Help - I have no style!

[KeepSmiling83]

Hi,

I'm a 35 year woman and am in a style rut. I tend to wear the same things all the time - skinny jeans, t shirt and pumps and feel like I am dressing older than I actually am. I think the problem is that I don't really have a style or even anyone who inspires me. I don't really enjoy shopping so tend to just go in and get what I need (when I'm desperate!) then leave rather than looking around.

Has anyone got any suggestions of people I could have a look at online to try and see what things I like so I could then steal them? I'd like to be comfortable (I have 2 young DDs) but still stylish. I'm 5 ft 8 and a size 14 (really a 16 in trousers) so could do with losing a stone or 2!

I think, unfortunately, at our age it’s all about fit and you actually have to go try things on.

The bonus is once you’ve done that you can basically buy on repeat.

So stick with the jeans and t-shirts if that suits your life but spend a day finding a couple of brands/styles of jeans that suit you. It’s a day of torture, but, for example, I now know diesel jeans generally suit me so I just pick them up from the tk maxx website when I spot them in my preferred size/shape/colour. Probably other brands would also do but this works for me and requires no effort.

Likewise the t-shirts. I’d either upgrade to a better fabric or switch to flattering tops. Again you might need to spend a couple of days working out say five shapes that work for you and six retailers. But once you do you can basically just buy those shapes from those places on repeat (or at least until your shape/style changes or that retailer goes downhill)

I’m loving topshop lately. Funky and classic pieces mixed with the latest fashions. Animal print is in this year check print and velvet.
So you’re jeans and t shirt with a animal print bag or belt or shoes etc.
I’m like you fed up of wearing the same things so I’m looking to buy some skirts for autumn then get a few pairs of black tights and bright fluffy jumpers

Try some other shape jeans.

And the other op is right find the shops that work for you when it comes to shape and quality

I'm in a similar situation and I have started to take a photo of what I wear everyday (so I can see how often I am wearing something). Also so I can look back objectively and see whether it actually suits me etc and so I can try to be more adventurous with what I wear
Trouble I find is, I love certain items of clothing (culottes I'm looking at you) and think they look so stylish but they don't suit me and do make me look frumpy
Gonna perservere like this for a while though and see how I get on.
Everyone says have a look on Pinterest and on Instagram too and it is great for ideas, so maybe try this?

Look up Justine Leconte on YouTube. Among hundreds of great videos there's a finding your style one

Tbh OP I think it's difficult to be inspired atm because a lot of current fashions are... Not very inspiring. I'm the same age as you and the 80s styles currently in make me shudder. I think a lot of the silhouettes about are really unflattering. I have younger colleagues who look very knowing and ironic in their mom jeans but I'm too old for that. Ditto oversized clothes - unless you're thin they just look like sacks. Also the maroons and mustards which seem to be everywhere this autumn are my worst colours

Sorry I'm not helping much. I feel your pain, but I don't think it's you that is in the style rut, it's a lot of the designers. I feel like a fair amount of what is in the shops is deliberately ugly.

But yeah, I'd suggest a different shape jeans and maybe moving from t-shirts to 'proper' shorts and blouses.

T-shirts and jeans is a style! You can tweak it with interesting t-shirts, a couple of blazers, flat ankle boots, and try blouses or silk shirts (I like oversize ones). Try J Crew, Madewell, Uniqlo for shirts/blouses. Invest in a couple of good leather belts.

Search jeans in whistles.com. Lots of styling ideas there.

This might help for inspiration

www.puttingmetogether.com

Look at the fashion lift. She is v inspiring and usually high street stuff.

You need to take your self off shopping for the day with a friend and some money and try some different stuff on.

Have a look through I stagram etc to get some idea.

Be prepared to pay out though there is no point buying half an outfit.

I went shopping a few weeks back and bought some different stuff and I actually love it all ( I sound smug) I'm not. I wore my new hush skirt today and felt really nice in it.

Try some jeans other than skinnies. There are always threads.aboit other style jeans and maybe just try and lose a bit of weight as you'll probably feel like a different person and more confdent to try different stuff.

I've recently lost 1.5 stone and I think that has given me the confidence to try/buy different clothes.

you could have a look and see on pinterest, as there may be style advice on there. and you could always try wearing a looseish dress, and a belt round the waist? also, if you don't like shopping then perhaps have a look at somewhere like ASOS,, BODEN or SHIEN, which are all online only. There are blogs out there, such as DRESS LIKE A MUM, which have fashion tips. I like to wear trousers similar to these (www.swimwear365.co.uk/products/black-wide-leg-beach-pants-by-lascana/_/A-797499_8?utm_source=GoogleProductList&utm_medium=PLA&utm_campaign=HolidayFashion&utm_content=797499_8&ns_campaign=HolidayFashion&ns_mchannel=PLA&ns_source=GoogleProductList&ns_linkname=797499_8&ns_fee=0&ordermedia=S0127&name=SWIMWEAR365_PLA_25PERCENT&entry=3) with a plain white t-shirt, as variation from the plain denim jeans i usually throw on. hope this helps! x

sorry, i dont know why the link is plain text. if you copy and paste it then it should come up x

I’d start by finding a couple of staple shapes/styles that suit you. What’s your shape? I’m a bottom heavy hourglass size 14, and try and show off my waist so ensure clothes do that. I don’t wear shapeless things often at all, but wear wrap dresses and tops that sinch st the waist, and jumpsuits that do that too.

I try and keep my footwear fairly neutral so they go with anything.

But I was in a rut too, and the thing that changed me into being interested into clothes was getting a new haircut! I then decided to mix up my make up (using bold lip colours) and the consideration to my clothes came from there.

I have a very limited income so go for primark and new look mainly, and a bit of Next in the sales. I’m 34 btw.