I need serious clothes advise....

[FabMum1]

I'm desperately in need of some new clothes

I work with young children but still want to look nice. I don't want to have to wear unflattering baggy clothes which are 'for comfort'. I still want to feel well presented, smart n happy with my look.

I'm 5ft 8 and a size 8-10

Any suggestion of outfits would be greatly received. I honestly don't know where to begin and it's getting me down

What about wrap dresses, tea dresses, ankle skimming, slim leg trousers and blouses/tops, midi length jersey tube skirts and fitted tees, long line cardis and/or a blazer for chucking over the top of things? Is there anything out of those that you really love or hate? What colours suit you?

I'd love to have some dresses, preferably either just above knee or maxi, don't think I could carry off a midi

Love blazers

I like the sound of trousers, but I find it very difficult to pick the right shape n style

Like fitted tops or floaty blouses but I struggle to put looks together, I can't buy clothes, I'm terrible

I'd visit a Personal Shopper at House of Fraser or something. They're quite good about working with your budget, and they're really helpful with helping you pick out outfits and coordinating things!

I'm not sure a personal shopper is my thing. Don't really want to limit myself to one shop n feel like I have to buy.

But thank you for the suggestion

I think you could work a midi length at 5'8 and size 8-10. If you can't who could!!

Try following some fashion blogs for some ideas, i luke le catch and bittersweet colours (sorry linking from my phone is a pain) might help you get a feel for what looks are about and in store and on how to put things together. Also I've been known to lurk on the mumsnet vogue threads to see what these savvy ladies are buying for the season ahead. I'm a mum of two small kids. I know exactly how you feel! Its easly to slob around in Comfy old baggy clothes and get covered in juice and biscuits. But it just eats away at ones self esteem! I'm on a similar mission to make an effort.

Maxi dresses are just coming out of fashion now so if you go shopping sometime in the next few weeks, you'll probably get lucky with some sale bargains. House of Fraser have a MASSIVE selection of dresses from allsorts of different brands so they may be worth a look, they certainly have, from what I've seen, a good selection of tea and wrap dresses. Oasis and Warehouse can usually turn up a few gems as well. Be wary of buying from the lower end of the high street in terms of length though as places like Primark, New Look etc tend to make their dresses VERY short, especially primark. Bum flashing is not a good look on anyone you may find that what they term as mid length will be the right length for what you want
Gap are good for trousers of many types though I am told that their sizing is on the large side so you may find you have to size down. I am also told that the M&S range of jeggings (apparently more like proper jeans than leggings) is also very good.
Zara do decent blazers but the sizing is hit or miss in my experience

also, as a rule of thumb, when putting outfits together, if you have a fitted bottom ie: a pencil skirt, then you can have a floaty top/blouse and the opposite, fitted top, floatier bottom such as fitted tee with maxi skirt. HTH

Thank you for all your advice

I try to put outfits together but when I see separates in different shops I find it hard to imagine them together

I struggle with getting outfits to match and always think I look a mess

Can anyone recommend any outfits from certain stores

I would really recommend colour and style analysis with House of Colour as you sound vey unsure. Both parts are expensive but starting with just the colour analysis is not too bad (£100) and you will (a) save so much money in the long run and (b) enjoy shopping/getting dressed etc.

I swear I don't work for them - just happy customer !

I'd shop in Primark- nice clothes but if they kids wreck them you won't be too upset :)

I know you said you didn't fancy the idea of a personal shopper but I've heard good reports on house of Fraser. They have such a wide range of concessions, it's like having a lot of shops under one roof. You're not under any obligation to buy

Give it a go!

I think it's going to really limit you by just looking for a whole outfit from one store.

Have you had a look at Pintrest? There are loads of looks on there which you can copy by searching for the individual items from various stores.

As an example: To re-create this look, I would search on line for:

these jeans

this t-shirt

this jacket

this scarf

I think it really helps to have your own 'directory' of which shops/brands serve you well for certain items, i.e I know I like Ash for footwear, Gap for basic t-shirts, J brand for denim, Whistles for knitwear etc. Maybe start another thread asking for rec's?

Thank you so much midnightinmoscow, you are very good at this, wish I could do it

Now going to try and copy your idea

Need some form of trouser, top, skirt, dress and footwear for work
:-)

Years of practice.

Right - when you say trouser, skirt etc. what kind do you mean? What is the overall look you want to achieve? Do you need something very corporate? Or more smart casual? Do you like minimal outfits, with sharp clean lines or do you prefer soft, slouchy?

I love choosing clothes for other people!

Can you wear jeans? Slim/skinny jeans and blazers are basically my staple.

I've been trying to make more effort to buy classic styles and pieces, and fewer cheap one-season things, in an effort to streamline my wardrobe a bit. I like Cos, French Connection and the odd thing from something like Jigsaw or M&S. Have you seen M&S's new style advisor thing? It puts together outfits for you based on your size/shape/what you like. I was pleasantly surprised by it - and it could give you ideas to try out in other shops.

I never used to have a clue about how to put clothes together. I would buy loads of individual pieces that I loved that never seemed to 'go'. I'm like you, when you see clothes hanging on a rail its hard to picture what to put it with.

So this is what I do......

For inspiration, I have my name down for various clothing brands that I like eg white stuff, boden (don't shoot me!), joules, jack wills, seasalt etc etc so I receive their catalogues. I look at the models and how they've put the outfits together and try to recreate from the high sheet using similar colours/styles.

Alternatively.... If there is a 'piece' I love I buy it and do a google image search of that piece to see how people have created a look from fashion blogs.

Two recent examples of this....

I bought a green polka dot jersey maternity dress from eBay (I'm pregnant) but didn't know what to put it with.... I did a google image search of the dress (even though the dress was from a few years back) and found the original web/model photo of the dress where they had teamed it with a chunky wooden bead necklace, maroon tights and nude shoes. My outfit now looks fab but I would never of thought of doing that myself!!

Another is that I have just bought a jack will navy wool blazer (they fantastic fitted blazers which are pricey but you find loads in excellent condition on eBay) and I google imaged the blazer and found loads of fashion blogs where people have the same blazer and have out it with different stuff. Now I'm going to get navy skinny jeans with knee high tan boots with a slight heel with a floaty blouse or shirt to go with it.

Really, do try a Personal shopper. Somewhere like House of Fraser or John Lewis have so many brands, you are not really tied at all.

I really recommend Pinterest, Im addicted to it and can always find loads of outfits I love and I quite often already own the bits but it shows how to put them together in different ways.

this is my pinterest fashion page.

Thank you so much ladies for all your help, am already feeling more positive
Midnightinmoscow, I love the style of Olivia Palermo, I like smart looking, not corporate, something that'll show my waistline.
Plus didn't know whether brogues are nice? What do you think?
Calamia and Twiddlebum thank you so much. I've never heard of the m&s adviser before, is it on line. Also never thought of searching for how people wear certain items.
I've just, seriously, got no idea. I buy bits n pieces but just can't put then together

Ok, so with Olivia, I always think of skinny trousers/cigarette pants, a pointed toe, slightly vintage style blouse. Always sunglasses! pinterest.com/therealoliviap/my-style/here is her Pinterest board.

Aaaargh!
Just tried looking on the Dorothy Perkins website for cigarette style trousers n a contrasting top.......I just can't do it, I can't imagine items together on me
I'm rubbish at this

Well I've been shopping today n decided I hate shopping

Went with a list of
Cigarette pants
Wide leg trousers
Blouse
Smart vest tops
Structured cardigan
Kitten heels
Ballet pumps

Can I find any I like
NO!

I give up, if anyone can recommend any of the above I'd be a very very happy lady

Ladies Im still struggling. Still not actually bought anything, am totally useless at this.

Ive looked on the Next website today, but still cant imagine outfits together.

As the weather is getting colder am thinking I will need to add a cardigan to the mix and what do you think about brogues? Or should I stick with boots?

Bump

We sound very similar, I'm 5'8", size 8 and work with children. I know how you feel because although I am happy with my everyday wardrobe I get completely lost when it comes to dressing up.

Can't believe I'm linking to m&s for the second time today! But these vest tops are a great price and would look nice under an open cardigan (like this DP one maybe?) with some straight leg jeans such as these Zara ones?

I find something that fits really well helps with feeling smarter. What is your favourite thing you own just now so maybe we can help with things to go with it or other similar items?