I think I must be mad but look at my photos and tell me which outfits work and which don't

[NewAndHopefullyImproved]

I've lost 4.5 stone in the last 18 months and I am trying to get used to dressing for my new size and shape but am struggling to find my way a bit.

In what might be a moment of utter madness I have uploaded some photos to Flickr and I'd love some of you to have a flick through them and tell me if any outfits are good, any are not so good or any suggestions.

I'm looking for honest but not brutal

This is how big I was 18 months ago here

These are my outfit photos here

My main worries are:

1. I'm 31, am I dressing too young for my age?

2. Are my legs too fat for dresses?

3. Do I just look a bit daft?

Thanks to anyone who takes the time to have a look

this scarf

And red skinnies, and......

You look lovely in all the pictures

this bag
I have the scarf and the bag. The bag has a detatchable shoulder strap so you can wear it across body....love it,despite not being leather, it looks good.....someone asked me if it was a MuiMui.
Now go and get those skinny jeans....btw wear with nude ballets.

Send us a pic!!!!

Can someone tell me how to put multiple links on a post??

If you would feel more "secure" in a longer jkt then this one is good
longer
But tbh I think shorter it more " on trend " (mwaa darling!!)

DryWhite I like all those links! I like that jacket, its shorter than I would have looked for. I would have looked for something to cover up my bum. Its a little too ££ for me at the moment but I will look out for something similar.

That scarf is so pretty, I love it. It would go with quite a lot I think. I love the bag too, I have to be held back in a bag shop usually!

The reason I didn't dare buy the red jeans I had tried on was that I saw on here a thread about coloured jeans where posters were less than complimentary about people n red skinnies and thought they were only for the Kate Moss' of this world.
I don't have any nude flats, I can find some though. I will try red skinnies on again then. I really like red actually.

I love MN but remember you don't have to agree with everything people say....apart that you look fab!! so pleased you like my ideas. Go to Primark, get cheap and try the look.coloured skinnies are fine imo (and dispite MN opinions so are bootleg worn "correctly"!!)
Plenty of cheaper blazers around. Have spent my life covering my bum (and prob making it look bigger!)... But I do sometimes have a fitted jersey top showing below jkt .

You're tiny and could deffo get away with red skinnies. I really rate the M&S ones (they call them jeggings but ignore that - they are just skinny jeans!).

H&M can be good for cheapo blazers, if you're filling to sift through a lot of crap! :)

I am wearing the scarf now!! Also looks great with blue denim, stone chino ankle grazers (get some!!) etc.....

willing not filling

You look amazing!

You look fab!

I would kill for your legs.

You look amazing.

Bloody well done :)

Wow you look great, I agree with others about the shoe thing, I was thinking wedged sandals would look nice. Oh and some brighter colours-red jeans?

yup

You look really, really lovely in all the outfits.

I'm 32 (nearly 33 so older than you!) and fatter and I would wear anything you've picked without thinking I was dressing too young If I was younger and thinner (like you OP) there would be no stopping me! Red skinnies and all!

REALLY love the jeans (particularly with the red flats) and I'm wondering where they are from?

Remus These red jeggings?? I haven't been in an M&S for ages, will go and try them on.

I did eye these DP red jeggings up but wasn't brave enough to try them on.

Unexpected No one has ever expressed jealousy over my legs before. I think they are my worst part, really chunky!

dryWhite Thanks again, I love all your suggestions!

Ebb I think red skinnies are next on my list for things to try on!

You look amazing, well done. As a fellow nutcase (I lost 6 stone 2000/01 and still felt huge for about 5 years!!!) I can suggest just to listen to all of these lovely compliments and enjoy your gorgeous figure... I put on 4 stone whilst pregnant (had kept it off up until then though) and have been going to WW since mid-March and managed to lose 1 stone so far :)

Please tell me where you got the black (butterfly) dress? :)

I prefer the m and s.....not mad keen on side fastening (make tummy look bigger...speak from recent experience!).....M and S names (jeggings ugh !) and styling ( those shoes?!!!) is bonkers. But reasonable quality.....bought their jeggings/skinnies in indigo and they have kept their colour well.

Have also ordered this go with everything lovely scarf...
butterflies

You look utterly fab in everything ... when I opened the link I thought I was looking at pages from a catalogue. Well done on your weight loss and have fun in your new clothes.

I like the first outfits with stripey tops and flats and the last outfit with the jeans and ankle boots. I think maybe ankle boots dont work with dresses. You can def pull all the outfits off and not dressing too young at all!

AWhistlingWoman They are these from DP. They do stretch out though, I bought a 10 but have only lost a few more lbs and have gone back for the 8 because the 10s have stretched quite a lot. I love them though, really comfortable, but you need to get the smallest pair possible.

SuzySheep The butterfly dress is from New Look, can't see it on their website now though I only bought it on Tuesday. Its by 'Mela Loves London', just checked the tag. My spotty one is a Mela one as well.

TheFarSide Thanks, you made me blush

DryWhite That is a really pretty scarf.

I can see this thread is going to cost me a lot of money!

Well you do need a new wardrobe....but the art is putting cheap stuff together really well so people think it is expensive!!!( have uncovered my secret now!!!)

You look great,and your legs are fabulous!

I like the outfits with the exception of the paler boots and darker opaque tights with the dresses (although I like boots and dresses)

I agree with whoever said about looking at some wedge sandals.Gives height and shape to the ankles/legs,but a lot easier to walk in than heels ( I too cannot do heels,but I can do wedges)

Definitely not dressing too young.

Ok while I'm at it here are my buy cheap, look expensive tips;

1.Always look at fabric content

If I am browsing in matalan ,Primark, new look, a shop , I always look at fabric content. I avoid acrylic like the plague...it goes bobbly and looks like a tatty rag after a few wears and a wash Cotton/ nylon/Lycra mixes seem to wear better. Viscose is ok too...cheap linen is thinner but fine. Linen trs stretch so buy slightly snug.we don't want a saggy bum now do we?

1. Fit

On the subject of linen.....trs always go baggy so buy snug or buy with caution.
Get clothes that fit you!!! Sleeves that are too long, jeans that are too big, too short....look hideous!!!( I am soooo bossy!)
When women don't like their figures we buy big and try to hide our shape....the result is we look bigger!!! I have learnt this through years of experience and women watching.

1. Accessories

They finish an outfit. Bring everything together. Scarves, jewellery (DP, Top Shop, Primark are great for these)... Buy loads.

1. Handbags and shoes

Buy the best quality you can afford. T K Maxx is excellent value for good quality leather handbags. ( I know my linked Dune was plastic but sometimes I break the rules...I'm just like that....eve n with acrylic ugggggg....always regret acrylic though! )
Buy good quality boots for winter. Evening shoes I tend to buy cheap. Ballet flats I buy loads and rotate because I hammer them. Occasionally I do splurge though. But....re heel, polish and just look after them because scruffy shoes drive me mad, just spoil an outfit.

Sorry to sound so opinionated....but looking chic is not just about buying expensive! Don't even get me started on hair and make up!!!!

DryWhite Thanks, I need bossy and opinionated, I basically need taking buy the hand and told what works and what doesn't.

I basically don't accessorise at all, I should start getting bits and pieces and take it from there. I agree that they finish off a look and make you look more polished, I just have never known where to start.

I'll start with Primark because they are cheap, going tomorrow I think because we need to go to the shopping centre anyway. I'll get DH to take the DC for a half hour and whiz around the shops.