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....

A muttered "Christ, you're not getting enough" has worked in the past for me. Although totally wouldn't work with properly leery bastards, they'd just take it as a come-on.

Are you sure you could lecture in a blazer? I have tried but have to take it off as I get far too hot when I get enthusiastic . This means you need to have a top on underneath which can be seen on its own, if you see what I mean - no scrappy vest tops etc.

I have also had the comments. Not the sexist ones so much (female dominated subject), but the "are you going somewhere special?" when I wear anything other than jeans.

Some people just have no manners ice. The everyday sexism project makes for interesting if depressing reading on the subject.

Having spent years in cheap shoes I would say definitely spend a little more and get quality. Clarks would cover comfort and be fairly fashionable but not overwhelmingly so. I'm sure they'd stand up to being repaired too, should they ever break.

I actually started a thread earlier today, that turned into one mostly about clarks ankle boots.

Oh and thanks for the link shoe, it's a shame they're sold out though.

I don't mind the 'ohhh why are you so dressed up today' comments because people make those to male colleagues if they turn up in something smarter than usual (phd viva usually).

it's more the 'ohh need to win an important argument today' or 'are you hoping to get promoted' type comments that get me down because men don't get accused (even in jest) of using clothing/looks to angle for anything. And actually I don't like people to even say 'you are looking great today' unless it is in a definitively social setting either, for the same reasons. Over a cup of tea in the tea room, fine. In the middle of a committee meeting, not so much.

Got asked if I twerked in the middle of a meeting recently

Clarkes are fab for boots. I've a pair that are going strong after 8 years and this year bought a pair of ankle boots on the recommendation of mumsnetters with a 2 inch heel that I can walk around in all day. Usually about an hour is my limit. I thought about them when you first posted. Cant find them on the site. But definitely worth a visit and trying on.

www.clarks.co.uk/p/20356782
www.clarks.co.uk/p/20356807
www.clarks.co.uk/p/20355450
www.clarks.co.uk/p/26100954

More boots questions....is black the best bet? If I don't get black does one still wear black tights?

I am very VERY up for the idea of wedges. where do they fall on the fashion / non-fashion scale? my higher of heel sandals are wedges and I credit the wedge for EVERYTHING.

Jersey blazers are good to throw on and look smarter but not overly so. How about a jumper dress to wear with your knee boots?

Black opaque tights would go with everything.

I think black boots are smarter so would be better for work but Brown/grey/camel would be more casual but go with more iyswim.

are you near Selfridges? Their concessions are great as the buyers generally pick the best from the mother shop. Saves you having to trundle around through all the tat. They did a particularly good job with the best from H&M recently.

How about Zara? You need to ignore the sizing and accept large in tops but some of them are a great fit.

www.zara.com/uk/en/new-collection/woman/blazers/combination-biker-jacket-c358002p1668364.html biker jacket
www.zara.com/uk/en/new-collection/woman/blazers/blazer-with-gathered-shoulders-c358002p1667403.html navy blazer
www.zara.com/uk/en/new-collection/woman/tops/top-with-pierced-sides-c358004p1722552.html this over a long sleeved grey cotton tshirt
www.zara.com/uk/en/new-collection/woman/tops/blouse-with-lace-hem-c358004p1668653.html this looks surprisingly ok on.

Ice, they only say those things because they see you flinch! Smile at them, flip them the (imaginary) finger and rock on some fab clothes. I did my Masters at the Engineering department of a top Uni and delighted in shocking them constantly with my very bright and rather funky clothes.

Yes, black tights no matter what the boot colour in my opinion.

"Do you twerk?"

"What kind of question is that? Why would you say such a thing?" make sure you say it with an innocent face.

Fucking hell, you should submit that to Everyday Sexism. What is wrong with these inadequates?

I agree black tights go with all boot colours.

As for boot colour it depends a bit what other colours you normally wear. I wear neutral/muddy colours with not much contrast between them IYSWIM. I don't suit bright or strongly contrasting colours, and I am an example of a person who would look silly in the smart black trousers/crisp white shirt combo people were mentioning above. It sounds/looks from your colouring like you'd be in the same boat.

So I find a sort of muddy khaki/grey/taupey/browney colour in shoes goes with everything (including all my black). I have a khaki leather jacket on the same basis and I almost never think "Naah, doesn't go".

Wedges rock. I get mine from White Stuff, I have two pairs of shoes and a pair of sandals. I don't "do" heels at all otherwise, but I can wear my wedges all day. Add a Kesey dress and i am good to go.

Kesey = jersey, I have no idea what my phone was thinking.

I think I went for the always to the point "in what world is that an appropriate thing to say in a professional setting?"

I was going to say that they don't do it to make me twitch but actually they do...they also say things like 'summative assessment is the best way to motivate students' for exactly the same reason.

To be fair I think they think I react because I feel I have to being on the diversity and equality committee as I am...not because I am actually hurt or offended personally. I don't think they would say anything personal...on purpose with the intent to hurt...probably.

More bufoonish and naive than deliberately mean...

Ice, can you link to your Pinterest account as I can't find you ?

hmmm so when I went to link it I realised it uses your email address in the webaddress so I would have outed myself entirely.

So I now I guess I need to generate a bogus non identifying email address first and start over. ffs.

so Zara.....that would be a massive and utter no then.

it appears to be at least one if not two orders of magnitude too fashionable.

I could never in my life have carried off that look...let alone as a slightly frumpy 35 year old!

I don't think Zara is the best shop for those with a larger chest really. I find them a really poor fit, unless I size up which just makes me look large all over.

Have you looked at Pepperberry or Boden? Both have some nice pieces that are not too scarily fashionable.

okay semi reconstructed pinterest at:

www.pinterest.com/amphipathicacad/things-to-wear/

I had a look at pepperberry-looked good...

haven't tried boden yet because it has bad vibes...I only ever heard of them on MN

Yes, I know what you mean about Boden . They do have some nice things though, and deliveries and returns are very efficient so that's always helpful. I quite like this skirt at the moment here.

Thanks ice, I am now following you so I will see your new pins.

You need to pin lots lots more. At the moment there is no clear pattern.

So far you have a few classic style and one outlier in the chiffon patterned dress. I don't know which style is you .

Don't think too much about it, just clip lots that you like. One you find a pin you like, clip through to the board it came from and if you like it, follow it.

Check other boards by that pinner, you might like others too.

After you have pinned something, scroll down the page to similar pins and do the same.

The reason you want to follow lots of boards is that you won't have to go and search for so many pins , they will come to you on your home page each time you open the app .

If someone you are following starts pinning lots of stuff you don't like, just unfollow them. BTW It's not like un friending someone on Facebook , no one will notice or get upset.