Stuck in a rut

[VivienneWestwoodsKnickers]

I'm 35, 5'10" and a size 20 (perpetually dieting, but that's another thread).

I'm stuck in a rut clothing-wise. My work don't care what I wear, so I've taken to wearing ill-fitting jeans and baggy tops.

I used to wear very fitted dresses, heels and neck scarves. This office isn't as formal, so I've slipped into bad habits.

Aside from losing several stones, does anyone have any suggestions on how to perk myself up again? I feel very slummy at home too - I'm currently wearing my nicer blue jeans, a plain vest top and a generic fleece. Very dull.

I'd like to look a little nicer. Maybe a little less slummy and more groomed.

Thoughts?

[MohammedLover]

Good luck with the next new you!
Could you stretch to getting your colours done first?

[Judydreamsofhorses]

What would you like to wear? Do you still have your previous dresses? If so, could you wear them in a less formal way, say with opaques, ankle boots and cardigan? Or wear your scarves to brighten up your tops?

Other than clothes, things that make me feel polished are:

Nails - always painted
Makeup - I always wear red lipstick, even if the rest of my face is bare, but other people have their own "thing", like always flicky eyeliner
Eyebrows - threaded once a fortnight
Eyelashes - tinted (I do mine myself)
Decent leather bag - I use the same one pretty much all the time, so am prepared to spend a reasonable amount, which for me is up to £150
Shoes/boots - clean

And I know this isn't very popular here, but I think most things look better ironed!

[VivienneWestwoodsKnickers]

I'll confess to never using the iron....!

I do have the dresses, I think I'm worried about being overdressed for the office. All my frocks and suits are very formal. I may be able to dress them down a touch, so I'll dig them out and check they still fit!

Nails, I go for clear polish. Make up is a light touch most days. Hair always nice and clean but generally scraped back out of the way. Lashes - mascara most days. Eyebrows well groomed as I have a horror of my childhood monobrow....!

Handbags vary - I have a large collection.
Shoes - I fekl down some stairs 2 years ago and my foot has never healed properly. The docs are adamant it wasn't a break, just a bad sprain, but it's still sore every day despite lots of strengthening exercises. So my heels have all but gone, and I miss them. My flats are very unattractive. Maybe I need new shoes...... Yay!

[Judydreamsofhorses]

New shoes sound good! And could you get some well fitting jeans? Wearing stuff that doesn't fit nicely always makes me feel rubbish. There are threads on here with jeans recommendations for every shape and budget - if you like skinny jeans, how about those M&S jeggings people love with some smart flat riding type boots? Or some good trainers?

[Silverstreaks]

Start wearing your dresses again. You're obviously ready for a change otherwise you wouldn't be putting it out there.
Put one of your frocks on and start feeling like yourself again. It doesn't matter if you feel overdressed to start you'll soon settle into your own style and it'll probably be the catalyst for change in your colleagues too.

[chocolatebiscuit123]

I wouldn't go too drastic all at once, baby steps - maybe change one thing a week so it's not too much out of your comfort zone.
First get some decent jeans or trousers, if you're wearing them all the time it's worth spending a bit of time and money finding the right ones. Same with shoes, treat yourself to some nice new shoes/ boots for the winter.
While you're doing that you can go a bit mad and wear coloured polish for a change.
I think if you're always dieting there's sometimes a tendency to think "I'll wait until I've gone down a dress size" before buying anything decent because you're waiting for that magical time when you're suddenly slim I've been doing that for about the last two decades

[Dionysuss]

Could you use a personal shopper? A good one will tell you what will suit you and what won't. You could ask to find several outfits to make a capsule wardrobe then take photos in the changing room and buy similar garments cheaper elsewhere .