Woman in need of meeja funkiness

[FlorenceandtheWashingMachine]

I have a new freelance job (copywriting and PR) which largely involves working from home (jeans and cashmere jumper with Avoca scarf - check), but it calls for occasional forays into the Big Wide World. I live in a small, rural town and - for a small, rural town* - I am not a bad dresser, but I need to get hold of 2-3 decent outfits for trips I have coming up.

I am short and curvy. I have big boobs. I don't want to wear head-to-toe black. Can anyone recommend some web sites? Or should I just bite the bullet and go to a personal shopper? Help!

Yours gratefully,

Florence

• Disclaimer, I know that some small, rural towns are VERY smart but this is not one of them.

[mothermirth]

Afraid I can't help, but fellow small town freelancer here lurking with nosiness interest

[FlorenceandtheWashingMachine]

Hello, Mother!

[newgirl]

I like zara for being a bit funky but not scary. I just got a good a line acmel cotton skirt from there in sale for 5.99. Gap do good t shirts on line. 3/4 length sleeve is easy to wear? Banana Republic have a good website too. Bit smart but not too officey for meeja. Hows that for starters?

[newgirl]

camel not acmel?!

[onesandwichshort]

I'm the same shape as you, and I know that because of that I really, really get cross buying things online because it's impossible to tell if they are flattering or not in advance. The only exception to that is uniqlo, but only because I've done a recce to the shop and know what works.

Soooo, I think you need to timetable in a trip to the Big Town and find some real life shops. But are you meeting clients or other meeja types - if the latter then I would have thought the day working clothes would have been fine (I worked in tv and only had to dress up approx twice a year on average, lived in jeans and their like for the rest of the time).

One final thought, is that I've just got a catalogue from Bravissimo, which included their new clothing range. No idea if it is any cop or not, but might also be worth a go,

[ShirleySharpeyes]

I too am a rural town sort - who occasionally has to leave the Shire without my security blanket cashmere jumper. I'm tall and lacking of nork so can't help specifically with outfits...but how about adding some funky, quirky jewellery to the good hair/glasses try here - Plumo ? Agree Zara very good for nice-not-too-officey stuff and a few bits at Warehouse, Reiss etc and John Lewis for everything else....

[FlorenceandtheWashingMachine]

Ooh, thank you, ladies.

My hair is in a not-too-boring-bob and I don't wear glasses, so I am fine there.

I will explore all of those suggestions - there's a big city nearby and I think that I might try a personla shopper just to push me out of my comfort zone a bit.

My main client dresses well (leather skirt, silk blouse, gothy accessories, entirely in black) and I guess that I want to find a smarter style that I am happy with as I occasionally have to be one of the public faces of this big brand (gulp).

Funky, quirky jewellery's a great idea and something that I love. I have a little, but not enough .

Florence

[FlorenceandtheWashingMachine]

Onesandwich, meant to say that I have ordered clothes from Bravissimo in the past and I didn't find the quality was reflected in the prices. Things might have changed, however...

[FlorenceandtheWashingMachine]

Plumo is lovely! I always forget about it.

I have bought myself a Vivienne Westwood necklace online. I've wanted one for ages and this is my 'first paypacket' present to myself.

I feel funkier already