Help me raise my game! What do you wear every day?

[blondegirl73]

I'm a disaster when it comes to clothes and I've finally decided to do something about it. But I need help because I don't even know where to start.

I'm 41 with small-ish children and a very busy life. I work full time in a creative job so I don't have 'work clothes' as such. I'm also a size 18 and very flabby, with a huge droopy tummy and a big bum. Normally when I choose clothes, I use the criteria of 'how much of me will this cover up?'

Mostly I wear jeans with a long top and Converse. But my husband has just started a new job and is wearing lots of suits and generally looking gorgeous. Plus he's really fit, so he's very trim and is ageing really well. I'm terrified that I'll show him up at his Christmas party or that people will look at us together and feel sorry for him.

I'd love to know what you all wear on a daily basis. Especially what you wear if you don't wear jeans?

I also struggle with shoes and basically go from boots to flip flops, with Converse all year round. What shoes do you wear?

Where do you shop? What are your favourite shops?

I'm even stuck about what to wear in bed! I've got loads of awful pyjamas that I should probably throw away.

My mum is super-stylish and I have no idea why I'm as useless as I am. But I can't even look at my own reflection any more and something has to change. HELP!

I don't know if I'm particularly stylish but I'll share what I wear.
I recently left work to be a sahm but my work wardrobe consisted of skinny trousers with shirts and I wore lots of wrap dresses with tights especially in winter with wedge boots.

My day to day sahm wardrobe is basically skinny jeans of various shades with t shirts or jumpers with scarves and ballet shoes, or skinny jeans/trousers with cami too and kimono top, I've got a few pairs of patterned harem trousers that I wear with a plain t shirt top or vest and cardi- all with ballet shoes/sandals. I will live in those over summer just swapping skinny jeans for 3/4 skinnys or demin shorts (I'm not one for summer dresses!)

I can help with pyjamas. Get down to Primark. They sell 100% cotton separates from about £3:50. They don't shrink or go out of shape and last for ages IME.

My job is also one for more creative/smart casual clothes.

In colder months I wear a lot of knee length skirts, some in plain colours in denim or cord fabrics, some with a print. Tops are jersey basics in plain colours or stripes or nice shirts with cardis or jumpers when it's colder.

I love Boden Bistro crops as an alternative to jeans and also have black 7/8 length trousers from M&S in black and navy. My summer tops are mostly short sleeved cotton tops or shirts with the sleeves rolled up, love the work wear range from White Stuff.

I got a black very basic ponte dress in the winter and that was really useful as a base for many outfits.

For shoes - this time of year brogues, gold Ash Virgos or flats with a strap i.e. Clarks Feature Film (I walk lots and don't find ballet flats supportive at all). When it gets warmer either sling back flats or sandals.

Nightwear is mostly PJ bottoms in nice prints with basic tees on top, and one of those soft bra crop top things underneath.

I've just done a pinterest search for plus size fashion, loads of inspiration there.

I hate to be the one to say it, but have you considered losing weight? It sounds like your self esteem is the main thing holding you back from dressing well, and when you say your DH is really fit etc it makes you sound very down on yourself. If you don't want to, no worries but I think it would be the easiest way to feel good about yourself and would make dressing well a lot easier.

Well as an old girl, I like to wear a pretty dress . in the winter I wear boots with thicker leggings in the summer I have some gorgeous sandals that I've brought back from Spain although I dare say you can get them here.

In bed I wear little cami style nighties. Again I like something pretty.

I like wearing boots with heels.

I get most of my clothes from Dorothy Perkins, quiz or tkmaxx. Charity shops sometimes throw up a nice find.

I recently wore trousers to go to see my osteopath and just felt miserable and frumpy in them . Oh says he prefers me to wear a dress.

I know it's not everyone's cup of tea.

The fashion on MN I think is to wear neutral colours, or garments of one colour but I like what works for me.

Although I try not to look mumsy I probably do. Maybe that should be a compliment as I'm a grandma,

I would seCond having a go at losing weight.

Even just half a stone to a stone gives an amazing boost and gives you a real kick when you go to try something on.

If you could see photos of me twenty years ago when I weighed 12 st 3 I don't look the same person.

I'm now about 10 st 7.

I wore shapeless jumpers and trousers. I'm having a ball with clothes now and kept most of that weight off for 15 years, maybe more.

This is all really helpful, thank you.

I'm losing weight gradually and you're right that this is the biggest issue. I'm doing WeightWatchers, and I run, swim and walk a lot (good tip on the shoes there - I too have real trouble with ballet shoes). I've spent ages thinking about the nice clothes I'll wear when I'm thinner and I think I need start dressing better now.

I wear whatever I feel like on the day. I've found if you don't have a 'uniform' so to speak people aren't amazed when you make a change. Or comment (and I hate this) 'you look nice' subtext: you've made an effort for a change.
Today it's a 70s (original) a line skirt with a blue v neck jumper and a blouse that was mums in the 80s. Yesterday it was skinny jeans with a grey t shirt and dark grey pashmina. Tomorrow - who knows??? Although my favourite pale blue joan from mad men dress should be dry by then.
Although thanks to the awful back of the heel blisters I'm still in bright pink slip on trainers from peacocks. Very plastic. Very awful. It somewhat spoils my clothing mojo.

Whilst you are thinking about clothes, why not focus on grooming - hair, make up, eyebrows, nails.

Dresses are my work staple in a creative environment . I buy Boden , H &m and monsoon but accessorize by layering over long t-shirts in winter and wearing tights and boots if it's cold.
I also buy short dresses or long loose tunics and wear over skinnies .
Tidy hair and makeup , nail make it all come together . If I have a gallery thing or event where people outside the industry are , I try a more corporate look and wear all black or black with a white collar . I wish I was a bit slicker but love loose clothes .

The biggest change for me in my quest to up my game and age more gracefully was taking up jogging. I quickly began to feel better and have more energy. Everything flowed from there.

Fashion blogs are great for inspiration.

We have a Plus size fashion thread going. You are welcome to join us for some chat and inspiration.

I'm a size 18 and have lived in White Stuff tunics and leggings for years but am slowly moving to a simple, more classic look.

I have this jacket which is great with skinny jeans and plain top to make me look neat and well put together.

I'm another one in a creative work environment - my "uniform" is either a dress with opaque tights and brogues or Chelsea/biker boots, or skinny jeans and a smart blouse with the same on my feet. Out of work I wear pretty much the same, but not the actual same, as I like to keep work and not-work clothes separate. I wear a lot of stripy tops with plain cardis too. In summer I like a midi dress (with flat sandals or brogues) if it's really warm, but I'm not in a particularly warm part of the country so that's rarely an issue! Shops I like are Whistles, Urban Outfitters, Warehouse and Topshop, plus a bit of Cos, Zara, ASOS and H&M. I have recently discovered Finery London which I'm very taken with.

Pyjama-wise, I tend to sleep in an old t-shirt of my OH, but slouch around in Primark pyjama trews and stripy tops that have been retired from outside rotation.

I'm an 18-22 depending on the brand.

I work in an emergency service and although I'm not uniformed there are some things that are completely off-limits, such as jeans.

Today I wore a grey Fat Face tunic, grey leggings, pink and grey striped cardi and some Skechers Go Walk.

Tomorrow is weather-dependent, I want to wear a new skirt I've just made but if it's cold that wouldn't be warm enough. So it might be a long skirt and tights or linen trousers, with a cotton top and a jumper.

Or a dress and cardi.

My favourite summer shoes are some Clarks wedges which are cream so go with everything, and are really comfy.

I do try to keep work and home clothes separate-ish, just so I don't end up associating everything with work.

I'm enjoying a bit of 50s styling at the moment, but I'm wondering how much I can get away with at work, it might be a bit 'dressy' for them!