Oh, heck...Style Me!

[MitziK]

After advice earlier in the year (thank you!), I finally got myself an interview a couple of weeks ago - and they only went and offered a job to me!

Anyhow, now we come to the nitty-gritty.

It's a rather well regarded RC Secondary and the role is quite 'visible' - not teaching, but a lot of representing the school/functions. During my extended interview process, I saw that pretty much all the female staff wore dresses, rather than trousers - no 80s powerdressing.

For want of a better phrase, everything was terribly naice and I'm still slightly shellshocked that they want to hire the likes of me, but I've signed the forms so they can't change their minds now.

I have about £40 per item to spend until my redundancy cheque comes through a week before I start - and I need a week's worth of clothes by then.

I have my 2 pairs of wide leg trousers with turn ups, loafers and some knee length flat black boots. The rest of my clothes are too knackered or inappropriate for the place.

I like retro 40s stuff and I'm very pink toned with tons of freckles and reddish hair - I think that counts as Winter colouring, as dark green, dark red, black cherry, burgundy and suchlike suits me, as does cool baby blue. Peaches, mauves, mint, etc, make me look as though I'm in the first stages of decomposition. I like texture and natural fabrics.

It's also important to me that my clothes are comfortable and non restrictive - I range between an 18 and 22 depending on what week it is, have a tummy but a small back, huge backside and stumpy little legs. Straight skirts look positively indecent on me, particularly from behind.

Oh, and in view of the establishment, I need to cover upper arms and knees. I have no problem with this, as they aren't exactly my best points, anyhow. Oh, and thanks to arthritis, I have the fattest ankles, so nothing that draws attention to them.

On the up side, I'm happy with the beauty side - bit of foundation/concealer over my dark shadows, matte pink shadow with a bit of darker pink/brown in the socket/outer edge, mascara, natural gloss, pale pink short nails. My eyebrows are always done, albeit a natural look, rather than anything notable, and I'm fine with my million freckles showing through. Debating about new glasses, possibly going for superexpensive rimless varifocals for the first time, but they will have to wait.

Can you make some recommendations? I never thought I'd be asking for suggestions for dressing modestly/respectably, especially in skirts/dresses, but here I am.

I'm about the same size as you and I wear wide leg trousers a lot, so I think you have a good start!

Decide on a couple of neutral/base colours (eg grey/black/navy/brown) - do your current trousers fit with this? Buy a decent jacket or two that go with your trousers in the neutral colours.

Would you wear shift dresses? I got some great ones from H&M last year - jersey fabric so stretchy, knee length and long sleeves (& pockets!). If so, get a couple of them.

Then I would go for long sleeved fitted tops with the wide leg trousers in the colours you like.

You sound more like an Autumn, not a Winter. (They wear more electric blue and fuchsia). Your colouring sounds lovely. I think that keeping the makeup simple and in the colours you like and feel confident with is smart. No point trying to be a Kardashian when you weren’t hired as one. Obviously you need something with sleeves. In my mind, and shift dress has spaghetti straps. I would avoid that one. If it does have sleeves, I’d go for it. Pockets are awesome. If you want “naice” I’d go for a ditzy or tiny floral print. Maybe tiny polka dots at a pinch. Nothing outrageous like stripes! For shoes, can you stand ballet flats or low pumps? They’d be more appropriate for work than boots or sandals. They can’t really be open-toed until you know the lie of the land. You might need a couple of lightweight jackets or blazers. Maybe a cardigan. Consider a decent charity shop before you get paid. You might be able to stretch further that way!

Boden is your friend for work appropriate dresses in shapes that will suit you in a range of colours that would look good on you. They’ll be slightly over budget but dig around for discount codes and you can get them cheaper.

Your colouring sounds beautiful but definitely autumn not winter which is more ice blue/electric blue/black/fuschia than the dark greens and burgundy’s that suit you so have a look at those colour palettes.

Everything I've read about Autumn colours is that you suit gold and your skin is yellow toned - and various makeup counter staff have been confused when trying to match foundation to the freckles as I've looked jaundiced - have I got that wrong?

It can be a bit confusing for redheads because lots of people with red hair have a tendency towards ‘high colouring’ - they flush easily and appear pink, but the undertones of their skin are still warm. It’s harder to see that because of all the pink on the surface, but it’s there and your freckles will almost certainly be warm in tone too. Putting cool toned colours on a person whose skin has warm undertones but a tendency to flush pink just makes the pink of their skin stand out more, whereas cool colours on a person whose skin has cool undertones makes the pink in their skin look delicate. What colour are your eyes?

The gold and silver thing can be misleading. I don’t suit either particularly. And for a long time gold jewel was out of fashion so people couldn’t see how it suited them better than silver jewellery purely because it looked so ‘wrong’ because it hadn’t been commonly worn for so long.

Going off of the colours that you say suit you, you sound like an autumn.

Try eBay for quality clothes at good prices. I've got Hobbs,Boden and phase Eight stuff there for work before. Sales are on now which also helps. But £40 isn't very much so maybe look at stuff that extends your 2 pairs of trousers in a weeks worth of outfits? Also look in charity shops in posh areas and resale boutiques.

Pink-toned skin, freckles and fair to brown hair with some reddish highlights can also indicate a Summer type. First recommendation has to be booking a session with a "Colour Me Beautiful" consultant to get the definitive answer!

Seasalt sale for dresses?

I’ve never understood the season thing. I just know which colours suit me. If it were me I’d go somewhere like H&M and try loads of dresses on and buy the two or three that worked best. A couple of nice tops and you’re done. The cheap clothes won’t last but they will tide you over.

Congratulations on the job. 💐

Eyes - sort of greeny-brown. Original hair colour - red squirrel in a muddy puddle/conkerish.

Skin - definitely pink, blue veins and skin whiter than white where it never sees the sun. I've had people assume I'm Irish, Irish Traveller, Scots, Welsh and Cornish before I've opened my mouth - never English. I never, never tan - my freckles just meet up.

Are there any specific dresses somebody could recommend? I'm looking and thinking I still haven't got a clue.