Clothes Old Style

rockie4

You could try a personal shopper at Debenhams, my friend went and the clothes she came back with were fabulous!

She had told them her budget and the clothes were well within it, they even put one outfit away for her as it was going in the sale the following week!

As well as clothes they showed her accessories and makeup tips, she couldn't recomend them highly enough.

Phudge

I love Gok!:o And I love his mantra:

"shop less - wear more"

I don't agree he is encouraging us to shop more - quite the opposite! Most of my friends have wardrobes stuffed with clothes which are new and never worn, don't fit them and are years out of date .

Over the last couple of years I have lost weight and so what suits me changed. I've had to rethink my whole wardrobe so I have tried to buy things which suit me and which go together well. It's not perfect but it's getting there!

I wouldn't suggest getting rid of everything as you might have some great items . I would however get rid of/sell any pieces which look awful or which don't fit or which realistically never will.

Go from there and see which pieces go together by laying out outfits on the bed. Add shoes and handbags plus accessories. Then see what you might need to add. Personally I think you have to add things slowly as you come across them and not to it all in one fell swoop.

Colour is really important. My basic is navy as I am very fair. Black looks awful on me and I only have 1 black item left in my wardrobe now. It sounds as if your all navy outfit is fine but maybe a bit boring? You could try changing the top for a more colourful one and adding some colour with a scarf or a necklace? Do you know which colours look fab on you?

My money saving tips? I buy clothes and shoes from Ebay which have been worn once and I make my own jewellery to go with my outfits.

Let us know how you get on, I'd love to know your progress!

JadeLD

I love Gok too! I have also taken inspiration from this programme, although not quite this bit - there is no way I could cope with a capsule wardobe - I'd have to be super organised with the washing and I'm really not!

I have started looking at everything in my wardrobe and set up the camera and tripod and photographed myself in the clothes I do have. It really works when you see yourself in different types of skirt etc you can really see which ones work and which ones don't. Thanks to the world of digital photography this is instant and you can take as many as you like. This is taking ages and I've still got loads to do!

I've managed to get rid of some clothes though and also re-discovered things which have been at the back of the wardrobe for ages and not worn. I'm going to go through all this then work out what else I need to complete the wardobe. I doubt it will be capsule, although I will be going with the shop less wear more!

This also results in having a file on my computer with all my outfits in it so I can plan what to wear for holidays etc - sounds kind of sad but it's not that bad. Does anyone remember the film Clueless (love it!) where at the start she has a computer system which shows her outfit and says match or mismatch?!

rosieben

You've had some good advice here. Here's my take on it.

First thing to do is go through your wardrobe and throw out everything that doesn't fit, anything past it's sell-by date and anything that you don't like - be ruthless here, because clearing the decks will help you see clearly where you're at. Give some thought to what clothes you actually need - work outfits, casual, dressy?

Next decide on a base colour (black, brown, navy?), choose the one that you like and that suits you; bring other colours in with pretty tops and accessories that complement your base colour (best to stick to just 2 or 3 complimentary colours).

Many years ago I went to a House of Colour day and found what colours suit me. It took me about 3 years to empty my wardrobe of 'wrong' colours (especially black!) so you need to be patient. Few of us can afford to buy a complete new wardrobe all at once.

Gok Wan is my hero! he's not only teaching us that we don't need so much clothes but also that High Street can look just as good as designer labels, and sometimes a darn sight better!

grandmasam

I agree with all that has been said .
My best thing i have ever done was go to debenhams personal shopper,spent a morning and she told me my body shape,the type of clothes that would suit me, [modern classic with eccentric twist !!] and which brands to try.

Did this two mths ago, and it has totally changed the way i look at my charity shop wardrobe! Didn't cost me and i didnt buy anything.:money:By the way, i'm 61 5' 0 and slim.Having retired through ill health some yrs ago,i had got into the habit of anything comfy slung on in the morning,now i make a bit of effort, and feel good.Gradually clothes are making their way back to the charity shop, and i look for the clothes that make me feel and look good.
Sorry this is a bit long,book an appt with a personal shopper, its so useful.:T
caz

homealone_2

i was a size 16 seven years ago and had 4 wardrobes of clothes, boxes of shoes and bags and was still buying. then i had an accident and was in pj's for 3 months when i did get around to dressing none of my trousers went past my thighs. i was totally confused and when eventually weighing myself, after trying on a shirt that i couldnt get my arm in, i discovered i had gained 3 stone. i was horrified!! i had just then found ebay and rather stupidly as i wasnt even working at time so had no need for work clothes i set out to replace every item i had in a size 18/20. ashamed now to say i succeeded. only then a couple of months later to find i had gained a further 3 stone, this time i left out the work gear but replaced the rest mostly on ebay or m&s sales. when last year i tried on summer things to take on holiday i realised i was now a size 22 so just bought summer things and winter as i needed them. have not mentioned yet as ashamed to say but although i was replacing all these clohes i only left the house 2 or 3 times a month and so really needed more than 3 outfits at most. well here i am with 5 wardrobes stuffed so much i cant close them with 4 trunks of bags and loads of shoes. i weighed myself when we had our first hot day and nothing fit as usual. so i am now a size 24 waiting for a gastric bypass later in the year (will not bore anyone with my health problems) so i decided to try and sort things out and get selling on ebay. i have sold some but get so disheartened when something i may have paid alot for only sells for 99p. i need structure and would love someone to come and help me weed out. my wardrobes now go from a size 16 to a 24 and obviously need to keep some as when i do start losing weight and go down through the sizes do not want to buy clothes that only recently i have just sold but how to i work out what i will need and by what day? how long is to reasonable to keep something that i may need maybe this time next year? how long will it take to lose 8 stone? does anyone have any tips i need help desperately, sorry post is so long

BitterAndTwisted

Homealone, you need to get sorted or you're going to have to find another house to live in while you're storing all those clothes in the current one!

In your situation I think what I'd do is to have a sit down and think about what you will REALLY NEED. From what I've heard about the gastric bypass is that you'll lose a lot of wieght quite quickly in the beginning, so maybe just keep three outfits in the three sizes down from where you are now. Collect all the other sizes together and keep a maximum of four outfits in each size, that should be more than enough for a whole week's wear, you really don't need any more than that unless you only do laundry once in a blue moon.. Be absolutely ruthless. Put everything else on ebay. It doesn't matter if you paid a decent amount for it and they only earn you 99p, the buyers are doing you a favour: you're making space for lovely new ebay purchases once your size has reduced. The way I see it, you'll be getting a treat for the weight-loss. Keep all the money you earn from your ebay sales in your PayPal account so you can see exactly how much you've earned. When you NEED to buy, select items that are a better quality than you'd be able to afford new. Win-win.

In addition, of course you're going to have to figure out what clothes and styles suit your colouring, shape and your lifestyle. That will be the hardest part, but if you make any mistakes get rid and buy something to replace it. Sounds to me that you've got enormous scope for having some great adventures once you start dropping clothes-sizes.

The only things you absolutely do need to spend good money on as you drop sizes is decent-fitting undies. They will be your confidence-boosters but with the weight-loss you'll find that you'll enjoy shopping for these more and more.

Never forget. lovely clothes for next-to-nothing are just a mouse-click away and if you regret anything you've disposed of another one will be around soon enough.

Bronnie

rockie4 wrote: »

You could try a personal shopper at Debenhams, my friend went and the clothes she came back with were fabulous!

She had told them her budget and the clothes were well within it, they even put one outfit away for her as it was going in the sale the following week!

As well as clothes they showed her accessories and makeup tips, she couldn't recomend them highly enough.

What sort of budget could you show your face with in Debenhams with a personal shopper? I have lost my way and become SOOOO boring and predictable with clothes I would love a fresh pair of eyes for some holiday outfits but have always been worried I'm going to end up spending on stuff that is not me! (Actually I've just summed up my own dilemma, haven't I?! )

eyeonspain

I have been going around in circles for years clothes wise, trying new trends, wasting money on loads of Primark gear and buying loads of stuff just because it is on sale, sales can be very non MSE. I have discovered that less is more and to have a simple wardrobe which is just so freeing. In fact I hardly have any clothes. This is what I aim to narrow it down to for summer:

pair of casual white shorts
pair of casual khaki shorts
pair of smart dark denim shorts
2 linen skirts
cropped jeans
lots of nice fitting white vests
navy tank top
white smock sleevelees GAP shirt
white sleeveless fitted shirt
white smart trousers but white jeans are good
white linen trousers
couple of interesting colourful tops
summer nautical blazer
nautical stripey jersey dress albeit from Primark, it is very smart
flowery summer dress
white summer dress
navy or black linen summer dress
two pairs of sandals, one silver, one bronze

Buy quality where you can afford and just buy basics in the sales not trends. In fact try to keep trends to jewellery or a pashmina or scarf in a fashionable colour.My fave shops in the sale are Zara, Clarks for shoes, Marks and Spencer, Next and Tommy Hilfiger.

Homealone I can' toofer that much help but what I would say is don't buy loads stick to maybe a different colour scheme for each size. I have to say it that larger ladies always look nice when they are smart and groomed maybe with some interesting blingy, bold but tasteful jewelery. Marks and Spencer do great jewellery, shoes and handbags.

sharronloves2spend

<div style="width:480px; text-align: center;"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://w483.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http://w483.photobucket.com/albums/rr197/kopkool/75424c1d.pbw" height="360" width="480"><a href="http://photobucket.com/slideshows" target="_blank"><img src="http://pic.photobucket.com/slideshows/btn.gif" style="float:left;border-width: 0;" ></a><a href="http://w483.photobucket.com/albums/rr197/kopkool/?action=view&current=75424c1d.pbw" target="_blank"><img src="http://pic.photobucket.com/slideshows/btn_viewallimages.gif" style="float:left;border-width: 0;" ></a></div>

Think i may have posted the slideshow twice apologies!!!

Anyhow here is my capsule.
Pic 1, 2 pairs of jeans, 1 skinny, 1 bootcut, 1 pair of black wide leg trousers.

Pic 2, 1 purple jersey dress , 1 print tunic, 1 jersey grey top, 1 silver shell top.

Pic 3, plain white t-shirt, 1 print t-shirt, 1 sparkly vest top.

Pic 4, 1 darkm grey blazer(new) 1 grey mac.

Pic 5, 1 pair of pumps, 1pair of heels co-ordinating scarf.

Pic 6, silver sandals, birkys, grey handbag.

Pic 7, puprle belt pinky scarf, jewllery.

Pic 8, 3 co-ordinating vests, 1 maxi dress, 1 white cardi, 1 pink cardi

Pic 9 white linen trousers, navy linen skirt.

i worked very hard to get this capsule wardrobe, a lot of disipline, and searching for bargains, i am now really comfortable with all of it, when something needs replacing it will be replaced then the old one thrown out.

You will notice that i don't have any going out clothes, this is because i don't got out much!!!! I only go out about 3 times a year and 'borrow' from my younger trendier sister (oh how the tables have turned lol).

I am 5ft 2 and a size 14, and at age 32 i refuse to let the fact that i am on the 'plump' side affect the way i dress. I am a sahm to 4 gorgeous children and my wardrobe reflcts that. I'ts practical, easily laundered, but tidy and well co-ordinated. Everything goes with everything else. I do have a lot more accesories that are not pictured here.

I think good grooming makes the world of difference, my hair gets done every 5 weeks, make up done daily and nails done when needed. I think looking good is about how you feel and not the amount of money you spend. I reckon my capsule has cost me no more than about £100 and will be worn year after year.

I should just add that up untill about 3 years ago i had a wardrobe bursting at the seams with nothing to wear. In sizes ranging from 12-18 .

I shop at next, dp, new look, peacocks, primark(you can't beat their £1.50 vests!!), tesco and my littles sis's wardrobe. The likes of next and dp and new look i will wait for the sale, but peacocks primark and tescos, if you see something you need to get it when you see it, otherwise it will sell out.

My shoes usually come from Clarks in chesire oaks, birkys from tj hughes. Acessories are picked up at cheapo shops or given to me as gifts. If i've got my eye on something i will ask for it for birthday/christmas. I love clothes and all the girly things but realise that our 'throw away' culture is wrong. I remember being a child and clothes were strictly from jumble sales, nothing wrong with that, but my mum looked after them well all the same. The thought of throwing somethin away after being worn once was inconceivable. A capsule wardrobe suits my minimilist nature.

Lots of Love Sharron