Transition to dresses & skirts......failing

[Musicforsnorks]

Earlier this year I became tired of skinnies and leggings and decided to swap over to dresses and skirts. Summer went very well, obviously, and I thought going in to winter might have issues, but nothing insurmountable..

But previously I was wearing fairly,tough, country type stuff (in comparison) like wax jackets, gore tex boots, wonder resistant coats. Etc
This stuff was pretty high quality and very durable and versatile.

I’m in a fairly rainy, wind blown part of the north and don’t run a vehicle. I work from home (art related) and don’t have young children. I don’t work on a farm but I am out in all weathers and do a lot of walking, which often requires hauling stuff about in my rucksack.

So this transition might not work for me for those reasons, but every skirt or dress I find is cheaply made, polyester and two midi’s have snagged already. I know it is possible to find quality dresses ‘somewhere’ but even John Lewis was full of delicate, floaty viscose and polyester, and not cheap with it !

Then, when I can locate a dress or skirt which suits me, not all of my coats and shoes work with them. So it’s really bordering on fucking tedious to kit myself out this way, and don’t even mention the search for a coat with wool that would keep me warm AND go with every dress combo.

At heart I am a minimalist, so my previous style really worked for me. Everything I had worked well with everything else.

Would you just sod it all off and go back to my boring country togs?

God that’s long, 😐 sorry!

Oh, also, I’m not remotely into trends so kind of hate the high street, but I do like style/clothes..... & i don’t want to be the only left wearing slim fit jeans when the revolution comes, you know?

Well apart from the issue of delicate fabrics, I am wondering what the difference between the skinnies/leggings and the dresses and skirts is - patterns instead of plain or something - that stops the coats working with them?

Yes, usually,patterns but also the cut - a-line midi , straight mini, etc?

Also, say I wear leggings, skinnies - both go with wax jacket and winter coat. All my footwear works with them more or less.

With skirts/dresses it really isn’t so simple.

I used to buy skirts with wool in them from Esprit and wear with dark tights and boots. Also knitted cotton jumper dresses that have proven surprisingly hard wearing (years down the line and still wearing/washing well).

I have to wear skirts and dresses for health reasons and it definitely takes more thought in winter. It’s a right pain in the arse tbh. However, I have found a bit of a “uniform” of thick tights, denim or cord mini, big jumper. Works with most trainers and boots and winter coats.
Dresses are another story but I don’t wear them as much for winter casual wear as they’re not thick enough. Wear them more for work.

I feel your pain! I think shorter dresses work better with winter coats and you can get away with sturdier boots like Docs or wellies too.

With longer dresses, you could try a short jacket, maybe biker style with a chunky scarf but again, this isn't all that practical for long periods outdoors.

Thanks.

Perhaps I’m just struggling because half my wardrobe is still what I wore with skinnies. I can’t afford to replace all of it, so have been trying to locate the most important stuff.

Maybe I need to concentrate on collecting just a few variations that are similar as @PigeonofDoom says.

Most gruelling has been a long winter wool coat. Most bury me, I hate the current masculine cuts and can t find a thing on eBay either. That, or they’re mostly polyester.

I’m so used to just buying Barbour and it just ‘going’ with everything.

Have you looked at Hobbs coats on eBay?
I bought two beautiful wool coats last year. I do know what you mean about being the last man standing in skinnies, I am struggling too.
It’s the footwear that foxes me

I know what you mean - skinny jeans go with trainers, ankle boots, long boots, wellies, high heels, short jackets, long coats....

With skirts or dresses I find coat length tricky - the coat needs to be either a short jacket (such as a leather biker type jacket) or it needs to be longer than the skirt. I think a midi length skirt with a coat that’s long but slightly shorter than the skirt looks bad.

So wear as a floaty long dress looks great in summer, the coat thing can mess up the look in winter.

So In winter I stick with skinnies or wear a shorter skirt in thick material. I’ve got a short skater style skirt that looks good with thick black tights and long or short boots, and a couple of knitted dresses that work with any footwear. And they are short enough that all my coats are longer.

I think you need to be quite stylish to carry off a long dress, boots and long coat combo, and I am definitely not that stylish!

I think the problem with the recent trend for long floaty dresses is they feel texturally (is that a word?) wrong with a heavy winter coat, even along wool one.
They’re often thin and shiny-is, and it’s all gone a bit too fashion blogger for me, I think.

Short skirts/dresses might be the way to go. I have a few old faves which I might use until I can get into a city and have a look around.

I know I can wear a winter parka over a short skirt but I wonder if coats like that look odd with tights? I suppose I just need to get used to the change and will start slowly getting clued up to a new silhouette.

And thanks for the advice, it is much appreciated x

Perhaps stick to high waisted black skinnies, that’s my cunning plan anyway

@RickOShay seriously I am so fed up of clothes issues lately I would prefer to wear scrubs. Or just leggings, they’re comfy, look ok and go with anything

Same!
It’s getting on my nerves tbh. I don’t even know what I want anymore
I have spent years in my uniform of skinnies, long vest and oversized jumper, I’d like to change but have no feel for what next.

Sounds like me, I was so at home with how I used to dress, except I had ongoing issues with skinny stuff, always felt exposed. I know minis are short but they do give me more dignity in the arse, thigh, hip department.

Cord minis are nice with woolly type tights. Nice boxy jumper. Job done. Perhaps go down the mini route rather than floaty 70s dresses.

On the plus side also works with wellies and Barbours.

Why do you want to change your look when you were happy with it and it fitted your lifestyle? Not sure I understand.

Having said that, have you looked at Toast? That's quite rural and hardy i think. Also not so many man made fibres.

I like midi skirts and dresses in summer, but tend to retire them once I get past leather jacket weather. Once it’s colder I wear shorter skirts, slim fit jumpers, and 100 denier opaque tights. If it’s wet I have a big parka with a hood from Whistles, otherwise I have various faux fur coats, and a mid-calf wool one.

I’ve been off skinny jeans for a while, and favouring a “barrel leg”, but recently got some Levi’s 501s, which I really like. I also like cropped wide-leg trousers, and have some peg-leg cords from Topshop which are great.

(I don’t have a similar lifestyle to you, but do have a 30 minute walk each way for work.)

@PrudenceTremaine I don’t want to alter my style at all - just have ongoing issues with skinny pants (bloat, ibs, etc)
Tried jeggings but find they’re just as restrictive.

Not fond of many skirt styles as such but do love them in summer.

I love toast but find their coats and dresses swamp me. Gorgeous knits though!

What about tweed culottes and high boots 70s style? They feel so great. Google Celine culottes for the pictures.

I wear clumpy boots with wooly tights and dresses every winter. Wool tights are great in the rain and cold - dry quickly. I like a knitted short dresses skater style., I have a super warm one from Toast, Desigual , Jigsaw and charity shops.

Coats are a pain but I have many. Barbours work with most things though. You wouldn’t need to ditch them aside from a posher going out coat. Mine is a long brown velvet one.

I have an abdominal condition which causes me to bloat enormously and get very tender. I have found Uniqlo ultra stretch leggings a godsend. They are the only trousers i can wear when I'm sore. They are really really soft and comfy and only £15. www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/women/bottoms/trousers-leggings-sweatpants?quickView=418872

Otherwise try a pinafore dress in cord, if you can get it, or wool. Cos generally have some.

Great info and suggestions, thanks!

I definitely think the midi thing isn’t for me outside of summer. Mini’s and leggings might be my best solution, as will allow me to keep my original ‘style’ without too much of a change.

For some reason I hadn’t looked at a compromise .