hush - have gone crazy but have I done the right thing?

[HeartsJandJ]

OK, I'm a terrible shopper. I veer wildy between uber expensive key pieces (that I never wear) and cheap jeans/vest combo which I wear to death. I consequently always look scruffy although I've got a wardrobe with nice things in it.

Anyway, in an attempt to overhaul my look I clicked on the Hush link and have bought:

slim leg joggers
2 t-shirt type dresses (to wear with leggings)
2 jumpers

This is going crazy as I have a very limited budget these days and this stuff will have to last me a long time.

But do you think this will be enough to give me a look that's cool but also comfortable?

I'm 5 foot 6 and a size 12/14. I'm always self-conscious about my boobs - hate anything that gives a jolly barmaid look. I have a pretty face and really nice hair. So generally I get away with the crap I'm wearing (even though my jeans always have holes in the knee and most of cardies are similar).

Gawd, basically I need to find a magic answer and I'm hoping Hush is it. Then I can get rid of all the unsuitable and ruined clothes littering my life and move forward in my new style goddess guise .

Sounds very casual to me so not sure how it is a style overhaul compared to your usual jeans, but a lot depends on the quality of fabric, little details etc and how well it fits. I don't know Hush stuff so can't comment on that.

It does sound very wearable day-to-day.

Sounds like you are blessed with always looking nice, but it is horrid to feel in a rut. Hope your stuff makes you feel good when it arrives. :)

Sounds good. I like Hush but have found that some of their trousers go a bit baggy if you're wearing them all day. Worth considering when you're trying them on.

Ripped jeans are very on trend this season doncha know .

I love a "sport luxe" look and try and mix my more expensive items with more casual clothes.

What footwear are you planning to wear with your new gear?

I tend to wear rigger boots all winter, scuffy ballet style trainers I got from Tescos 2 years ago at this time of year, and then move into Birkies/FitFlops for summer (my FitFlops are sparkly though for a bit of glitz!).

I see what you mean about hardly breaking out of my style rut though. Hmm. I'm just a complete wuss about looking done-up iykwim? I wore a Toast jacket (from my collection of unworn clothes) on the school run yesterday and kept imagining everyone going "ooh get her" behind my back!

My jeans ripped around the inner thigh - not a trend I imagine will catch on any time soon in these parts!!

Why don't you must wear your unworn clothes? A few years ago I decided to stop keeping things for best. So I wear "nice"clothes everyday. There are only a few items which are too dressy to wear in the day such as cocktail dresses etc but most things can be styled to look less smart. I would spend your money on some great jeans though-without rips.

I guess it's a mixture of changing shape after baby, not exactly putting on weight but somehow I don't look the same in my old nice clothes. So I think I've lost confidence a bit and having been an indie-girl before I settled down I tend towards the grunge look naturally.

I spend my days now dog-walking, cleaning, gardening, cooking, doing craft activities with DD. I am mostly half-mud half-person.

I think you are right about needing the jeans though.

I nearly cried when my fave jeans ripped round the inner thigh. :( Have never found a pair as good since

I am planning a massive style overhaul when I have had this baby and no longer student. My wardrobe is soooo dire at the moment. I come on here to collect inspiration for that long awaited day and to dream. :)

I looked up Hush on the website, from my brief browse, it was a bit uncolourful for me, seemed very like Gap in style, which are great basic core pieces but not much panache... but if you are self conscious with your good stuff maybe panache is not what you are after. I bet anyone noticing your toast jacket just thought 'nice jacket' not 'get her'. Only very bitchy people would think that! And those people are not the ones whose opinion you should give a second thought.

Remember you are worthy of your toast jacket!! There is no 'get her' when you are the jacket.

Have you tried pinterest to keep track of your desired wardrobe?

You're right in your analysis though - I don't want panache day-to-day. I sort of want to look nice but classic (and slim!). Like I said I do have good hair and always wear make-up, so that's sort of where I express my personality. If I wore get-me clothing as well I fear I'd look a bit Samantha Brick up-myself-ish.

have you thought about accessories? I know it gets flogged to death but a scarf or some hair sparkles or a really nice belt does lift the whole thing without being over the top

ginpalace - try the Boden sale for jackets and colourful stuff!

Hair sparkles is a fab idea - and would definitely meet with DD's approval. That's exactly the sort of cool and funky but not too polished look I'm after. Thank you!

Hmmm pinterest for tracking ideas - nooooo, great tip. I am trying to store it all in my head!

You sound very active so I bet your figure isn't bad at all. You could try to throw in some hard core aerobic exercise if you want to make it more sculpted (assuming you even have time with everything else). I think your daily style sounds lovely and I bet others like the look too, make up and hair go a long way to improving your image no matter what you wear. :)

Could you get a day off alone and go to the high street and work your way through trying on things you might not normally and having an experiment - just to work out what changes you would enjoy? I am planning this, gonna really enjoy it too. Will choose a quiet week day and go wild.

Or, if you have a debenhams near you, they do a fab personal shopper service. Can't recommend enough. They PS is not on commission so has no 'sales' approach. You give them your budget and what you are trying to do and they scoop up all the suitable clothes and bring them to you while you sit with your feet up drinking coffee and reading the mags they provide. I have done this before - there is no charge for the service. I was shown stuff I loved, and some I wouldn't have considered but turned out great. I got all sorted in half the time it would have taken me trawling the racks on my own. You get to try the clothes on in a massive changing room which does not smell of bodies and has plenty of mirrors and good light. winnning combination!

Pollykitten thanks I will have a nosey at that. :)

I love the idea of the Personal Shopper. With the Hush blow-out my budget for the next 24 months is sadly about a fiver! But in 2014 I'm gonna make me a date!!

Thanks though for the posts - you've given me a boost that I probably don't look as bad as I think.

GinPalace - good luck with the baby

You definitely need to make an accessory yours and buy plenty of that.

Mine's is jewellery - massive fan of Lola Rose which I pick up cheaper on Ebay.

I also pretty much have one 'look' - like you I want to avoid the barmaid look (and have mahoosive 36J norks) so wear a camisole at all times under jersey dresses. In winter it's jersey dresses/leggings/boots - in summer it's jersey dresses or tunics and still over leggings but shorter ones - my knees and legs are not particularly attractive.

I would also ditch the posh stuff if you're really not going to wear it again - sell it on Ebay if it's good - now seems to be the time for you to find a look that works for you now and not then. Holding on to past selves isn't usually helpful.

Your confidence may increase just by doing that.

Where do you get the jersey dresses from? I saw French Connection recommended on another thread but when I've tried dresses from there before they have strained exceedingly unattactively across the bust!

I always go for a chunky necklace. :)

The debenhams personal shopper is fabby - if your stuff doesn't work out maybe you could return for refund and have a bash. It feels tres luxurious having someone scamper round on your behalf - like a mental massage.

I go for mostly wrap dresses from phase eight/wallis/boden/debenhams so that the bust part can be adjusted. You can still see I have insanely large norks and they do strain a bit sometimes but I just put up with it - I can't take them off