Vinted June 2024

I think one of the most important things I did in June was to add another tab to my spreadsheet.   I decided what my priority wardrobe should look like....

• Waterproof winter coat (not every size, maybe every other)
• Warm Coat (every other size opposite the waterproof coat for dog walking)
• Faux Fur Coat (not every size)
• Two pairs of jeans
• Two pairs of leggings
• Smart black trousers
• Two jumpers
• Dress / smart outfit
• Two smart tops
• Four casual t-shirts / tops
• Swimming Costume

I think coats are an interesting one.  It's easy to forget them but, small coats don't keep your warm and dry and over large coats are just...  cumbersome and draughty.  You don't need every type of coat in every size though.  Also, some types of coat I have to wear in larger sizes because the zips start at the hips, which are one of the larger parts of my body.  My lower half is a size 28 right now while my top half is a size 24.

I had already brought a size 24 puffy black coat which will be warm and shower proof but not an all weather dog walking coat.  I can not quite do it up yet at the bottom.  I bit the bullet though and found a size 26 regatta coat this month.  While the zip is a struggle at the bottom, I can do up all the velcro.  It is warm and waterproof and will be great for this winter.  I have not quite managed to let go of my previous dog walking coat...  it's not in great condition, so I will sell it very cheaply.  Also, I can fit many layers under it right now.  I think I will probably keep it and see where I am at this winter.

I find the faux fur coats fit nicely above my hips so they are warm and fun and fit better than other coats.  They soak up water and remain warm, so even with the local climate, they are fine for going out in, but not for dog walking in the rain.  I had brought a 28 and a 24.  The 28 is large but fine and the 24 is ok.  I will need a size 20 next.

I don't think there is a hurry to get a size 22 waterproof winter coat or a size 20 smart warm coat.  The size 20 faux fur coat is coming up the list though.

So jeans...  I have two pairs of size 28 and size 24 but only one size 26.  I had trouble buying size 26.  Jeans fell through....  I actually brought a pair of pink cords but the reality is, I do need two pairs of jeans.  I wear them out shopping, dog walking, most places.  They are hard wearing and generic.  The pink cords will not go with everything.  They also don't fit on my list of basic must haves.  A nice extra...

Leggings I will only buy new and I have size 26 and 24.  I have started wearing the size 26 to yoga to give more support.  They are tighter on the ankles etc and I won't wear them every day yet.

Smart black trousers are something I like to have as you can wear them with anything for so many different occasions.  I wear them to everything from slimming world to weigh ins.  I like the thin black ones that are a silky / satiny finish in a stretch material with an elasticated waist.  I find they drape nicely and are flattering and forgiving.  I am finding it very hard to find them though.  I brought a pair of Joanna Hope trousers which are lovely but they have a chiffon overlay.  They tick the ultra smart box but there is no dressing them down.  I have a pair of size 30 that are just about still wearable and not falling down and the size 26 ones fit fine, even though I brought them for the wedding.  I do need smart black trousers in size 24, 22 and eventually size 20.  Not easy though to find what I want.  Very easy to buy the wrong thing too...

So jumpers.  Do I need two?  I keep asking myself and I change my mind.  I have ponchos and they fit now and will continue to fit as I lose weight.  I came to the conclusion that yes, I probably do.  So I probably need another jumper in size 24, 22 and 20.  I also am torn by ponchos though.  I spotted plain knit snuggly ponchos in black and purple and I want them....

I do need one smart outfit in each size.  Yes for most things I can wear a smarter top with jeans but there are some things you just need a dress for or something dressier....  When I went through it, I realised I had my Twisted Wunder dress (26), a maroon jacquard dress (20) and another Twisted Wunder dress with pink stars (18), so there were gaps for size 24 and 22.  I brought a lovely navy Koko jacket with tassels, thinking for the wedding.  I doesn't quite fit though, a little too tight over the shoulders.  It will fit though...  So I found a navy size 22 skirt to go with it.  Its a maxi skirt in a crinkly taffeta.  It is elasticated and lovely.  Not sure what top I would wear with this outfit yet.  So many would do as it would not be the focus.

I found a size 24 dress for the wedding by Julien MacDonald that I adore and would absolutely wear it for other things, if I had the occasions.  I am not sure I will get it though, I have a feeling the order will time out without being sent.  If so, I will still be on the hunt for something for the wedding and something dressy for size 24.  I would possibly hunt for a size 26 for the wedding if this falls through and I do have a lilac trouser set I brought in June that doesn't fit yet that is size 24.  The lilac is not my fav though.  At the moment, it's a wait and see...

Its very easy to buy smart tops.  I have brought a few.  I realised I needed to perhaps be a little more disciplined with these.  I brought a pair of tunics with chiffon overlay that contains metallic thread.  One is black and the other purple and both are by Roman Originals.  They were an absolute bargain and I will absolutely wear them but I already have two smart tops in a size 22.  I have a Joe Browns devore tunic and a grey next top with sequins.  I only have smart top in size 20 though, a red patterned chiffon overlay.  So, I will need one more.

I spend a lot of time being casual, so casual t-shirts are what I wear most of the time.  I have some basic T's in a size 24 but I will need basic T's in smaller sizes.  I don't have these on the list though.  This is because I can layer them and wear them too big.  Also these very basic T's are cheap and best brought as bundles or from Asda new.  It's a bit more as and when.

I came to the conclusion though that I need four nicer T's in each size.  I don't want to always go out in tops that are too big.  I still want to look somewhat nice walking the dog....  I realised my buying of these types of tops was very patchy.  I also had some that I had retained or acquired...

So size 24.  I brought a black T in May that has an pouncing fox on it, made up of flowers.  Back in April I brought a long sleeved tunic T with a pumpkin face on it.  This month, I brought a pink and purple thinner plaid top.  That left me one last slot...  I have ordered a grey t-shirt with a camo star on it.

In size 22 I don't need any more t-shirts.  I brought a pair of t-shirts in April, one with a readasurus dinosaur on it and the other with a sugar skull on it.  I already had a t-shirt from a local sports group I support and another I have had for years from a dog charity.

I had absolutley no t-shirts in a size 20 though and I have worked on this, this month.  None of them have arrived as yet but I have a brown t-shirt with dinosaurs on that says I believe in dinosaurs which will arrive first I think.  I also ordered a black t-shirt by Firetrap that has a white flower graphic.  After that I found a navy t-shirt by Next that has a bronze abstract design round the bottom.  This navy t-shirt was quite cheap and I was able to bundle it with a couple of other items that were also cheap.  One is a plain black T in size 24 (always useful) and the other is a t-shirt dress in black with distressed white stars on it.  I think it looks like it is jersey and something I would wear with jeans or leggings but, really I am not sure until it arrives....

That just leaves swimming costumes and what I have will last till the end of the summer for sure.  I might pick up smaller sizes at the end of the summer, on vinted or in sales.  I am not sure yet.  Otherwise if I don't find any bargains, I might wait till next April.  It's not a priority.  If I lost a lot of weight this winter, I could even skip some sizes potentially, when I was not swimming.

So my next priorities are....

• Wedding outfit (26/24)
• Smart dress (24) if I don't end up with one for the wedding
• Jumper (24)
• Smart black trousers (24)
• Smart top (20)
• Jumper (22)
• Jumper (20)

This mnoth, I brought a Picasso style design top that's quite long in a size 20/22 which while nice, doesn't fit what I want for a smart top or a casual top.  It's kind of inbetween...  So I absolutely will wear it but it doesn't fit any of the necessary boxes.  I think I am always going to fall in love with some things and just want them.

I ordered another top that does not fit the necessary box at all.  I had a tunic by Koko with snowmen on it and it was my absolute go to every year from Christmas.  It was very flattering and I loved it.  I sold it recently though as it was just too big now.  Koko did a Father Christmas tunic at the same time and I spotted this design in a size 20 today and I had to have it.  I have a grinch T that just about fit last Christmas, so that will no doubt fit this Christmas.  The Koko top probably won't, but there are many Christmases to come.  I could still wear it at size 18 and I think it would be some time before I couldn't wear it.

So that's my purchases.... and my planned purchases...

I have listed more things and sold more things, which has mostly funded my purchases.  I listed some of the more basic things in my wardrobe that were too big, like trousers, jeans, basic jumpers etc.  I also decided to let go of my nice summer t-shirts by Joe Browns.  I realised that they are too big, it doesn't matter how much I love them, how they nearly fit, I have other things that fit better for the summer.  I may not love them quite as much but it's fine.  I have vest tops and cami's that fit now and a couple of loose flowing cotton tops.  I also let go of some more Joe Browns smart things that were too big and my last two velvet stretch skater dresses.

Some things have sold, others not.  I need to list more things.

I have a Joe Browns coat to list which is way too big now.  I also need to start thinking about letting go of nice jumpers and cardigans that are too big.  I have to accept they probably won't be my first choice ever again.  

Tops are an issue though especially more casual tops.  I like to layer and have no issue with oversize t's or T's with holes.  I have so many but how do you decide what to get rid of when you can still use them?  It's a glut.  I need to just keep weeding.  Eventually, as I get thinner, it will become more and more obvious what to get rid of.  I won't be still wearing this stuff when I reach a size 20 for instance.  I think some of the very largest need to go and also some of the colours I wear least.

I brought a couple of vest tops from asda in April in size 26 and it was those that made me realise I was a size 24.  They tend to slip off my shoulders a little.  They are not a stretch fabric though and won't work oversize.  The irony is I may well get rid of them some time before I get rid of my largest t-shirts, especially as some of them become pyjama tops and oversize top layers.

Selling is an addiction though, because I need to sell to buy more things.  I made myself the rule that sales had to fund purchases, mostly.