Curvey & 40 Spring 2015: Advice wanted wardrobe basics/key trends

[andsmile]

Hello

I have not bought any clothes for 6 months . This is due to a strict budget and learning to be happy with less. (To be fair I went overboard last winter so had lots of nice boots to wear)

The bright colours and thin fabrics have arrived in the shops. This fills me with a bit of cheer, which is shortlived when I realise I will have the same problems trying to find stuff to wear: kankles (white & veiny!), flabby arms (though a bit more accpeting of these now) wobbly bits around the middle that need fabrics that are kind.

So I'm reviewing my wardrobe. I had a big clear out of dodgy colours and fit at the end of last summer.

What should I have in it for this Spring? What can a curvey, almost 40 wear this Spring?

What are your

1. Basics top and bottom
2. Key trend accessories and footwear
3. One or two key trend pieces of clothing.

Hope we get lots of nice ideas to help avoid 'granny pattern' mistakes

hopeful bump

Watching with interest and anticipation bump..........

Hi maverick.

I've tried to read some fashion pages, so far colours I think are on trend are:

Yellow - any shade
Blue and white
Black and White

I've seen flares and culottes and thought uh-oh how do I wear them, are they really the thing

So I'm gonna start a list with:

Bottom half basics:

Navy
Black - trousers/denim/twill? skinny/straight/bootcut?
Grey
Khaki (?)

Well, no posts to read..Ive had a look on pinterest

anything, anybody?

Sorry, can't help, but watching with interest. I'm 50, but young at heart I'm size 16 and don't have a waist, but have huge norks, and am constantly on the search for flattering tops. I like casual, long, scoop necked jersey tops generally, and struggle to find ones I like. I like to wear them with either black tube skirts, knee length with black thick rights and boots or black straight jeans.

I really struggle to find anything of use on pinterest, as a lot of stuff is American and not available here.

I hate an orphaned thread!

I'm a ^tres" curvy 40-something. So my pieces so far have been:

1. A pair of wide legged navy trousers- they're from Next & polyester but I need something that's not precious and easily washed for work. The fit is excellent for me as a someone who finds most thigh fitting trousers gape at the waist.
2. A series of stripey tops to go with trews. From Primark through to Karen Millen.
3. I'm looking at snake-skin or leopard print shoes- flatform/skaters seem to be the thing, but have also purchased some very nice wedge shoes for the days that I need height.
4. Key accessory will be a jacket- I bought a white Esprit blazer- beautifully cut, linen appearance, cotton mix fabric. Slightly too big and quite mumsy so back it went. Am looking for an alternative. River Island have a striped red, white n blue one but my children started chanting "Ole" when I put it on (will never be able to wear it with a straight face). I'm also wary of places like Oasis and RI as much younger colleagues dress there.
5. I'm lurking on the Le Plaige thread as I've seen a lovely grey bag on the Longchamps site which I may have to investigate. Perfect for navy, black, white, grey outfits.

This is the look I'm trying to channel.

I'm sticking to buying grey basics and some pink accents in tops, lippy and nail polish. ive picked up pink tops from Me andEm, Banana Republic and M and S. Grey coated jeggings from m and s are fab, grey skinnies from Primark are bargainous. I find a limited palette makes building outfits easier. zara have some nice Jersey jackets which imo always pull a casual outfit together.

I still love a statement necklace and buy them from Mint Velvet generally. I also picked up this bag from there with some xmas money. Love it www.mintvelvet.co.uk/charcoal-gemma-stud-detail-bag/bags/mint-v/fcp-product/4359.

Also got some grey suede ankle boots from River Island for only 45 quid.

I do have other colours in my wardrobe that will work with all this grey too!!

Maybe pick a neautral then an accent colour and stick with that? Pinterest is ideal for ideas.

I wear a lot of black on my bottom half and grey on my upper half. I like the thought of pink accessories.

Oh Joy! Thanks so much for the replies. Ive had a really rubbish start to my day and this has made me smile

notswith I am fairly evenly distributed sets of curves. Im just about nearly into a 16 on the bottom half. Top half is 16 but I have a low slung tummy (2 c sections!) My shape is changing as Ive been doing a lot of gym work and running but the weight is not comming off that much!

I'm a SAHM and get fed up with wearing jeans & cons uniform - but find myself drifting back to these. So while Ive been buried under winter coat and boot combos I want to plan for Spring.

red I like that look, If I was working its definately something I would wear. I'm sooo pleased the wide leg trousers are back - very easy for me to wear and so much more flattering. I love a good scarf too!

gilly i like the grey - its new too..Ive looked at the grey skinnies on M&S actually. Do primark sell size 18 - not been there in years! I have a few dresses from mint velvet and Ive worn them all recently - those bubble hem silk style ones suit me best.

So I think I need to shop for

Wide leg navy or black trousers
Grey skinnies
Grey ankle boots - seen a few in sales.

I look on Zalando a lot but have never ordere anything - they have some interesting boots on there.

bumping this thread :)

Thanks

These are the ankle boots I picked up, very comfy
www.riverisland.com/women/shoes--boots/ankle-boots/Grey-suede-zip-side-ankle-boots-663050

I think Primark do sell size 18 for the jeans btw

Nice boots Wish I could afford them, but will have to wait til the end of the month.

Can you find a blog that is by someone with your shape, I find that helpful.

I've just found this thread!

I've been doing project333 and always struggle to pull together my spring/summer wardrobe, possibly because I suit dark, warm colours and it's mostly pastels in the shops at the moment.

What I have so far:
Bottoms:
Wide leg/bootcut jeans (blue and black), navy linen trousers, brown linen trousers. I don't touch slim/cigarette/tapered trousers as they make my legs looks like parsnips. Also not touching culottes as anything slightly cropped makes me look dumpy. Wide legs and flares are making a comeback, I'm told.
Khaki is also looking popular this year, although I've not managed to find any trousers I like that fit just yet.
Palazzo pants are still popular too.

Tops:
Assorted sleeveless tops for work (brown and cream colours mainly) which are worn under a cardigan or jacket (never on their own)
Casual t-shirts in brown, camel, deep red and teal

Yellow is in, but does nothing for me so I'm ignoring it.

Cardigans/jackets:
Cardigans in deep red, purple, brown, cream
Work jackets in cream and brown

Utility jackets are apparently in fashion this year, although I've not been able to track one down yet.

Footwear:
I have black and brown hush puppies shoes for work
And something like these for when the weather improves
black
tan
Also these are really comfy and
these

Flares, flare Bootcuts are definitely in. The latest copy of Grazia has the lovely Kate Moss on the front in her flares.