You have £1-2K to spend on an ENTIRE new wardrobe…….

[Dunnocantthinkofone]

I’m hot and bored.
I am also in possession of an appalling collection of worn out, ill fitting junk that passes as my wardrobe.
Having always fantasised about throwing the entire lot out and starting again Trinny and Susannah style (oops showing my age!) I’d love to hear what you’d buy for a very casual, sporty life.
More importantly, where from? Natural fabrics ideally (meno flushes) and decent quality for the cost. High street prices though - I could spend £1-2K max but that would need to cover everything…..so no £100+ jumpers please!

Brandalley

I wouldn’t want to blow £2k on cheap stuff that’s going to look limp and worn out in a couple of years. (Unless you’re planning to replace it all regularly?)

I hear you. Although I’ve only ever bought cheap stuff so I probably don’t know the difference. And my lifestyle is one of dog hair,mud and exercise- so expensive clothes that I’m too worried to wear is an issue
What would do you do instead?

I am thinking it would be a good idea to pay for an image consultant ,you would be advised on colours and styles that will suit you. I have a collection of clothes that I got to last from vinted/Bay. My clothes will last me a long time. A lot of people advise go to John Lewis for a styling session. The difference with paying for a consultant is that you get far more information, you get a little pack of colours to take away with you and sometimes style guides as well .If you buy good brands it will pay dividends as the collection of clothes will last .Also an independent consultant is not tied to only one shop and will recommend. If you know which styles suit you and your colours you can just go and buy the clothes. I went to an independent consultant many years ago and then was lucky enough to do a similar course with WEA. I also buy from charity shops and recently got an amazing trench coat for a fiver. There is a lot of info on capsule wardrobe planning on the net. I am sure you could get a wonderful collection with the amount of money you have available. Interestingly one jumper that I was given is a lovely warm purple one from Pep & Co from Poundland and it has lasted me for a few years. How great it will be for you to pend serious money on clothes. It will be interesting to see what others suggest. I hope you post a full list of all the clothes you buy.

I’d go for Hush and Uniqlo for that budget/ lifestyle. I’d also look at John Lewis’ own brand, AND/ OR (also a John Lewis brand) and M&S. Material wise, pima cotton, linen, lyocell and modal.

Vinted and a weekend somewhere lovely.

Cashmere jumpers on Vinted or M&S/JL sale
M&S jeans and trousers
Uniqlo everything
I find Hush overpriced and poor quality tbh, although I like their clothes
H&M has some great cotton and linen at the moment

I would get ChatGPT to suggest a capsule wardrobe for me based on my lifestyle and anything I already own and love, then I would buy the best quality versions of everything else that I could afford. I would start with summer things and then buy one thing a month as we move into cooler weather.

Vinted all the way, you can find absolutely every brand and item type there, and prices reflect the real value of garments, not the initial price brands try to charge you.

Clothes are very much like buying a new car. The moment you walk out of the shop with it, and moreso remove the tag, the price drops 50%+

If you want things to last, I'd focus on buying quality brands only, and only decent materials. If you are going to spend 30 on one item, why not buy something that originally retailed for 150+ and is actually worth the price.

I dont have an expansive wardrobe (I dont think), but:

10 pairs socks £20
10 pairs knickers £25
5 bras £100
Every day shoes £50
Sandals £40
Trainers £60
Boots £100
Summer coat £50
Winter coat £100
Jacket / blazer £50
1xset gym kit (bra, leggings, top) £100
3 work bottoms £150
5 summer work tops £200
5 winter work tops /jumpers £200
2 casual bottoms £100
5 casual tops £150
1x going out outfit £100
Couple of summer dresses £50
Swimsuit £20
2 pairs shorts £ 50

And you are pretty much at your budget.

So, is there anything in there you can reuse from your current wardrobe? Anything you can cross off?

Prices are off the top of my head - but supermarket / next / M&S supply most of my wardrobe.

I'd spend more on the items that protect you from foul weather. Your coat, your jacket, your shoes and boots. I buy second hand a lot and still get years of wear.

One of the bargain buys I like is the lightweight Uniqlo down jacket, they hold up for several years of hard wear and they're 3 season wear. I wear a Nuptse when it's really cold. I put sheepskin or buffalo wool insoles into my winter boots to insulate more from the cold ground.

Casual and sporty, I'd get some decent compression leggings, 2 swimsuits, and a couple pair of nice jeans and casual pants, linen and Uniqlo cotton poplin ones in summer. Supima t shirts, a couple linen shirts, a couple silk shirts, sweaters. A couple of well fitting nice bras and super comfortable underwear. A wear anywhere dress and a more formal one.

I do like a nice purse and have several.

Get a nice summer straw hat.

Buy the things like brushes and leather conditioners for your bags and footwear and a sweater stone or shaver and some wool wash (I have a no rinse one) for your sweaters. Some down patches for your down jackets. Give your nice things a spa day and care for and repair as needed.

I definitely go for bouncy trainers. I have seen them in a running shop for 250 - 300 quid. I am sure they would help.

Spend at least some of that money on two pairs of hoka trainers, fabulous and well worth the money

I’d put some time into working out what colours suit you and what styles work with your height and shape. Then think about what styles you like, whether having a kind of uniform is what you’d like to wear eg I wear trousers top and jacket most days. Work out a capsule wardrobe to cover what you need.
then I’d get onto Vinted and up level brands and quality. AI cAn be really helpful for coming up with aesthetics and brands that do a particular style.

Well … Specialist outdoor wear, and specialist exercise wear exist - and it’s obviously best to source those (new or pre-owned) and keep them separate from non-specialist everyday wear.

But it’s not clear how much of your life is not dog walking or exercising, @Dunnocantthinkofone?

Ive reached the point (or prices have) where I don’t think this budget is that easy.

So I would start by spreading out literally every rag I owned, very much including any accessories, and look at it with an outsiders eye. What do I own that I enjoy wearing, feel good in, like everything about (colour, fabric, shape, fit now)? I’d put everything else in a temporary bin bag and then consider the remaining bits as the basis of the wardrobe. I’d make a list of things I think would fill the gaps to make outfits, and then I’d start looking. I agree re Vinted, though I prefer a high end charity shop or dress agency so I can actually feel fabrics.

As a recovering scruffbag with no waist I would say it is much easier to look pulled together with dresses or jumpsuits than separates. But in the winter you need coats to keep that look going, and coats the right length.

I’m not a fashion person at all but pace Meryl Streep, there are shapes and colours that the fashion industry ensure just look wrong, so it is worth updating yourself. I do look to see what shapes and fabrics are out there. Broderie anglais is everywhere I go this summer and I like it, and I’ve bought a dress in it.

Without wanting to sound like a twat, decent shoes and imo socks make a huge difference. I have horrible pronated buniony feet, and I can’t look or feel anything but awful in the wrong shoes. I would probably have to start there tbh as I would need to spend a few hundred on footwear.

Do you have pierced ears? ( I don’t.) Can you get some upscale earrings for a birthday or even within the budget? They do a lot of heavy lifting.

If you can afford it pay for a stylist to shop with you - not that expensive. Or try john lewis styling and they get clothes for you to try.

I have bought a Community Clothing jumper and really love it. The colour and fabric are amazing. With my 1 pair of decently fitting jeans, which are in fact from Sainsbury’s, and polished boots or my decent walking boots, I genuinely look as good as it’s possible for me to look. One item can do that for you but it does need to be thought about. It took me about a year to finally buy it.

Vinted.

I would spend the most money on what you'll get a lot of use out of. A good quality winter coat, a lightweight rain coat, trainers, good boots etc.

For the rest I'd go to Uniqlo. They are my go-to for good quality basics. I like a minimal, relaxed look that works for casual wear as I need that most of the time but also works for going into the office or out for dinner and Uniqlo hasn't failed me yet.

I used to be a Brand Alley fan, but they twice sent me the wrong item, argued about receiving it back, despite photos with proof of sending and receipt and were generally unpleasant.

Thanks everyone- some really good suggestions here already. I’ve been playing about with AI to get some suggestions too and have a bit more of an idea of my style now. And lots of what I have already fits the concept, it’s just tired and baggy or bobbly.
Someone asked about lifestyle. Honestly it’s almost all functional. I don’t need much beyond a nice pair of jeans and a couple of VERY casual dresses/jumpsuits for non everyday occasions. I’m not rolling around in mud all day but crawling around with dogs,toddlers,chores,nipping to the shops friends or for lunch need to happen in mostly the same clothes. I’m too lazy to keep changing!

I was going to suggest you look at:

American Vintage (Outlet or sale, photos can’t convey just how chic these clothes look if they suit you.)

Community Clothing (Outstanding ethics and quality; too plain for some.)

Uniqlo (Stick to the natural fabrics.)

to see if any of them appeal as a concept for the basis of a wardrobe. They each do everything from outerwear to underwear.

Maybe try something from each. Cover the everyday first. And then you can look elsewhere for a few fancier pieces for going out in.

The thing is, @Dunnocantthinkofone - what I’ve observed on S&B is that people can inadvertently limit their own social lives / fun by determinedly not owning anything they can go anywhere nice in.

I’m sure you have a fun life already - but I’d definitely plan a wardrobe that allows for the rare or unexpected.

Community clothing do British made natural fibre clothes in simple styles for everyday wear. I would have a look on their website. I like Lanx for outdoor footwear that is practical but also looks good and is great to wear. Mango do (or used to, haven't looked for a while) very good value high wool content coats that are warm because of the wool content but also stylish.