Help Me Construct A Wardrobe of "Classics"!

[Pandora]

You look good in red too Bath, and that's not something everyone can pull off.

[Bathsheba]

I've lost two long reply posts My keyboard is stuffed, if i press the space-bar too hard it acts like a "go to previous page" button and takes me back to the main forum list.... how weird!

Anyhow! thanks everyone!!! A few specifics:

Fiona: yes, a lot depends on body type: I have a weird one! Kinda hourglass but not big busted.... broad shoulders, small waist (probably my best feature) broad pelvis (matches shoulders) but carry weight on my butt rather then my hips. Legs a good length but too solid to wear short skirts. I am nearly 5' 7" but can look deceptively tall in heels. I'm happy with my figure and don't really have any issues that I stress over... I'm a Winter in the colour system with neutral toned skin (neither warm nor rosey according to my Clinque consultant... I wear "Just Neutral" shade foundation in their palest shade (I am quite fair in winter, I tan well but avoid the sun). I obviously have very dark brown longish hair (avvy). My eyelashes/brows are naturally very dark so this gives me strong features (probably why I can get away with wearing strong colours like red).

Bellelass: Thanks for your input I agree, i probably should have put "Basics" but i wanted to indicate that I also want to avoid fad style choices. I don't, for example consider hipsters as Classic. Infact, even though I own a few pairs of hipsters i don't really like them. Unless I wear a skin-tight top I lose all my shape. Picture this: broad shouldered woman wears a loose cotton shirt with her broad hips in hipster jeans... my waist is "lost". Why do women like them so much? They also cling to the butt making it look too big IMO a MUCH more flattering pant-style is a cut that falls stright down from the curve of the butt without clinging to the underside IYKWIM. In a few years hipsters are going to make me look like mutton... I'll be giving them all to my teenage DD. My stomach is basically flat... I have two jutty bits (bones at the top of my pelvis) that I like the have as the point at which my waist line sits. The perfect pant falls straight down at this point.... no pockets, just nice and smooth... but do you know how HARD it is to find a pair that sits at that point??? they are all about 5cms too low... so that when i tuck in my shirt there's this silly crumply area that messes up the way it should lie flat. I think my problem is that my torso is very female in the way it curves and the current fashion is for women who must be more straight up and down? it's all very frustrating to have a feature you like but for current fashion to ignore it... It's all about covering/hiding your waist it seems these days. Unless you want to wear a stupid wide leather belt over the top of everything! UGH! I couldn't think of anything worse than having a broad decorative belt cinching everything in.... I don't "do" decorative fashion... it's comfort before looks.

Someone said they like Colorado; me too! they do the "basics" very well.

Thanks sis (rosehannah)... I've always prefered plain blocks of colour over prints... I find it is more versatile. That black dress I wore over summer is falling to bits! it's perfect. A friend gave it to me secondhand nearly 10 years ago! Dontcha just hate it when a favourite item 'dies'. I think I might take it a tailor and ask them to make me a new one! i'm sure they could. Same with a pair of pants i have... nothing could beat the way they are cut... i feel like I shouldn't waste my time looking. The best thing about them is that they have two little buckles on the waist that adjusts it perfectly... I have a sway back and most pants "swim" around my waist near my lower back. It's the bane of my life. I don't like elasticized pants.

Lucy: yes! I prefer natural fabrics as far as possible! My synthetic clothes are mainly those 'special' night out pieces that can be worn at night... less chance of me feeling hot or cold in them... synthetics make it even harder for my temperamental body to adjust it's thermostat... give me natural fibres anyday. This is also quite limiting though.

Rayray: thanks for the vote of confidence with wearing red I gotta be in the right mood... I usually don't feel right in bright colours and to be honest that particular red top i wore I bought for the cut rather than the colour LOL fitted around my waist but covered my butt... perfect combination! Green is probably the most common colour in my wardrobe... i wonder what that says I like black but it makes me look too serious.... I am always told i look intimidating so i use colour to soothe other people! I also wear a lot of white. Like a lot of you have said, a white linen shirt is called for!

Better post this before I lose it...

[Bathsheba]

Bit of a WooHoo! I bought a pair of black mary jane style Doc Marten shoes last weekend! My shoe collection has been dismally small because I find it so hard to find ones that fit. However I love Doc's because they are so well made and durable. And these were reduced from $180 to $50!!!! they were the last pair! the sales assistant said she had had them for ages... people liked them but they just didn't fit them... I tired them on and it was like I was Cinderella! LOL So comfy too that I asked if I could keep them on... i did 2 hours worth of shopping and they were comfortable all that time! Now THAT'S a good sign!

[Nai]

I would also add (depending on where you live) a well cut black leather jacket/coat to suit your body type. I bought mine in Spain 7 years ago and it is a tailored cut to mid thigh, coming in at the waist. It looks classic and classy and won't date quickly.

[Bathsheba]

I agree Nai... I had a black leather jacket but stupidly gave it away to a friend in my early 20's when I was about 10 kilos heavier than what I am now It would fit me perfectly these days. I think though that if I was to buy a leather jacket i would go for a deep chocolate brown... sometimes black doesn't go well in the day time (I prefer it at night) but dark brown is versatile plus I wear a lot of it... it suits me.

ETA: although black would go well with my new black shoes! Hmmm choices choices!

[Nai]

Most of my wardrobe is black so it goes with pretty much everything ... very Melbourne

[fionas]

Well done on the purchase Bath - that's a serious bargain. Mary Janes are just so darn good. And Docs are indeed very comfy. I can't part with a pair of black velour Doc Marten boots that I brought over from the UK with me nearly 15 years ago and haven't worn since. Hoping there will be a Doc revival and I can call them 'vintage'.

I had my own triumph last week too. Saw a dress in Jacqui E which I thought would be good when I go back to work in July. Grey with a little round collar, belted waist with box pleat detail and quite loose, gathered skirt.

So pondered then went back a week later to try it on but assistant also pointed out a totally different dress - v-neck, belted waist but with a very straight pencil skirt. I really tried it on to humour her.

Anyhow, lo and behold the dress I'd chosen made me look a bit frumpy whereas the dress she'd chosen looked a million bucks and I couldn't get to the register quick enough.

So the moral of the story is sometimes assistants know what they're talking about and definitely try a variety of styles. Often the very opposite of what we think will cover up a multitude of sins is actually what suits us better.

Of course, now I want to go on a pencil skirt binge as most of my skirts are jersey wool gathered style!

[Phteven]

You need a great handbag or two.
I would say the Chloe Edith in a neutral colour because it's classy enough for work but you can dress it down a bit too. You can pick one up on ebay for a lot less than the crazy retail price but there are lots of fakes so get it authenticated first (if you need I can give you a great link for authentification). Then again it may not be to your taste.
I think the Mulberry Bayswater is also a classic and maybe a bit more feminine than Edith. I love the Roxanne and the Rosemary but they're not really work bags IYKWIM.

[Bathsheba]

Thanks for the handbag tips Chloe... i share your taste... I can't remember, I think you posted a link in my wallet thread? I really liked the purse you linked to. So I'll suss them out

Fiona: I agree, I've tried on things to humour sales assistants too and been surprised! I always tell them my figure "issues" and they often get it right... I guess they see people trying things on all the time and hear them say "too small around the waist" or "too big over the shoulders" which are the very attributes I need! ie the opposite to the average woman!

[kristy J]

You need a great handbag or two.
I would say the Chloe Edith in a neutral colour because it's classy enough for work but you can dress it down a bit too. You can pick one up on ebay for a lot less than the crazy retail price but there are lots of fakes so get it authenticated first (if you need I can give you a great link for authentification). Then again it may not be to your taste.
I think the Mulberry Bayswater is also a classic and maybe a bit more feminine than Edith. I love the Roxanne and the Rosemary but they're not really work bags IYKWIM.

I so miss having great handbags I will have to do my own makeover one day too.

but too don't forget to get the right bra's prof fitted...