Can I be dressed up and covered up?

[scotswoman]

I really feel the cold so almost always have my arms and legs covered but when I try to get a little dressed up I feel like I never look nice because I go for warmth over style, can I achieve both?

I have dark jeans which fit me really well but all my nice tops are short sleeved and just look silly with a cardigan, I feel like a 6 year old dressed by her mum for a kids party. I'm late 20s but look younger and am tall and skinny so all gangly limbs and pointy elbows etc so that doesn't help.

I am going to a friend's house warming this weekend, it's been 14 deg here (Scotland) this week and I'm cold! I will be taking my shoes off so can't even glam up a bit with them. Can you recommend a long sleeved top that will dress up my jeans or maybe a long sleeved dress I could wear with black opaques but not look like I'm dressed for winter??! Is it lost cause? I almost never go out, if I'm completely honest it is often because I'm crap at the clothes thing no matter how often I wander around the shops.

If you're going to be indoors maybe you could risk a short sleeved top?

A good way to glam up jeans is with some eye catching earrings, bracelets etc. if you're not feeling comfortable with your own style at the moment (same thing happened to me in my late 20s - I called it 'losing my look' - don't worry, you'll find yours again soon!).

Black opaques look silly in the summer in my opinion. Why not try some slim trousers with a pattern plus a plain top? Ted Baker have some nice floral ones. Looks fashionable but not too dressed up, and you sound like you could carry them off.

Good luck, and enjoy the party.

Could you fit a vest or thermal top under your short sleeved top? Uniqlo or M&S do good thermal vests which are long enough to tuck in which always makes a difference. Lordy, I sound like my mother!

I am the queen of thermal vests! I still really can't have bare arms though, I know it sounds ridiculous but I get goosebumps so easily and just feel really cold and then my feet become freezing and then it's impossible to get warm again without direct heat.

It's raining here today and grey so I may be able to get away with being more covered up tonight and my lovely, lovely hairdresser friend is going to sort my hair for me so with that and makeup on I should feel a bit more glam.

I did look at these trousers in Zara the other day fianceprincess so I could go back and try them on and they might look ok with a simpler long sleeved top and a statement necklace? I do agree with the style thing though, I keep looking at things and thinking I'm too young/old for that and not really sure how to dress my age any more.

scots Has your Dr checked your iron levels? Anaemia can make you feel cold all the time. And it's miserable. But treatable. Do ask if you haven't already.

I'm on an iron supplement, have been for years. Other family members are the same so think it's just who I am.

Could you channel the 50s hepburn and go for slim cropped black trousers, a black long or 3/4 sleeve top and then glam it all up with some great jewellery?

That sounds good dazzling, definitely something I'd feel comfortable in. I was worrying more yesterday because although I was cold it was bright with some sunny spells so felt I should wear something summery but looking out of the window now it is the typically Scottish weather that is dreich (drizzly, dull and grey!) so I can probably get away with something more covered up without looking ridiculous. At least that's what I'm hoping.