Ask Angie: Key wardrobe additions on a budget - YouLookFab Forum

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Ask Angie: Key wardrobe additions on a budget

R.G.

Member

Hello Angie! I was so excited when I stumbled upon this website a few days ago! I have decided, as a 40th birthday gift to myself, to reinvent my "look". I have felt frumpy, blah, and generally invisible for a few years-my workplace is very casual-I'm a graphic artist and animator, pretty much anything goes!-and I never got out of the jeans and a t-shirt rut from college. So, I am on a pretty strict budget ( single mom of a teen daughter) and difficult to fit size: 5'10", 145lbs, 34" inseam, short-waisted long armed rectangle! Do you have any suggestions for some key wardrobe additions that will update my jeans and a tee look? I am also cutting my long hair to a pixie cut next Tuesday, so trying to look a bit more feminine too. Long hair makes one very lazy with makeup and clothes!

P.S. I recently read your post about clutches, and I'm rockin' the Maddox zip clutch from Fossil in emerald green now and loving it! It makes me feel feminine and really works with my tall lanky figure!

Dressing

15 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

Adelfa

Veteran

Welcome! Not Angie, but I'll just say a couple of ideas. First, consider getting some tops that aren't tees, but made of a woven material (not knit/stretchy). This could be a button-up shirt or a blouse of some sort. It will instantly elevate your look. Second, make sure your shoes are cute. Maybe a nice sandal for summer.

When I'm on a budget, I love to buy clothes at Target. They have a lot of good things! Their shoe department also includes fashionable, stylish selections. In my closet I have tops, skirts, dresses, and sandals from Target. Good luck!

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Welcome, RG, and happy birthday You probably need talls in most pants and jeans - Target actually carries tall jeans in store which is peachy keen. Other brands that run long are Kut from the Kloth at Nordstrom and some of the designer brands (no personal experience with those myself but perhaps others will chime in).

You've got an enviable situation that you can wear what you want, but that makes it hard to choose, I know! (I'm a freelancer who works at home myself.) If you haven't already, start collecting pictures/links of some outfits and/or bloggers that you really like, and see if you can start narrowing down your style descriptors.

I think Adelfa's idea of a top-thats-not-a-tee is great. In addition, you may want to experiment with jackets and more structured outer layers - even a nice sweater or a ponte knit blazer can elevate a look while still being as comfy as more casual knits.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

You sound like me, minus the height lol, when I came here 3 years ago. I found drapier tees, and also some wovens in place of the standard stretchy knits, made a difference in the style factor. I cannot abide standard business wear, nor do I need to in my job as bartender. But I agree tees and jeans are lackluster this many years after school. Footwear that makes a statement is a fun way to inject excitement in an otherwise simple outfit.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

If I had to choose, say about $400 worth of recent pieces that made a big style difference for me, I might go with these:

pic 1 $140 leather jacket (BIG money for me)
pic 2 $8 dress at Ross my gateway drug into grecian drapey style
pic 3 bottom shoe $36 suede with studs, daring for me, but oh so fun
pic 4 $20 sandal goes with everything, dresses, skirts, shorts, pants, all colors
pic 5 $40 'out there' jeans but I love them and get compliments all the time
pic 6 $5 Old Navy drapey tee - another gateway drape item
pic 7 $60 bringing my jeans silhouette and style into today with distressed BF styling
pic 8 $78 my every day bag that makes a statement all it's own (I am not a 'bag lady' who switches out daily, or even seasonally honestly!)

Not sure if any of this helps you or not, but I found both spending big on dream items and scoring surprise $10 hits are equally important to a well rounded new wardrobe.

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Carla

Veteran

My style quest started 6 months ago, but I spent the first 4 months shopping my closet and doing curatorial work (purging.editing). I've only started making new purchases, and the game changers have been white items- white jean jacket, white shoes, white belt.

I've also added 3 button down style shirts in soft fabrications- blue and white print, chambray, and black lace with solid collar and cuffs.

My biggest challenge is getting pants that are long enough.. (My too short pants have been pointed out to me by Angie and kind forum participants.) I'm 5 ft 7.5 in, but have a long inseam. I'm still on the hunt for longer straight leg or skinny jeans, and a coloured pant ( would love mustard)' and white jeans.

A jean jacket and a leather moto carry a lot of punch. Belts in white, red, and animal print or snake skin, and a white leather bag would give your dollars a lot of mileage. Fab caged sandals (low or high heel) and wedge sneakers and/or slipper shoes would work with your existing jeans and t's, but be of the moment footwear.

jenanded

Veteran

Welcome! not sure what to add to this great advice... Mo - love the pics - this makes tangible the comments!

Niefern

Welcome to YLF, this is a great place. I too started upgrading my style about 6 months ago. In my case, the thing I found most urgent was purging most of my tops, as they were too short and/or too body-con - Outdated!
I have bought a few longer, more updated tops and this alone has improved things a lot, I think. And it has not been expensive, actually I have bought everything in sale and/or at inexpensive stores like H&M.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Welcome! And happy birthday!

It sounds as if you're already off to a great start with your style refresher. A new haircut can change your game in a big way. I am YLF's poster girl for that. For most of my life I'd been wearing my hair short but I had temporarily grown it out a few years before joining YLF. Angie counselled me to cut it, and wow! Suddenly I felt as if I could begin to make progress in establishing my new style.

The other thing Angie always advises is a bra fitting if you have not had one recently. That can make a lot of difference and will affect the way your clothes fit, so it's worth doing before you make a lot of purchases.

Where in the world are you? I ask, because the best purchases for your budget might depend a little bit on where you live as well as your lifestyle (which you mentioned). The leather jacket that serves one person well might go unworn in the wrong climate; ditto for the sandals!

R.G.

Member

Thanks everyone for the excellent advice! I'm on the west coast, USA in a high desert climate, which means mild winters with some snow, and blazing hot summers. The majority of the locals are easy to spot here, for their outdoorsy casual style...lots of hiking boots and fleece (personal faves of mine too!) I think the first thing I'm going to do is a closet purge... Lots of my tops are too short and tight which I didn't really even notice until I started paying attention. Thanks, Mo, for the pictures. Does anyone have any absolute style DON'Ts for a talk, angular figure to share?

R.G.

Member

That's "tall", not "talk"

Suz

(website)

Veteran

There are no absolutes, but here are Angie's recommendations if you haven't seen them. If you are relatively small up top, you may want to avoid wrap dresses and any neckline that you can't "fill out." If you want to create curves, you'll follow one set of recommendations. If you want to maintain a boyish silhouette, another.

A purge is a great place to start. If it doesn't fit, doesn't flatter, isn't current, or doesn't fit with your style goals and style persona and make you feel fab, out it goes! Good luck!

kkards

Veteran

other than hiking boots, you don't mention shoes. i would start there (but i have a shoe issue). its amazing how changing your shoes can change an outfit. if you add a pair of pointy flats, the jeans and tees will look different than if you are wearing sneakers or hiking boots.

ironkurtin

Veteran

I work in a similar industry and I empathise. Trust me, you can dress well even if you're über casual in tees and fleece. Check out Nau for web specials and stalk them on eBay. Adidas SLVR, y-3, and Stella McCartney for Adidas also are reasonable on eBay and add some feminine flair to sporty basics.

My suggestion if you are on a budget is a super basic "uniform" under (jeans and tanks, tees, or LS tees), everything fitting nicely. Then add a belt, a scarf, fun shoes, even a sweatshirt hoody that zips!

Message me offline with your address, I have a black Y-3 jacket I was about to donate that may fit. I'll send it to you.

Beth Ann

Veteran

I missed this when you posted a couple days ago, but I wanted to jump on and say, "Welcome!" I second the sound advice already given, and would encourage you to post a few pics of your favorite outfits (WIW) to give us an idea of the items in your closet that currently have a high "happiness factor." It's unnerving at first, but taking pictures reveals a lot over time. It's terrific when something on the forum says, "How you thought about wearing your X jacket with those jeans?" Or, "That dress is beautiful, but have you seen this one from X?"

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Welcome and I'm excited about your haircut

First, you need to make sure you're in the right bra.

Second, if you wear specs, make sure they are the best that you can afford.

Third, if we can see photos of you in your jeans, that would really help. If you are a "wear jeans every day" gal, we need to make sure your jeans are spectacular.

Fourth, you need to get updated and current tops, toppers and footwear to wear with your jeans/shorts.

This is the general outline! From here, we can narrow down the specifics.