Help me look like this woman I saw in the street!

[HeyNonnyMaybe]

Trudging along in the rain the other day in flat boots, jeans, and sensible knee length waterproof school run type coat.

Then this woman hoved into view looking fabulous with her bob in a beany hat, egg shaped woolen coat, midi length flared skirt poking out of the bottom of it, woollen tights and ankle boots. She looked like she should be in focus at the front of a slow motion shot whilst the background blurred out and a Jacques Brel soundtrack played.

She looked fab, everything was coordinated in terms of colour, she looked really cosy but actually fucking stylish, rather than me galumphing along.

So, I've decided enough with the jeans. I want to look feminine, chic, perhaps a little boho. Not like I've just raided the rails of White Stuff or Fat Face. I used to be so much braver with clothes but now I'm mid 40s, short and a bit fat, so this could be a challenge. I'm aware an egg coat would make me look like an actual egg. And I don't want to be the sort of middle aged woman who puts in pink highlights and wears zebra print DMs because they're "fun".

Any suggestions of where to get the type of clothes I'm on about? I don't mean necessarily copies of hers, it's more about being more original and somehow, oh I don't know, lovely.

[Wheresthattomoibabber]

Fuck looking nice. Stay in wearing your pjs and write a book. I'd read it. DH keeps asking what I'm sniggering at

No answers in terms of style but reading suggestions with interest.

[nickEcave]

This thread is great! I'm an early 40s short ass with big Boobs and have to pay quite a lot of attention to my clothes to avoid looking like a weeble. I gave up on jeans a few years ago and embraced dresses and boots in a big way

[SirChenjin]

Nonny - my suggestion would be to lose weight. Exercise can also help - have you thought about having regular spa days?

[BabyGanoush]

You are naught Sir

[BabyGanoush]

Naughty, I meant

But naught is even better

[GeorginaWorsley]

I used to were patterned dresses,tops , floaty cardigans all the time.
Now approaching 50 I find this sort of stuff ages me so I stick to a very limited colour palette and simple stuctured shapes.
No frills,embellishments etc.
Boring to some no doubt

[SirChenjin]

Baby

[Floisme]

I started that John Lewis thing too but as soon as it asked how old I was, I knew what was coming. I'd already told it my body shape, colouring, height, weight, that I liked my legs but wanted to cover my arms. That should have been all the info it needed.

[SuperFlyHigh]

I really like the OP and follow on thread...

I now work in an area which isn't quite so glam but used to work in a very posh area... So saw examples of horrendous dressing on a huge budget and dressing well on a cheaper budget.

I will say this.

Buy a lovely classic coat (car, cocoon etc) in a nice colour (preferably which suits you) and even if not the best you can afford if it "looks" more expensive you're doing well.

I bought an amazing wrap coat with belt (oasis) in a dark red (plum?) colour recently which I had to buy one of those trendy blanket scarves to go with it (there's a gap none of my usual scarves would cover). I did have a padded parka sort of jacket before though, that was lovely (still got it) but quite shapeless and only used for warmth.

My bug bear is boots for warmth and style. I do have ankle boots in leopard print, black suede ankle boots, along with knee high suede but with fleecy lining (no heel) etc. the other day I caved and bought a pair of &otherstories slim fit suede boots with patent back of heel part (low heel) and they're very smart, erring on the trendy bit.

I wish I was like SIL who's tall, dark, slim and most things suit her. Same goes for her SIL (who's smaller but slim and quite trendy (picks amazing items which suit her and very few).

I intend to keep a look out for styles and shapes and colours which suit me, maybe have a colour consultation.

I personally don't see anything wrong (if you're brave) with approaching some of these Amazon style mavens and asking where they got their clothes.

[HeyNonnyMaybe]

Yes Sir, I have considered a spa day but I cancelled when I found out they don't do chips.

Georgina, I have a colour palette that I like, and I also like plain fabrics, so it sounds like I could be on the right lines. I don't think plain is boring at all if the shape is great.

Yes, I think I went wrong by buying stuff for the school run because it was warm and waterproof, then wearing those things with my admittedly rather lady rugby player wardrobe.

Glad to hear that some of you aged old sows have had a good long think about what you've done and have redeemed yourselves with dresses. Hopefully that means I'm heading in the right direction.

[SirChenjin]

Yeah, that's the many downsides of spa days. That and they are shit.

[SwedishEdith]

Just did the JL style edit and got this ghastly thing

I'm going to have another go and know 15 years off my age.

[LoisWilkersonsLastNerve]

Good lord that dress is awful! Pat Butcher on a night out in Blackpool.

[SirChenjin]

I got lots of Gina Bacconi stuff too. I've never heard of the woman, but it seems to be some young thing's idea of what over 40s wear on nights out

[LoisWilkersonsLastNerve]

I don't think I will bother doing the JL edit. I'm too frightened

[HeyNonnyMaybe]

We should start a thread along the lines of the Tesco substitutions ones, see what horrors have been suggested by the JL Style Edit for perfectly normal women in their 40s who have never been characters on Eastenders.

[SirChenjin]

To be fair, what they suggested for casual dresses were fine - I would have worn the vast majority of them. It was just the suggestions for going out frocks that were both and in equal measure. If you've got a spare 10 minutes I'd say for for it - for the laugh if nothing else!

[LoisWilkersonsLastNerve]

I bought this for a casual weekend type outfit its flattering on I will wear with knee high boots and long cardi

[SirChenjin]

Oooh - I like that. I have a plain coloured one in the same style and it's surprisingly flattering. Also wear it with knee high boots.

[PreAdvent13610]

It is going to be a short list.
I also got suggested the Pat Butcher dress and loads with lace sleeves

[LoisWilkersonsLastNerve]

I might get a plain one, I think a plain one could be dressed up for nights out etc. The stripes on mine make it look quite casual.

[HeyNonnyMaybe]

Oh, I've done it, Sir, I was suggested belters like this little beauty. I must have answered 'yes' to the question 'Is Camelot buying you this outfit having pressured you into a press conference'?

That's nice, Lois, where is it from?

[HeyNonnyMaybe]

Sorry, forgot to attach the smurf doily.

[bigbadbarry]

The stripy thing is nice Lois, where is it from?

[LoisWilkersonsLastNerve]

heynonny JL is a bit beyond my budget anyway