Please, those who know what they are doing with clothes! Help me know what to wear.

[Thishatisnotmine]

I have no clothes. I barely know what to buy. I have a John Lewis voucher and I am getting some christmas things for dds but treating me to a small number of new clothes. I am excited but lost.

Dd1 is 3.5, dd2 is 16 months. I have a couple of pairs of jeans, a cord straight short skirt, ankle length work trousers, a wide leg pair of work trousers (really old from Gap but lovely and I actually feel quite stylish in them) and a couple of plain jumpers to wear in the cooler weather (not that warmer weather was a style win, it was a-line skirt and tshirts) and that is it.

I used to look ok but in the four years since I last bought lots of clothes everything is so different. I bought a cropped wide pair of trousers over the summer. They looked good but none of my tops were right. I am only 33 but my clothes look terrible. Dated and worn out My shape has changed slightly too so even what I used to suit doesnt always now. The couple of dresses I had look awful too.

If you had to get two or three tops to work at home and in a casual office, what would you get? I also would like a skirt and think I know what would suit me but don't know what shoes to put with anything either. I
Dungarees and play suits are a no no as I use a carrier a lot and need to be able to wee out the house! I just want to feel smart and nice again.

This is the skirt shape I like. What sort of shoe would go with this? I have brogues, a pair of yellow loafers, trainers for everday commuting and trips to the park and some past their best chelsea boots. I need a pair of heels dont I? Help!

I would book a session with the John Lewis personal shopper. Give them your budget and a bit of information and they will select stuff that you can try in, no pressure. I started doing this when I first went back after maternity leave and never looked back. And don't worry about having a small or fixed budget, they aren't the least bit sniffy. Enjoy!

That skirt is lovely and would go well with brogues, loafers and chelsea boots.

Ooooh, that's a good idea. Because I am limited with the budget (literally no spare cash) I want to get this right. Do you feel pressured to go with what they select for you? What if there ends up being only one or two things you want?

What shape are you? And what height?

The personal stylist idea is brilliant but hopefully we can also help you get an idea of what would suit you outside of JL, so you can pick up a few affordable bits and bob.

My fave in John Lewis is Hush (you'll find lots of hush related threads on here) and I'm the same age as you. I don't have loads of money but always use my Christmas and birthday money/vouchers round Birmingham JL. Also love whistles for jumpers/sweaters.

My day to day style is skinny jeans/cropped trousers/jersey peg leg trousers and a statement or star t shirt from Hush or whistles, (tucked in to the latter two) and then in autumn/winter the same but with jumpers and sweaters and usually trainers now (have a a baby and they're in fashion) I love Carvela trainers which they stock in JL. A leopard print slip on pair will make a simple outfit effortlessly stylish and ' in' for this season.

I have never worn slip on trainers! That is a sort of look I see on other women and like though. And they seem to go with trousers and skirts.

I am 5'6, can vary in clothes anywhere from an 8 on my waist - 12 for tops. I used to like quite a boxy tshirt with jeans but these look awful now! They squash my breasts and make my stomach look like an actual box. I do tuck tops in slightly now, it shows my waist and takes away from the still-a-bit-round part underneath. I still bf in the morning and evening so do need tops to be a bit looser to hide my one larger breast!

Maybe some nice jumpers are the way to go.

I bet the model is wearing dm style shoes and socks. Do you have the skirt? I've tried it on and also being about 5'6 I'd have it taken up to on the knee.

thishatisnotmine no ive honestly never felt pressured to buy more than I wanted to. They choose lots of stuff and it saves you trawling through. Try it and be clear you are on a budget so wanting help to prioritise. If yiu enjoy it yiu may want to go next time yiu need clothes. All big stores do it and the good thing is they have big choice of different makes. Some people like other stores but I do like JL

You also get coffee....

Do you have Instagram? Dresslikeamum is good for ideas ( she seems to have a big budget but does wear H&M too). She is breastfeeding too

It sounds like there is a gap in your wardrobe for jeans.

Thank you everyone! I will look at the Birminhgam JL. I don't have the skirt but its the kind of thing I would like to wear. Good to know I have some shoes which might work with the style! I will get to an H&M for a few basic vests and tees but the things I am wearing now which still look decent are those I spent a bit more money on. I think a couple of good quality items is the way to start my wardrobe up again. I am going to get a straighter leg pair of jeans. A move away from skinny without the flappy puddle soaked hemlines I remember from my teens!

I've just started using instagram more. I think I follow dresslikeamum and mumredressed and thefrugality, I think? I'm hoping to get ideas of how to style the things I get. Or to hide the inevitable stains from a toddler throwing breakfast at me.

I am quite looking forward to getting a new coat. Although that will have to wait. Currently my winter coat is a cheap grey peacoat. But so cheap I can bung it in the washing machine so swings and roundabouts, I guess.