34. What to wear.

[plopplopquack]

Every time I've been out recently I've had so much trouble choosing what to wear. I've realised that this is because I'm now 34 and I don't want to look like mutton dressed as lamb.

Of course I don't feel any different then when I was 24 and I'm not any wider but I've had 2 children since. I'm guessing there must be general rules though and I don't want to embarrass myself by wearing something too young! That said though there is a part of me that thinks "fuck it, I'll wear what I like"!

Help!

Wear whatever the hell you like.

I'm much more adventurous now than I was in my twenties. I feel like I really know what suits me and I can afford to buy it.

And I am a bit wider. So you've got no excuse!

If it looks great and you like an outfit wear it but like lady says avoid Boden and Jules or other similialy frumpy brands. They are not your friends!!

I'm worried my body looks old! I've been exercising but still. Am a 8/10 but very short so not as slim as a tall 8/10.

PS. I quite like mini dresses 60s style. Are they out of bounds?

I'm 33, also with 2 dcs, and a little confused about what to wear. I feel like I no longer quite belong in the shops and clothes (which were really meant for teens, maybe early 20s) I have been using, but not sure where to go now. I do feel like I need to look more polished now, as what could have passed before as a student scruffy look now looks more frumpy mummy. It doesn't help that I see hardly any nicely dressed people, either on the toddler circuit or in my uni dept.

I know what you mean, my look has always been studenty too, but have made more effort for going out. Now it's just complicated.

i know what you mean, i am 31 and starting to wonder what i should be wearing and if i am dressing ok for my age :(

My staples-
Skinny and straight leg jeans
Skinny cargo pants
Tapered chino trousers rolled up
Denim a -line mini, but not too mini, about 3 inches above the knee

Breton style tops
Grandpa style cotton jersey tops, sleeves rolled up
Wide neck sloppy sweatshirts
blouses-fine cotton silk blends
shirred cotton t-shirts with breast pocket
layering plain long sleeve t-shirts- american vintage is NICE

Blazer
shrunken denim jacket
thin parka

dresses- any thing I like, but get the right length if you are petite- too long will look frumpy

ballet flats
converse
birkenstocks
stacked wedges
espadriles

60 style dresses would be a Go in my book.

Thank you exhaustednurse and ongakgak for your very specific lists . Think I have a slightly different style to you both though. Find I'm ok with what suits for day time, but evening wear is a whole new ballgame. It's so easy to look frumpy or tarty!

FWIW:

Skinny jeans don't suit me. Flared one's best balance out my bottom!

Breton tops (had to look that up) make me look wide as a house, plus my 60 year old MIL wears them so I've always thought of them as old lady wear.

Never wore a sweatshirt in my life!

Also blazers?!

Aren't birkenstocks the clothing of choice for Essex male hairdressers with too many highlights? (sorry if this insults)

Love converse though.

Do like the Pussy bow style blouses but they don't look right with my hair.

Sorry if message above offends, just a style difference I think.

Also was wondering if people think I should wear tights if wearing shortish skirt? Am I too old for bare thighs? . . . . yeah probably!

hush your mouth!

High waister flares are lush, have mine form last year, and birkenstocks....also my hobbit feet can wear little else in the hot summers!

maybe go into House of Fraser and get a personal shopper appt and try loads on?

34 is YOUNG. i'd go for the F it, I can wear what I like.

I do, and am 38, and I do not subscribe to rules such as; Women over 35 should not have long hair, wear short skirts, wear shorts etc etc.

Do reconsider bretons - they are so easy to wear. Plus you can get some much more contemorary ones now. I don't love the H&M ones, despite the press they get on here - too heavy, made me look slightly middle-aged (am 29 with 2 kids). I found one in linea weekend in HofF, which is significantly more expensive but much nicer IMO.

What you wear to go out all depends on where you're going out to. If you're doing Pizza Express with the girls a jazzed up version of your day clothes works, if it's a night out in a wine bar or in a swish restaurant you'll need to amp it up a bit.

For going out to a bar/pub, dark straight-leg jeans (well, ok, I'd wear skinnies but you've already discounted those!) with an embellished top and some kind of cardi over, and then accessorize it up. I know it's a bit boring, but there's a reason why lots of women go for this look - it works... Plus as you're petite, heels are a must for going out. Will lengthen your legs and balance you out.

For Pizza Express type meet-ups, flares (NOT bootcut) are really in this year, so there's loads around. To be teemed with wedges and some sort of blouse, I believe.

If I was going out with my DH on a lovely summer's evening date, I would wear a plain floaty dress, ballet flats and a little cardi if necessary.

HTH

What sort of things do you already like? What kind of lifestyle do you need to dress for?

I reckon I've got winter and Autumn work stuff totally sorted now and am okay for winter and Autumn casual but am less good at spring and summer.

Things I rely on include:

dark skinny jeans (NEVER thought I'd wear them but have recently been convinced);
a grey jersey pencil skirt - just over the knee (fine for work but good for casual too);
brown knee high boots (just starting to look wrong now the sun has been seen though);
grey cashmere v neck jumper;
stripey tops and plain tops with scoop necks and three quarter sleeves;
a thigh length grey linen mix cardigan with short sleeves for wearing above the tops;
plain black Anglomania jersey dress - to wear over striped or plain tops fo dress it down, with a little cotton cardi in the summer or alone for nights out;
denim mini;
ballet shoes in a range of colours;
wedges if I want heels (rarely).

Have a look on the website shopstyle.co.uk.
Just posted something similar elsewhere on here.

Search " mums " or "spring" ( eg) or " party" or "country" under the drop down menu "looks" and you'll find some ideas. Or, search the group " chic mummies". Some are bonkers and clearly not going to be mums for a while, but there are some interesting ideas. there are loads of groups according to what people are into.

Or for cheap easy window shopping, you can just type " red cardigan ( for example) " under the drop down menu "all products" , and all the high street options will come up xxx

Beware - addictive xxx

If I was 34 I would still be in Top Shop.

I am 35 and still in Top Shop! 34 is not old I think figure is more of a consideration when dressing not age. Extra weight is quite ageing imo and it becomes much more difficult to find things that suit but with your size wear what you want!