Help me out of a style rut...please!?

[SunAtLast]

I'm 45 soon and losing my baby weight finally. (youngest is 2!)

I need help. I'm 5ft 4, size 14 on top, sometimes 12 on bottom. Quite busty 34f. I've been living in tunic tops and leggings for 2 yrs.

I'm back at work in sept and need some new workwear plus some school run stuff that will make me seem young and dynamic rather than old and tired - like I feel. I've been reading the frumpy threads on here and I recognise that I'm heading towards mega frumpery.

What shops should I go to? Look at online?

I've been buying m& s and h& m only. Even wearing a couple of per una tops

I'm not very rich.

Anyone?

H&M can be fantastic and I honestly don't believe that you have to spend a fortune to look good anyway. I regularly receive compliments for my style (gosh that sounds braggy ) and I am a real bargain hunter, happy to shop vintage and charity shops as well as places like The Outnet and TK Maxx where you can get a massive saving on more expensive items.

I would say if you aren't feeling confident then perhaps ordering online would be a good starting point. You won't feel pressured into buying and you get to try items on with your existing items/shoes/accessories etc so you get a more realistic idea of where something fits with your wardrobe.

Can you say roughly what kind of work you do? (office, teaching, retail etc) It will give a better idea of the kind of things you may need plus any restrictions your employer may impose.

I'm a teacher so have to be reasonably smart.

Now that I'm more my size I want to get a bit more tailored but not office wear iykwim.

start at the bottom (so to speak!) - you don't need to spend a lot on clothes, agree with ujjayi about charity shops, but you DO need good undies. You need 3 (or 2 at a pinch) really good bras, 1 black, 1 white, 1 nude that preferably you have been fitted for and then some magic knickers from M&S for smooth lines under clothes. People bang on about accessories, but truly a scarf (either v long, or shorter and tied in a floppy bow to one side) a good belt and so on can lift most outfits to the next level. Look for clothes that have a lining, avoid high necks, think about your hair as well and most of all it can be really enjoyable. And top tip, don't try to do two different 'looks' at the same time - so be classic, or boho or sporty, but not all at the same time. Good luck! xx

Yes underwear excellent starting point. TK Maxx offer some great options for support knickers at less than M&S (more around the fiver a pair mark than £10 - 20).

Also agree with Pollykitten about scarves. I am never knowingly under-accessorised! Scarves, bracelets, belts, earrings, pendants etc. Not all at the same time but even just one great item can change the feel of an outfit. Again, I am a total bargain hunter and find H&M do some of the best scarves and accessories.

Bags and shoes: As a teacher you will need a decent sized bag but go for something leather and great looking that will last and only get better with age. Make sure your shoes & bags are kept in top condition with plenty of care & attention (shoes which need polishing or re-heeling will totally ruin an outfit).

I have to pop off for a while now but will come back later with some links. Before I go, are there any colours that you really dislike? Any aversion to any specific fabrics (I can't abide acrylic myself but it doesn't bother others etc)?

Thanks both of you.

Colours I like strong ones, purple, orange, green. Black And navy.

Cannot do pastels, neutrals or white anything.

I like cotton with Lycra, viscose, if it's lined. Do not like ironing !

Prolly kitten. Good point about not mixing looks. I like comfortable shoes nd this limits the clothes I can wear a bit sometimes.

pollykitten

Agree about charity shops, I find that if you can get to a posh place, you get some bargains!

I recently spent £20 in an Oxfam in South Kensington. I got a chunky jumper from Harrods, a silk skirt, a jumper from Zara, a dress from Primark, an unworn pair of tights from Accessorize (that still had the label, meant to be £12) plus 4 books.

All of the stuff looked unworn. I was a happy bargain hunter that day.

Shoewise, have you considered brogues? New Look have some gorgeous ones in at the moment, £15, I bought grey ones. They are soft, feel a bit like suede but look like leather, and they are so comfy. Wore them the first time today and still have them on, no breaking them in at all.

These

Ooh hadn't considered brogues. Great idea thnk you

Yes I think I need to get myself to a posher area. Charity shops round here stock mostly worn atmosphere label.

I'm a teacher too and I basically live in brogues.

I like the marvin chunky brogues and only £20.

Think I need a small heel being a shortarse..

I'm 5ft1, you're practically a giant.

Sunatlast I recently went for a free style consultation at John Lewis. No pressure to buy, very relaxed experience in private fitting room, great advisor, even got a free Danish pastry and latte lol. Got some great style tips eg wardrobe basics, classic items, colours, shapes, styles that suit. Bought a couple of items and then over the coming weeks I put the rest of the look together on a much cheaper budget, mainly H&M. Now I just 'top up' and am always prepared for work, night out, casual etc as I've got all bases covered. No last minute panic buying or frustration at nothing to wear for a specific occasion.

Can highly recommend the experience.

Raincoat, there isn't a grey option mentioned onthe website. We're there grey ones in store, or do the whites actually come up greyish in real life?

Numberlock that sounds great. I have a couple of weeks off, might do one. Was there really no pressure to buy at all?

Northey I reckon the "white" brogues are the ones I have which are most definitely grey.

Numberlock thank you. Just what I need!

None at all and the lady even said come back as many times as you want. Two hours goes really quick so she said in another 'session' we could look at accessories etc.

This was at Trafford Centre in Manchester. In fact I walked through the store tonight and really felt like finding the woman to tell her how she's transformed my wardrobe, and my life a little bit, if I'm honest.

That particular store is open till 10pm so lots of flexibility about when you can go.

Wow, 2 hours?! And it was free?! That's great.

I would buy a couple of versatile dresses-block colour wrap dresses are brilliant as you can totally change the look with different camis underneath, cardigans jackets, different tights, jewellery, accessories etc. I have some from Jigsaw that are years old but I wear again and again because they're so useful. I have them in black, dark red and purple and they're still going strong 6 years later. Highly recommend Jigsaw! (I'm a teacher too btw.)

Yellow - good init! And I'm usually a believer in 'If it looks too good to be true, it probably is!'

Thanks kaloobear i will Have a look at dresses in jigsaw, i always though that was an expensive shop?

Ive emailed john Lewis re makeover.

I will head back to h&m armed with new info.

Brogues from new look and scour posh areas for charity shops

Thank you've been so helpful.