inspiration needed - have lost my fashion way and need serious help

[jeangenie]

I seem to have fallen into a pit of bad saggy faded jeans and tshirts that I need some help being pulled out of - anyone want to throw me a rope? I seem to have a wradrobe full of bits and bobs that don't work together so I end up throwing on the same old tired jeans etc everyday

about me
Lifestyle:
mother of two, work 4 days a week, informal office (but am sick of just wearing jeans day in day out), when off am carting kids here there and everywhere
Figure:
5 ft 6
slimish upper bod (10-12) small boobs, bit of flab under bra line but not bad
medium tum, fair sized bulge if am honest and stop holding it in
large arse, wide too (12-14)
large thighs that touch in the middle
fat knees
slender calves
nice ankles
arms ok
wide feet
short neck
crazy bobbed hair that I am growing so can put it up

my ideal style would be slightly retro towards the 40s/50s. I like aline skirts, fitted pretty cardis, wide legged trousers, boat necked tshirts - would love to try a nice dress'n'boots combo
am bad in heels but like the height - broad wedges work best

but I don't have any of these things in my wardrobe and I don't know where to get them. I am an awkward shape/size and find things fit in one place but not anywhere else. I have the two kids so rarely get out to shop and am in london and find trekking about on a Saturday in the crowds makes me want to kill someone

so, anyone want to help me and be my guru of change??? is there one shop that I can go to to find all of these things...

I can stretch to £500 or so for new wardrobe but I want things that work together

[MrsBadger]

cannot write long post as feeding dd and about to go to drs, but will come back to this thread

meanwhile have a look at kew

and embrace online shopping rather than traipsing round shops - only ones where rl is better are gap, new look, primark, zara & h&m

and ghet yr colours done

[puppydavies]

heh you are me only thinner

okay from the ground up. get some fly shoes, something like these they were the first heels i ever had and had no trouble learning to walk in them, everyone loves them.

wear them with crochet tights. the best ones i have are from accessorise.

destroy do fantastic (and fantastically expensive) boots but worth every penny if you get non-trendy ones that will last for years. again i've had so many people ask me where i got mine.

over knee socks are good to wear with boots and skirts. i just discovered this place where i was in total sock heaven. dp also likes looking at the website over my shoulder

i like fancy skirts, monsoon/white stuff stylee. get these from ebay they go for about £15 and if you see one you like you can guarantee the same style will come along again in your size.

dorothy perkins good for basic 3/4 sleeve tops/little cardies.

all online - no need to go anywhere you have a good idea of what you want so i reckon ebay's prolly your best bet. i'm very specific about styles i like/that suit me and i can usually find exactly what i'm looking for online - not so limited by current season trends, colours etc.

that's a start, will come back if i think of anything else.

[SilentTerror]

Puppy,I second that about Ebay for White Stuff/Monsoon clothes.Have bought 2 White Stuff dresses,both brand new,for £20 + each,and Monsoon stuff with tags on for half price.
Jeangenie,try the Great Plains website,they have some nice skirts and dresses at the moment.

[puppydavies]

oh genie didn't realise you were op - you know all about fly shoes already (£35 for ones like your friend...)

was going to add individual jewellery really helps make you look like you've made an effort too, just one thing at a time. i get all of mine on etsy. there's an awful lot to wade through but there's some cracking unique stuff on there.

[jeangenie]

I do like SOME monsoon stuff - never tried white stuff though but will have a look, are they good for a pear shape?
will also check great plains
had a look at kew but apart from this wool skirt couldn't see anything I thought would do me any favours - that's the problem with online shopping though, not being able to see the stuff in the flesh. I suspect I would end up doing a LOT of virtual unshopping (and I am bad enough with stuff I try on before I buy)
puppydavies - I might just get those fly shoes my pal has, they are very good. But which colour? cream, red or brown - they all look swish...at least I know I could walk in them
where/how do I get colours done? I have no idea what colours suit me (though I think green looks ok at times, or maybe I just like it)

[jeangenie]

puppy - just checked out the link on your thread - £35 for the fly yuna - GREAT! am deffo getting some - should I be brave and go for red (which would love) or stay safe and get black (which would go with more stuff)?

looking at great plains now - what aboutthis dress - would that work with my figure?

[jeangenie]

this one - how about something like it - would it work on my shape? - is it too summery? - how would you fashionistas wear something like this?

bear with me - am gonna post loads of links if I see likely candidates...

I like this but am I mad?

ps think I need to forget about the first link to "manhatten" dress - can't bear things that tie at back - they make me feel VERY mumsy - is that acceptable?

what about this? would I be warm enough? (I know I know I sound like an old granny) - I like the wide waistband and the colours look good, but what do I match it with? - I swore I would buy nothing unless it could have something to accompany it (preferably a few things) in my wardrobe

[jeangenie]

this top is nice - what would I wear with it?

ditto and again

[puppydavies]

the red looks like a very pinky red to me, if that makes a difference to what suits you/what colours you wear. would go well w/burgandy and black plus deep pinks too. not so great w/brown maybe. i have red boots and love them, they cheer me up every time i put them on. plus it draws attention away from the rest of me

what's your colouring? if it's like mine i can tell you which colours shoul suit you.

that dress isn't my style but looks like it should suit figure-wise. i find skirts that sit about an inch below the knee best. mid calf is Bad.

when it comes to shopping online the tape measure's your friend. find an existing garment you have that fits well and measure that for length etc. this is where ebay excels as you can ask the seller for exact measurements, something you often don't get in shops.

[puppydavies]

heh slow down. "this dress" refers to gt plains one. will check out he rest...

[puppydavies]

oh and recent skirts v good for hippy figure: basically a-line but with more movement, pleats that start at the hips. don't believe anyone who tells you bias cut is your friend, it really isn't ime.

[jeangenie]

I'm pale with grey-green eyes and mid brown hair with slight hint of red in it...
I like the idea of the red shoes - like you I had some red boots before and I did love that cheerful feeling when putting them on - just seemed a bit less boring than black somehow (but for £35 maybe will buy both!!!)
must tell my pal as she was planning to get more...

[jeangenie]

agree re bias cut - awful! have been feeling totally bereft since my best ever buy got bleach on it - was a denim skirt from oasis years ago, deep waistband, assymetrical cut, extreeeeemely flattering - hence I like the idea of deep waists so your idea of deep waistband with pleats sounds interesting - although the pleats themselves sound scarey

[puppydavies]

do you look good in pastels or do they wash you out?

that skirt is nice but maybe a bit long. trust me, mid calf is mumsiest and makes you look stumpy. the website is rubbish i can't find a way of zooming. what colour are the dots? that would give you a lead for a colour of top.

i like last top best but looks seethrough

[puppydavies]

this kind of thing. v flattering and looks good w/boots.

[Kammy]

Marks and Spencers have some great A line, just below the knee cord skirts at the mo - just £15.Black, brown, blue, and light brown. Easy to wear with boots, most little tops or cardis and cheap as chips. I liked it so much I bought 2.

[puppydavies]

here's another one. btw white stuff sizing like monsoon - generous.

[jeangenie]

not great in pastels I don't think - but then not really sure what colours suit me best - sky blue, leaf green, slate grey are what I tend to like most and get most compliments in
funnily enough I spotted that skirt and thought DAMN wish that was in 12. I thought it could be good...so I am getting on right track a bit at least!
am nervous about this skirt length business - I have BAD knees and really can't risk them being seen in that between boot and skirt gap...
am also having trouble with boots - got these delivered from next today and the heel is great but they are so baggy around my calves it's incredible

p.s what do you think of these for a night out (in a taxi!!!)?

[puppydavies]

your colouring sounds similar to mine - i have green eyes, pale/pink cheeks, hair was dark blonde last time i saw but have been dyeing it red forever.

i look dreadful in pastels. deep colours work better - brown (not beige or paler ecru colours), warm greens (olive, moss), cool reds (dusky pink, pinky reds), grey-blues, black is fine for me too.

[puppydavies]

cool, i wrote that before i read yours. you are me

[jeangenie]

puppy - don't think I am you - you have much more fashion nous although colouring does sound similar so maybe those colours do suit me after all

kammy - thanks for that M&S tip - will check it out

does anyone know how/where I'd get my colours done or if is worth it? mrsbadger recommended it and I know she knows her stuff...

[jeangenie]

too limey? too frilly?

or have you all left me alone in my pit of awful dressing?

[fishie]

get colours done = urgent. there is colour me beautiful, which i believe can be got on lastminute but i went to house of colour. it was £80. well spent and also fab for annoying parsimonious friends by saying yes i spent nearly £100 to be told not to wear black. you can also get a sort of extension pack and be told what shapes to wear, but you are more likely to know that already.

[jeangenie]

i feel quite parsimonious myself - could get a nice pair o shoes for that - but I suppose I should...

whatcha all think of "fly link ludo button pump" on the schuh site (sorry can't manage a link due to weird way their site works)I'm liking the green ones - but, my eternal refrain, what will I wear them with????????????

am going to bed now, but am hoping the style fairies will visit and wave a magic wand and make me all stylish while I sleep

[puppydavies]

surely you can google the different seasons and take a guess at which one you are. go to a friend who has a more colourful wardrobe than you, sit in front of a mirror in good light and drape all the colours next to your face. it'll be pretty obvious which ones suit and which ones drain. i know it's not the same as getting it done properly but that's an awful lot of money and it doesn't sound like you're way off in knowing what suits you.

the ludo shoes are nice but i find things that high easier to wear with an ankle strap. plus i really don't like the green - it's a bluey forest/bottle green that i never wear but my school uniform might have influenced that choice more than my colouring...

imo while it's important to know what suits you don't have to avoid forever things that aren't quite right if you like them and they give you a lift when you see/wear them. also keep colours that aren't quite you away from your face and you're fine.

the frilly shirt is really lovely i'd buy it