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Original poster

Oh Fucksake, style help needed. You know you're dowdy when...

47 replies

CatAmongThePigeons · 15/01/2014 21:18

you realise that the HT on Waterloo Road is wearing the same top that you are, only it's brighter and you're 15-20 years younger. Blush

I have huge body confidence issues, having put on weight since quitting smoking I'm really not dressing well, more trying to hide my bulk.

What could I wear if I had confidence that wouldn't make me resemble a TV character that may or may not be old enough to be my mum?

OP posts:
singaporeswing · 17/01/2014 07:56

Les Dawson had me in stitches.

Raptorrethy · 17/01/2014 08:44

These are hilarious!
I have a purple waterproof coat for walking the dog, etc. DD's much older and very frumpy (and grumpy) teacher now has the same coat. I will never wear the coat again Blush

Raptorrethy · 17/01/2014 08:45

PML at looking like Hagrid from behind. At least it wasn't from the front Grin

callamia · 17/01/2014 08:52

These posts are hilarious. I've never been able to get over realising that Ian Beale had the same sofa as my parents.

OP, would clothes with a bit of tailoring/shaping work for you? I don't mean shaping on the spanx sense, more a tailored cut; dresses might work well? It night be time just to spend an hour in a dept store changing room with a while much of stuff you wouldn't usually choose, and trial some different things out.

bunnymother · 17/01/2014 10:01

My MIL rejected my north face coat as being too dowdy for her to borrow for a walking trip. I nearly burst into tears, but just poured myself another glass of soothing red wine.

NiceOneCenturion · 17/01/2014 10:31

I once owned the same top as a two year old in a Rice Crispies advert - how was that even possible?! My DH took great delight in pointing that one out.

I'd obviously gone so far to avoid dowdy I was clashing with Topsy.

Notsobad · 17/01/2014 14:49

One of my low points. I had the same top as a character in Shameless.

SonorousBip · 17/01/2014 14:58

I had a very expensive hair cut done and when finished the (not terribly young or really that fashionable) German stylist said with some satisfaction that it was exactly like his mother's.

Oooh, great, I've just spent a three figure sum to look like a 60 year old German hausfrau Angry

DaftSkunk · 17/01/2014 19:54

I also had the same top niceone Confused Grin

SirRaymondClench · 17/01/2014 20:40

PMSL at these stories.

I had a much loved cardigan that I thought I looked ace in, until I had a meeting with DS teacher whilst wearing it. Lovely lady but very ancient and dowdy and she was wearing the same one!! We looked like fucked up twins! Blush
If you book a personal shopper how much do you have to spend?

openerofjars · 17/01/2014 20:48

Okay, I got that beat.

One non-uniform day when I was about 14, I turned up in my favourite, favourite lovely jumper only to discover to my horror that my (female, thankfully) maths teacher was wearing the same one. I'd blanked that memory for years and this thread just brought it all back.

I have no style tips, just wanted to share the horror.

Ifcatshadthumbs · 17/01/2014 20:55

This is why I don't shop in Next or Debenhams anymore to high a chance of wearing the same top as your MIL. The other day I was cringing at a photo of myself in some god awful sensible boots from shoezone a few years back.

Downfall · 17/01/2014 20:59

Great thread.

fucked up twins Grin Grin

Can't decide if the Les Dawson jumper or the Betty in the woolpack blouse wins it though.

SirRaymondClench · 17/01/2014 21:06

Opener I feel your pain!

I hated non uniform days. My mother used to make me home-made jogging suits on her sewing machine - lilac towelling ones - you can imagine, no fucker was wearing the same as me Confused

AyeWhySWIM · 17/01/2014 21:09

Can anyone recommended a good style blog for above average sizes? One that isn't too way-out or all clingy 'be proud of your wobbly bits' stuff? For youngish, obviously non-frumpy, types! Not much to ask...

TwoNoisyBoys · 18/01/2014 23:07

Absolutely nothing of any use to add but this thread is making me cry with laughter....especially Les Dawson and Betty from Emmerdale......can't read properly for tears...... :D

Quangle · 18/01/2014 23:15

I had a jumper that Karen Matthews was wearing when she got arrested for kidnapping her own child Shock.

In my worst moments, I think I have some of her hatchet-face look. I have never kidnapped my own child though.

TorrentialLorraine · 18/01/2014 23:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Scarletohello · 19/01/2014 01:03

This thread is so funny and has reinforced why I don't watch soaps!

OP get your colours and style professionally done and u will feel a lot more confident.

tchambers108 · 19/01/2014 01:11

Lauren from eastenders quite often wears MY top. Was actually kind of proud of that. But went out to
Cinema with my uber-stylish sister in law who remarked I still dress like a student!! Confused

HowBadCanThisGet · 19/01/2014 01:33

I once bought what I thought was a top in Asda. When it went through the till it said on the receipt that it was pyjamas. However, I wore it anyway (including for work) only to watch Newsnight one night and see Virginia Bottomley wearing the same pyjama top under her jacket.

Mumraathenoisylion · 19/01/2014 01:41

I love topshop. I often have an issue with seeing 10-13 year olds dawdling along with their parents dressed in the same clothes as me though. Blush

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