Going out/ the problem with my cleverly constructed wardrobe...

[Methenyouplus4]

After deciding on no more children (hubby had the snip) and after what seemed like an eternity (from a style sense) of pregnancies and maternity leave, I feel like I have 90% of my style mojo back.

Once back to my normal size, I did a serious wardrobe cull, passing my jazzy clubbing stuff/ dressy 'holiday ' clothes /breast feeding post pregnancy 'getting my shape back' stuff to friends/ charity.

I spent a good while debating what clithes I felt comfortable in now and searching pintrest etc for inspiration. Finally, I splashed out (well, in the sales or from ebay)on a few bits that were reasonable quality (Boden/ Monsoon/Hobbs/ Allsaints/ Zara) but that I could get a lot of wear out of (work and time with family).

I'm really pleased with everything and a few months down the line I have a wardrobe I look in and never think 'I've got nothing to wear' as plenty of neutrals and 'classic' items.

BUT when I go out (nice meals/drinks) I have no idea what to wear. I went out with hubby at w/end and wore lovely jeans with nice t-shirt and lovely cashmere card with jazzy necklace and heels. The problem is, I didn't feel vaguely 'special' as it's all things I wear for work/ to toddler groups etc.

Do you have separate 'going out' clothes? If so, what? I'm mid 30s, tall and reasonably slim but have no clue what to wear for drinks in town etc. Any ideas???

Phew. Thanks for reading if you got this far!

Yes I have a few outfits that are set aside for when me and DH go out for drinks or a meal with friends and then I have a few really nice dresses for when were invited to partys for friends birthdays ect.

I have dresses(mine are all quite figure hugging)pencil skirts and nice tops/blouses,high heels and 5 clutch bags/evening bags.

Oh the hols , I like the idea of more figure
hugging dresses, do you have a link to the type you mean.I have one super dressy dress but that's for weddings and would feel too conservative for a night out. What sort of top would you wear with a pencil skirt? I'm have a small chest and broad shoulders so don't like shirts/button down blouses as I tend to look quite butch in them.

I've bought some lovely dresses from Dorothy Perkins before also topshop and new look,boohoo.com is another place also I know it sounds strange but I have found some lovely dresses on ebay before as well.

I love these two www.dorothyperkins.com/en/dpuk/product/dresses-203543/going-out-dresses-4252003/paper-dolls-black-mesh-insert-wiggle-dress-4752649?bi=100&ps=20

www.dorothyperkins.com/en/dpuk/product/dresses-203543/going-out-dresses-4252003/black-gold-trim-bodycon-4628569?bi=0&ps=20

The second one has a very Audrey Hepburn look about it.

With the tops Dorothy Perkins has lots of tops and blouses in at the moment that aren't buttoned down.

Yes I have half a dozen going out outfits, that aren't worn daily/around the house etc. We often go out twice a week, definitely at least once, so they still get lots of wear.

I don't have going out outfits exactly, but I do have combinations of clothes that I would only wear for going out - eg I would wear an oversized nice cream shirt with jeans, and a sloppy sweater with lovely leather leggings, but for going out the nice shirt and the leather leggings come together with a pair of heels (which actually are kept exclusively for going out).

I don't go out in the evening a lot though - I would probably have dedicated clothes if I did!

I hear you! I have two "going out" outfits, and although I don't go out loads, it's with the same people when I do, so I feel v repetitive! Don't want to buy loads though, as will look dated by the next time I go out.
My go-tos are a navy jersey dress (also works for job interviews) and then a silk T, jeggings (same as toddler group) and sparkly heels.

I have dedicated going out clothes. More so for the winter as I struggle a bit with summer going out clothes. I've got about 3 tops (black lace one, black silky polyester one and a navy one) that I wear with either jeans (my normal jeans) or black cigarette trousers. I'be also got a couple of dresses- a denim one which does for smart/casual, a black wrap dress if I need to be more formal and a short black dress which i love on the rare occasion that I may go dancing.

Interesting. I just went to shops to try and hunt something down and only bought a set of underwear! Felt like cheaper shops (New Look etc) were all nice clothes for 15-25 and all the higher end 'dressy' stuff in House of Fraser/ Debenhams etc looked either (in my mind) like it was wedding or work wear. Zara probably has the best offering but nothing I tried on I loved so felt I'd just be buying for the sake of it. Grrrr. Just to make it awkward, I really don't suit black on my top half either. Grrrr. Back to hunting on the Web. ..

I often get nice going out tops in Oasis or Warehouse. Not expensive, not too "young" and a bit fancier than day tops. Normally wear with slim black trousers or smart skinnies and heels.

I too have lots of seperate going out clothes
A silk shirt (I have black and forest green ) - try equipment, whistles (I have one from a few years ago when their stuff was better quality) kooples also do nice shirts

Nice tops - all saints / maje / kooples / reiss - are good for this

I find zara / oasis etc tops date quickly but the brands above fit my style so I ve collected a few I love over the years, have enough to rotate so I don't seem to be wearing the same ones all the time. I tend to wear then with leather leggings / skirt, pencil skirt or denim (again i have some jeans I keep for going out or better wear.

My best investment last year was a sequined blazer (though i unmed and awed over it) - it s been fab to throw on with jeans and a plain t or silk shirt and heels for autum / winter and early spring.

What about a jumpsuit? I have a lovely one from Mango that I wear loads for going out.

I don't have many going out clothes despite having lots of clothes otherwise. Nearly everything I own is for work or going to the shops/meeting friends during the day.

I do have a black dress that is a bit too tight to wear to work, and a couple of dresses and skirts that are shorter than I like to wear during the week. Nice accessories help too; I accidentally bought a necklace that's a lot bigger I expected, it's made of black plastic beads that form huge flowers. Looks dressy with a plain top.

Have you seen Boden's new collection? They have lots of things with sequins and/or made of more dressy fabrics but could easily be combined with smart jeans or opaque tights (for the dresses)? Other brands are likely to have similar items soon, for the Xmas party season.

Jumpsuit! Love that idea. Please feel free to link any nice ones (£70 would be upper price limit). A couple of brands mentioned I wouldn't normally think of (Oasis, kooples etc) so off to explore...

I have culled my wardrobe in the last 18 months and mainly have work or weekend clothes.
I've recently bought a LBD in Zara as I have a dressy Xmas do to go to. I think it's a fairly classic style so hope it will sit in my wardrobe for other items.
I've also just bought a long sleeve midi dress from Zara as well. I plan to wear it for date nights etc... with heels.

Jumpsuits! my favourite subject
There's a classic black bargain in the sale at Atterley (so long as you're not a size 12)

This lovely one at Topshop (also in red.. very tempting)

Also loads at Zara - this wrap one would be my pick.

They are brilliant for going out, my default option these days.

my 'going out' options are still relatively mix and match - a black tux style jumpsuit, and a couple of black leather skirts which I wear with either a white shirt of tee, then its all in the grooming - more dramatic or statement make up, or lipstick particularly, and fab shoes

Ordered a couple from HoF sale but annoyingly there was a mess up so couldn't get the one I really wanted!

What are the sizes like at Atterly? I'd say i'm normally 12 on bottom and 10 on top. Should I try the 14?

I'm psnts with the whole hair/ make-up thing which doesn't help. I tend to go for a bold lip as it's relatively fool-proof.

m.houseoffraser.co.uk/Star+Wars+Sport+digital+watch/218806771,default,pd.html

Really hope link works as I feel I rarely have good bargins to offer! House of Fraser have Star Wars watches for £2.50 but also Marvel Heroes etc. Look in toy sale they have a few good bargains but that was (for my needs anyway) the best. Bought 7 for stocking fillers!

Bold red lipstick is often my fail safe if I feel I might be slightly underdressed - makes everything else look much more pulled together and thought through!

I love MAC for a bold lip. Ignore Star Wars watch link, wrong thread!