Please help, I fear I might cry..

[GwenCooper81]

I'm off out this weekend for a friends hen night. I am absolutely broke and have literally nothing to wear .
My choices are absolutely limited. I own one pair of jeans one pair of blue linen trousers and one pair of black trousers. I own a few various coloured t-shirts and vest tops. nothing remotely suitable for an evening out.
I also have a gold lace cardigan and a white shrug.
I am fat and a bit fed up, please someone send me a fairy godmother or sort me an outfit from the above listed?!

[Scarletohello]

Sorry love, that's awful. Just a suggestion, any posh areas near you with good charity shops?i I've had some great outfits from some near me! Or any friends you can borrow an outfit from? You can also dress things up with jewellry and killer heels... If your friends love you they won't care about what you are wearing , just go and have fun!

[bigredbook]

Where are u going/what are u doing?

[bigredbook]

What shoes do u have?

[ShatnersBassoon]

Do you have a decent (not faded) black T-shirt or vest? That with black trousers and the gold lace would look smart enough for a night out with some black heels.

[mignonette]

My first suggestion is that many people dress hideously for hen nights so you need not worry. Anything is better then a nun/sexy bride/sexy kitten outfit!

Gold lace cardigan/jeans/ white T shirt, a bright lipstick, some eye make up and if you have a necklace or bracelet and earrings if you wear them, that will look good. i would wear a pair of heels or some flat summer sandals. Any will do. If you have perfume a good spritz or have a squirt from a store tester on your way home from work/town! Many stores will give little samples out too.

Also consider a clothes borrow/swap with friends. A pair of shoes, a borrowed scarf, necklace can make you feel great.

Does your DH/partner have a plain white formal shirt? You could wear that with a jean or black pant, heels or boots with a bright lipstick and you'll look seriously cool in that Emmanuelle Alt (editor French Vogue) way. here is a picture of her in a black jean/pant and t shirt look with black court shoes. A black shirt from DH would work too. Plenty of charity shops have amazing quality black/white shirts for sale. i would buy them. Worn with a big necklace, lippie and blowdried hair, simple is the best.

If you have a belt to put on with the shirt/T/jean look even better.

I very rarely 'dress up'. I'm not fond of the super glamorous dress and heels look. Most of the time, simple is best. And a big smile is best of all.

Your friends want to be with you....

[daimbardiva]

Yes, some great suggestions above - keep it simple, a vest/t shirt with heels or sandals, and the gold cardi will be just the job. And just relax and enjoy yourself.

Failing that, you never know what gem you might find in a charity shop or lurking in a friends' wardrobe.

The men's shirt option is a good one too - might try that myself ;) Enjoy your night out!

[bigredbook]

Great advice from mignonette. Hope u have fun

[scratchandsniff]

I second the vest top/gold cardigan/jeans combo with some heels if you have any or summer sandals. Do you have a black vest top? Also I know you said you're skint but how about a new nail polish or some earrings. Painting your nails can help make you feel like you've made an effort I think and a pair of statement earrings can turn an everyday outfit into something more suitable for a night out.

[Lizzylou]

Fantastic advice from Mignonette (who has also helped with my wardrobe choice for my weekend away).
Do your hair, paint nails, some lipstick and smile.

[GwenCooper81]

Awww you guys I'm crying now thanks so much for answering
charity shops are generally a no go for clothes that fit me -although most of the kids clothes are bargain finds -
I'm going to the dogs -literally -.
I can probably manage a new black vest top courtesy of asda. Could this be worn with my black trousers and the gold cardigan?! would I not look frumpy? I can't do heals so it would be flat black ballet pumps, would that work?
I have a nice salmon pink vest top that I could wear with my blue trousers and the shrug? possibly too dressed down?. I have lovely friends with lots of jewellery
To the lovely poster with the link, when I'm thin i'm so going to be the cool girl in the skinny pants with a man's shirt on
Thank you all again. make up and a smile plus good hair will hopefully distract from my outfit horrors!

[SorrelForbes]

GwenCooper81 Have you got a Primark near you? Their £2.50 vests are very good, come in lots of colours and are nice and stretchy and long.

[Yankeedoodlenic]

There is some fab advice here and I agree with the suggestions that a pair of heels, a fresh coat of nail polish & nice make up can make anyone feel glamorous.

I'd definitely see about borrowing something off a friend.

Can DH or mum or anyone lend you £20 to buy a new top or dress? Asos or Primark have loads of cheap things. But the tone in your post sort of makes it sound like it isn't so much about the clothes as it is about yourself.

So wash your hair, style it nice and try some nice smokey eyes (there are millions of tutorials on youtube if you need help with new hair styles or make up tips!) Paint the nails and put on a pair of sparkly earrings.

One you have a glass of wine or two it won't matter what you are wearing and most of the girls will probably look worse for wear by the end of the night anyway!

Have fun, let your hair down!

[scratchandsniff]

Yes black vest top, black trousers, cardigan and pumps will be good. All black with one other colour works well. Top it off with some earrings and a bangle/bracelet and you'll be fine. Swig a glass of wine (or three), put some music on and have a little dance round before you head out and you'll be feeling fab.

I hope you have a good night.

[scratchandsniff]

p.s. On the nail polish front can I recommend Rimmel's rapid ruby. A slick of that on my nails always makes me feel a bit foxy, would go well with the black/gold Think it costs less than £4.

[Yankeedoodlenic]

There is some fab advice here and I agree with the suggestions that a pair of heels, a fresh coat of nail polish & nice make up can make anyone feel glamorous.

I'd definitely see about borrowing something off a friend.

Can DH or mum or anyone lend you £20 to buy a new top or dress? Asos or Primark have loads of cheap things. But the tone in your post sort of makes it sound like it isn't so much about the clothes as it is about yourself.

So wash your hair, style it nice and try some nice smokey eyes (there are millions of tutorials on youtube if you need help with new hair styles or make up tips!) Paint the nails and put on a pair of sparkly earrings.

One you have a glass of wine or two it won't matter what you are wearing and most of the girls will probably look worse for wear by the end of the night anyway!

Have fun, let your hair down!

[Lizzylou]

Black vest top, black trousers, black pumps and gold cardigan sound perfect!

Really, dry your eyes, start youtubing for some make up ideas, have a bit of a practice, enjoy a leisurely pamper the few hours beforehand and bloody well hold your head up high and enjoy yourself!

[GwenCooper81]

Thank you. I will read properly later -once I've stopped blubbering like a bairn-
much appreciated xx

[nenevomito]

yep - black trousers, black vest top and gold cardy with flats. That will do fine for a night out.

[OneLittleLady]

What size are you? If you're around my size, I have a few dresses I could post to you to borrow that would be plenty suitable? Most of mine are between a 14 and 18 if that's any help at all?

[TallulahBetty]

I would totally go out in black trousers, vest top and gold cardi. Hair up, nail polish, make up - job done! As someone (sorry, on phone) said above, you'll look much nicer and classier than 95% of hen parties!! Have a wonderful time

[lowercase]

If its on a fri or sat, book in for a free make over in department store?

I know Body Shop is free but must be somewhere better?

[finlaysmum12]

what a fab thread!

if the black pants and vest are looking a little faded, you could bung them in the washing machine with a pack of black dylon machine dye (about £4)

I have some gold coloured jewellery ( NOT gold!!) you are welcome to have, I don't wear them. I could parcel and post them tomorrow for you, you sound so lovely, and I've been in that situation, feeling like cancelling because I felt hopeless!

[likelucklove]

If you are a size 16-20 and live in/near South Wales, I would be more than happy to let you some clothes :) But love the suggestions here! Hope you have fun, don't worry even the thinnest people have hang ups too. I'm happier at my size now then when I was a size 8

[GwenCooper81]

Wow! the kindness of you ladies never fails to amaze me . Thank you all so very much.
L oads and loads of fab ideas. I'm going to treat myself to a new black vest top, my trousers aren't too faded so should be fine. I'll have a look in the pound shop for a nail varnish and make up I have lots of.
thank you for all the offers of borrowing clothes. unfortunately none will fit my -humongous - arse though! i'm a size 22 and quite tall so clothes shopping just isn't my favorite thing. I'm generally happy and confident with my shape but just feeling low at the moment.
I'm sure I'll have a super night, much thanks for the confidence boost and the kind offers as well as the spot on advice

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

All black with gold cardigan sounds perfect.