Please help - summer style.

[elfycat]

I am having a change of style which started in October. I have been wearing knee length, mid calf or long skirts (never bifurcated clothing) with Clarks black low-heeled shoes, usually with a bar. I used to team this with white blouses and cardigans a-la Per Una.

Bought my first pair of boots, had to return as manufacturing fault, and now have a second pair. Knee high, brown with lacing up the front. I have wide calves no matter my weight so need some kind of give.
I then bought 3 fatface dresses, 2 woolen and an Ingrid dress but in a different colour to this. I bought trouser-like leggings to wear with them.

I've had tons of compliments about this and I've stopped feeling middle-aged before my time.

Now for summer as I guess I can't keep going with the boots.

I'm 41 and have long dark blonde going gently platinum hair, 5'6" but everyone thinks I'm taller. I'm also a size 14 on the top and 16 on the bottom so overweight, pear-shaped but curvy with a waist. We have a family nickname for the rather large bottoms that every female for 4 generations has had, thanks to Great-great-grandmother X. The X Bum! So I won't be wearing trousers or leggings without long tops.

I like the above linked dress and will be buying it. The other clothes I like are long light flowy skirts, with sleeveless tops. Last year's favorite was a white skirt with burnt orange t-shirt.

Any ideas/suggestions? I start the school run in September and don't want to get mistaken again for the grandmother!

[MimikosPanda]

"never bifurcated clothing" Do you mean you don't wear trousers, shorts, culottes etc?

[elfycat]

That's right. Until I bought the leggings this winter it had been about 15 years since I last wore any kind of trouser/shorts* etc. I just hate my bum in them. A-line and longer skirts have been my friends.

But I'm feeling extremely frumpy and have been for about 4 years (since having the DCs). My wardrobe is stuck in a rut from 2 office jobs I've held (the last one finished 4.5 years ago).

• Except at work being a theatre nurse, or if I went to the gym (rare). I quite liked the theatre outfit too.

[NickECave]

Marking my place. During the winter I live exclusively in knitted dresses and knee-high boots and think that I look pretty OK but I just can't do summer clothes. Of course the problem is solved if summer fails to materialise again this year!

[GeorginaWorsley]

I think dresses are your friend.
Look in French Connection,Great Plains,Oasis,Phase Eight,Mint Velvet.
I do wear trousers often but love a dress in summer.
I usually wear ballet pumps/low wedges from Clarks,Marks,Dorothy Perkins.

[elfycat]

I guess I need to drag my longest-term female friend shopping as she'll be brutally honest about clothing choices.

Or I could take DH. He'd make a good personal shopper. He'll find clothes/colours that I wouldn't look at but look great on, and not just for me but friends/family too (too many years spent admiring the female form...)

I don't normally go into any of those shops Georgina so I'll make a note and next time I pass by I'll pop in.

[elfycat]

Now for length of summer dresses. Do maxi-dresses look like tents on curvy women?

[GeorginaWorsley]

Just seen this.
Some can,Elfy
I personally perfer the jersey straight ones rather than billowing chiffony type.
Can make me look like ship in full sail!

[SirEdmundFrillary]

Do not make fun of the wide of calf, it's no joke. >flits, muslinly

[givemeaclue]

Why not see an actual personal shopper?

John lewis?

[DunderMifflin]

Pretty much the same things but with ballet flats or flip flops - unless we get an absolute scorcher this will be perfect. If it does get really hot perhaps go for maxi dresses?

[DewDr0p]

I agree try some summer dresses.

Last summer I lived in summer dresses, little cardis with either lowish heel wedges or printed Birkinstocks.

Agree with Georgina about the less billowy maxi dresses too.