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any fashionistas out there?

20 replies

bossykate · 02/06/2003 20:48

i recently went to a wedding and found to my discomfort that two of the outfits i had been considering were being worn by ladies 15/20 yrs older... thank goodness i decided to be a bit more daring in the nick of time!

they looked good, but now i'm thinking i really need a fashion attitude make-over.

so... does anyone know any good magazines or other sources of information for someone who wants to brush up on what the most fashionable people are wearing?

something along the lines of - this is what the designers have (mega-bucks) and now here are the moderately priced and budget versions of the same look... something about make-up trends would also be useful.

have never been (and don't want to be!) at the cutting edge of fashion - just want to be elegant (if possible) and not to look like the elderly aunt - unless of course she is the latest word in soignee style!

thanks in advance

OP posts:
ForestFly · 02/06/2003 20:53

I think the sexiest women are the ones with their own style,you must know what you look good in! Don,t copy celebs there just clones. Look gorgeous in your own right you are a women

Starsky · 02/06/2003 20:57

I buy Red magazine each month. The clothes are generally too expensive but they do have suggestions for cheap alternatives too. It helps me to know the kinds of things that are current for when I go shopping and is for 'women' rather than girls. I wish I could just go with my own style but think I would end up looking like I was in a timewarp! It helps me anyway..

codswallop · 02/06/2003 20:59

have you any urban single friends who can tell you honestly what suits?

aloha · 02/06/2003 21:00

I really recommend personal shoppers in big stores. They don't cost anything and can be really helpful in providing a new eye when you feel stuck in a rut. Also you get to sit in a swish big changing room sipping coffee while someone else does all the work. And there is zero pressure to buy either. Selfridges is great as they stock everything from cheapy cheapy to high end designer. Unlike magazines they can see your shape, colouring, personality etc. Well worth an indulgent afternoon IMO>

Frenchgirl · 02/06/2003 21:26

Bossykate, I think I know how you feel: since I became a mum 4 years ago, I've had trouble finding my own style. Don't want to look mumsy, don't want to look like a fashion victim, but want to look reasonably fashionable and elegant by picking the bits of fashion that might suit me. It's hard though!!!!! Also don't like shopping with other people as I want to take as much time as I need. I'm 33 and I buy Red too, I like their style. I try to go for simple well cut trousers, and be more daring with tops (ideally anyway, doesn't always work like that in practice...) I like the idea of personal shoppers, would love to try it one day! I avoid anything really tight or baggy, and would rather buy less clothes but better quality. Also never buy from a catalogue, you can't tell what the fabric, cut or quality is until it's too late and then it's annoying to have to send it back....
Don't know if that's any help, but at least it's distracted me from my boring translation work...

beetroot · 02/06/2003 21:45

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lou33 · 02/06/2003 21:58

Marie Claire have a section every month called spree and steal. They put pictures of the latest designer outfits up with the sharp intake of breath price, then put a v similar looking one next to it from the High Street with the sort of cost that you can breathe again. That might be helpful.

ForestFly · 02/06/2003 22:01

Women get a grip!

Twink · 02/06/2003 22:31

I had a similar EEK! moment about a year ago BK;

I was trying to find clothes and realised I was clueless about where to start, had an emotional moment and then saw an advert for John Lewis 'personal shopper'. Booked an appointment (then nearly cancelled through nerves) but it was ace.
We did a questionaire to determine what type of things I was looking for, in my case practical SAHM clothes but without including jogging bottoms (especially velour ones ). I had 2 hours of being waited on, in a huge private changing room with iced drinks and no obligation to buy (they aren't on commission) and now wear things I'd never have dreamt of, mainly because I could't see past the coathanger on my own. Another good thing was that she brought things which suited my shape (without going all Trinny & Suzanna about it).

It saved a lot of time too, she knew all the different ranges very well and if things were the wrong size/length she would nip out and change them while I slobbed around in my bra & knickers drinking my juice. It saved me a fortune; no things bought mailorder (who mentioned Boden !) which don't suit me and never get worn.

Mum & I went back a while ago to get wedding outfits and that worked well too.

Marina · 03/06/2003 12:47

Go for the personal shopper, bk! My sister had a wonderful experience at Fenwick and until then I always thought of her as the family fashionista. But she alleges she had got in a rut herself and the Fenwicks shopper was incredibly helpful and professional.
Or you could become a heroine to us all and volunteer yourself for Trinny and Susannah...

bossykate · 03/06/2003 19:36

blimey, trinny and suzanna! eek! not brave enough for that..."now when you have a HUGE , bk, everything you've got in your wardrobe makes you look ENORMOUS " perhaps not!

i've done selfridges personal shopping a couple of times actually, once for a wedding and then to perk up my wardrobe (not to mention my spirits) when i was about to return to work after maternity leave.

aloha, you are right, contrary to expectations, they do have an enormous range to suit all (well, many) budgets. i didn't feel pressured into buying designer gear at all. i managed to get stuff that i'm still wearing, so the experience was successful in that respect. they weren't all that at challenging my own style rut though.

i used to be a saturday girl at fenwick of bond street (many years ago but have visited since...) and know they have a small but perfectly formed collection plus great accessories and they do make-up make-overs as well. so i think that is the one to try next.

maybe i'm in a minority on this, but i really prefer shopping alone, and will be a much harsher critic of how things look on me than a friend would be!

beetroot, many of the places you mention are my usual haunts, the problem is, as twink says, seeing past the hanger.

i do need to be more clued up though, so will buy red, marie-claire and maybe elle and vogue so at least will know what is out there.

thank you so much for the constructive and helpful replies, it helps to know i'm not the only one who struggles with "finding a look"

OP posts:
bells2 · 04/06/2003 08:32

I often wish there were mags out there which just had pages and pages of pictures of all the best things that are in the shops at any one time. Most fashion pages I look at seem to be full of outrageously expensive or just outlandish clothes.

I owe a small debt to Susannah and Trinny in that I had got into the habit of trying to cover up my many imperfections and flabby bits with baggy clothes. Their programme demonstrated to me what a mistake it was and how much more flattering it is to highlight the good bits with fitted clothes. I like Fenwicks too - not too big and a good variety.

aloha · 04/06/2003 09:30

MInd, you, I'm so convinced that this extra bulk I have acculated since ds will just vanish one day that I refuse to buy new clothes except the odd pair of jeans and bits from Primark, so have looked pretty hideous for last two years. I really miss my old shape and can't come to terms with dressing one I can't stand.

oliveoil · 04/06/2003 09:46

Agree with last comment, I still have a bit of pregnancy weight to go but love food and have never dieted so am sticking to my '9 months on, 9 months off' mantra, ha, got 6 weeks left to shift it!!! I have just returned back to work and now go out every lunchtime to just one shop and try on anything that catches my eye. Only bought 2 things in 4 weeks (!!) but means you know what is out there.

babster · 04/06/2003 11:20

The fashion section of handbag.com here
is good for a quick browse of what's around - it has links to the websites of high street stores and more unusual boutiques. It also has a fab beauty section (going back to bossykate's original post).

Enid · 04/06/2003 11:36

Ok, madly expensive and probably not what you are looking for but I love it:
Browns

bells2 · 04/06/2003 12:06

Well OK, Enid as you've upped the stakes - netaporter.com also gives you a really good idea of what's fashionable. Sadly my days of ordering from them are now over but everything I have ever bought from them in the past has been totally fab. The Diane Von Furstenburg stuff is especially forgiving.

SamboM · 04/06/2003 12:10

Nicole Farhi and Gap for basics are my faves. Gap sizes are lovely and big so even porkers like me can wear medium linen trousers (which are in fact about size 50 I reckon!)
I currently look like waynetta slob and have the same weight loss dilemma, don't want to face up to the fact that I may take a while to lose the weight. May try and get some of my clothes temp altered, though I hate 90% of them anyway!

ThomCat · 04/06/2003 12:36

I think that the fact that all your girls care about your image is enough. If you care you look good. Anyway beauty comes from within and the sexiest thing you can wear is a smile. No point looking like a godess and being a miserable old bag!! I bet you all look great.
So come on - what are you all wearing today?
I've got on black leather thong sandles (not leather thong pants!), twisted Levis, and a black and red pattrn top, the pattern on the front is different to the pattern on the back. No make up but clean hair and a smile.

bossykate · 05/06/2003 12:21

thanks for these additional comments.

bells, i really like the dianne von furstenburg stuff i saw on the sites. the outfit i ended up buying for the wedding in question is very reminiscent of some of her dresses, so maybe there is still hope for me!

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