What TO wear?????

[HoHoHorsewoman]

DH has landed himself in a fairly high profile position, and suddenly I appear to be getting a social life! Haven't had one for such a long time, and my wardbrobe is in pretty poor shape. I have at least 5 invitations looming for events as varied as 'staff christmas party' to 'Drinks at the Manor' and have naff-all to wear. I need to do 'style on a shoestring' (flat broke at the mo, money should start rolling later!) but need stuff now. Where do I go? Need to be quite smart, but still want to be trendy. Need eve and day stuff.

How old are you?
Colouring?
Height?
Size?
Big norks?
Big tum/bum or skinny minnie?

And what is your budget?

And where is MrsBadger? She's great at capsule wardrobes...

I am 36 (but look MUCH younger obviously!) weigh 8 stone, (mainly on the hips and butt). I have mid brown hair, grey eyes and my complexion is a little darker than normal on account of having recently been sunning myself in a much warmer place than this! I am about 5'1", so not much to work with. My budget could be fairly described as 'skimpy', which, incidentally, is not the look I am going for with my clothes. DH trains racehorses, so I have to be a bit stylish, but NOT in the 'Tory Wife' mode, thanks!

Don't put yourself down. It sounds like you are petite and have a lovely figure. Plenty to work with!
Oh, no, you definitely don't want to dress to 'mumsy' you'll look like you belong in the winner's enclosure!

I would start with heading to Debenhams and make an appointment with a personal shopper for a start.

I was going to recommend Coast, Kew and Jigsaw, but the prices may be a little out of your budget, unless you head there for the sales.
Look on the Warehouse website for a teal blue shift dress with a beaded collar - perfect party frock IMO.
Or there are some lovely ones in Monsoon at the moment.

I know what you mean, Coast, Kew and Jigsaw are lovely, but a bit beyond me at the moment. I am going to have a look at that Warehouse dress, it sounds really nice (I love teal blue!) Think I may also look at Zara. Thing is, I need capsule (pieces that can take me anywhere) but that are not instantly recognisable ('Oh, did you get that in Next? My daughter-in-laws dog walker and her mum, sister, and best friend all have them') KWIM? I'm great with kids clothes, rubbish with my own!

If you choose carefully, this site has some nice, and more unusual, stuff - maybe steer towards the plainer pieces, with less embroidery/detail, as they'll be more versatile and last longer.

ooh, what fun!

Yes you do need Zara (and if anyone else has seen the same thing you're wearing it means they are Stylishly In The Know, not my-dogwalker-has-it-from-Next) You'll need the trousers taking up though as they're always v long.
Other top High St tips as well as Warehouse are Topshop and French Connection - catwalk-inspired (so trendy) and not too pricey but you need to sift through the footless-tight type dross and pick the more classic stuff.

Coast also good but don't get anything too Coasty as it is v popular for occasionwear (once saw five girls in the same gold lace bustier with ribbon belt at a black tie do). Plain stuff is less recognisable than the ones with big flowers etc.

Agree personal shopper in Debenhmas or JL is a good idea for ideas even if you don't buy anything.

My other top tip for black tie stuff is to go to Monsoon and find out which of their dress shapes and sizes suit you, then look on Ebay for previous years' colours / prints in the same shapes. I have done v well this way, and although it is obvious they're Monsoon, no-one else is ever wearing exactly the same one. Ebay is great for eveningwear as it's so often worn for one party and then never again.

Also go and try the black velvet jacket with the ribbon tie from Tesco (as recommended by cod) - and check out Enid's Party Item for £75 thread.

And see if you can spend an hour or two ferretting in TKMaxx - sometimes it's rubbish but you occasionally get a designer gem.

warehouse dress

www.george.com/womens/fast_fashion_dec/5/

\link{http://www.george.com/womens/fastfashiondec/5/asdadress}

this one?
it's rather cool actually
(hmm, would it be suitable for PIL's NY knees-up? where's my nearest Asdsa...)

Yep thats the one, gave up trying to do a link

I got a different dress from Asda yesterday, but there's no pic on the internet anywhere. Anyway its totally gorgeous, cost £18 and I prefer it to anything I've sen in Monsoon, Oasis, Debenhams recently. They've got some nice stuff among the crud.

binka, have you seen cod's thread? I think you are a seagull.
here

I am loving the teal blue warehouse dress, especially as it appears to have been reduced!! Went off to do the last of my christmas shopping yesterday (failed) but bought a gorgeous emerald green silk-looking wrapover shirt with 3/4 sleeves (very 1950s elegant style) in Zara for £29! tried it on last night, and it looked really nice. Would suit a full-style knee length skirt, I think, but would also look chic with trousers (I do have 1 pair of smart wool trousers, actually!) Am a bit embarrassed about using personal shopper, I am the kind of person who always buys something in a small shop just because I feel conspicuous if I go in and leave with nothing. So with somebody's one-on-one attention I would probably feel obliged to spend about £500!

I am such a seagull ;) Wouldn't dream of doing any weekly food shopping in a supermarket - think of all the plebs I'd have to mix with

Actually I don't own any Boden and normally buy clothes in Tesco or Asda.

What, pray tell, are 'mute gold heels'? Any examples, please?! Shoes are a major problem for me, I own about 3 pairs (I never really got the 'shoe fetish' thing - I much prefer bags!) and consequently never have quite the right pair for anything!

Oooohh! Saw a gorgeous bottle green velvet jacket in Zara yesterday. I KNEW I should have bought it....come to think of it, why didn't I?? I bought the nice shirt, but the jacket didn't cost much more. Now I'll have to go back again! You have inspired me!

Have just looked at your links - thanks. I have to say I prefer the pair you recommend.
My main problem is my quite flat feet. I am useless in heels -I kind of 'trot' in them, can't walk at all!