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What should I wear??? Body like Kirstie Allsop!

6 replies

gleegeek · 03/09/2017 10:09

I realise at 45 I'm completely stuck in a clothes rut. I have never been great at knowing what suits me and have got into the habit of wearing a navy 'uniform' of jeans, tshirts and cardis. I'm so bored!
My body shape is probably closest to Kirstie Allsop's but I can't wear high heels and don't really suit frills and flounces. I'm a curvy size 12 with 32h bust. I just feel frumpy and old before my time...
Any suggestions?

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couchtospecialk · 03/09/2017 10:15

Hi gleegeek... I'm similar to you physically and style wise although I've been trying create a more polished version of my style. Not sure if retro is your style but I found Collectif clothes which are fabulous for the curvy hourglass shape. Things you can dress up or down for daywear. Highly recommended! Good luck with your style re-vamp x

gleegeek · 03/09/2017 10:30

Hi couch. I'd never heard of Collectif before - they're lovely but not me. I can see the shape might fit me but I'm not brave enough to show all my curves quite so publicly! I wish I could but I know it'd sit in my wardrobe waiting for the day I was brave enough to wear it never

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cakeaddict · 04/09/2017 12:37

I thought I'd bump this because I'm interested in the answers too, but not sure I have many words of wisdom to offer.

I sound like a similar shape - very curvy size 14 with 32gg bust. I find that I need to be ever so slightly smarter than I'd ideally like to be in order to look 'put together' so tend to wear relaxed jersey jackets rather than cardigans with jeans (I have one from Whistles that I wear to death - but it's navy, so might not help your colour variation much!). And at least semi-tailored trousers, even if I then dress them down with trainers - the current trend for 'athleisure' joggers etc just does not suit my shape.

Also, I like jersey dresses for a day to day casual look, but it's really hard finding things that are the right shape and don't look like a sack. The Tara dress from Hush works quite well.

I find tops that are ever so slightly smarter than a t-shirt work well - I tend to look for things with a bit of draping or that are asymmetrical. Also prefer one colour things rather than prints which I now feel can easily look frumpy.

Jumpers are almost always v neck, sometimes wear a round neck t-shirt underneath if I need it for warmth.

The trouble is that none of this is easy to come by - I spend a lot of time trawling websites but it's usually a case of finding one or two nuggets in a collection that might work. The current trend for high necks and ruffles really doesn't help.

I've looked on pinterest for inspiration but often find the only thing that comes up for hourglass fashion is Dita von Tease which isn't exactly who I want to look like on the school run!! I share your pain...

gleegeek · 04/09/2017 22:28

Hi cakeaddict - glad it's not just me! I had a bit of a look at the shops near me yesterday. I agree there are so many high necks and fussy patterns or just weird shapes which I wouldn't be brave enough to try. I tried on a couple of thin jumpers in Zara - the colours were lovely but the shape was all wrong. It just hung awkwardly from my bust and made me look huge. Also why are women's jumpers so often shorter at the front than the back??? Very unflattering on anyone who is vaguely curvy IMO.
I searched high and low for a long sleeved, v neck or scoop neck top, but all were too short or had lairy patterns.

It's so hard!

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cakeaddict · 04/09/2017 22:32

Have you looked at Baukjen? Often worth a look as they do seem to regularly have plain, v neck or scoop tops and jumpers, but they are rather £££ (though I have a couple of wrap jumpers from there that have really lasted, so the quality is good).

gleegeek · 05/09/2017 09:11

No I've not heard of them before but I'm afraid out of my price range, although lovely. Worth checking out their sale in the future...

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