Do people do clothes interventions as well as bra ones?

[IceBeing]

I have had the bra intervention already which was fantastic...I am just wondering if anyone wants to help me dress less like a penniless student and more like a grown up woman?

What I am currently wearing at work today:
jeans (possibly straight cut - I am a bit hazey on this)
burgundy long sleeved T-shirt/jumper (£8 from Sburys)
Regatta grey fleece type thing
flat black trainer/shoes with velcro (scummy looking)

I am actually a lecturer and often look substantially less well dressed than the students I am teaching...

I have reasonable financial means....I could buy nicer clothes if I new what the hell I should be getting.

NB: this is my very first foray into S&B and could easily be my last....

trip thanks for your first message! I think you really get where I am coming from!

I have traditionally steered clear of blouses due to norks. I hate the button gaping thing and the tent of fabric affect. I don't think I ever had a blouse that didn't do one of these things....

heels?

okay I did have some heels from sburys this year....they were sandally and actually magnificently comfortable. it was crazy.

Maybe ankle boots with a bit of heel? Can you wear those with trousers/jeans?

Okay I have to go make dinner/toddler wrangle now but a massive thanks for all the input - I have a busy internet evening ahead of me!

Ha,I know what you mean!I'm a 34J and generally look God damn ridiculous in them (hourglass,so small waist) BUT I have found a few that don't look so bad

Honestly honestly honestly don't buy cheap clothes UNLESS it's all you can afford. Seriously. It would be better to buy second hand excellent quality clothes than something new from Sainsbo's.

I'm not slating cheap high st clothes from a snobbish perspective or anything, but quality shows, and so does lack of it. As my Granny used to say, only the poor can afford cheap shoes (because you'll have to keep buying them!)

I'm practically penniless but still wear pure cashmere, wool, pure cottons, silk, handmade or vintage etc. because I'd rather get 'em for a fifteen bob off of eBay than buy something that'll bobble and go shapeless after the first wash.

Quality, quality, quality!

Dear op

We really want to help you. Clothes should be fun and you sounds a bit fed up about it all and down on yourself. You are young, slim, with a good figure and you have £££. Half the posters on this thread are itching to pop over to your house and sort you out .

But it's hard because we don't know what your personal style is. There's no point us saying " get smart black trousers and a white shirt " if you are not a classic style. You might be a romantic , who should be wearing feminine style, frills, and florals that show off your curves.

So that why people are telling you to waste a few evenings on Pinterest. Collect pictures of style you like. Don't think too hard about each one, just get lots.

After a while you will be able to analyse them and see what attacts you. Shapes, colours, styles etc. then come back and report here.

If you don't use your own name on your Pinterest account, you can even link to it here .

You also need to tell us what colours you suit.

Yes!Ankle boots with heels I wear under jeans/trousers all year round,except for spring/summer.

You can wear lovely shoes under jeans,even if they don't look like full on casual shoes.It just perks the jeans up and gives a glimpse of nice shoe!

Kristina is bang on. Here's an idea- how would you feel about starting a Pinterest board and sharing the link with us, so we can start to get a feel about what you like?

Pinterest search 'academic chic'

Some of them are a bit risqué, but it is great for inspiration.

Fraggle, I agree with you in general about cheap clothes. But I think there is a place for them if you are trying out totally new styles for you . So if you've not worn a dress in 10 years it might be worth trying a jersey one from sainsbos first. Then if you find you don't wear it much you've not wasted too much money

Who do you know who looks nice in what they wear? Get her/him to drag you to the nearest town/shopping centre/place of people being around, and ogle the crowd. Look at the people who look alright versus those who look a bit shabby/older than their years/shapeless/over the top. And make notes (mental notes are ok, you've got brains at least) about what it is about them that makes them look good.

I'm no clothes expert (AT ALL) but I would advise that the following are key components of looking a mess:

• badly fitting jeans, especially baggy ones as they make your arse look like it's sagging

• fleeces. There is NO excuse for these honestly, unless you're over 60 and looking after your dog/horse/alpaca. They're not even more comfortable than a half decent slompy jumper/cardigan.

• shoes that look like they belong behind a zimmer frame, shuffling

-clothes that were cheap and are now more than say 5 years old. They may have been nice once but now they look worn out and faded

On the other hand most people who look nice:

• know what their size is and buy it
• wear at least one fittedish garment at a time, e.g. biker jacket and wider skirt, or fitted jeans and an oversized jumper.
• pick colours that suit them.

What colours do you like?

Yes, I see what you mean Kristina - though I suppose you might feel rotten in a cheap dress that bags and sags (I really sound like I've got it in for Sainsbury's and honestly haven't ) whereas if you strode out in something well-made it'd feel different. But yes, 'try before you invest' is wise advice...

FWIW I disagree about cheap clothes. It's pretty obvious in the shop if something is paper-thin, creased just from hanging up or going to bobble at the first sign of water. I don't set any particular store by cashmere, silk etc etc and all my clothes are lovely and well-fitting, thank you, because they're carefully chosen.

One of my best skirts cost £15 from Hennes about ten years ago - shape and fabric still sharp as bejesus, very slight unnoticeable bobbling next to the zip. Its cost per wear must be in the nanopennies by now.

Why don't you have a look online ice, link to some things you think you like and we can critique them for you.
Can I just say that, fashionable or not, I love the way your posts are written, you sound like a lovely and funny person.

Oh lawks MadBus, I didn't mean to sound so snide I guess I'm largely speaking from my own experience: I have a rubbish figure and unless I take great care resemble a walking heap of laundry, so need all the help I can get!

Sorry, I didn't mean to sound quite that snitty either In mitigation I was procrastinating about filling in a job application at the time.

Job applications suck balls big time. Good luck. Still, if you get it: excuse for new wardrobe

I think the main problem is that I have hardly ever worn clothes and though - oh that looks good I should get more stuff like that.

But I did find one thing this summer that I loved to wear...I will see if I can find a pic of the dress...

I am really worried you all think I am way slimmer than I actually am. I am only even nearly a 10 in like ASDA NE size. In a proper shop I would be a 14.

I do think that some style types eg classics always need good quality fabrics and cuts, whereas others can get away with it a bit more. What looks like a crumpled mess on one person can look natural and relaxed on another.

hmm this isn't quite it but the cut is the same...mine is more yellow and black and less red.

but definitely by eci new york.

I am 100% a crumpled mess person.

Elephant there are lots of people who look nice in what they wear...but they all have really different figures and colourings to me. I know I would look dreadful in what they look stylish in.

Okay I can't believe I am doing this but hey - here is a picture of me back when I was a) my slimmest (hope to be back there soon 3lbs gone 7 more to go) b) had a hair style (I am currently rocking a self cut fringe and a ponytail).

Sorry about the sci-fi blurring, DH is convinced I will get stalked by crazy internet freaks if I post an actual picture. (I dont think he is worried about MNers but who know

btw that top is a prime example of clothes that I am trying to get away from. Looked okay in the shop but about 3 weeks later it was a sagging horrible mess and I can't wear it now because it looks so dreadful. Also I didn't actually like it at the time, I needed a top and that was the best of the rest.

For cowl necks,try zalando,bhs (yes really!) and phase 8.

I'd look for something to balance your upper body,you have very small hips.Bet you've fab legs so I'd be showing them personally