Finding a style that suits me

[ConfusedAndStressed95]

I'm mid 20's a student/graduate 4ft10in, pale with freckles overweight but an hourglass shape. I have no idea what is fashionable, what looks good or how to style myself. I don't get accessories or shoes or what to wear to what or consistently dress well. I want to branch out of my comfort zone and make more of an effort with my appearance and stop wearing black or the darkest end of the colour spectrum. I'll be attending job interviews and different things where I'll need to be more presentable and more importantly I feel like I'm far beyond the dressing like a grungy teenager phase but I have no idea where to start or what are wardrobe 'necessitates'.

I'd recommend doing for some classics first. Bits that will stay timeless and go with everything. Then dress around them. Opt for neutral colours but in flattering fits. Key pieces include some dark, well fitting jeans, a jacket (often leather, could be a biker jacket or suede. In brown, grey or black) some smart boots (keep it simple, small heel) and some nice trainers/converse style shoes. Then experiment changing pieces around it. Try on the jeans and shoes with multiple tops. Then try on the jacket and a top with multiple bottoms and shoes. Find something that feels you. And feel free to post on here for opinion! We'll be gentle! Also if you find a nice piece you like, Google "x outfits" so I fell in love with a grey jacket but no idea what to put it with, and Google threw up some great ideas for colour matches and how to style it.

@sirmione16, (sorry to highjack) but would you recommend the same for all body shapes? I'm slimish (5'8, 10 stone, size 10/12). Ok boobs, waist but bigger thighs.

@imameerkat yes probably would. Because it's about finding nice staple pieces that you can then dress around. So for example a "well fitting" pair of smart jeans for me would be high waist skinny jeans, however for my sister would be a slim fitting cut so not so tight and with a lower waist. It's about finding something that feels tailored to you and flattering. Not following trends (they pass) and not trying to force your body into something that's "supposed to work". I'd take an afternoon and try on all styles. I did this the other day and found I liked "mom jeans" which I've always passed by on the hangers!

Less stress about what's "stylish" or "in" and instead go for confident, mature and clean classic lines. What's most important is that it fits you well. Not too small, not too baggy. Cuts you in the right places.

Yep, makes sense. I guess the problem is finding time to try on!

Like, what jeans? Skinny jeans aren't right for me. They fall down and make my legs look massive.

I'm good at styling my home in a 'timeless' way but not myself!

@sirmione16, what are classics? I think I look alright in skinny jeans but I'd probably suit a different type more. I think my main issue is that I don't know what I look good in and I only feel comfortable in my skinny jeans and geeky t-shirts.

I'm in almost exactly the same place atm. I've started by getting rid of shoes that looked like they were beyond past it, and have swapped the geeky T-shirt's for plainer options. Something plain, striped, or with a simple pattern. I've found that then means I can throw a blazer on to smarten it, or a cardigan if I want to be comfy, but I look less like a teenager in the process! It's given me a good base to start building on as it's got rid of the teenage bits from my wardrobe as I've used 1 in, 1 out, so the option to throw them on isn't there anymore and I'm not going to buy more when consciously trying to change my wardrobe! It's also meant I got to keep my favourite jeans, etc... so I still feel comfortable and like my clothes are mine instead of feeling like I'm playing dress up as an adult!

@theatrenerd31, love your username btw, I run a theater/musical theater appreciation society at uni. It's so hard to move from my comfortable lounging around stuff to actually dressing and acting like the adult I'm supposed to be but I'm now at the point in my life where thats what's expected/needed of me. I can do casual or black tie but I have no margin for in between or semicasual or office wear.

If you don't have time to go out and try on, order a few different pairs in all sorts of sizes from an online site which has Klarna. It means you can just pay postage (or get it free with some student codes) order a load, try it on and send back what you don't like within 30 days. No payment goes out until the 30th day and you say yes I'm keeping such and such. Its a great time efficient way of trying on

I’d recommend getting a style analysis done by Styled by Susie & joining their Facebook group. I had a complete style overhaul in 2019 & their guidance helped massively. My style personality even has a name “girl next door with an edge” which now I see suits me perfectly. I also KonMari’d my wardrobe so know I only have clothes which fit my shape, suit my colouring & make me smile. I love picking my clothes out now. Shopping is much easier too as I can ignore immediately those bits which don’t suit me

@happytobemrsg, brilliant I'll check them out.
@sirmione16, I've never heard of that so I'll look into it and see what I can find.