Comfortable but smart for weekends - suggestions please!

[slev]

I spend the week in stilettoes and dresses/suits for work, so by the time it's the weekend I just end up slobbing in running trainers, jeans and sweatshirts.

What I'd really like is to be able to cultivate what I call the "school gate" look. There are so many mums who seem to still be comfortable but look a lot smarter than my lazy approach. So any suggestions please?

For what it's worth I'm short, so don't like wearing flat shoes (aside from previously mentioned trainers). I think I'd struggle to see skirts or dresses as leisure wear, so I'm probably looking for tops to go with jeans, and maybe some alternative footwear suggestions.

But all thoughts welcome! I'm going to be 40 soon enough - I can't keep dressing like a teenage boy!

Wedge heels - will give you the height, but more comfortable than heels.

Cords - as an alternative to jeans.

Blazer - I have a jersey one, which has structure, but more comfortable than a work jacket.

Dresses - I have a couple of casual dresses, which I wear with tights, so they feel more casual.

Accessories - hairbands and necklaces can make you look more put together.

Hmm, blazer sounds like a great idea with just a plain t-shirt underneath - I could do that. Where should I look?

Cords are a good plan as well - I think I just default to jeans because they're easy, but that's exactly the sort of thing I had in mind.

Thanks - keep 'em coming!

I think that gap often do Jersey Blazers as do fat face. I got mine from uniqlo.

Zara jersey blazers are nice - I have a lovely powder blue one - though they do come up small. Surprisingly though, Miss Selfridge ones are great.
I haven't bought anything else from there since about 1998, but their jersey blazers are thick, a great shape, and fit well.

Jumpers, too. Some fine knits look good over jeans. I have a grey one from Gap which looks good with straight leg jeans, vest and a necklace. Then boots or Converse. Topshop also sometimes have good slouchy jumpers in that look great with cords and biker boots.

Joules have a lovely jersey blazer at the minute, navy and white. If you use the code FRESH this weekend you get £10 off! I just did
What about converse or supegra trainers instead? I just got the silver supegra, so comfy but smarter?

I had the equivalent of the Joules Mollie blazer last year in grey and wore it constantly. Have just ordered it in navy (it was sold out everywhere in navy last year by the time I realised how much I'd wear it!) so thanks for the code : )

I had the same problem when I stopped work and started taking my DD to school. The other mums looked great and had even less time (more kids) in the morning than me. I'm a total scruff who grew up with no money or interest really in fashion on a farm in the middle of nowhere so it didn't matter what you looked like. I ended up using Pinterest to put together a file of looks I liked that would fit in with my new lifestyle... And then copied them. I actually found I had most of the ingredients already in my wardrobe but just didn't put the look together well. It also made me realise where the gaps were in my wardrobe for pieces (such as khaki skinny jeans) which cropped up over and over again. I swear I saved money not panic buying lots of stuff and, sad as it is to admit, felt I looked like me AND looked like I wanted to look AND fitted in. I also saved time in the morning: I just looked at the pictures in my Pinterest board, decided what I was in the morning and got just those things out. I didn't mess around with the mirror or trying different tops etc. Good luck !

Can I ask what you search for in Pinterest to find ideas?

I used a combination of other friends' boards plus some people whose style I liked (Olivia Palermo always comes up a lot !) such as Myra Madeleine. Then search for posts from websites like Simplyluxuriouslife and theyallhateus or find a few Pinners you like such as thenorthernlight and look at their ideas and then who they follow. Once you've found a few, Pinterest comes up with lots of other suggestions which cuts out the leg work.
Also all the travel light boards have good ideas for a capsule wardrobe - search on things like weekend in Paris.

Have a look at a blog called Unfancy. Some really nice stuff on capsule wardrobes.

The 'How to look expensive' threads on here have some amazing suggestions for smart/casual (Google Jenifer Aniston airport look).

This thread caused me to have a wardrobe revamp last week www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/2537782-How-to-look-expensive?pg=5&order=#prettyPhoto

I think the Jennifer Aniston airport suggestion is about right - it's casual, but fitted - I think that's what I'm after.

So I reckon it comes down to some decent jeans, a blazer (thanks for the code on the Joules one!) and probably most importantly, some good shoes - and most likely heels, I just don't think I feel smart in flat shoes. All perfectly doable though - biggest challenge will be finding the perfect jeans.

And of course losing the half a stone that in my head will make me look much better even though nobody will be able to tell the difference.

Thanks all for the advice - some good food for thought.