An outfit that is not try hard but is bloody gorgeous

[TheresAFlyInMySoup]

..... am meeting up with old school friends for a meal. Haven't seen them in a while and want to look gorgeous but not too try hard. Am a plump 50 year old. 5'8" - size 14. Happy to spend some money - in my head I think I am some parisienne, über chic fashionista but am actually a slightly dishevelled, disorganised accountant.

What body shape are you? Which hoc season are you? (If you've had it done)

As well as help on here, I'd recommend booking a personal shopper session at John Lewis/Debenhams or both! Tell them the occasion, your budget and they will help you put together a wow outfit

Size 14 with a wobbly tummy and huge boobs. Get better the further down I look - neat bottom, no saddle bags and decent legs. Autumn......... just want to find some nice tops that really look pulled together, in a very casual, not try hard way!

Do you like prints or plain? Sleeves? How about a good quality simple shift dress with some long boots, or heels?

www.johnlewis.com/reiss-turner-tailored-dress-burnt-rose/p3153513

Sorry, i've realised you said tops. What's your max budget?

£75 but less would be good!

Try & Other Stories. They're very modern and chic without being too try hard. Also give good coverage, but still manage to be interesting.

The other day my sister said I looked really chic and all I was wearing was a black v-neck T-shirt from Hush and Boden black coated skinnies with a simple but long-ish gold pendant necklace. I wonder whether that kind of thing might be the way to go, perhaps with an interesting jacket e.g. leather (or fake leather) jacket in a fun colour - poss blush? Not sure if this would all fit in your budget but the bonus is you'd probably wear it again? Or perhaps substitute the black t-shirt for a black or charcoal silk shirt which would skim any lumps and bumps up top? Fwiw I am quite busty and silk shirts look nice on me if they are structured e.g. with collar, possibly breast pocket etc.

Also I have the Hush black wrap shirt and I think that might be quite a good option, I often use it for this kind of occasion. Links to what I mentioned:

wrap shirt sorry seems to be sold out but you could look for similar?
silk shirt (argh, also out of stock!)
coated jeans
silk shirt

This 'leather' jacket is only £19.99 and a bit of a showstopper with black everything else... very zadig&voltaire if you ask me

Some lovely ideas. That jacket is great Swimming - could just ignore the fact that, as an autumn, silver is a no go!

Wear black
And other stories for jewellery
Skinnies if you have good legs plus slouchy top from other stories
Spike heals with fringes for Parisian chic

oh sorry I don't know anything about season colours! I think black always looks chic whatever your colouring, but am prepared to be informed otherwise!

You're absolutely right. I had my colours done and then avoided black like the plague for a couple of years. It's creeping back in again now because, well, black is undeniably chic......... If the jacket was in a blush, or a grey then I'd buy it in an instant - just not sure I could carry off silver. Love it though.

there are loads online in blush or grey - try River Island or how about this bargain from New Look

I would look at famous people and see what style looks great on them and try something similar.

media.gettyimages.com/photos/dawn-french-attends-the-press-night-of-photograph-51-at-noel-coward-picture-id488199036?s=594x594

Dawn French looks amazing in this outfit