how to avoid being frumpy while skint in Spring/Summer 2015?

[MaryWestmacott]

Spring is apparently just round the corner - so stylish types - what trends, colours etc are we planning for this year? There was a great thread around September/October about how to avoid the frump with lots of trends to follow in Autumn/Winter, lots of good links that helped me put some older clothes with a few newer things on a budget to avoid spending the winter in my previous uniform of "skinny jeans, knee high boots, long sleeved t-shirt or jumper and scarf" although I've worn that look a lot anyway

now, rather than just make the top a bit lighter weight and swap the boots for ballet pumps or the dreaded converse, what will the ladies who've managed to stay stylish in motherhood be wearing?

Caveat: I don't really follow fashion i just wear what i like.

I've already got a black bandeau harem style jumpsuit in the NL sale I am looking forward to wearing for evening with stilettos and lots of jewellery and daytime with jewelled flat sandals.

I will be looking for:
The perfect denim mini
2 x Embellished flat sandals to wear with rolled up BF jeans and a white vest
A new bikini
Maybe a new maxi dress or two, my fav striped navy and grey one is practically falling apart
A selection of vest tops and Ts from H&M in black/white/navy/bright pink/bright green
A sterling silver toe ring
A giant warm hoody for sitting outside late in the evening when it gets cold

That's it.

Thanks for this thread, it's lovely thinking of summer

Ah, proper summer clothes! Another one to add, what footwear are we wearing when time to ditch the boots but not yet warm enough for bare toes? I have 2 pairs of brogues from previous years, still working the in-betweeny ness?

I'm seeing lots of ankle grazing jeans, which I quite like for when it's warm enough to be flashing a bit of ankle, are these acceptable?

And there seems to be a lot of pastels in the shops. Is this a trend I need to get on board with?

Trouser shapes - flares and wide leg trousers, is this a thing that's happening or something that just a few people (who've just got bored of skinny everything) are talking up but noone will actually do?

I googled, according to Glamour magazine key trends for summer 2015 are:

Shirt dresses (I won't be doing this - too frumpy and risk of flashing!)
Yellow (Nope - I look ill in yellow)
Gingham (Did that at 15, not going back thanks)
Black & White (always stylish but waitress/maid look to be avoided)
Culottes (hell no!)
Blue and white (I have a lovely blue and white print dress from last summer -yay!)
Kimono style trench coats (err...no.)
Head to toe white (these people clearly have no children!)
Obi belts (maybe worth a try...)
Flat shoes (clearly)
One shoulder tops (not my thing)
Mid calf length baggy denim skirts (not flattering)
Polo shirts (great fro teens, frumpy golf-wear on 30-somethings)
Military green (maybe a mini or cropped jacket would be good?)
Aprons. ie: short skirt over a long skirt or dress (WTF?!)

HTH

FauxFox - I think it's safe to say, i'm too old for proper fashion, and hope for just not too frumpy.

From your list, blue and white, obi belts, flat shoes, military green and culottes might be a goer...

Most of the rest will just highlight my oldness and shortness.

What sort of flat shoes?

Faux fox: liking your list a lot better than Glamours!

Nearing end of summer here. What I noticed:

Flat sandals in all shades of neutral (tan, white, black, metallics) were huge.
Navy and white striped everything, but particularly tube skirts.
Shirt dresses in navy/grey/khaki/black
A lot of neon pink, tangerine orange, coral, azure.
Skinny ankle length denim in blue (no crazy colours).
Printed harem style (or pyjama style) trousers in black and white. Wear with a black or white tank, metallic sandals and you have the "stylish mum" uniform.

I also wear what I like and comfy in. I tend to go for capri pants etc. Never skirts. Nice floral top or vest too. Next have a lot of nice tops this spring, yellow seems to be the in-colour there. But im off to Primark tomorrow and I will buy a few nice floral tops and some sandals

When the warm weather arrives I tend not to have anything to wear so im preparing this year. Peacocks also have nice stuff and are reasonably priced. Im also a charity shop looker.

dear lord let it not be a tangerine orange summer, there's few who can carry that off and I really don't want the shops to be full of it.