Please help me be stylish...if only for a weekend.

[waterlego6064]

I am going to Florence with my husband at the end of the month, to celebrate our 10th anniversary.

I/we have had a horrendous year and it will be a real treat for us both.

But I am already dreading feeling like a total frump amongst elegant Italian women. (It's bad enough in my suburban South Coast town).

I don't have any style of my own. I wear whatever is comfortable, and although I don't look a total fright (hopefully), I also definitely don't look stylish or elegant.

I want to have some nice outfits to wear on our weekend away, so that I can feel good about myself, and also impress/surprise my husband a bit (I am a feminist, but I want to make an effort, partly for his benefit, as he's been a huge support to me this year).

So...I can't afford a whole new wardrobe but can afford a few new outfits for daytime and evening wear. I am definitely going to invest in a new coat as my only coat is far too mumsy.

Oh, stylish people, please can you advise me on a) stylish coats and b) simple, stylish outfits and shoes/boots for day and evening. (I don't think I can carry off cutting-edge fashion). 'Key' items that could be combined in different outfits would be a bonus.

Maybe this is far too broad a question...apologies if so, but any help or pointers would be gratefully received.

Well...Florence is very casual- we went years back for my DHs 40th in November. It was unseasonably warm.

You will find the same fashions as on any high st in a major city- mainly jeans.

My advice would be skinny jeans maybe darkish wash, or leggings with wool tunics and nice knee length or ankle boots, and a nice warm coat or parka.

A couple of nice tops with scarves and accessories etc and good sunglasses for if the sun shines- and a nice bag.

Great advice, thank you. Very reassuring.

I like the way skinny jeans look with boots but have always had trouble with the fit. I have three pairs (two of the stretchy type, and one more 'structured' pair) but all of them slip down so I end up with a baggy crotch and spend all day hoiking them up. Is it just me?

Italian women love their camel & I think it's a really useful colour.

How about:

Camel cardigan (M&S have some great cashmere ones for £75), to wear with jeans or skirts you already have.

Camel trench coat.

Scarf - TK Maxx are great for scarves - you can find Valentino & Moschino ones for great prices.

Jumper dress for day:

Houndstooth

Plain

Smarter dress for evening:

Animal print

LBD

Versace inspired

Have a look at some if the mum/fashion blogs - does my bum look 40, school gate style and susie so-so are good.

Great ideas, thanks very much all- I feel inspired.

I hate shopping so I think looking at some blogs and then ordering online is the way to go.

Twinkle, I love that LBD, and I think scarves are a great idea too.

If you're petite then try www.jeetly.com for classy styles. They do day-to-night dresses that you can use for work too.

We spent part of our honeymoon in Florence. It was lovely. Agree with others:
parka style coat (Topshop, Zara, Mango)
fitted cashmere crew neck jumper in navy or camel (M&S, Boden)
Stripe top (Jigsaw, Boden, Hobbs)
Dark skinny jeans (Topshop, M&S, GAP)
Wedge heel ankle boots (Clarks, Dune)
Scarf and sunglasses
Leather across body style bag
LBD for evenings out (everywhere!)
Pointy animal print heels (Boden, Clarks, Kurt Geiger)

New Look (!) high waisted supersoft skinnies are the only skinnies I've ever found that don't slip/gape/bag on me. I spent hundreds on failures before finding them (on here). If you're between sizes go down.