OS clothes and wardrobe mix and match

2tonsils

Hi, I have been looking through the threads on here and really enjoy them, but can't find any about mixing and matching clothes to form new outfits without buying anything new.

Does anyone else have to 'shop' their wardrobe and wear things in new combinations because they don't have the money to buy new things to wear?

I don't buy for special events but try to use what I have and cover all situations that might crop up for me.

Research shows that most ladies only wear about 20 percent of the clothes they own, are you the same?

Please feel free to join in, it would be great to have someone to talk to!

I am 57 years old but look much younger. My clothes have to cover everything from power walking to dinner dances. I am very frugal in what I spend on clothes and try to wear at least 85 percent of them. Most of the other 15 percent are clothes other people have bought for me as gifts that don't fit or look right, or clothes that no longer fit and are ready to be altered or donated.

How about you ladies?

Today I am wearing, black stretch trousers, green leather flat shoes with striped bow on them and a navy blue tunic top with peace doves on it.:)

PipneyJane

Yes, me! [Hand shoots up]

Excellent idea for a thread.

Years ago, I read the book Wardrobe, which went into quite a bit of detail about how to put together a capsule wardobe. At about the same time, I had my colours done/body shape analysed. Both of these things helped me enormously, since these were skills I could not pick up from my mother. I had to figure them out for myself. (For a trained dressmaker, mum was oblivious to thinks like flattering colours, body shape and style. No wonder she never had a job in the trade.)

Generally, I'm a "wear suit to work" kind of girl. It's more professional (I'm a manager and am occasionally client facing). Last year, I scored at a charity shop and picked up 3 barely worn suits for less than £30. Today, I'm wearing the navy one, with a 3/4-sleeve length blue t-shirt (another CS find), black loafers and a pair of hand-knitted socks in shades of grey sludge.

At home, I'm a jeans-and-jumper or t-shirt-and-shorts type. I'm short waisted, and know I could do better on the casual-clothes presentation front, since a lot of things highlight my shortness of waist. However, the colours suit me and pretty much everything combines with everything else.

When I travel for work, I rely on a capsule wardrobe. I usually go away for a week at a time, so it has to cater for everything. My basics are a suit (jacket with matching skirt and trousers if possible, if not then two suits), a smart cardigan, multiple tops, a pair of jeans for the evenings, trainers for off-duty times, smart shoes for work, sometimes a smart dress for a party, etc. Everything has to do double duty and go with everything else. Also, it all has to fit into my small trolley case.

VeggieCatLady

I had been thinking along these lines myself! I have actually HAD to buy myself some new clothes for a work placement because a lot of mine weren't smart enough. Aside from that I tend to keep items of clothing until they quite literally fall apart! I have clothes in my wardrobe that I have owned for 10 years and they're still going strong!

I have had a bit of a sort through of my wardrobe because, like you say, there are always clothes that tend to not get worn! I have ditched some items that really don't look right on me and some which I very rarely wear. I have got some nice tops which get worn only occasionally, but these are for social occasions and it is nice to be able to dress up a bit now and then!

I had quite a strict budget when I bought my new stuff but I basically stuck to the same principle as I did before that - I like to kind of layer up clothes and try different combinations (a different cardi over a top to normal etc).

Have you tried customizing any of your clothes to make them look a bit different? This doesn't have to be anything too complicated. Something as simple as pinning a broach or a flower on a top can make it look totally different!

Today Matthew (lol), I am wearing... leggings, brown vest top with a cream dress/top over it and a teal cardi. Not forgetting the slippers because I'm a bit chilly

2tonsils

Thanks for your replies, I was worried in case no one was interested.

I have been trying to get my head around my winter wardrobe planning (without buying much..) but its very difficult. I live in Greece and we are having unseasonably hot weather at the moment. It's very hard to sort out your winter clothes when you feel stifled.

I put away my summer clothes during the winter months and do the same with heavier clothes in the summer. At the moment its 35 degrees in the day time but down to 14 at night so you need extra layers for the evening if you go out anywhere.

I went to town today on my scooter and my favourite Italian shoe shop had an amazing sale on...they were selling off summer shoes in bright colours and they were only 5 euros a pair.... I got a black pair, a tangerine pair and a yellow and white pair...all leather and all with huge heels on them. I intend to wear them when I go out somewhere special during the winter, when I often go to get togethers and dinner.

I had a brainwave on the way home, I have some silk flowers in the same colours and I could put them on my gold clutch bag to match the tangerine and the yellow and white shoes. I already have a shiny black pvc handbag that will match the black pair of shoes.

Because so much of my wardrobe was black in the past I have been wearing more colours this year. There are very few charity shops here but I have got some bargains at the car boot sales, clothes swap parties and even the Chinese clothes store.

When I get time tomorrow I will take some photos of the shoes and put them on here..if I can figure out how to do it.

Thanks again for your replies....I may not have much money to spend on outfits but I do like to look good when I go out. I too use capsules when I am travelling, its so much easier!

kitschkitty

I've never had a problem with making outfits from my wardrobe, but then I have clothes in most colours as lifes too short to just wear black! lol.

These days though I buy less clothes than I have in the past (rarely chucking stuff out is great in one way, but bad when it comes to having space for everything).

When I do buy clothes I do think through each item too - is this at least as nice or better than the stuff I already own, or am I just buying it because it's cheap/I feel like it/it's on offer etc. If it's not I don't buy it (as I already have loads of clothes). Also there are so many lovely fabrics and -patterns that I see and love but I know that I never wear blouses (as an example) so I sadly just don't buy them as I know I will not wear them however lovely they are. Same goes for clothes that are not quite the right size or fit. If it doesn't fit right now, don't buy it for tomorrow (so to speak).

I also make sure new items will go with stuff already in my wardrobe - so no buying say a cardigan in yellow as I'd have nothing to wear it with, and I tend to stick to neutral coloured trousers as they go with much more of my wardrobe.

I've also decided I prefer cardigans to jumpers as it's easier to wear layers - especially when the weather is so unpredictable.

I should also add I design & make my own jewellery and like to always have jewellery (and hair accessories) that match my outfits, and I have a few different handbags that match the majority of my wardrobe/the things I wear most, so my main ones are: one in blues & greens (fabric so for the summer), one purple (leather), one black (a showerproof fabric), and one in browns & tan with a variety of accent colours(suede).

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Have to say I am loving this thread.

I have been really 'good' this year and hardly bought anything. The things I have bought have been good basics including a black, sixties style, boat neck, 3/4 length sleeve dress which I can dress up or down and wear summer or winter. I can ring the changes with different coloured cardies or jewellery and the best thing was it was only £6 in the TU sale!! I have had so many compliments when wearing it and my boss even asked me if I was off for an interview after work??

I do have loads of clothes, and my real fetish is shoes, pretty much got every colour covered, have about 50 pairs of heels and 20 pairs of boots and the same of flip flip/sandals. I try and tie my outfits together with accessories and love adding corsages etc to bring the look together.

I packed away my summer clothes at the weekend:( and got out the winter things, some of which I had forgotten, and I have to say I'm quite looking forward to getting into my woolly tights and boots!!:j

Today I'm just in jeans, a red wrap cardigan(with a cami underneath cos I'm a bit busty and it would be inappropriate for work) and black high heeled boots and have just been complimented by a client!!

Will definately be subscribing to this thread, well done OP!:T

321 xxx

2tonsils

Thanks for all your great posts, I can see I am going to enjoy this thread a lot, glad I started it now.

321 you just gave me an idea what to wear with the red wrap cardi that I bought earlier this year. It was a bit too revealing for me when I tried it on (I am busty too lol). I never thought of putting a cami underneath it at the time as its got a flounce on the neck like roses.. The good news is I bought some vests/camis in different colours that will go with it (they were only 1.50 in Primark).

I bought them with the intention of wearing them with cardis as I need to dress in layers till well into the winter months....then the thick jumpers and layers come out of storage. Contrary to popular belief it gets very cold in Greece sometimes in the winter, but its sunny then. If its warm (14 ish) then its pouring with rain. It's warm and wet or cold and sunny from late October till April.

Last year I spent three months wearing ski thermals under my layers as I had to ride my scooter. Someone ran into the car and it was off the road for 13 weeks! I don't want to have to do that again, hoping this winter will be milder for us..which means more rain.

I do alter my clothes to fit or change them a bit if I have had them for a long time. I found to my disgust that I can't dye things in my top loading washing machine! I used to love dyeing old clothes to make them look like new. I can't get the hand wash dyes here either. Never mind. I am thinking about doing some patches and applique on things to change them a bit for this winter.

I have put my new shoes out on the carpet in front of me so I can keep looking at them and planning outfits with them.Part of the pleasure is admiring them, not putting them away out of sight! I am very pleased I bought them, but at that price it would have been rude not to...LOL

mildred1978

PipneyJane wrote: »

Yes, me! [Hand shoots up]

Excellent idea for a thread.

Years ago, I read the book Wardrobe, which went into quite a bit of detail about how to put together a capsule wardobe.

Do you have a link to this book, please? Amazon is drawing a blank.

Pink.

We have a board dedicated to fashion moneysaving so I've moved this thread over there to see if you can get more input.

Pink

rosieben

I'm watching this thread though I've nothing useful to add. I've lost a lot of weight (and hoping to lose more) so most of my clothes doesn't fit. I'm determined not to spend a lot of money on in-between sizes, so the big thing for me will be when I'm near target weight, when I'll be replacing everything in my wardrobe (gradually, not in one big spend up!) and tbh its so long since I was a normal size, I've forgotten how to shop for clothes. I'm so looking forward to buying clothes because I like it, not just because it fits.

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

2tonsils wrote: »

321 you just gave me an idea what to wear with the red wrap cardi that I bought earlier this year. It was a bit too revealing for me when I tried it on (I am busty too lol). I never thought of putting a cami underneath it at the time as its got a flounce on the neck like roses.. The good news is I bought some vests/camis in different colours that will go with it (they were only 1.50 in Primark).

Glad to have been of service!! I have several different wrap type cardigans and various coloured camis and mix and match them to go with whatever skirt I am wearing. I find the wrap style quite flattering for us bigger girls!!

321 xxx