Help me, I look awful!

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Dear wise people of MN, please help me! After a trawl through my wardrobe today, I have come to the conclusion that I hardly have any decent clothes, I don’t like most of what I do have, and I clearly do not have an eye for what suits me. I haven’t bought anything new in ages so my wardrobe is all quite tatty too. I’m 40, reasonably slim (although larger tummy than I’d like) and 5’10”. I have no idea what to wear, and shopping makes me want to cry as nothing ever seems to fit or look nice. I’d like to look good at home and at work (teacher), but I just don’t know where to start.
I have a £200 John Lewis voucher and about £300 in cash that I could spend, but what should I do? I’ve considered having my colours done, but this would take a lot out of my budget, especially as I don’t have anyone to share the cost with. Can anyone offer me any advice? I’m currently living in jeans and oversized jumpers, and am sick of feeling like such a frump!

PLacemarking this thread.

After two CSections I have an absurd gut and I have a bit dissimilar budgetary situation.

River island is good quality, especially the jeans, have a look at the website for inspiration. Outfit ideas x

John Lewis have a really good personal shopping team which is a free service. They are really good with suggestions and showing you what would look good. I found they really listened to what I wanted to achieve and weren't pushy at all to buy more than I wanted. You can book appointments online.

The personal shopper experience is great. Even if you don't like anything they bring it can boost your confidence to try to new things

The jeans give a very good shape and can go nice with a slogan t shirt, with some high knee boots and a leather jacket, might not be your style but just some ideas.

Right - have booked an appointment at John Lewis for tomorrow afternoon... Will update if anyone is interested.

I'm your age and height.
I buy from Uniqlo and they're worth a look!

I’m same height age size etc. I’d say don’t jump into a personal stylist. Save your vouchers and money for the minute. Give yourself a couple of months and trawl through the S&B board blogs and Pinterest and some clothing websites. Get a feel of the kind of style you want to go for.

At 40 I’ve never been as quietly stylish as I am now nor as confident in many ways. It’s massively due to reading stuff on here and trying to work out how I want to look/what will suit etc.

Have a look at zara hush uniqlo maybe? I was massively copying the hush look (but on a budget) but more recently I’ve been reading the Parisian threads on here and have felt inspired.

The John Lewis Modern Rarity and Kin own brand labels are great. I absolutely agree with the idea of trying what the personal shopper suggests - being pushed out of your comfort zone could be fun. If you are used to jeans, try skirts - I lived in jeans till I bought a toast dress that I now don't want to be without! Skirts or dresses you can wear as if they are jeans (ie with layers, with jumpers etc) are very useful. Oh and try a bold lipstick if you don't normally bother, even if it's just so you look alive in the changing room! Have fun and good luck!

How was the John Lewis trip?

How did you get on?

Hope you found some nice stuff in tge sale!

Am 6ft and 45, and finding the right clothes can be tough.

My favourite "acceptable and comfy" outfit is a jersey or knitted dress with opaque tights and kick-ass boots (knee high or ankle)...and a leather jacket

Placemadking! Take photos op!

I'm back! No photos - sorry - but excellent news, as the JL stylist lady was brilliant. She took the time to listen to me, how I felt, what sort of things I normally wear and what I'd like to wear / look like and so on, then left me sipping fizzy water (prosecco was offered but I was driving) whilst she went and tootled around JL for me. (This alone was wonderful, as the shop was HEAVING on the first day of the sale.) She brought back a huge rail of things I would never have picked out, then waited patiently the other side of the curtain as I tried on each one, giving her thoughts each time but also listening to how I felt. She also talked about how I could wear different things, and brought me shoes and boots to try on with the outfits. There was a brilliant moment where I tried on a pair of jeans, some boots and a poncho-y / cardingan-y thing, and suddenly in the mirror was the cool, stylish (and thinner!) person that I wanted to be! I nearly cried with joy!
I exercised great self-restraint and only bought half of the things I wanted - this was not cheap, but hopefully I won't need to shop for a few months and am thrilled with everything. Already planning on returning in the spring for an update.
I am starting to sound like I am employed by JL (am not) but I cannot believe this service is a) free and b) not used by everyone, or at least every person like me who is crap at shopping. Oh, and lots of the stuff was in the sale so I could convince myself I was actually saving money...

Thats brilliant! Glad you had a productive day

Any links ?

I also used personal shopping service for the first time this year and it was an absolute revelation! I was in JL leeds today and really jealous of those having a PS session today. I've had a couple of sessions now at 2 diff stores (JL and HoF) and depending on the person doing it the service does vary quite a bit.

Glad you had a good experience op!

I’ve always felt too self-conscious for this and I’m so indecisive too, so I think I’d worry about the personal shopper rolling their eyes at me and getting fed up with my faffing!

Which JL did you go to OP?

Wow! I didn't know this existed! I have just booked my styling appointment for Friday! Thanks so much for this! I fear it may cost me a fortune but hey ho! It's long overdue!

Great news!

I would love to do this but sadly don't have the budget to buy as much as I'd like to when someone's put in so much effort. I'm 5'2", 35 and a stone up on when I had my twins - all in my face, stomach and bum. I just have no idea what would suit me at this point and trying on loads of clothes sounds like hell on earth.

I've just ordered some nice things from Seasalt in their sale to try on at home and see what I think. Chances are most will end up returned as it's different to what I usually wear but we shall see.

Out of interest, those who did this, how much did you spend? I will start saving up!

Out of interest, those who did this, how much did you spend? I will start saving up!

You can tell the stylists your budget and they will work around that.

Tammy, I am likely a similar size to you (actually, who knows given I don’t know you’re weight!) but where do you get your trousers from? I’m going around in the same 2 pairs all the time and I’m sure they are fading in the wash.

You're probably much smaller than me (not sure if my weight but I'm now a size 14 in bottoms most places thanks to my stomach mainly). I can't even wear body shapers as I have endometriosis and the pressure on my abdomen causes too much pain.

I'm like you - I have some stretchy jeggings, some cords from Dorothy Perkins and some stretchy trousers from M&S. Thats it! Although I did just order a pair of jeans from Sea Salt which have good reviews and are smart at the front but elasticated at the back. Will see how those go!