New Wardrobe

[kersti]

My wardrobe is a complete mess - you know the deal, a few nice pieces and lots of impulse bought crap to pad it out. Fantastic pieces seem to get worn to death and then I feel I've got nothing to wear. Most of it is not interchangeable, so that lovely top doesn't go with my suits only with my new stripey pants.

So I've decided I need an overhaul. I want to get a list of what I should have as a basic wardrobe and then throw out everything that doesn't fit (except my red coat, that stays no matter what). I then want to set about organising a plan for how to have my wardrobe meet my needs all the time and how to feel that I always have lots of choices.

But I don't really know where to start. I'm an office worker, so I need suits for most days at work. How many should be expensive classics and how many cheap fashion suits? How many days should I be able to dress for? I don't want a one-colour wardrobe either...

Please help! I'm going round the bend!!!

Kersti in Australia

 

[charlottesometimes]

Hi Kersti. Welcome to tFS.

I wish I could help, but my wardrobe is a complete mish-mash, although it seems to work for me. Sometimes I discover hidden treasures I'd long forgotten about.

I was just going to suggest that perhaps you could sell some of your more expensive impulse buys on Ebay, and put the funds towards your new purchases.

Charlotte (also from Australia)

 

[kersti]

Selling stuff on ebay - I will do that as soon as I work out what I want to sell!

I've boxed up the clothes are very summer (it's winter here) because that will give me some more breathing space to work out what I need. It's a start!

 

[Belowen]

Hello! (Also an Australian here)

I just wanted to say you should always start with a nice pair of black pants, and a good fitting pair of jeans! - That's my opinion anyway

Good luck!

 

[shajopri]

If your good things are worn to death, have a seamstress copy them. Also, if you see an expensive suit in a magazine that you want for work, a good seamstress can copy from the picture.

 

[Erin]

Another idea - use Ebay to sell, as well as to buy. If you know your size by a certain designer/brand, Ebay is a goldmine.

 

[Lush]

i only buy separates if i have something in my closet that i can pair with them. mixing and matching is the key to a well rounded wardrobe.

and i totally agree with all the posts about ebay. it's insane sometimes what people will pay you for your old clothes.

 

[jrod3314]

There was a fabulous feature in In Style's "The Look"(issue with Lucy Liu on the cover). It gave you the basics, plus expanded on fit, clothing care, etc. If you can find it, that would be a great place to start.

I agree with Belowen on the black pants and jeans. I would also recomment a black skirt(knee-length, pencil or a-line depending on your shape), casual khaki pants(I'd suggest flat front--good material) and a white button-down shirt that is somewhat fitted.

 

[Boudoir Belle]

kersti here's what you should do after you've figured out what to sell on ebay, & what to keep. Every one of us has wardrobe essentials, pieces that you absolutely cannot imagine yourself without, & if ever torn or damaged, you'd get a replacement instantly... those are items such as:

+ crisp white shirts: they always look good! on everyone! you can wear them during the day for work, or you can wear them in the evening by over dressing it with a nice skirt, or pair of pants. & don't forget to accessorize your outfit, pear earings would give you a chic look, chandlier ones would give you a more feminie look, & so on.

+ black pants, like Belowen mentioned: you can wear almost any color of tops with those, again.. you could wear those with a nice turtle neck top for work in the morning, or a pretty sequinned/beaded halter/tank top in the evening -- both looks are fab!

+ the jeans: they're casual, & they last forever! again, you can create different looks by just playing around with your outfit. Jeans go with almost anything! dark denim, & light {washed out} one, make sure you own a pair of each.

more wardrobe essentials will depend on your personal style, in my case, off white + black turtlenecks, white + beige + black tank tops, jeans skirt, ...etc.

when shopping for work wear, you don't have to stick to one color, but remember that you want to give people the impression of a professional, so try to keep it subtle -- your color palette can contain colors such as black, white, grey, camel/beigish shade of cream, off white, & white.. you could also go for light shades of your favorite color, if you like pink (like i do ) go for baby pink rather than flashy pink or fushia, & so on.

& don't forget, the right makeup, shoes & bags hope that was helpful

 

[MissTrine85]

i would say a black dress as well, since you can dress it both up and down.

i would be lost without my black wrap dress

 

[tangiblelove]

just figure out what you love, figure out what you want. go from there. it might take a while but i had this problem like a year ago and 12 months later i'm pretty satisfied with my overall wardrobe...still not completly but mostly...

 

[vogue_addiction]

Make an inspiration book. Cut out pictures of magazines of clothing or styles you like and print stuff out from the internet. past them in your book and after like half a year or even one or two months. you can get an idea of what you actually like.
That is my way to do it(still working on my book and personal style...etc).
I find it very helpfull before you go shopping to look throught the pages of my book, and have sertain pieces, colours, shapes, paterns...etc in mind.

Hope I could help.

xxx