Went to bluewater and felt a scruff

[Bluebell79]

We finally went after wanting to go for years, was a special day out was expecting to buy loads, and came away with a pair of denim Shorts. I was going to buy a Michael kors bag but couldn't decide which type. The shoppers all looked so expensive and classy, felt like a scruffy harassed mother of 3. Did a bit of people watching while having lunch but still can't quite put my finger on it, I think being slim helps and i probably need to stop shopping in fat face. I have foot problems so have to wear fit flops, Havianas will leave me in pain, do we think I need to lose the cross body bags? What about nails? Should fingers be clear and glossy and colours just for toes? Have decided I need to grow my hair, currently growing out a short angled bob, could probablyy do with a trim, am colouring it each month to keep the greys covered. Anyone have anything to add?

I feel a lot like bluebell79. Feel a bit left behind in the fashion stakes.
Am I right in observing that one of the fashion looks these days is quite glam and well groomed?

I notice this I think because when I was a youngster, grunge was the main look. So simple, basic dressing without much feminine adornment.

I have a guilty pleasure in Haul You Tube vids and I see that young ladies like quite pretty and glam items for their wardrobes, and with that goes a lot of makeup, nails and also a lot of choice?

As a recent newbie to the school run I was partially taken aback by the style on offer. Nothing OTT, but some just really nice casual looks, but glam at the same time, confident colours.

I am slowly trying to reassert myself as I totally let myself get scruffy and had no new clothes for years, waiting and waiting to be a better weight. This is why I am dipping into the MN style knowledge!

Seriously you must have gone to a different Bluewater than the one I've been to recently! It really is nowhere near as upmarket as it used to be and is usually full of pretty normal Estuary families warts and all. It's more upmarket than Lakeside but that's hardly a claim to fame in the fashion stakes!

I tend to think shopping centres are for shopping rather than anything else

I was in Bluewater today.
Harassed mum of two.

I wore Ash leather and metal studded gladiator sandals, Paige Hart jean in grey and a grey floaty pure silk t shirt from Jigsaw. Oh and coral nail polish and Mulberry Suffolk handbag.
Pleeeeeeease say I am posh and well groomed pleeease (pathetic)

I was also the lady shouting at a 5yp and 3yo constantly who were completely out of control and terribly badly behaved . Oh and a very dirty yellow Micralite stroller

I do like Bluewater because the malls are nice and wide so lots of space and you don't feel you're in everybody's way struggling with toddlers. (Westfield I'm looking at you and you ridiculously narrow malls in Stratford).
Plenty of places to eat and get coffees so you can do something different every time and the places are not so crowded you have to queue for hours (Westfield London I'm looking at you and the hour long queues for a measely coffee!).
Decent variety of shops and large format of most so they stock full ranges mostly.
John Lewis and a big JL at that.
Several toy shops (for the badly behaved DC).
And car parking is a breeze. Even when it's very full, you don't have to spend long looking for a space.

Could do with a few more upmarket fashion shops. It's a shame Joseph closed. I don't think it was their products but it was the staff they had there. They were so incredibly rude I made several complaints to their HQ about them. Sadly they didn't take note.

Oh and ditto for the LK Bennett in BW. The staff are awful. If I pop in when the DC are with me I am treated like I'm sub-human but when I come alone they bow and scrape. just bloody rude. They've made me stop shopping at LK Bennett all together now. I was a regular (4 pairs of shoes a year and a couple of outfits). Can't stand rude staff. Guess that's part of being old (40+) with toddlers.

Anyway Bluewater is pretty good. Let's have an MN BW meet up.

Yes please, but in Sept after schools go back :)

ROFL @ dressing up to go shopping. I go to Bluewater a lot, and never think "ooo I'm going shopping, what shall I wear to Bluewater?"

And as for not taking the children! Hahahahahaha

Loved TheCat 's post. That wisdom can be applied to so many aspects of life.

Pudding I think you've got a point about it being fashionable now to look very 'done'. I admire people who look effortlessly polished but when I was in my late teens/early 20s the look was much more casual/grunge and I think that's why I feel uncomfortable in anything too dressy - at heart I am much more ripped jeans and the latest trainers than anything smarter or more girly!

OP I think finding your own style which is true to how you want to look and how you feel comfortable but also gives a nod to what's currently 'in' is really tricky, you're not the only one who feels clueless! This board is a great start though.

Always have flattering hair and some make up on when clothes shopping - otherwise when you look in the changing room mirror the scruffy old bat facing you looks dire and puts you off the outfit.

^
yes please to a BW meet up :)

Love the elegant woman link. I am going to buy some housedresses and a negligee!

Mrs Florrick. Pathetic.

Yes Pitt. But incredibly well dressed and pathetic.
What do you like to wear to BW? Primark velour track suit?

I'm far nearer to Lakeside and go quite often. I'm amazed anyone feels the need to dress up for shopping! I know BW is supposed to be more "upmarket" than LS but if I was going to BW I'd wear exactly the same as I do for LS; white vest top, jeans or 3/4 khakis and skechers Go Walks. Maybe a cardi in cooler weather. Anything more dressy is a PITA to keep taking on and off in the changing rooms, surely?

i think for a lot of us who are a certain, "mid to late 30-something" age, we do suffer because the 'look' when we were developing our daily 'routines' was much more laid back and ungirly, but what looks grungy and a bit edgy on a 22 year old, looks like you've given up on a 35+ year old, and even more so while the current fashion trend is for more effort, not less.

I've also fallen for the fatface/whitestuff trap, because in our town, there's limited options without driving to bluewater or getting the train into London, and it's tempting to pop in fatface/whitestuff as I'm walking past, plus because they are in our town, most of the mums are wearing their things.

However, I had a revoluation last year, I was spending actually a lot of money to look crap! Fatface and whitestuff aren't cheap - there are lots of other shops that are similar priced or cheaper, but offer more flattering clothes, and that for most woman, baggy clothes make them look fatter, not hide a mummy tummy, but highlight it. subsquently, I'm avoiding those shops, even if I can just pop in to them. I need clothes that are structured with proper waists, small patterns or plain, with necklines that don't require a vest underneath to be decent (which adds bulk). A line skirts will make most woman look dumpy, they just make me look short and dumpy.

There are a few bits in whitestuff and fat face that fit that criteria, but it's harder to find in there. better to shop online and return.

I'd go to a BW meet up and it's a 2+ hour drive. I love BW and even have the car park spot I'll head for even though I haven't been there regularly in over 6 years

I miss big shopping centres. My local towns (Suffolk) have so many listed buildings that they can't build them which is a good thing of course but there's nothing like a good food hall, or being undercover on rainy days, or a handy shopping/cinema/restaurant all in one spot.

Ooh, BW meetup - yes please!

I'm always a bit at people sneering at people for dressing up. You wouldn't like it if people sneered for not dressing up. Some people like to dress up and looked groomed. Nothing wrong with that.

Fwiw sometimes I go shopping in fairly casual stuff if I'm just running errands/picking up presents etc but if I'm making a day of it and meeting friends/having lunch/coffee then it's nice to dress up a bit IMO.

People caring about their appearance on Style and Beauty- whatever next?

Coumarin xactly.

See, I wouldn't "dress up" to go to Bluewater, but I wouldn't "dress down" to go either - it'd be my normal SAHM outfits, rather than scruffy clothes reserved for days I'm planning to clear out cupboards or weed the garden etc.

If I'm having a day clothes shopping (chance would be a fine thing!) then I'd think about wearing separates, rather than a dress, to make trying things on easily, slip on shoes rather than anything that's a faff to take on and off, but that's about as far as my 'shopping clothing' plans would go.

I must say it would never occur to me to dress up to go to a shopping mall. After all I'm doing the stores a favour by offering them my custom, not vice versa. Actually don't like malls anyway.

Having said that, when I'm going clothes shopping I do give some thought to whether Im wearing suitable clothes and shoes but only in sense of wearing my favourite jeans if going to look for a top to go with them, wearing the underwear I'll be wearing, etc.

I live in Kent and am about 40 mins drive from BW.

I lovvveeee going there and the last couple of times I've been I've managed to palm the kids off on dh and gone up with just my mum (bliss!)

I admit I do dress up slightly more but not high heels etc just want to look a bit more glam.

but I generally care about my appearance on a day to day basis anyway.