Style Me Up

[minicorrect]

Oh S&B experts I really need some help to get stylish!!

I have a wardrobe that is bursting at the seams, but just don't really know where to start with outfits. I know I need to chuck some things out but just can't bring myself to do it. I'm not planning to return to the corporate world (on maternity leave at the moment), so need more casual outfits but still love more dressy styles)
I love blue and white stripes with red accents, flirty 50s tea dresses/a line skirts, pussy bows, peterpan and boatneck collars
I'm a pear-shaped 5'1" with longer body than legs.
I don't own skinny jeans but they seem to be a fashion staple - am I the wrong shape for them though?
I have lots of t shirts and hoody type cardigans/jumpers, some check shirts, a few ruffly type blouses, a few black/white dresses, a short black denim skirt and classic knee length one and a gorgeous white linen knee length a line one I bought recently (big slouchy pockets and skinny brown belt - just love it but more summer than winter I guess). Classic cut jeans and 2 pairs boyfriend jeans. Navy cargo pants and navy wide leg linen. I do have a pencil skirt for work but it's a bit worky for everyday wear I think. Also got some black suit type jackets that I guess could be dressed down if I knew how.
Any advice on how I can put outfits together or what I can buy to make the most of what I've already got would be appreciated. Not got any money, so can only buy the minimum, but still want to look good and get a "style".
Please help before I waste more money on things that aren't right!!

Sounds to me like you have quite a good selection already! Before you buy anything, go through your wardrobe. List all your tops and all your bottoms, incl the colour, and work out on paper what might go with what. [You could of course just tip it all out on the bed, but you have to be able to do that all in one go and I find with DCs around the paper list is better as you can come back to it!] At that point you can try on to check and start to list "outfits".

Then work out "what's missing" - e.g. if you have a lovely skirt but no top to go with it. (Of course if you know you are not going to wear something again - too worn or whatever, get rid of it.) If you need a top to go with several bottoms, work out if you can get a multi-tasker that'll go with all of them, and maybe factor in some of the things you say you like.

I find that balancing the shapes is important - e.g. if you have wide-leg trousers, to wear a neat-fitting top.

I also found that some things didn't fit in with my newfound role as a mum - short/ pencil skirts didn't work for me anymore as I was up and down chasing after DS. Doesn't mean you can't wear nice things though - just think about the comfort and practicality.

wardrobe clearing is such a chore but so worth it! Like you, my wardrobe was bursting at the seams but I always felt I didn't have anything to wear. Over christmas, while I had time off, I had a massive clearout. I kept things that I liked, things that I had worn in the last 12 months and things that fitted (I lost some weight last year and there were some ill fitting things lurking). I ebayed anything decent - made £120 so not to be sniffed at - and the rest went to charity.
I have no hung clothes together in groups so I can see what I have. Starting at the left - coats and jackets - dresses - trousers - skirts - bouses / tops / shirts, cardigans etc... I have folded jeans in a drawer and folded knitwear in another. I have a small accessories draw where I roll scarves and belts and keep clutches and purses etc...
I seem to have far fewer days where I think I have nothing to wear and can see in my wardrobe far more easily.
I am 5ft, pear shaped and size 8 on top and small 10 on bottom half. So maybe not disimilar to you. My wardrobe staples are skinnies tucked into boots - worn with breton tops or a cashmere jumper. I use accessories to make outfits more exciting. In the summer I wear skinnies with funky Ts and low wedge gladiator sandals - a low wedge is more flattering than flats when short. I also have a just above the knee denim skirt I wear a lot - navy opaques and dark brown boots look good with it. These really are my staple day time looks.
For going out, I sometimes wear skinnies with high heels and a pussy bow blouse. Or I wear jersey dresses - from FC as the fit is good on me. I also have a tunic from Joules which is a dress on me.
I must say, it sounds like you already have a nice style and some nice things in your closet.

Thanks so much for your replies. As DD1 is ill I plan to spend the morning going through my clothes to work out what to keep and what to lose and then try and work out how things go together and get rid of anything that doesn't work with anything else.
One thing I really need help with is a lovely wrap dress I got from All Saints a few years ago. It has a burgundy satin wide hem and matching wrap around sash. As it's just below the knee on me, although I love how different it is, I always feel a bit dowdy in it. It's one I always want to clear out because I struggle with it but tend to keep in the hope I might work out how to make it cool. Any ideas?

Sorry your wee one is ill, best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Re burgundy wrap dress, hard to say without seeing it. Can you pin the wrap bit to show a tiny bit of leg?

Also while I am not a fan of the High Heel, I think with this length you need a pair of quite grrrr! shoes. You could do nude hose (!) - nude fishnets maybe? - and nude shoes.

Also depending on the neckline and sleeves, a lacy camisole underneath or a scoop neck longsleeved fitted top something like this or a fantastic necklace.

Cruella you have made me ! I have a brown pair of heeled Mary Janes i wear with it and some burgundy fishnets! It wraps a couple of times so no pinning back - and with my legs that's no bad thing! Might try something lacy though as that could give the edge it needs. Thank you!
Went out and bought two pairs of skinny jeans today, two pairs of ballet pumps and some bright red hair dye and accessories so have started to make some improvements. Surprisingly, the jeans make me feel sexy not fat which is quite exciting!