Can you help a safe dresser style it up a bit?

[latherrinserepeat]

So I have made good progress since having DD, sorted a decent make up bag, got a decent bra and some nice jeans (although not skinnies as I am a pear). I have basics.

But what I have no clue about is accessories to make me look more current.

I look at other people who look chic and stylish and have noticed they always have scarves and belts and funky shoes and so on - how do I do this? Am only early thirties fgs so why do I have no clue?

Can anyone share some top tips please?

Lather I tend to be a safe/classic dresser too but find looking in magazines and also at This blog are good for inspiration.

I do love a nice scarf though and theres absolutely lovely ones around at the moment in h&m, zara, whistles etc. Also loads of good necklaces around - I'm very into the statment necklace worn in the day with a breton top at the moment.

Do you have a friend whose advice you trust who could go shopping with you?

They could pick out some bits for you to try in order to help you decide what look you actually want.

Are you a sporty girl or a bling girl? Do you like black and grey or do you love mad colours? Do you like a sophisticated look or are you random?

I think you need to decide what you are trying to achieve first. Look in some mags and see what appeals to you and then go and experiment.

Thank you for your replies :o)

I have to confess I had already seen the WIT blog Tracey as have occasionally lurked on the WandA thread - and been so awed by all of your finds! I did see a great scarf in whistles yesterday - before I lost all confidence and headed to starbucks! - so might go back and get that. Will try out H&M and we don't have a zara so that might mean a trip further afield.

I could do a statement necklace - have lived in my jigsaw breton tee since the summer which I do love

Oops the only friends I would shop with also have little ones and a day when we could meet up without children is a long way off although good idea. I am not sporty and am a curvy size 12 pear shape, only 5'4" so not tall. Decent bust and not too bad a tummy, terrible saddlebags. I am pale skinned with dark blonde hair and green eyes. I would like to look sleek and well groomed, sort of quiet luxe if that makes sense? I like rich dark colours like plums and teals although have never had colours done.

I think the thing that would make the biggest difference is getting out of jeans. I always wear boot cut to balance out my heavy hips and whilst they suit me they are not at all current and am aware I look a bit frumpy in them. But skinnies and leggings are out as I have such chunky legs, really any skirt needs to cover my knees and I have large calf muscles to boot.

Any suggestions for looks that might work with my shape please?

Don't give up on leggings! Try them with an asymmetrical long top and a long scarf. That way there are no straight lines to emphasise saddlebags/chunky legs. Good luck - I'm sure you'll find your style and look fab.

I would also say to keep trying leggings/skinnies. I have heaviness at the very tops of the thigh and find they can be flattering, as long as they are dark enough and you wear a long top or tunic. Boots look better than shoes or ballet flats with skinnies if you have saddlebags I find. Maybe try black skinny jeans and get some cheap ones first to try them out?

Well I will give it a whirl and see how I get on - what kind of shoes will go? I am not afraid of heels but live in converse and uggs (I know, I know)!

I find knee high boots best, seem to balance out the thigh area! I'm a convert, honest

its a big cliche, but you need (and i loathe the term) a capsule wardrobe. I think I'm roughly the same shape and size as you.

for the "luxe" look, clothes need to look well fitted this does not have to be expensive. I always have problems with trousers, i have a brilliant mens tailor who will take my ill fitting trousers and make them fit me properly. costs between £10-15.

This is a list of my current favourite things

a crisp white shirt
a ruffly librarian silk shirt
a cashmere polo
skinny belt
fat cinch belt
extra long strings of pearls
amber jewellry
a sleek high pony or hair down and unstraightened
berets
shirt with tie in the same colour and fabric and a waist coat over that
high waisted pallazo pants
anything with a herringbone print
cropped trousers with knee high or ankle boots and patterned tights underneath
maxi skirts and dresses
braces
a black sleevless shift dress

xx

Thank you so much for your help - have been browsing the WIT blog and think the capsule is the thing twoboots - she wears the same things over and over but in different combos. And yes I can never find trousers to fit - if they fit my thighs/hips they gape at my waist etc.

So which shops do you all rate for the following things which I would like to add to my basics;

• chunky blingy bib necklace
• chunky gold chain blingy necklace
• big scarves
• belts - skinny and wide
• shoe boots that I could wear with opaques and a skirt?

thanks again!!

Apparently "girlie fashion" will be in again this winter and next spring, ie- no leggings but lots of pencil skirts and a-line skirts (fab for pear shapes!) with court shoes and shirts/blouses. Think Mad men!
this type of thing with little black cardies and cute tops with silk/lace/bows (NOT long tunic things!) and high court shoes or ballet flats
or in a dress, comes in petite

i steal (erm borrow) lots from my accessories from my childless sis
it must be my neck but bib necklaces look like actual bibs on me
evans have nice accessories, also h&m, primark and new look.
i'm a bit of a charity /vinage shop freak too accessories
for boots i'd recommend duo boots and these

i love christina hendricks' style on mad men

<a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=a.abcnews.com/images/Entertainment/abc_christina_hendricks_090807_ssh.jpg&imgrefurl=abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/popup%3Fid%3D8277881&usg=__EK8yqixt1PtC0R3FYBhuPEX5IwM=&h=411&w=531&sz=51&hl=en&start=97&sig2=4EkOH66IvfTyxfc3fa2fuA&zoom=1&tbnid=522-693Ss4Y20M:&tbnh=120&tbnw=156&ei=mxrgTJ-cJIqQjAfP9eXHAQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dchristina%2Bhendricks%2Bmad%2Bmen%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26biw%3D1152%26bih%3D536%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C1508&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=573&vpy=232&dur=870&hovh=197&hovw=255&tx=93&ty=169&oei=cRrgTM2vFcWAhAfS7ITeDA&esq=4&page=5&ndsp=23&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:97&biw=1152&bih=536" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">not too sure about the neclace pen highlighting the norks though

I've got this necklace but there is a similar one in H&M at the moment for under £10.

This is a nice scarf and also comes in a grey colourway and would work well with your jigsaw breton t-shirt and jeans.

Have you tried a straight leg as opposed to a bootcut jean? I'd have thought with a chunkyish biker boot that would balance you out well. Go and have a look and try on in gap who have loads of styles of jeans and also biker boots at a reasonable price.

I also like knitted dresses for the winter - I bought this yesterday in the plum colour and will wear with a narrow leopard print belt and black opaques and biker style boots.

Do you want going out stuff as well?

traceybath - could I ask what you wear that Boden necklace with? Very tempted by it. Am generally keen on statement necklaces and enjoy wearing them with the rather large number of breton-type tops and tunics I seem to have acquired. But they're usually a bit 'chunkier' /more obviously daytime than that one.

Also have the Boden leopard belt but hadn't thought of wearing it with plum - thanks for the idea. Do you think it'd go with more aubergine-y purples too ? So far, have only put it with obvious things like black and brown so ideas appreciated.

Poly - I've got a few breton tops and wear the necklace with them in the day just with skinnies. Also have a stripey jumper from hobbs - its the ruben one but I can't ever get links to work to the hobbs site.

I think the belt would go really well with purpey/auberginey colours. And red - am loving it with red cardigan. In fact that belt is my favourite buy this winter

Thanks for the tips, tracey. Must try the necklace. Don't wear reds myself because they don't suit me, but definitely going to try belt with the more purply colours.

Don't rule out skinnies - they come in different shades and some are less skinny than others - I think they look very nice on curvy girls and look great with
shirts and ballet pumps.
I find that long necklaces are surprisingly slimming.

Wow - just checked back and lots more comments thank you

Will def get to Gap and try on some skinnies and straight legs and biker boots - dumb question but jeans in or out of boots? Or is it just what looks best?

And thanks for the link to the necklace and scarf tracey - will check out H&M. Am not sure how I would wear the Gap dress - over jeans? Or is that far too dated Trinny and Susannah fashion death?!?

Well I'll wear it with just opaques but am only 5ft Would work with leggings though.

Okay thank you. Have been wondering about shoeboots I can wear with wool tights instead of leggings - more dressy I know but that is probably mroe me.

Can anyone point me in the direction of some shoeboots that might look good with a shorter dress and thick tights please? Something that would flatter a traditional British cankle ?

Tb I think you should start a what I wore today blog of your own.

Update - thank you all - have been shopping and got a leopard scarf (red which is less barmaid on me than brown as I am a blonde) and the H&M bib necklace - thanks tracey.

I really like these two dresses and have some of the merino autograph tights from M&S that have been rec'd - questions are:

1. What colour tights and shoes would you put with a navy dress?

and

1. Where can I find some nice shoe boots to go with that will suit my chunky calf muscles and erm sturdy (for want of a better word) legs?

Thank you so much!

Oops - forgot to add link to dresses!

Here

www.thewhitecompany.com/productdetails.aspx?Id=1000817&ItemNo=GTCDD&SelectedItem=GTCDD

Nice dress!

I like black opaques with navy but you could go for plum/charcoal/purple.

M&S have some nice shoeboots in at the moment but they are quite high.

Hi Tracey - thanks for all of your help! I must admit, inspired by your talk of checked superdry shirts I bought this in Gap as well - It is quite a change for me but I really like it!

www.gap.eu/browse/product.do?cid=57359&vid=1&pid=792513

Would you be able to point me in the direction of some M&S shoes please? and would you match tights to shoe boots or no? I am not sure what to do as don't imagine differing dress/tights/boots colour would look too good?

Thanks again!!