Who else looks at their wardrobe and mutters under their breath (or shouts) ‘I have nothing to wear’? I was the exact same. I used to be very quick to purchase new ‘in fashion’ items that I would have worn once and cast aside almost as quick as I bought it. About a year ago I made a conscious decision to be a smarter shopper when it comes to fashion. I wanted to be able to create something capsule wardrobe like where I can mix and match a lot of my outfits so that I have endless clothing options to wear.
One thing I focused on creating was a colour scheme. I always opt for neutrals and so I have a lot of whites, browns and greys in my wardrobe. I also wear all black everyday for work so this alongside the other colours creates easily combined outfits. That’s not to say that I stop wearing bright colours when I want to but the colourful items I pick are more carefully thought out.
Below I have listed my go to wardrobe items that hopefully will give you some help when it comes to being a smarter shopper!
T Shirts
Topshop Weekend T Shirt White, £10
I honestly have about 6 of these as I wear them so so often. I have them in white, black and charcoal grey. I love to layer necklaces on top of them too to jazz them up a bit.
Shop HERE
Blouses
I am a sucker for a shirt with a collar. It’s a disgrace how many I have that are the same style, honestly! I find them so easy to wear and so it makes them the perfect wardrobe staple. A nice blouse will be one of the only things I will buy each season for example, this season the puff sleeve trend is full steam ahead and so I have bought a few. When this trend dies down I’ll still be able to wear the blouses/shirts layered underneath blazers, etc.
Polonecks
Similarly to blouses, I am addicted to polo necks but I genuinely think this is because if I have a dodgy tan I can always reach for a polo neck. They always look classy and my love for them started when I seen Cameron Diaz rock a white polo in The Holiday with a pair of skinny jeans, heels and an oh so fabulous coat. They are super sophisticated and even though I have a large chest, I can’t help but reach for them on a near daily basis.
Stradivarius Roll Neck Top, £7.99
Shop HERE
Pretty much every store out there has a range of polo necks, I always head to Stradivarius or New Look for the ones I would wear all the time and again, sticking with my colour theme I have them in nude, black and white/cream. I do however have my eye on the Marks & Spencer Pure Cashmere Roll Neck Jumper, £89 – they just feel so so soft and it would be such an investment considering how much I wear them.
New Look Black Ribbed Frill High Neck Top, £7.99
I feel like I wear everything with blazers these days, but these styles of high neck tops are great for under them so that you don’t get too stuffy or sweaty and your blazers are still comfortable to wear!
Shop HERE
Blazers
I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times – blazers are the way forward. A versatile blazer will be your wardrobe’s secret weapon, it will match everything and my favourite thing about them is you can layer over outfits you have already worn to create new outfits. Wear them open, wear them closed with a belt, wear them draped over your shoulders, wear them any way you want and they will always look classy. Speaking from experience you are better buying block colours for your blazers ie. just black, camel, white, etc as you’ll get far more wear out of them. I have made mistakes the past and bought patterned blazers that got no more than 2/3 wears.
Topshop Black Double Breasted Blazer, £49
Shop HERE
Blog post dedicated solely to blazers pending.
Jeans
I feel like there’s been a lot of Topshop spam so far but I like it and that’s where my little short legs can shop easily. As someone with a short leg (28 inch) Topshop is the easiest place for me to purchase jeans to suit. My friend Maria Macfarlane is the Personal Shopper in Topshop, Victoria Square Belfast and she sorted me RIGHT out with a jeans dilemma. For any of you that are local to Belfast, I highly recommend hitting her up – it’s completely free for an appointment and she will help you create a perfect wardrobe while picking things that are perfect for your style and shape!
Shop HERE
Topshop Pure Black Jamie Jeans, £49
Shop HERE
I had never been one for jeans when I was younger, I always preferred skirts and dresses but since Alexa Chung came floating across the pages of Heat Magazine with her cool and collected style, I had been trying to find THE pair of jeans. Enter Jamie Jeans. I have these in blue and black and with jeans I find I have an endless array of interchangeable outfits. Jeans are one of the only items that it’s deemed socially acceptable to wear on repeat over and over again and these Topshop ones wash and wear so well that it’s well worth the price.
Trousers
When I am not wearing jeans you can find me 90% of the time in cigarette trousers usually paired with a cute pair of boots. Again, I find you’re better opting for block colour or a timeless pattern to see you through endless combinations. Shocker – I usually am wearing black or nude.
H&M Cigarette Trousers, £17.99
I always try and opt for trousers with belt loops as it adds a little something to the garment and a belt ca change up the appearance of an outfit. H&M have a great selection of trousers especially in their workwear area, so comfy and again they wear really well.
New Look High Waist Tapered Trousers, £19.99
I actually have last year’s version of these trousers but they have held up so well they’re still going! It’s hard not to buy them in every colour…
Topshop Black Faux Leather Skinny Trousers, £36
I honestly don’t know how I would get through last minute nights out, dinner dates with the girls, daytime drinking sessions and work without a pair of leather leggings. If you have not yet purchased a pair I highly recommend these as they will change your life. I recently bought these ones after seeing them on India Moon and I have never looked back.
Boots
Two words – Dr Martens. The closest you can get to slippers while looking like a shoe. Once you make it through the fluffy sock wearing stage these shoes will take you anywhere. I swear, I have had all my Dr Martens for years and they look as good as the first day I got them – except my Oxblood Chelsea Boots as honestly, they just about made it back from a Saturday night Limelight excursion.
Dr Martens Jadon Flatform Chunky Boots, £169
These are without a doubt my favourite pair, you can wear them with any outfit I have listed earlier and will always look good. Whether you are opting for a daytime look or evening look – Dr Martens are awesome.
That’s all for now, trying to keep to the basics. Thanks for reading and you can follow me on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.
*some of the links in the post are Affiliate Links which mean if you purchase anything using the link I may make a small commission*
Amy Savage 