Tell me about a thing that works for you and a thing that doesn't

[quickkimchi]

Want to share an item of clothing that works for you and one that doesn't? Wardrobe linchpin/breath of fresh air that makes you feel fantastic and elevates all other clothing vs the thing that looks great on paper but just never achieves the desired effect.

I just got a patterned beagle collar shirt which I plan to wear under every t-shirt I own this winter. It made me feel like boxing up half my wardrobe and putting it in the loft so I can wear just this shirt with t-shirts, jumpsuits and trousers every day until spring.

The thing I keep trying to make work is a Spry denim jumpsuit that I obsessed over for ages but every time I try to wear it I end up changing at the last minute. I think it might look better on someone younger and more feminine but It feels too plain and uniform-like for me. I feel like I'm wearing a tabard.

I’m 45. But yeh, mini skirts solid colours.
I kept trying to escape it as I grew older, because, you know, I thought I ought to, but it suits me better than any other look.

Alternatively, wide styles, oversized and patterns do me no favours at all.

What works: Short casual dresses with wooly tights in winter.
What doesn't: Anything leather (trousers or jackets) or too severe/with sharp edges. I like soft things!

I bought myself an All Saints biker jacket earlier this year and I love it, I genuinely feel great in it.

I can't wear mini skirts. I've got really chunky calves - I had chunky calves even when I was a size 8 teenager, miniskirts look dreadful on me.

Things that don't suit me
Skinny jeans, most tops which have a high neckline

Things that do.
square necklines. Dresses that are either on or just above the knee. T-shirts with elbow length sleeve, loose fitting jumpers

Ooh Regina that's what I'm talking about, the specific item that makes you feel like a million dollars, or captures something that you love about your personal style. And there's always something in the closet that I keep taking out and putting back because, although it looks like it should be just right I just can't seem to make it work.

Like you Music and Camomila I think shorter skirts and dresses objectively suit me better than longer but I got a few longer ones this year because you can kind of throw them on without worrying about tights.

I look good in tops that show my back and shoulders. They are hard to find so when I see a good one I get it!

Conversely I look awful in all leather jackets. It is a source of sadness to me because I love how they look on other people. I have bought a biker jacket from All Saints three times and taken it back each time as they just make me look busty and matronly.

High waisted skinnies (elasticated waist) that absolutely hold my wobbly 'swelly belly' in place. Then a nice big top over it. Depending on style of top can teamed with either heels or trainers, boots anything really. Then my usual short cropped haircut gives an edgy look, (although i'm old ).

Skirts don't seem to work for me because they emphasise my stomach no matter what style they are.

I have a collection of silky, bias cut midi skirts, they are incredibly flattering on my disproportionate arse, have elasticated waists so they don't bag out like trousers do on me and they hide most of my chunky calves. Can be worn for smart or casual, very versatile and comfortable.

Boots are my nemesis, I have always been slim, but I have enormous ankles and muscly calves so most boots either cut in or won't zip or lace up properly. I love boots and long for a pair of Chelsea boots that don't cut off my circulation, alas I have not found any in years and my last pair were my DMs from the 1980s which I wore for riding as well as general wear and are subsequently trashed.

I too look awful in leather jackets. Love them on others though, it’s a shame .

Just thought of something else scrolling through old holiday photos - floaty summer outfits and chunky walking trainers do not look good together. I think I need sandals or something inbetween a trainer and a ballet pump.

What’s a beagle collar shirt and how does it work under a t-shirt?

Good: pencil skirts
V-neck fine-knit sweaters

Bad: any kind of trousers

Most midi skirts. Especially a line midi skirts. Just no....

Earrings. Whether they're big and even gaudy, small pearl studs, elegant 'hangers' (Idk what they're called in English). Not really a piece of clothing but earrings are the kind of jewelry that do the most for me.

Ah. And fine knit cardigans. I end up looking frumpy...

Clogs. I buy clogs and don't understand how to wear them. I daren't get rid because I'll buy more, which I won't wear. I stalk them online, still, even though several pairs are right now sitting in the wardrobe.
I want to wear them with slouchy socks, in a sort of SJP in Divorce way (she wears those long sports socks to bed) but they make me look like I'm convalescing from a long illness and have just managed to leave my bed for the first time.
I think of myself as artsy/edgy (I was sort of a proto-goth at school, this never goes away evidently) but somewhere inside me there's an outdoorsy Swedish architect, breezy with a touch of charming awkwardness, who wears clogs and socks with everything.

to the clogs! For me the ‘just can’t hack it’ garments would be high heels (agony and I look like a toddler in its mum’s shoes) and puff sleeves (Grayson Perry and not in a good way - and I do really like him). ‘I look good in’ would be scoop necked tops and dresses (my shoulders are ok) and mom jeans, which bizarrely look all right on me.

Craving fine knits are better than chunky but pullover jumpers in general do nothing for me.
zippy similar to a dagger collar, slightly curved. I just wear a button-down under a t-shirt with the collar out - ?
Daffodil I do the same sort of thing, there's a compulsion there that won't be deterred. Once I accept that something I own doesn't suit me sometimes it's better to keep it and put it away so when I'm itching to buy something similar I can try it on and remind myself why I can't get on with it. I have a bunch of kimonos and high-waisted trousers that I keep for this purpose.

Crafty and mom jeans look so fresh to me after years of skinny jeans.

Camomila I feel the same way about chunky trainers and dresses. I know it's a thing, but I can't get on with it. How about avarcas? I have two ponyskin pairs and wear them all summer.

Shimy I want to know more about your hair. An edgy cut can be the key to everything. Do you have gamine features?

50s style dresses work really well for me.

High necklines are awful for me.

High necklines look terrible on me I end up looking super busty in a matronly way.

Jumpsuits - I feel fab in them either dressed up with heels or down with converse they just seem to suit me.

If I could only wear baggy soft wool turtle neck sweaters, I'd be happy.

One thing I can't wear is heels. They make me look like a drag queen.

Lipstick just seems to look dreadful on me- any shade. It makes me look like a have a mouth guard in even though i have nice lips and teeth. I have various old tubes, try them again thinking surely some shade will suit me, but always end up taking it off

I love a cashmere drapy sweater in a lovely shade of green/ grey. The colour is perfect for me. Bonus of autumn is i can get to wear it again

I can't carry a pattern, florals are the worst. I've got a a small head and small features and patterns overwhelm me unless I could be bothered to put a ton of make up on
Plain clothes, v neck, white shirts

Bezal I feel your pain. I'm so sad to have to miss out on the turtleneck layered under dresses, I love the way it looks. I feel like there's probably a version of the turtleneck for everyone - ? - but that may just be me refusing to let the dream die. My bust is getting smaller as I get older, maybe one day I'll be completely flatchested with a massive arse no doubt and I'll be able to wear one without looking like my breasts are resting on my navel.

I feel fantastic when Autumn hits and I can get out my wraps and ponchos, I’m tall and slim and I wear them with skinnies and heeled ankle boots and I feel very elegant wafting about. The thing I just can’t get on with is my leather biker jacket, I actually feel frumpy in it, I have no idea why because objectively I know it looks good but it makes me feel totally wrong somehow.