I am going "Out" out.....

[CurlyPJ]

And I need a top!

Actually I am going "out" (friend's 40th at a bar) and then "out" (out with group of us at a Prosecco and Pizza night) and then DH is taking me "out" to a very nice restaurant.

So 3 events. Wardrobe options looking dull. I am a jeans and jumper person. Want to go a bit more glam. Please will you help me?

Am size 10 (proper size 10 not vanity 10) and fairly toned. Will consider skimming/fitted stuff as not feeling muffin-topped/love-handled at the moment. I do have wide shoulders and biggish boobs though so high necks look awful - look much better with a scoop/v-neck look. Also the big boxy stuff kicking around a few months back does nothing for me.

Colour wise I have blue eyes, pale pinky skin and grey sparkly curls (see here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/3083440-Ive-found-a-curly-hair-hairdresser

These days bright colours seem to suit me best - cerise, purple, red, Hush's "radiance" turquoise here

I look shit in anything with orangy/warm tones.

I cannot remember the last time I went out not wearing a jumper or t-shirt .

I have jeans (black and blue) ditto cigarette pants and my gorgeous All Saints jacket to wear...just need something to cover my bra .

Any suggestions please? (Budget - if is does me for all 3 I'd go to c£75 but I'd rather spend less.

Thank you S&B gurus!

Buy!!!!!! Something!
Actually I really think that you should go OUT with your £75 budget. And buy a really nice outfit. Leggings/top/shoes or easiest and most glam, as I keep saying. Get LBD!!!!! Instant glamour and can wear for every event.
Plus you'll always have it there for emergency going out.
Just bloody do it!

I think I have established that most of the latest shapes/styles look shite on me. Too boxy/wide. So I need to find the odd little gem that doesn't follow that style. Urghh.

Might do the white flowery for tonight. Put on big silver bangle and red lipstick.

Its I have an amazing LBD anyway - just none of the events are as glam as LBD and I fucking hate heels at the best of times - and certainly with even more of a passion if any walking involved (which will be for all 3 events). ignores fact lbd may also be a bit big now

I have Mondays off and a few hours to spare in the afternoon so may pop to the shops then. Local out of town place has H&M, TK Maxx, River Island etc so may find something. The one I want to feel really special at is the meal with DH - so have a few weeks to find something for that.

Thank you for all your help. Any further suggestions gratefully received.

The last, white top, is the best, out of all of them.

I too think you have an amazing figure, that none of the previous tops are suiting.

F+F red sequins
F+F black glitter but maybe size down if you want a less drapey look.
Just discovered F+F after a link on the Christmas party outfit thread and there are many bargainous options!
HTH

I am going out tonight in a bin bag. No, not really. Will wear the cream one tonight.

Have been to the shops. Tried on a very flattering number in New Look. But was a dress. A dress than no two ways about it needs heels. Hate heels.

Bought some flat knee high boots to widen my outfit choices generally. So many of my skirts and dresses I do not wear as I either only have flat causal boots or high heel smart boots. So that helps.

Got a pink top from Next. it is baggy but drapey I think works. But is a bit big. Lady in Next says they are coming up big and on reflection it may be a big too big. So although was going to wear it tonight have ordered the size 6 on line and will compare both at home to see. A strong option for a later night out. DH likes pink top. DD not so sure (she says great colour but not sure if it is "me".

Also bought a beautiful lace and sequin v neck, wrap over top from Laura Ashley. Very elegant. DD thinks it is the best of them all. DH hates it. HE says he can see it looks lovely, but the black lace just reminds him of the "old ladies at church" . He tried to back track a bit but I would far rather know he is not keen that wear it on a date night with him and he is just thinking shuddery thoughts back to his Altar Boy days! I will take it back. (He not longer wears a jumper he knows I hate so I think it is only fair). And I did have a slight reservation about the top in that it could be warn, with ease by an elegant 70 year old - and that maybe as well as elegant it was a bit...well...old.

So I am kind of back to the bloody drawing board. Well. With some knee high suede boots.....

I hate shopping. (Though I did give DH and DD a massive laugh by showing them the delights of me in the red sequinned top. Almost tempted to keep it just for the laughter factor OK, maybe not )

I really like the blue knot one on you. A lot of the more recent ones look too summery, imvho.

Amazing S&B post. So nice to see pictures in real life and lots of links! Have a great time. I think you definitely suit sleeveless. Coast have a few split sleeve tops that would also look fab.

www.karenmillen.com/gb/womens/clothing/tops/layered-sleeveless-top/017570.html?cgid=tops&dwvar_017570_color=72&position=62#page=6&start=62&categoryID=tops quite like the look of this...

That pink top in your latest post is the best by far!

(The one you have on, that is)

White top extremely flattering, sleeveless does suit you as does the colour.

Pink top nice, not glam as I think of it, but nice nevertheless. Everything else, am not loving. Black lace top fits ok but colour not good on you, and if your husband hates the sleeves, then it's not going to work.

Pink top nice for the pub, but not glam.

www.jigsaw-online.com/product/silk-satin-batwing-top/J31653_BL146 this was mentioned on another thread but the teal would suit you

The tops you are posting aren’t doing much for you. IMO your jeans aren’t ‘going out’ jeans either. Your budget is big enough to avoid New Look and Primark etc.

Look at Other Stories, choose a top and wear with skinny jeans and heels. If you don’t like heels, turn up your skinny jeans and wear with brogues. Put on a few bangles. Together with your leather jacket, you will look a lot cooler. This look will also work with cig. trousers. What colour are the ones you are thinking of wearing?

www.stories.com/es/Ready-to-wear/Tops/Sequined_Turtleneck_Top/582942-0550099001.2

www.stories.com/es/Ready-to-wear/Tops/Velvet_Blouse/582942-0532600002.2

www.stories.com/es/Ready-to-wear/Tops/Lurex_Top/582942-0549835002.2

www.stories.com/es/Ready-to-wear/Tops/Crushed_Velvet_Blouse/582942-0532600001.2

www.stories.com/es/Ready-to-wear/Tops/Stripe_Velvet_Top/582942-0516268001.2

www.stories.com/es/Ready-to-wear/Tops/Velvet_V-Neck_Camisole/582942-0561715001.2

Or wear black skinny jeans and a black tight poloneck. Sling on a leather jacket, jewellery, red lipstick and you are good to go?

All those other stories tops are really nice into

Hello all . Am in now. Had a lovely evening. Wore the cream top and a little velvet black skirt and new over the knee boots. Felt great til I walked into a bar full of full on sparkle and glitter

Actually, I gave my head a wobble as I was getting ready and realised that really, no-one gave a shit what I wore and as long as I wasn't in my gardening or running gear it didn't really matter. And a few cocktails later...well, who gives a monkeys?

And so, I have changed the parameters of my search. Now my immediate "out out" has been and gone.

Next one I have learnt is an outside event. So think I may wear cashmere, puffy coat and jeans. Am sodding fashion on that one!!!

So I now just need something (not old-lady-at-church-black-lace) for my lovely meal with DH. So. Taking just one event maybe narrows stuff down a bit. And my search thus

opps. Search thus far has helped., Meal with DH is in London on a Friday night. Type of place that will have post-work eaters, no dress code - more of a smart casual vibe. Will be walking around a fair bit before and after. Is a birthday treat and a kind of re-invigorate the romance kind of night - so would really like to look fabulous for me and for DH no black lace then

The new on knee boots are a revelation - suddenly thinking dresses may be a better option. Particularly as fashion seems to be set against my body shape at the moment.

So dresses - smart-casual. Don't want to look too worky. To go with flat on-knee suede boots which are a bit like this us.asos.com/london-rebel/london-rebel-elastic-flat-over-knee-boot/prd/8104665

Colours as above - brights suit me best.

Neckline - low low low - or in essence scoop or v neck really is better for me - or hinting at it.

No black lace!

So I will start to browse but any suggestions or advice gratefully received.

And thank you, thank you, thank you for all your help and opinions so far. I am sorry I am so shit at this. Have been a SAHM and then working from home for sooo long now I really have no clue on what to wear apart from jeans and jumpers.

It's sometimes hard to find something glam and not black (probably just me!). Also hard to do glitz and sparkles without heading into frumpy imo. I don't really love any that you have posted so far (except the pink looks a v nice every day sort of top). Could you glam up something like this top with black skinnies and pointy flats?

Oh, just seen all those links. Thank you into. Quite liking the pink wrap top. Some of the others look a bit high necked/boxy for me though and am wary of more disappointment an looking like Mr Strong with sparkles

And thank you for your advice which made me rethink the whole jeans thing. As above, LBD not quite right for what I am after - but it was what you said that go me thinking about the flat boots (which I love having now btw).

Am drunk enough to attach a pic of what I wore. I think I should have worn darker (or even coloured?) tights - but by the time I was due to go out I was fucking sick of clothes.

I look alright. Not brilliant. But not totally meh. and at least I wasn't a red sequinned American footballer

Urgh. Just seen the photo of me again. Oh well. It was all about the lovely people I was with.

And Elle am with you. Don't really love anything thus far.

I am reluctant to buy stuff which ends up getting worn once and then moulders in the wardrobe. The pink top is more glitzy than it looks as there is some sparkly in in. The Next pic probably shows it better www.next.co.uk/g778s5#177882

Even so, I don't really love that either. I can see it getting a few outings. But not because I love it. More as it is better than facing shopping again.

Sorry cross-posted! I like Hush and Mint Velvet for stylish but casual dresses. All saints and whistles too but maybe over your budget?

I live in Hush jumpers and tees. Had already looked at the dresses but nothing standing out as worth ordering ignores the starry Christmas jumper that has just been ordered

Mint Velvet I like their style but a lot of the colours are just too muted for me now I have "gone grey".

Budget wise am happy to go higher for a dress, probably double or even to £200. If I love it and it screams "keep me" iyswim.

I have no idea how everyone else manages this style stuff. I am so very, very shit at shopping.

i really liked the lame knot one on page 1

i bought a gold lame warehouse top for xmas outings last year - loved it and can't wait to wear it again this year