Help! Rock chick needs to look very conservative/dowdy/boring.

[Fabulassie]

I'm going to be doing a video for a friend's daughter's project. I am middle aged but I dress like a metal chick. I have only clothes that are dramatic and eye catching (I probably just look like an old tart). I need to look somewhere between mumsy and business.

I am going to wear my spectacles, moderate makeup, and my hair up in some dull way.

But what about clothes? What would a middle aged professional woman with a dull personality wear? I can't look striking or sexy. I'm very tall, thin and imposing so I want to play that down. I must not look cheap or slovenly, either. Just respectable and not even a little sexy.

I need two outfits, one for the dullest sort of office position and something that such a woman would wear outside of work, such as to go shopping or out to lunch.

This may all sound weird that I'm asking this, but I'm at a loss for how to dress utterly unlike myself.

For the office position, I'd suggest black trousers or skirt, a white top and either a beige or grey cardigan. For shopping or lunch, jeans and a tunic top with a bit of colour, but not much.

HTH

I'm thinking of trousers in both instances because I want to hide my legs. I also need some dull black flats. I already have some casual Clarks that will be good for the more casual look.

All my jeans are tight. I'm thinking of khaki trousers. Navy Cardigan over white tee?

What would a middle aged professional woman with a dull personality wear?

Do you not think you are being incredibly insulting to other middle aged women?

Professional or not.

Office job or not.

Come and look in my wardrobe. It is most uninspiring.

How am I being insulting? I am a middle aged woman. I need to portray someone very staid and dull by outwardly presenting myself as that character.

If I'd said I was a conservative woman who needs to portray a racy vamp, would I be insulting racy vamps?

I went to M&S and got some really good grey trousers and I realised that my dumb fetish for buying cardigans in every possible colour (that I almost never wear) will come in handy. I think all I need is a grey tee shirt and I'm done.

Nothing more boring, conservative and dowdy than the cliche that is a middle-aged rock chick.

So rad

Oh get over yourself
Rock chick in your 40's,
What an insulting post

op Do you mean you are playing a character in the video? Who is dull?

why are people taking this personally. The OP is not saying that anyone is middleaged and dull on here. I think maudpringles your post is rude.
wtf is 'get over yourself'.
She needs to play a part and is looking for advice!
I fail to see how she is insulting anyone.

I would suggest grey trousers, polyester blouse with a collar up to the top and tucked in. . A pair of really old fashioned brogues to finish it off.

I"ve already said in my OP that I look like a deluded tart. No need to insult me. Like all insecure, deluded idiots who vainly hope to create the facade of being an interesting person so that nobody will know how deeply boring and unoriginal they really are, I already insult myself enough as it is.

Fab I'm sure you look great irl. Cardi trousers and flat shoes will do the trick. Jeans for the weekend look.

I don't think you've insulted anyone op. Greengardens clothing ideas look good to me

Yes, it's a silly video project for a young person who is school. It's embarrassing and silly but she's working very hard and taking it very seriously and I am happy to help her. For part of the video I look like myself and the other part I am meant to look very different. I'm not sure if it's identical twins or a fantasy one or the other character has.

At least I don't speak any lines.

What a charmer you are!

Take no notice of the insults. I think your request is reasonable. Outside of work I tend to dress a bit rock-chick, alternative, etc (and I am probably deluded, and look like a slapper, and am a bit mutton, and so on). I don't care.

However, in my job I have to look "professional" and so will have my hair up, make-up toned down, and wear longer skirts, dresses, sensible (rather than skin tight) trousers, etc. I'd probably go for a dull-looking tunic with leggings, hair-up, minimal make-up, etc.

I understand what you mean and don't think you're being remotely insulting. Am baffled as to why people are taking the hump?

I'd suggest bootcut trousers, plain top, maybe a loose cardi and flat practical shoes. Maybe the addition of a white stuff necklace for pizazz

.

I really am sorry if I somehow insulted anyone. I certainly didn't mean to say "How do you boring people dress, anyway?" I just wanted other people's ideas of what a very respectable, buttoned-up person would dress like and the idea that I'm not supposed to look like I have any real personality or flair comes from the girl who is asking me to do this.

I think you shouldn't buy new and it should all be slightly the wrong size for you to look authentic. For me its not the item of clothing itself that will make it look dowdy, but how its worn and previously cared for.

I suppose what I'm trying to say is that no individual piece of clothing is in itself, dull. So no one needs take offence. What brings it to a new level is if it doesn't fit, and, in the example of a cardigan, all bobbly and perhaps threadbare at the elbows.

do you want to look 'dowdy' or do you want to look "ordinary"? If it's the latter, shopping, jeans (skinny are fine, or straight leg) with a high necked jumper or long sleeved t-shirt, possibly bretton or a pastel colour? no jewellary other than pearl studs, watch and a wedding ring. Converse type trainers or ballet pumps in a non-discript colour.

For work/office, black wide legged trousers or knee lenth, non-fitted, shapeless skirt and black tights. Again, long sleeved, plain top. Try looking in tescos work wear for an idea.

Did no one encourage this 21st century schoolgirl to find a story that does not perpetuate the myth that middle aged woman with brain equals unsexy and dull?

I think people are taking the hump at the idea that a middle aged woman dressing in a conservative way equates to a dull personality, as that does come across in the post.

Anyway, if you want to be someone who isn't all that interested in clothes or fashion, and who is very sober and conservative, then as pps suggest, a plain dark coloured skirt or trousers, possibly in a dated style, and a white blouse with either a blazer or a cardigan. Either no jewelry or a simple gold chain, or beads. For an evening out more colour, but quite covered up, longish skirt, nothing too clingy, and maybe a noticable but still restrained necklace. Earrings could be gold studs or pearls. Makeup taupe eyeshadow, mascara, neutral pinky lipstick, or just mascara, or none.

I think "ordinary" is more apt, yes. Not threadbare or ill-fitting but buttoned-up and the clothes are not to betray any particular personality.

I too find this boring clothes equals boring personality idea depressing and tedious. Men don't get judged in the same way.