a lot then go and buy a similar T Shirt in a few different colours which you can mix and match with a few key pieces (black trousers / skirts / jeans etc).

I would suggest getting yourself to a few car boot sales if you can. It is amazing what you can pick up at them – I have found clothes from places like Coast, Warehouse, Dorothy Perkins, Oasis, Bay Trading etc basically most of the big high street stores for as little as 20p sometimes brand new with the tags still attached. They are also great for picking up bags, hats and costume jewellery.

Once you buy an item to replace one then chuck the one which is poor condition away. Keep doing this and over a few months you can have a wardrobe that you will be proud to wear and you don’t have to tell anyone where you got the items from. You don’t have to spend megabucks to improve the way you look.

I certainly wouldn’t suggest getting a catalogue if you already have a bad credit history.

LeedsLass_2

Thanks FairyShazza, it ALL needs replacing, thats my issue. I will deffo get to a carboot, sounds like my best bet!!

Bronnie

LeedsLass wrote: »

Thanks guys for all your replies.

Bronnie- I dont have any clothes to get rid of, thats how little i have. I wear the same stuff for work as i do at weekends, except for my jeans. The capsule idea sounds good, but as mentioned, i dont own enough things to be able to do that.

I think the capsule idea is something you work towards...doesn't happen all at once ...and it can start as simply as picking up a basic pair of trousers/jeans cheaply and matching them with 2 or 3 tops and a long cardi for example suitable for different occasions in colours that go together to make several outfits. Saves you buying stuff you don't actually need if cash is short!!

sharronloves2spend

A capsule is always a work in motion and if you are saying you need absoloutly everything then start with what can be seen. (i would put underwear way down on my list)

Okay, so what kind of job do you do and how do you need to look?? If it's casual i would start with a pair of Jeans, the hula ones that spainshopper mentioned are fab. New Look currently have a sale on and jeans are around the £7 mark. then get to primark and buy yourself about 3 of the £2 t-shirts in colours you like. Add a nice necklace and a pair of pumps or sandles also from primark (their gladiators are fab at £3). If you need to dress smartley (suits etc) i would look on ebay.

What size are you?? do you know anyone the same size that you could maybe 'steal' from?? sister or auntie??

And as and when you get money add to this. Maybe a nice jacket one month and a pair of shoes the next.

As already mentioned make sure you grooming is meticulous, hair clean and tidy and clothes clean and ironed.

Hope a little bit of that helps in some way!!!

Lots of Love Sharron

Bronnie

There's also Freecycle, I often used to put a bin bag of my DD's stuff on there, it was mostly Primark/ new Look type stuff, but it would be free and you can just re-freecycle or car boot what you don't want. You can place a wanted ad too, sometiimes your ad might just strike a chord with someone who's having a clearout and is your age/size and you'll be lucky!