To hate all clothes... too young or too mumsy

[gwincath]

Having a mare picking clothes for a few special occasions coming up over the next few months... I'm late 40s and clothes just either seem too young or too mumsy, I just wanna look nice
Any store/brand suggestion appreciated

Sorry I got my there and their mixed up!

Cos is a bit hit and miss size wise for me. Everything I order seems too big or too small. But I love their oversized knits.
Today I am in Margaret Howell trousers, a Whistles fine knit and a Brora cashmere cardigan. I have somehow managed to reduce this very expensive outfit to something that looks like gardening clothes. This is what being a bit tubby does to my wardrobe. Other thin-women-run-to-chub still look elegant. I just look spud like in everything.

&otherstories

Also @Argeles I’m 22 and no one I know wears stilettos anymore. So, block heels and low heels (not kitten though) are v in and comfy.

So long as kitten heels never re-emerge I’m happy.

@LemonysSnicket

Thank you for the information. I really like the styles you mentioned, but can only find high heels!

Can I ask where you and your friends find your lovely shoes please?

@Argeles we go on ASOS.com and filter the results to ‘mid-heel’ x

monson I think it's called might like their stuff

Boden, Fat Face, Weird Fish and White Stuff just make women look like they’ve given up and gone to live on a farm with their grandma. I like a vague 50s/retro look and like Zara, H&M (though completely ignore the sizing) for their lovely cotton cardigans, eBay for vintage swing jackets, French Connection, and supermarket for cotton basics.

@HabituallyOptimistic oh god yeah...cold shoulder tops.,, the 'I hate my bingo wings so I'll just show a sllither of skin instead look'

I thought cold shoulder tops were an alternative to Bardot tops for women who need to wear a bra. Cut right, I think they can look very nice.

Has anyone mentioned mint velvet?

It's casual wear I find most difficult. I can generally find things to wear for work and formal occasions but I can never seem to strike the balance at the weekend between overdressed (heels and a blazer) and like a total slob (trainers and a hoodie). I can never find much in between.

Not that I'm much of a style guru, but I do agree that Esprit and Joanie are worth a go. They're both mostly online but have some great stuff.

There's an American brand called express which is really good.

@LemonysSnicket

Thanks for that, that’s great.

Hopefully I’ll find something on there.

@LellyMcKelly if you like retro, have a look at shop.dangerfield.com.au/womens/just-landed/all.html
Great stuff and they deliver to UK.I buy loads from there.

This is brilliant ... thankyou all so much
Seen a couple of things I want to order from monsoon... are the sizes realistic ? I'm a 14 (but apple shaped) so is that medium ?

I'm mid 30's and a size 8 and am finally feeling like I'm getting my waist back after having children. Whenever I go shopping everything is HUGE and frumpy. Everything just seems to hang in an awful shapeless fashion. I've tried shops that I used to go to in my 20's. I've tried shops that I've never been in before. There is NOTHING. Its all crap.
Where can I go to a shop and try on decent quality, fitted clothing? A nice fitted cotton graphic t-shirt? A dress with a waist that goes inwards a bit rather than having ties at the back which just make the excess material look crap and totally ruin any silhouette.. I've tried buying things online, but again they end up baggy and just get sent back. I want to try things on in an actual fucking shop.

Still on the clothing subject... would it be a terrible faux pas to wear grey dark jeans to a wedding anniversary 'do' ? Function room of an entertainment venue so not a posh hotel or anything ... I hate trousers , and skirts and dresses are a no no... I've found a nice 'posh' top but would like to wear jeans .

I was looking at all the different coloured trousers and shirts in M and S they look quite nice but they are all linen so I know they will be creased up like dish towels in minutes

Op jeans sound fine to me.

People who shop in & other stories - what do you buy there? I went in there just before I finished mat leave last summer to get some nice new clothes and there was literally nothing in there I could actually wear or that I even vague liked. Most stuff seemed to be see through I'm 39 and struggling with my post baby apple shape although not enough to stay off the chocolate

Britnay, apart from skinny jeans, fitted clothes are no longer the fashion.

The silhouette is all about baggy drapey clothes. Fitted clothes are now very dated...hard to get my head around it!

I don't give a stuff about what is in fashion. There used to be a fair amount of variety on the high street, to cater to many different styles. I just want clothes that suit my shape. Baggy, drapey clothes look awful on me. I bet they are cheaper to make though, which will be why they are everywhere.

It depends on the dress code but I personally wouldn't wear jeans to that, even if they were dressed up with heels and a smart top. Doesn't seem fitting.