Can I have some ideas on de-frumping myself please?

[Graze8]

I'm 5"2' and around a size 10/12. I'm 44 years old. In the winter I tend to want to hibernate and end up wearing things which are warm and comfortable but apparently this equates to frumpy. Some ideas on what to wear with a little bit of glamour but not over kill for the school run would be very appreciated. I tend to live in skinny jeans and thermal tops with big coats. Please help.

Thanks Mignon, that's brilliant. Your last paragraph makes absolute sense - I tend to wear things like that for work, but I live in skinnies outside of work and feel I haven't go things quite right. Don't suppose you've got a minute to post a link to a couple of things I might wear with skinnies, do you?

This kind of top can be worn w/ a blazer or jacket by day and with trousers at night on its own. It is the right length and shade.

A tweedy edge to edge jacket like this is the new modern way to wear jeans as style editors are encouraging jeans wearers to go smart with what they wear with them.

This shirt is really cool and is styled w/ skinnies on the website. Wear a longer length skinny tank underneath and you'll get a nice graduated line from behind.

Look for similar shirts or blouses in a small dot print. Not large polka dots. Bottle green, navy, burgundy and cream look good.

I'll post more tomorrow. What stores do you shop in so I get the budget right?

Thanks so much . Love the pink top, not so keen on the grey jacket or checked shirt but get where you are going with them. Budget is limited - Uniqlo/H&M type of thing. I shop at a brilliant outlet and love Ness, Fat Face (FF's smarter stuff, if that makes sense?), White Stuff and Boden. I absolutely do not do 'tarty' or high heels as everyday footwear, so if it's seen on Abbie Clancy types it's not seen on me!

Keep an eye out for the shape and style as opposed to the colour and pattern of what I linked to. I've got some idea of what you like now so will do a proper post tmrw with some better links.

Thank you Mignonette. I have just ordered the warehouse jacket and also a few new tops.

Yay! Well done Graze.

TJH1 I have no self esteem problems at all, so won't need to be working on them! Why do you think I do? As I said in my post - not all women are like this - but some are and imo you are being naive if you don't realise it happens. I will forearm my DD to this trait amongst "some" women if I want to and no "random" person on the internet will instruct me on what is the best way to guide my DD.

Righto Berry

Cool coat (Zara's are warm and more fitted) and cool leather knee-high boots. Sorted.

Berry I didn't mean to come across as rude, sorry

Think the op is incredibly naive about women "being unkind to each other"

You don't think women can be unkind to each other?

I am going for the great coat to cover everything else up approach, and good boots too. Plus quick bit of make up makes a big difference.

I would personally avoid any effect that actually looks like 'quite a bit of make-up' - very aging, IMO. Not saying don't wear make up if you want just think it's better to keep it subtle.

Lonely said "quick bit" rather than quite a bit (if it was her post you were referring to?)

Oh gosh, sorry - should read posts properly before commenting! Too much make up is a particular bugbear of mine but she wasn't advocating that anyway. Apologies!

I had visions of <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=www.thebeautybiz.com/images/content/woman-wearing-too-much-makeup-185x114.jpg&imgrefurl=www.thebeautybiz.com/231/article/cosmetics/makeup-less-is-more&h=114&w=185&sz=6&tbnid=Wta_2IgieukWxM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=146&zoom=1&usg=__FSsMCVtEUUwxb35uxrElxFlaZCM=&docid=-nGzJx5Sc7clsM&sa=X&ei=TPBnUur0FMee0wWAs4CIAQ&ved=0CDIQ9QEwAA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">something like this

Quite excited. Just bought a dark red blazer in Esprit with leather detailing. Will hopefully add a bit of colour and defrump me.

Well done Graze8 - any ideas on what you'll wear it with?

Probably still with my skinny jeans .

No top underneath?

That's very unfrumpy

I'm 29, mum of a 16 moth old and already feel frumpy. I wear the same stuff all the time, (moneys tight) and even when its not I have no idea what to get that wont make me look like I've been shopping with a blindfold on..I always have my hair the same way too. Talk about stuck in a rut. If I could sew Id knock up my own stuff but putting a button back on a shirt is about the extent of my abilities.