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

264 replies

HeyNonnyMaybe · 28/01/2016 12:33

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. Angry

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.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
16
everythingsgoingsouth · 30/01/2016 20:35

how do you get into the JL edit thingy....??

Floisme · 30/01/2016 23:09

Here you are:
www.johnlewis.com/women/personal-style-edit?intcmp=cp_wom_area_labl2_mhi_personalstyleedit_x050216
I would take at least ten years off your age if you don't want to get Gina Bacconi

SSargassoSea · 31/01/2016 08:04

Well that was 10 mins of my life I won't get back.
Filled in the JL style edit, as far as I can see there is no option to say I dont' wear black or white (too strong, show my age), and only v light greys.

Nearly everything in my style list was black, white or grey or a mix.

JapanNextYear · 31/01/2016 10:38

There is an option to edit and say you don't like a colour. Mine was pages full of stuff the queen mother might wear...

Hmmm.

SchnitzelVonKrumm · 31/01/2016 18:45

Oh good lord, I've just done the John Lewis thing. My eyes!

elQuintoConyo · 31/01/2016 19:26

I knocked 10 years off my age but was still presented with these mingers...

Help me look like this woman I saw in the street!
Help me look like this woman I saw in the street!
SirChenjin · 31/01/2016 19:30

I'd wear that blue one with thick tights, chunky boots and a long sleeved top underneath or a short cardi in winter - and probably top it off with a patterned scarf from Fat Face, White Stuff or Weird Fish Blush

I'm fucked, aren't I Sad

notagiraffe · 31/01/2016 19:46

I got recommended a terrifying array of mauve lace bodycon dresses, which considering I ticked being short fat over 50 and hating bodycon is a mystery.
Why do they assume as soon as you hit 50 you suddenly think Jacques Vert floral lace dresses are the most stylish things around?

Floisme · 31/01/2016 22:06

It's because every woman over 50 looks the same. Didn't you know? Grin

SirChenjin · 31/01/2016 22:17

So true! Grin

everythingsgoingsouth · 31/01/2016 22:29

well, tried the JL edit....conclusion- will try again ,knocking 20 years off!!

BikeRunSki · 31/01/2016 22:33

I'm also mid forties and a bit fat. Every time I try not to wear jeans and stripey t shirts all the time, I spend a bit of money, feel awkward for a while, and end up back in jeans.

LoisWilkersonsLastNerve · 01/02/2016 09:21

I'm 36 and got those elquinto I think its just a badly planned gimmick. Shame really because if it came up with something decent I would probably buy it.

SirChenjin · 01/02/2016 09:25

Is that blue dress really that awful?? Am I going to have to throw out 90% of the dresses in my wardrobe???

obsessed

LoisWilkersonsLastNerve · 01/02/2016 09:31

No its not hideous but the fabric of the blue one ruins it for me. I like the fit and colour. You can't really see in that photo but its that very stiff material. It just misses the mark a bit for the age group.

LoisWilkersonsLastNerve · 01/02/2016 09:35

sir its better than the Tina Bacon ones!

SirChenjin · 01/02/2016 11:02

Ah - can't see the fabric in the photos, just presumed it was thick blue jersey.
Definitely not the sort of thing that would darken Tina Bacon's stall down the market though Grin

SchnitzelVonKrumm · 01/02/2016 17:27

I must have typed in 86 not 46 by mistake. Either that or I inadvertently ticked the "Mother Of The Bride" box.

LoisWilkersonsLastNerve · 01/02/2016 18:13

Yes it would seem they think the only night out mature ladies go to is their dc's wedding or a tea danceConfused

Floisme · 01/02/2016 18:59

Styling women based on their age is never going to end well. We're still all different shapes and sizes and we all like different things.

Except for sleeves. We probably all like them.

The first retailer to cotton onto this will clean up.

SwedishEdith · 01/02/2016 19:10

Ha, yes, I bet we all ticked the box about preferring to cover up out upper arms - that's why we're getting the same Tina stuff. Grin

Floisme · 01/02/2016 19:21

It never ceases to amaze me: preferring to cover our arms is arguably the one, single thing we all have in common. Yet shops like Hobbs and Phase 8 - that supposedly cater for our demographic - they just don't seem to have noticed.

SirChenjin · 01/02/2016 19:24

So true. I want to cover my arms because a)they are not toned and b)I live in Scotland where it's cold of the time, even in summer. In fact, especially in summer because that's when every office and shop decides that air con blasting out cold air at -15 is what is required Angry

Anyway, I digress. Do you think manufacturers have decided that with our menopausal and perimenopausal hot flushes we need to be sleeveless? Confused

Floisme · 01/02/2016 19:33

I think they reckon if it's sleeveless, they can also sell us a poxy cardi as a cover up.

CreviceImp · 01/02/2016 20:07

I used to wear the boho alternative look thing and am rectangular shaped with a bit of norkage going on. Legs OK in skinnies too. Boots wise if you have thin ankles then those low ankle ones which dip at the front are the best on ham calf/skinny ankle leg with a rolled up leg to show off the ankle. The most flattering boots in this shape I have come across are the Jigsaw Cara ones. They look high but are surprisingly comfortable. They work with dresses too.

With long boots you invariably end up with a baggy ankle and a soufflé calf bulging over the top of the fecker.

Right so boho clothes that work for rectangle shapes-

Komodo tops that have an asymmetric back to them. The boat neck slims down the middle and the detail at the back adds some kookiness.

Braintree

Gringo

Nomads

EKo sense

Noa Noa esp for dresses

Gudrun Sjoden

Look on eBay for Lagenlook stuff in plain colours esp Scandinavian brands.

Use thin strap long line vests (Next are best) to cover over pouch and minge area and bung a looser top over.

Boden -only for Bretons.

I personally look best in a minimalist, plain look as I have aged but I had fun with my enthusiasm for kookiness in my thirties.

Jaeger outlet do an ace cocoon coat but size down. It is called the 'three button coat' if you want a smarter coat. Oasis have a good one in too.