The Mysterious Art of Layering

[AmberLilly]

Its August and so, naturally, my mind turns to A/W wardrobe.

I really need some advice on how to do that effortless, just thrown together, floaty-dress-layered-with-tops-and-tights look. I would dearly love to waft towards Xmas looking cool in pretty dresses and wool.

So far my attempts have left me looking a little bit mental... like I decided to wear all my clothes at once sigh

I guess one of the secrets is getting good fine knits so not too bulky? Any recommendations/ advice on where to get them/ how to wear them?
Also any good websites for finding pretty, floaty/ silky tea dress type of thing?

Please help me oh sylistas of MN!

Mango has loads of nice dresses, this one I have my eye on!
You could wear it with a ls tee underneath and with a cardi on top with a thin belt to add a bit of definition to your waist.
Also love these boots!

Well your base layer has to be thin and very fitted, and definately with a deep scoop neck (high necks look matronly under dresses) and then layer on a dress, and cardigan and then maybe a leather jacket. Don;t be afraid to push up sleeves either, to reveal a chunky cuff.

Ooo, thank you... Lots of lovely dresses in Mango, good call dexter

Jewelsandgems- I think that may be where I was going wrong. Tried a polo neck with a dress and looked a bit like a nun.

Any ideas for places to get nice fitted l/s tops?

Thank you for your help, I should be de-frumped in no time!

Can I say I think only slimmish folk can get away with layering? Otherwise one runs the risk of looking like a portly bag lady

i actually think layering with finer knits reduces size and can b used to emphasise ones finer points..

i quite like to wear vest (big norks) and zip-up or button up cardi/ hoody (hiding arms, and reducing visible cleavage from slutty to alluring...) with blazer over the top if it is cold (so, all layers must be fine) with skirt (usually one of those slightly flared ones with underskirt showing to cover bottom without bulging, and emphasise lower leg..)
so long as you put fewer layers over sth large (in my case my bum, and the tops of my arms) and get clothes to pull in where you wish (cardi can be strategically buttoned - not proud of tum? - undo it there...)

this is all 'fantasy clothes' as oly one button has been done up under my cleavage so far this year....

I think this is such a nice look on other people, but it never feels right on me.

Even though I am slim, I feel like Cybilliberty's bag lady, and a belt over a cardigan feels like I'm being held together with baling twine.

i have never done belt over clothes...i think the current belt over maxi dress thing is a bit odd esp where the top of the dress bags over the belt)

I must admit I don;t do the belt thing either but do like it on other people.

I want to learn this mysterious art as well. Whenever I have tried it I look too bulky and everything wrinkles up round the middle.

T'other day, I took into the changing room a loose fit fine-knit storm blue A line tunic dress, (White Stuff) and a sort of soft drapey plum/grey heavy silky knit long line sleeveless cardi thing. (Crea) Hadn't intended to wear them together, but stuck it over the top and it looked - YES!! elegantly floaty and layered, BINGO! like finally unlocking the layering mystery. But I didn't buy both. Put the Crea thing back Somehow convinced myself I couldn't do this look without feeling abit like someone in their nightie and dressing gown, and it was reserved for more stylish chi-chi types. Plus should not have been spending any money. But I'm still thinking about going back for it. It was on the sale rail so if it's still there it was meant to be mine.

Go back and buy it Nelson! Outfit sounds great and it is always better to buy something that feels right than running around the shops when you desperately need something. You could probably wear the dress/cardi in A/W winter too. Just add opaques and boots. I wear nightie-like dresses all the time and I'm not chi-chi at all... I hope

It was A/W stuff - definitely too warm and woolly for summer - don't know why it was in the sale really!

I might still do that...funnily enough I was thinking, thin camisole underneath (or long silky slip - the dress definitely needs something underneath) and opaques and boots. And I bought a chunky green/blue/gunmetal necklace to go with, as well, but it could take a scarf.

Unless I'm dressed up to go out I spend my (boring) life in jeans and I'm determined to break that habit this winter.

I might start laying out two outfits a day - one for dog walking and house jobs, and the other for being seen 'in public'. I'm getting too old to live in crap tops and jeans - I need to start GROOMING. I want to be one of those glamorous perfectly coiffed and manicured older women who fetches up at Tescos looking like they are just about to board a plane in first class, not an invisible identikit houswife in M&S sensible separates.

Good for you, Fellatio. But why two outfits?

Surely a skirt/dress with warm tights and boots is just as good for dog-walking as jeans? I am going to try to avoid jeans except for gardening, and then only the kneeling-in-the-muck type gardening.

I've spent too much money on clothes 'for best', and am going to start wearing them all the time to get my cost-per-wear down.

I wear my normal clothes to walk the dog. If I have a dress and tights on then I put on a thick pair of socks and my wellies.

oooooo... Banana Republic site up and running. Whole section of 'layering tees'... Perfect!

Bit disappointed by the dress selection though