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....

kris the floaty dress I love but know I would look dreadful in.

Hence being an outlier....I will pin some more once I get home.

Thanks you again everyone for all the advice - it is really beginning to help!

I love the colours of the dress. I think the various shades of blue/green would really suit you with your colouring. Maybe some knitwear in that colour with some grey trousers and ankle boots for work?

no, they don't....I am wearing a lovely bluey-green mix jumper today and it makes me look sallow and washed out. It is also sack like and makes me look much larger than I am...

I definitely need to wear warm stuff. purple through red to orange. Obs not yellow - that would be bonkers. Green is very hit or miss, very subtle changes of colour either work or don't work.

I'm guessing you need warm colours. So greens that are yellow based like khaki rather than blue based sea green . And warm reds like terracotta and orange red rather than cool ones likes raspberry and aubergine.

I would recommend getting your colours done - if you can wear black then you sound like a Spring? Is the jumper greyish or a more teal colour? And actually you can wear yellow, you just have to wear the right shade. You might be a Clear Spring - have a search for 'clear spring palette' on Pinterest and loads will come up. Do you look better in pastels/lighter shades or bolder shades?

definitely better in strong colours!

I pinned a colour chart and I am going to say that deep autumn looks most likely...although I am not sure about yellow...

If you are an Autumn you should be able to wear mustards and golds - although you might not be thinking of them as being yellow as such!

Does black definitely look better than a dark brown or grey? How about navy?

If you pop in to the colour season threads here then they will be able to help you more (I am a Winter so wear very different colours, I'm afraid).

So have you done any shopping yet?

Well I was holding off on shopping for clothes until post sales - as someone advised early on...are the sales over yet?

I nearly went shoe shopping to clarks but got in a 'debate' with DH about whether ankle boots were a good idea.

So all in all - no shopping yet. No.

I was thinking of doing a before and after picture collection...like what I currently wear to work and then what I will be...

I would avoid discussing your make over plans with your DH. Unless of course he happens to work in the fashion industry. Or he agrees with you.

Otherwise it's best not to confuse the simple male brain with matters that don't concern them . In general they don't like change and will mutter things like

" you look fine to me " or

" I liked the way you had your hair when we first met"

I think you are right to hold off shopping until you are more sure what colours and styles you are looking for. Otherwise you will get something that's wrong and you won't feel good in it and it will hang at the bak of the wardrobe and mock you.

omg I have a WHOLE fecking wardrobe full of mockery....I am definitely going to take some name and shame photos....

Right well I got some ankle boots which I am wearing at work today. They seem to be okay quality, cost around 40 quid. I wasn't sure but then I looked at some of the CLarks shoes that cost about 50-60 and they seemed at least as well made etc.

Basically I got some with wedges because I definitely get on with wedges! I am feeling tall and slim as a result today :)

However I also looked all around M&S and couldn't find anything I would spend money on.

I did some more colour trying and it is a total no to anything even slightly orange from scarlet through to mustard....and tragically a lot of clothes seem to be orange at the moment (damn fashion).

I really didn't think the clothes in M&S seemed better made than those in Sburys either...lots of thin nothing fabrics and sack like shapes (and thats before you wash it).

I tried next and thought most of that was naff as well....there was just nothing 'structured' if you know what I mean. Nothing fitted or shaped or with any substance or weight.

grrrrrr

There is a thread in style and beauty about dressing bigger boobs which might have some ideas for you

That's great that you found some boots you liked and bought them. Can you link to them?

Most of next stuff is a bit naff, in my opinion, and really poorly fitting. M&S not much better, just the odd item in there.

Are you near a John Lewis?

I too want to see the boots!

Agree Next are awful, much worse than M&S IMO I don't know why Next don't get the slagging off on here they deserve. M&S are very variable though, one branch can be full of gems, another full of dross.

That's interesting you mentioned structured clothes. We have quite similar figures and I also shop for structure. I basically have three outfit forms:

1. skinny jeans (only worn with long boots) and a close fitting top or shirt + scarf
2. pencil skirts with shirt/top tucked in and heels, with a scarf or cardigan over
3. dresses, sometimes quite eveningy ones, with ankle boots or pumps + cardigan/scarf

In all cases it is about toning down a very formal, structured shape with a scarf or cardigan that makes it look like daywear again, and stops me looking like Joan from Mad Men all the time (I sometimes want to, but not always...)

John Lewis is obviously a good shout but I also shop loads at Phase Eight, Oasis, Warehouse and French Connection.

I've been reading with interest as I am also in need of clothes intervention, though without the budget at the moment. Those suggesting pinterest - I know pinterest but don't use it for browsing, only pinning my own stuff that I don't want to lose, how do I start browsing looking for clothes? I don't know where to start!

Ice being -what are you doing shopping in M&s and next ???? You are 35 for goodness sake. There is very little in there for the stylish woman under 70.

Next are good for jeans (I am 53), but M&S have hideous old woman jeans (maybe for my 80 year old Mother)

The only range to even contemplate in M&S is Autograph, but I suspect you might be too young for that OP.

Just trying to think of places that do stuff that is not consciously fashionable but where you could create your own style...

White stuff have some great skirts and dresses - casual but not frumpy which could be worn with boots or loafers and thick tights or opaques as previously mentioned so you don't feel too 'business/dressy'.

Also have a flick through fashion mags. I know you don't want to do fashion, but they give you an idea of the general current silhouette/look. I also love everything in the Joe Browns catalogue - bit young for me now, but not for you.

Younger colleagues and nieces are a good source of advice too, I find.

Have you looked at Cos?. They do some interesting cuts that work well with a tall, lean shape. Generally muted colours though

I am sure M&S are not that great...but remember that up until now I have been clothes shopping in asda and sburys and cut me some slack!

I pinterested the boots...so check them out there :)

ooooh french connection...would I be allowed in? It is a shop i feel to underdressed to enter....