After the frumpy thread..... Help!

[OneTwoOrThree]

I've read (most of) the frumpy thread and now realise that my entire wardrobe is seriously frumpy. I knew it wasnt high fashion, but didn't realise how bad it actually was

I live in boot cut jeans , trainers (not sports trainers, but still trainers) and baggyish cardis.

So, it's time to move on. To try to ease myself out of my frumpy comfort zone, I was thinking a move to skinny jeans and ballet pumps would be a way forward. What do you think? Other suggestions greatfully received.

I'm a size 12 (just, but am still dieting so hope to get to a size 10). Big bum and chunky thighs & calfs (hence why I've hidden in bootcut jeans recently) and have a very flabby mum tum.

It's so long since I've bought clothes I don't know where to shop . I used to shop on next, but it seems a bit meh these days.

So, can you suggest where to shop for

• skinny jeans, budget circa £30-40 as I plan to drop another dress size so don't want to spend lots
• ballet pumps, must be comfy and preferably a colour that will go with any outfit, budget £40-60

Thank you all v much.

Will watch this with interest....... I'm in a very similar situation!

My skinny jeans are M&S jeggings (the £22.50 ones) following recommendations on here. Others that are recommended by MNers are Oasis Cherry and Topshop Baxter and Leigh.

I have loads of ballet pumps from new look - I think they're under £10 and come in lots of colours so you could get a few pairs? They're very comfortable.

So a lot less than your budget but they work for me!

I'd get some scarves too, they finish off an outfit nicely without making too much effort and means I can stay in my rut of jeans and white Tshirts

I was in the same boat and made the move to skinnies and ballet pumps and I suddenly felt like I'd joined the current decade! I got so many compliments all of a sudden, I felt great though I had to be quite brave to try it the first few times.
I find Dorothy Perkins skinny jeans to be pretty good for the price, I had several pairs as I dropped dress sizes. Their £15 pair are not bad and the soft feel skinnies for £25 I find keep their shape well.
I started off cheap to try new looks out, get a cheap pair of skinnies and a £10 pair of flats from NewLook, then if you hate them you haven't wasted a lot. If you love them then you will have a better idea what you are looking for when you are ready to buy a better quality pair.
I used to shop lots in Next but have gone off it now, I much prefer Zara, Dorothy Perkins, Red Herring @ Debenhams and Mango now, with cheap staples from NewLook.

My basic look now would be a pair of skinny jeans with a wedge or ballet pumps with a linen tee from zara and a nice bag. Its still just jeans and a t shirt, but its nice jeans with a nice t-shirt and it looks so much better.

Band If you are a TopShop 10 then you are no more than an 8 in M&S. I'm a TopShop 10 and I sometimes find an 8 in M&S too big. M&S sizes are stupidly big.

Another vote for the M&S jeggings. I think the M&S ones are better quality than the Topshop ones but they are much cheaper.

I've got some lovely leopard print ballet pumps from Clarks _ I think they were 30 pounds.

I found that the M&S jeggings are in more colours online too, my local store only carries a few colours so worth checking online before buying.

I've been really hoping they'd do the M&S jeggings in khaki but no luck so far. :(

Thanks everyone! Like the sound of the m&s jeggings. I'm a 'Next' size 12 so hip / think the M&S size 12 will fit. Not too sure what length to order though. I'm 5ft2, what do you suggest?

Need to look at shoes after the kids have eaten. Might be back with more questions!!

Mand S jeggings great.I have them in 5 colours.
The word jeggings put me off,but they are skinnies really.

I'm 5'2 and have the black in short and in medium and the indigo in medium length. The short ones are nice with ballet flats as a sort of 7/8ths fit but they also seem to come up a lot tighter on the legs than the medium ones! So I'd say, go with medium unless you are v stickish of limb.

I have Next high waisted skinnies and i love them - no muffin tops!!

Get Primark's soft skinnies - their waist is quite high and are only £11.

Certainly not sticking of limb, so will order the regular length.

A bit to ask, but what do shoes / boots do you wear with skinnies apart from ballet flats??

I wear mine with either ballet flats or tucked into heeled ankle boots This sort of thing but mine are a bit higher or (if feeling v slobby) Converse type things in pewter leather (but I have small feet, so can just about get away with it without looking like an Emo or a clown).

I second the Next high waist skinny jeans. They are very flattering and avoid the dreaded muffin top which imo ruins the look of skinnys.
Topshop kirsten jeans also have a higher waist and I have worn mine lots. I also tried the leigh jeans but i kept having to hitch them up.
Ballet flats are everywhere. Zara had some nice metallic ones a while back. I also got some nice low wedge style ballet shoes from Dune. They give a little height if on the short side like me.

Oh Bandersnatch, if I were a topshop size 10...

I imagine I'd be a 16 in topshop and got comfortably into the 14 in M&S, and maybe even a 12 (the 14s fall down a little now). According to the reviews on M&S, different colours seem to have varying levels of stretch too.

If it interests anyone I actually just bought some more from eBay for £12, there seem to be lots of grey ones that are new for sale.

I took a trip to M&S yesterday. Found (with surprising ease) the jeggings. Tried on the denim ones in a regular length and camel coloured ones in a 3/4 length. Size 12s fitted with a slight loose waist. Yay!

So far, so good. BUT..... I'm not slim of thigh or bottom and i felt that they just drew attention to my oversized parts.
What do you think? Is it just my self consciousness, or should chunky people find something other than skinnies to wear? If so, what? I left M&S empty handed

Then, I looked for ballet flats / ankle boots. Even with my limited frumpy radar I couldn't find anything nice in M&S, Clarks or TK Maxx . I am however coveting a pair of boots from Dune (called Plymouth, sorry, can't link from my phone), but they're £110! I think they would be nice with skinnies, but not sure I will look ok in skinnies. Aaaasrghhh! This is too hard. Help!

I went for the indigo ones as I'm large of thigh too. I also opt for looser, longer tops. In cooler weather, chunky boots will balance out your thighs.

One pair of navy skinnies (from DPs) purchased, plus a butterfly printed navy top and two pairs of ballet flats (£85 each reduced to £25 each - hope they were a bargain and not frumpy sale leftovers ).

Will post links later when I'm not on my phone, and you can rate the frumpiness / non-frumpiness factor

Step one on the 'say no to frumpy' journey complete

Next step is to wear this stuff rather than going straight for my old faithful (and frumpy) things.

Thank you all