Casual - why can't I do it ?

[Msarsebiscuit]

I've been looking around t'internet, trying to buy some clothes that I can do ordinary stuff in - I've bought the S&B recommended Levi jeans and the Next biker jacket. The trouble is that I naturally gravitate towards the 50s glam school of dress, essentially my style is Mad Men Glitter Tart. I trundle along, determined to buy flat shoes n shit, next thing you know, there's another jewel coloured pointe dress in my basket.

Please tell me what I need to buy, imagine you are Gok to my shortarse, size 14, 44 year old casual-deficient little self.

( ps Tethersend, you are some kind of Internet Clothing Fairy ).

Oh yes the delectable Rupert

Msarsebiscuit Yes!!! I know exactly what you mean. I am also shortarse hour glass with 32F knockers and I also want to wear 'sweaters', beatnik crop pants and ballet slippers and it looks shite. And I am a size 8/10 so it's not the size, its the shortness and the effing boobs. MrsCampbellBlack I like the sound of sexy knitwear - what is it please? Mine just looks mumsy . apart from a black Jaeger cashmere tank which doesn't cover my aaaaarms.

Well cashmere is always good. But something perhaps a bit slinky/sheer over a vest top or for winter a few sequins never go amiss.

But I'm not exactly a terribly casual dresser - I mean I wear jeans a lot but normally with heels/blouses etc.

I am kind of the opposite to you msarsebiscuit. I love a bit of 50s glamour (and 40s too) but I am too much of a slob to wear dresses every day. Also not very practical for my work as I'm often clambering about on the floor putting make up on models' legs and painting their toenails. And, worst of all I can't wear heels anymore due to defective feet.

My solution is to wear 50s cut jeans - either very 50s ones from www.freddiesofpinewood.co.uk or Levis 505's, both with turn ups. Converse (for a bit of glamour, you can get nice silver ones from Office, or I have ones covered with glitter), Flat creepers, etc. Depending on how casual or glam I want to be I will wear a nice blouse or simple top with a pretty cardigan, or a T Shirt (usually music or motorcycle inspired). Alternatively, wide legged 40s style trousers and a cute 40s style top. The kind of stuff you can find from www.tarastarlet.com and www.heydayonline.co.uk

Both eras involve high wasited trousers and cropped cardis or long ribbed waist and the like so very flattering for hourglass figures.

Havingkittens - the tarastarlet site looks fab! I love the retro look but am too fat / scared to pull it off!

Your wardrobe sounds great!

MrsArse - it was only yesterday I was pondering that I had finally, after 37 years, got the hang of casual dressing - I JUST COULDN'T DO IT, I spent my 20's either buttoned up or tarted up (in a most tasteful way) but could never do casual.

I think I have it now though, either as havingkittens says, I wear 7forallmankind jeans, rolled up, with daps (converse or similar), or wide tweedy trousers with similar, bretton tops, fine layered jersey, I prefer shirts to blouses, good quality fine knits.

Or, if I'm doing skirts, denim shirt-dresses work well,, with layering, flat boots (I have Toast riggers) or shortish cord or denim skirts, good tights, a great bag & jacket (Toast brilliant for a jacket that works with casual trousers & skirts), look at APC or JCrew for ideas - I have loads & they work brilliantly - there's loads of similar things around if you can't afford it - but look at them for the styling.

HTH.

Oh & my Belstaff Agnes boots have been the best investment I ever made.

Really, they go with pretty much everyting & look casual but bloody lovely & glam so best of both worlds.

& everyone loves them.

RubyRubyRuby, yes, the Next biker jacket is ( somewhat surprisingly ) very nice - it's well cut, the colour is a subtle mocha-ish shade and the leather feels very soft, it's also nice and warm ( old lady face ).

HavingKittens, you see I think part of my problem is that I wear a uniform for work all week, it gets to the weekend and I have some kind of ' practicality backlash '. I do like the sound of your solution though, and I like Tara Starlet.

BlobtoBetter - that retro style suits the more softly undulating of us, go on, buy yourself something glamorous ......

Spiderslegs - how I want those boots !

Yes it is, and I'm pretty impressed - I pretty much never buy clothes from Next.