I don't own anything I 'love'

[Callycatsy]

Nothing sparks joy. Certainly I like the fit of certain things and maybe the colour but I've never found anything that I can't live without. Is it just me?

Am probably an autumn but feel best in slate blues,navy, grey , charcoal and even black occasionally.
Go with your instincts cally

I'm not sure what it is georgina. For example, if neon is in I don't want to buy it but then I never would even if it wasn't in fashion. If it's peplum and it doesn't suit then I don't want it. If it's skorts I run away laughing.

I know what suits me style-wise and fashion won't dictate that.

It doesn't help that I'm 51, retired and live in a village where a masala dog walking fleece would be the epitome of fashion.

Sorry, that was aimed at gruach clearly my reading glassss need cleaning!

Thanks Georgina :)

You make it sound as if fashion is all about being forced to buy things you don't like, and wear things that make you look ridiculous.

(And remember that "knowing what suits you" has left you with a wardrobe of dullness.)

Take it from your elders and betters, embracing the intellectual challenge of constant new interpretations of what it means to be ... oh, a female human being in the 20th /21st century can sometimes be fun.

Be assured that I often realise, at the close of the day, or when I see the photos, that I must have looked ever so slightly ridiculous. I'm not keen on reaching a point where I never make mistakes ...

(Does your last answer mean that you aren't interested in looking for inspiration?)

cally
I recently have had to have complete new wardrobe due to losing a lot of weight and dropping from a good 12 to a small 6 to 8.
The clothes I used to go for were the usual archetypal middle class mummy stuff, White Stuff, Boden,Fat Face etc.
Now I lean towards Whistles,Cos, White Company, Mint velvet,Zara.
I love John lewis too but have adjusted my usual brand searches !

I'm starting to panic, I feel cornered I also feel old and useless but that's a whole other thread.

Thanks for listening thus far.

'nother question: why do you need black trousers if you're retired? (I had assumed they were your workwear.)

(I tend to avoid them. I like black suits and wore them for work but black trousers alone remind me of the 80s.)

Oh dear. Sorry. Not trying to corner you. Genuinely interested - particularly as we are if an age.

of. Of an age.

I've held onto a smart workwear look for some reason. Probably because that's all I know. I'm not going to do chinos as I don't want to be baggy.

I guess the reason I'm struggling is because my wardrobe doesn't fit my lifestyle.

Im happy to be cornered, you're making me think :)

I understand what you mean.
It's about finding a different style to suit a different life I think.
Then you will love your clothes!

Yes. Exactly that :)

I'm realise confused (I know it doesn't take much), having left high level corporate type job and now working for a charity, no need to 'dress up' and am lost style wise. Wardrobe is full of smart clothes and far too much. No idea what suits me anymore- am 60, 5' 7", size 14. Silver hair, tanned/olive colouring. Don't need to wear makeup either.

Desperately need advice as tend to wear 'safe' clothes, for that read dull...

Catsy that has been the case with me too - I was buying shift dresses and blazers and formal jackets and heels although I worked from home. I needed to find a softer, fluider, more everyday appropriate style - sweatshirts, soft trousers, jumpsuits, chunky knits, great jeans, pleather leggings. Some of the sports luxe stuff is actually quite structured. When my lifestyle and clothes match, I feel freeer and happier.

Buy something frivolous! I guess with the clear out everything impractical has gone, so treat yourself to one 'dress up' item. My items of joy are wonderful shoes that make me swing the bag when I leave the store. I wear a lot of black, grey and navy and a splash of colour or a quirky detail lifts clothes and relatively speaking not too dating (especially if you go for a heel / toe combo that flatters your legs).

The other items for me are dresses. I have a couple of weddings and black tie does a year, so buy something when I see it, rather than go shopping for an event. These dresses always fit perfectly, often are black, jewel coloured or a print and highlight my hourglass shape. A lot of them are madmen style cuts. I still have my coast black dress from my leavers ball. It's bobbly now but still fab.

More practically my leather jacket has stood the test of time. 5yrs on and still looks perfect.

A lot of the joy in these dresses are that they are a delight and not a chore to buy and it's the anticipation of wearing them!

I have lots of things which "spark joy" because they are well-made and look good on me, but are essentially pretty boring functional items - for example, black skinny jeans from Whistles, a leather black biker from Oasis. The pleasure in them is bring able to wear them as the basis for more exciting things, such as nice blouses and great boots, and in the case of the jeans a fabulous leopard print faux fur coat that I can't wait to get into again as autumn hits. I don't understand the colour/season thing, but since doing Marie Kondo I always ask "does this spark joy?" before I purchase, with the caveat that the joy might spring from its usefulness.

I have two little girls. When I ask their advice they are always right. Latest best buys: a green dress with a swirly skirt (I've got reddish hair so green is a really good colour for me - the girls loved the swirly skirt) and a nude long sleeved t-shirt, very plain except for a subtle sparkle in it. The girls love the sparkle.

I love nice natural fabrics: cashmere cardigans, woollen trousers and coats, silk blouses. And toeposts, I'm very keen on a toepost, feels quite sensual as long as you buy shoes of decent quality (no cheap flip flops).

I've never had to embrace a suited and booted look as have worn a uniform fur work since I was 18,but I can understand how difficult it must be going from that to a more casual aesthetic
Perhaps a more half way house look of cigarette trousers, dark skinny or straight leg jeans (yes I know flares are coming back but have yet to see much evidence on the street)
With silk shirts,cashmere or soft merino jumpers,good jacket or coat, boots etc..
Agree with Frugal that the sports luxe type stuff is a good casual look too.
For the above I like shops such as
Uniqlo
White company
Cos
Mint velvet
Mango
Zara
Boden. ..plain bits especially their slim trousers and jeans
And am liking Marks limited collection and Autograph for autumn too

Super helpful ideas, thank you. I like skinny jeans, I just don't know what to wear on top. I'm a size 12 top as I'm quite busty and a 10 bottom so I have to be careful not to look like a parsnip!

I'm a walking advert for smart casual but it's too smart for my lifestyle. I like gardening and playing with the cat, walking holidays and housework so heaven knows when I'm going to wear these black trousers!

I like dresses, biker jackets are a no because they're asymmetrical and that's annoying for me. I keep fiddling with things like cowl necks too. I'm a total mare aren't I?

Not a cat person myself as very allergic but I'm a great walker /runner and spend a lot of time in fitness gear as I attend loads of classes! What about Sweaty Betty type lounge wear ? Or study their website and then look for similar in other places such as the supermarkets and H&M as I do!

Georgina you've been quite lovely and it's much appreciated:)

My pleasure
I love talking clothes!

I'm loving the 'harem' trousers in Next right now. I have them in a couple of colours. They are a great weight, feel really nice and have a flat front and tapered leg so not too baggy. Between me, my sil and my trendy mil we have the full range! We also are all different shapes ( hourglass 8, pear 12 and top heavy 14-16) and they flatter us. The only thing we have in common is that we're all 5ft3-5 so might not work for someone who is tall.