Can a severe case of 'lack of dress sense' ever be reformed?

[danae]

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I improved hugely after watching 'What not to wear' and reading the first two books they did from the tv series.

Previously I had occasionally looked ok by accident; after that I realised why certain things worked and others didn't, and then became more confident in wearing more striking clothes because I felt secure that they worked for me.

Then I had 2 children and now nothing fits and I badly need a haircut and I look worse than ever

Yes. In my late 30's I discovered the arts of layering and accessorising and have not looked back.

My figure is worse and i am older but I dress masses better!

Yes yes yes!
I used to wear horrible clothes all the time, baggy baggy baggy.
Why! dunno, have an ok figure.
Now when I shop, I only buy things that compliment me, not cover me up.
Sometimes that means not buying anything for ages, trying on loads and not finding anything flattering.
I don't really follow fashion, just started buying what suits me.
Now im a hot mama!
Only took me till my thirties !

Mousiemousie, how did you learn accessorising and layering? I haven't got as far as those yet.

I'm a frump, i wear exactly the same thing every time I go out because I have been told I look nice in it - so I'm scared to wear antthing else.

A mass case of severe lack of dress sense was reformed when fashions changed circa 1990.

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Just a little bit of confidence to try something different is all you need!

Layering is just that, more than one layer of clothes, eg a shrug cardigan over a t shirt instead of just the t shirt. A dress over a pair of jeans.
As for accessories, just have a look around and see if anything takes your fancy, I started with pretty little junk bracelets, cheap and cheerful and not in your face.

Just get to the shops and start trying things on and looking.

See what other people are wearing when your out and about and try to get ideas that way also.

Said by the woman sitting in a pink fluffy cardigan and jeans picked off the bedroom floor

i still have a way to go but my top tip is go shopping with a friend who has great clothes sense and if she wavers on anything you are looking at, don't buy it

spend as much as you can on key things that fit you perfectly eg great pair of jeans, jacket, cardi and wear them constantly

and I keep an eye on two or three friends who look great and copy where they shop, though not the same things but of similar quality eg whistles and jigsaw sale mainly!