Get me out of Jeans and Ts

[CallieTorres]

ok - halfway through my 40s and i wear jeans EVERY day and a t-shirt or a top....

I want to look a bit more grown up, but i dont find heels comfortable, and so end up in trainers all the time, my feet get really cold (unless its summer)

I never found tights comfy.... I do own dresses, and skirts, and stuff.... but how do i get myself wearing them again?

So - stylish mn-ers, sort me out (not much of a budget)

OK, so we'll leave skirts and dresses for the summer when it's warm enough to go without tights!

Do you own any trousers other than jeans?
I often wear quite dressy woollen blend trousers, dressed down with a polo neck or long-sleeved T and a cardigan at weekends when I want a more casual look. I wear them with block-heeled or wedge boots when dressing down. Something like this or this would work.

I'm very hourglass, so wide-legged or bootlegs suit me best, but depending on your shape, you may prefer a different style.

If you only have a limited budget you could try to find a couple of pairs in the sales now that would work with your existing tops!

Here are a few examples (from Pinterest):

Some slightly different shapes:

As VitaminC suggests I'd go for one step up on your current uniform. So trousers and a shirt / blouse / nice jumper. Find some boots rather than trainers, a smarter coat etc...... I quite like the capsule wardrobe / base colours with other colours to mix things up approach. Pinterest is fab for browsing ideas.

thanks guys - i think i just want to 'grow up a bit' but keep 'me'

i loved the wide v neck jumper in the middle of the first set - i need to get all my wardrobe out i think

Getting all your wardrobe out sounds like a good idea.

From time to time I have a "trying on day" husband thinks I've lost the plot where I get out an item I hardly ever wear, or something new I've just bought, and try it on with every single top (or bottom if it's a top) I own - even things I think won't go together!

Sometimes I'm surprised by liking outfits I would never have expected to work and it adds a bit of extra variety to my everyday wardrobe

got my boots out of the cupboard and wearing them around the house -

I like this boat neck top
www.next.co.uk/x5772s1#382958

and this combo (top and trousers)
www.next.co.uk/x5782s3#370831

There you go, see
But if you only have a limited budget, I'd start off buying the trousers and seeing what tops you already own that would work with them...

You could ease yourself out of jeans with a denim skirt.

i always feel fat in a denim skirt (weird i know)

so - i have found some grey skinny jeans that fit, some smart trousers for work, now just need to work on the accessorising and tops

Im going to give the advice that helped me to start drinking black coffee - even if you think you dont like it, just do it and you will end up loving it.

I hated black coffee, it didnt feel like a proper drink without milk, lattes are much more me etc. But i forced myself to just drink it every day and now its second nature and i love it. I AM a black coffee girl after all :)

I think its the same with clothes. You'll have to push the barrier of wearing trousers, boots, dresses, skirts etc and after a while that'll become the new normal and they will feel like your wardrobe iyswim.

Good luck! Some great outfit suggestions on here.

Thanks Hollie - that sounds like an idea...

ok - next week i will not wear blue jeans to work (except on friday)

Definitely agree with hollie - I am a jeans and t-shirt person but I got so tired of looking the same old boring me that I decided to do something different. I bought two skater style dresses and started wearing them with leggings and boots and (this was the key change) for whatever I was doing that day even if it was just dog walking or going to the dentist. Then I bought a denim skirt and started wearing that with some tights and boots and my usual t-shirt/cardigan collection again for whatever I was doing.
Doing this has widened my wardrobe up and I feel more comfortable in dresses and skirts now and can wear tights/boots and feel more normal and comfortable.

My budget is tiny so I did buy skirts in second hand shops and bought decent tights new.
My current target is heeled ankle boots. Finally bought some last week and I am getting used to walking in them and finding outfits to wear with them. The good news is that somehow the ankle boots really lift a jeans and tee look into something smart.

I have young kids and I've got into the habit of only wearing my older, scruffy clothes so that my good stuff won't get ruined by baby food or slimed by the toddler. I work from home so slobbing around in old clothes isn't a problem BUT I don't think it's great for my self-image. So I've started wearing my 'smart' clothes only from Asda but at least they're new and unstained every day. I'm hoping that will set me up for getting into more aspirational clothes when the weather's warmer such as dresses and heavens forfend shorts.

Day one - i'm not in jeans, i look scruffy though, but its a home day so still a win

I'm a jeans and trousers person and always boasted that I'd no skirts or dresses in my wardrobe.

One day I had to buy a dress for a summer ball. Jeans and trousers definitely weren't options so I had to step out of my comfort zone and enter the alien world of dresses. Well, it was a revelation! I discovered that I loved dresses and now own two. I only wear them on special occasions but even so, it's a very big transformation for me.

I'd start off with some trousers and smart tops. Then you can get a bit more adventurous. Also, maybe plan your outfit the day before. If you're in a rush in the morning, it's too easy to reach for your 'old reliables'.

I've just blown the no spending on clothes thing again by sending for the navy Next trousers and top upthread, but they're ideal work basics for me to wear with ballet flats when it's too warm for woolly tights. I know what you mean about jeans, but find darker fabric and boots with a bit of a heel look smart. Uniqlo are my favourites.

Love the boat top. I've just. Bought a couple of tunic tops in the M and s sale. They've sold out so I can't do a link. However, there are plenty of shirts left which would be a good alternative to t shirts.

I'm also n my 40s and trying to be more grown up.

I tend to wear converse or flats. I try to wear boots but can't seem to get on with them.

What's the issue with tights, OP? Do they slide down? I find that I have to buy slightly more expensive tights, like M&S or the more upmarket H&M ones - the type that cost a fiver rather than £3 for 3 pairs, anyway - or they go bobbly and lose their stretch and stop staying up. But if you hate tights, what about leggings with dresses/skirts/tunics and boots?

I was off skirts and dresses for years because I felt I had to wear ladylike shoes with them.
Then I saw some trendy London friends in converse/vans and tights and a dress and bingo! I love it.
Also, in winter, under a dress thin leggings and socks with knee high boots.

Totally agree with Hollie just do it, feel uncomfortable for a bit and then it will become less uncomfortable and then maybe even normal. I bought some sort of trainers recently after liking them on others but couldn't bring myself to wear them as felt like I was trying to be 'cool' but then I just shoved them on and now I've worn them loads without thinking.
But back to original topic I love flat ankle boots bit like trainers as comfy. Smartened up ur look a bit.

Callie, following your thread with interest. I'm the sam, feel more comfortable in jeans and tshirt/top but often feel I'd like to look a bit more stylish. I have two jobs, one has a uniform, jeans is very practical for the other and keeps my legs warm. Inbetween I'm doing housework/gardening etc and when I do sit down just want to slough comfortably!

Things that do make me feel smarter (in jeans) are a pair of boots and jewellery that compliments my top, even if I'm in jeans. Keep your eyes open for some nice flat (comfy) shoes.

I have scruff jeans (mid blue bootcut, for doing housework, taking kids to playground, gardening) and smarter jeans (dark blue or black straight cuts). My slightly-smarter/funkier alternative is a tunic and black leggings (Joe Browns tunics, I have 3 different ones) with black boots, or black trousers with a classic shirt (and low wedge shoe-boot things as I don't do heels any more)

day 2 - I wore medium grey skinny jeans (not straight/boot cut blue jeans) with ankle boots (which i changed into my old trainers to go for my walk at lunchtime and now have a blister the size of!!)

tomorrow is planned to be smart heavy leggings type trousers and a tunic top and black ankle boots. I have loads of boots and clothes, and now i am going to wear them!!

Well done . Pah to jeans and tees!