2015 Wardrobe Review

Following on with my post about taking stock in January, I set aside some time over the weekend to do a stock-take in my wardrobe.  It involves reviewing what I've bought over the past year, whether that was a good investment or not, and then coming up with a buying (or refraining from buying...) plan for the coming year.  If I don't do this, there's a good chance I'll fall astray and end up failing to spend my money on experiences, rather than clothes.  That theory didn't get off to the best start, as I did splurge in the sales prior to the stock-take, but as with everything in life, you can only start from where you are.

Ebay
I bought a lot of things off Ebay in 2015, and for the most part it was successful, though it's always a lottery really.  The one downfall seemed to have been my attempt at buying usually expensive, high quality reproduction vintage dresses by brands such as House of Foxy, Dolly Dagger and Stop Staring.  These dresses are all in the over £100 price bracket, which is out of my normal budget, so I tried Ebay for second-hand ones at less than a third of the price.  I bought probably six or seven of these high-end dresses that didn't fit in total, and an additional two that did fit.  All four of the beautiful dresses pictured below did not fit, despite getting measurements and comparing dresses I already have from those brands that do fit me, and I had to resell them (fortunately with a small profit overall).

Clockwise from top left: Dolly Dagger rose print dress, House of Foxy peony print dress, Stop Staring red polkadot swing dress, Stop Staring black flutter dress. All in my size, but none of them fit me, so they had to go to new homes.

It's a bit frustrating and has made me even more wary about paying full price for these frocks, because invariably you end up losing a minimum of about £7 postage on each order you have to return.  And why spend such a large amount of money on a dress you'll not wear as much say as a top or pair of trousers?  I think I might have a little look on Ebay in 2016 for high-end dresses, but only place a bid if it's a 'dream' dress, rather than ones that I just think are quite nice.  I also found Clarks shoes reasonably on Ebay last year, and it's a good place to track down past styles that are a bit vintage in their styling, so I will continue to keep an eye out for those too.  All of my true vintage dresses from Ebay were a disaster - too short, too tight, too big, too scratchy, or not actually vintage!  I am very reluctant to buy true vintage from Ebay again.

Above: A vintage '70s dress that had the most horrid polyster lining, and it was too big anyway.

Vintage Style Brands

The Seamstress of Bloomsbury was my overall favourite new-to-me vintage reproduction brand.  I bought their Violet dress and Clarice blouse, and was gifted their Lisa dress for review.

Above: In the Seamstress of Bloomsbury Violet dress

I also tried Whispering Ivy, with the two dresses I had from them being re-worn a few times over the year.  That's always a good sign that they're pieces that will get a lot of wear over the years.

Above: In a Whispering Ivy tropical print dress.

In terms of more familiar brands to me, I keep returning to Tara Starlet like a moth to the flame.  I kept their Marlene dress and some green pinstripe sailor trousers (currently on the alterations pile), but sent back their nightie (strap was ripped), crop top and short set (didn't like the fabric), bow bodice (see my review), and Molly dress (see review).  I don't think it was a good year for them overall, with lots of things being too cropped or too shiny to work on a wide range of figures.  I will wait and see what 2016 brings, as they've promised to expand their size range, so hopefully their designs will prove a little more wearable.

Lindybop's polkadot 'Bethan' trousers were a keeper but I returned the 'Divine' and 'Lindsey' tops (weird fit), green Isla dress (couldn't accommodate my derriere), and had issues with too many other dresses for me to list here.  See my post on all of their dresses I've tried here to hear more success/failure stories.

Collectif tempted me with their Monroe cropped jeans but the kangaroo pouch effect meant they were swiftly returned.

Voodoo Vixen was another fab brand that I only really discovered in 2015.  It started off last January when I won a cardigan from them.  Then, I went to London Edge as part of their blogger event.  Since then, I've bought a few things from them, including the amazing space babe skirt that I featured recently.

Above: In the 'Mila' cardigan that I won from Voodoo Vixen.

Overall there does seem to be as much hit-and-miss with the higher priced brands as with the smaller ones, for me anyway.  I'm talking about differences between styles of the same brand, and certainly major differences in quality between items too.  I was also surprised as sometimes I was getting better customer service from large brands than the small ones.  Lindybop, for example, may sell mainly cheap and cheerful items, but I have found their customer service absolutely top-notch, and they don't quibble over faults - I get my refund straight away, an apology (which goes a long way), and any postage is reimbursed.  I think that's the trouble with shopping with vintage repro or style brands; they're mainly online unless you live in London, so you are always taking a risk with whether something's going to be suitable.  Proceed with caution, I think for 2016.

High Street and other 'Normal' shops

It can be hard work hunting on the high street for vintage style clothing.  It's a lot of leg work for not much reward, so these days I mainly stick to looking online rather than venturing around the shopping centre.  The one exception is outlets - I am fairly close to two outlets, and I've had a few successes at these.  In The Outlet (which basically stocks catalogue brands like Very and Littlewoods), I came up trumps with evening dresses, leaving with three in one go, none of them over £10.  I also had success in Next, where they had some smashing outlet dresses, including a coral (again!) midi dress that actually hits below the knee on me.  A revelation!

As for underwear, the Dita Von Teese 'Her Sexellency' bra and brief set was supremely unflattering, with baggy cups (an A cup, I couldn't have gone smaller).  Also the bra was weirdly small in diameter; it could have done with being twice the size for my frame.  It was like wearing a pair of pince-nez.  Good old M&S, along with Kiss Me Deadly saved the day and provided me with some well-fitting vintagey styles.

Above: I bought the dark purple version of this 1930s style dress by Very in The Outlet, then found this coral version on Ebay.

Above: A quick snap of me in the Next midi dress, in a bit of a bland hotel room before heading out on the town.

Charity Shops and Car Boot Sales

This kind of shopping is just so much fun!  I did buy a lot, and a lot of it didn't end up being worn admittedly, and has recently been re-donated or stuck on Ebay.  When I'm paying such small prices and the proceeds are going to charity, it's quite a cheap hobby overall that I don't have any regrets over.  I came away with things that I would never go out and purposely look for, such as a white faux-fur trimmed cape.  Fun, glamorous, and cheap!

Charity shop purchases, clockwise from top left: Oasis flutter-sleeve dress (kept), Cacharel '80s blouse (sold on), leather handbag (kept), and top (not sure, will wait until summer to re-assess!)

Above: The £3 cape that made me feel like Mrs Christmas!

I bought quite a lot overall in 2015, but I also donated or sold on bags, and bags, and bags of clothes from my existing wardrobe.  I also have very importantly stayed within my means, and if I have a bit of a spendy month, then the next one I tighten the purse strings.  So, what's my wardrobe plan for 2016?  Wear what I've already got.  Only purchase outside of charity shops if it's something that will fill an identified gap.  So far, that means only shapewear, hosiery, and things like belts and little accessories that can 'complete' an existing outfit.  No more dresses then.*

* I can't promise this...