I often look scruffy. What easy steps can I take to look neater?

[Ferrisbuellersdayoff]

I'm often at the school gate with unkempt hair, a down-filled walking jacket, old, bobbled top, jeans that don't fit, amusing socks from accessorize and scuffed shoes. I work from home most of the time. When I have to go to see clients, I wear dresses and try to look tidy (but still end up with ladders in my tights and looking a state) but when I'm running errands and on the school run, I feel really awkward and messy. It doesn't help that I'm about a stone heavier than I like, and my hair is greying because I can't dye it at the moment. What can I do to smarten myself up and feel less dowdy? I'm 5ft 6 and a size 12, pear shaped with a massive mummy tummy that makes me want to cry, so I have to try to hide it.

The white trainers are good. Same with the turned up jeans.

(The top isn't good. Too tight, too short and sleeves too short also.
That length of top leaves a horizontal line right where you are at your widest.)

• I love your parquet, btw

Yes I love the white trainers OP

I don't think I can keep up a boxfresh white plimsoll lifestyle, so what colour trainers would be a good main pair, if the pink ones are grim? I never wear black or brown. Navy, maybe, but perhaps that's too matchy-matchy?

Utterly at sea with boots. Staring at shoe collection wondering what's dated and frumpy.

I like Vans.

(because I am from 2001).

You can clean white trainers.
www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/clothing-care/how-to-clean-white-shoes

Alternative colours - kelly green, sapphire blue, pillar box red.
Can't go wrong with a mid grey or grey-beige either.

The turn ups look really good and love the trainers on you!

Where are the white trainers from please?

Love the turn ups from a few pics ago. And I like the latest pic with trainers. Lovely!

The trainers and jeans combination is good. I like the more fitted trouser look because you have good legs and shouldn't hide them! Agree that the top is letting you down. It doesn't fit you properly, which makes it look a bit frumpy.

I'm now a bit baffled about shoes and top lengths. I'm on the hunt for some trainers that don't look frumpy, but the top length thing is confusing. I think pp are saying:

1. Tucked into wide leg trousers is ok.
2. Ending at my hip bones is good, but on my saddlebags is bad.
3. Ending below the saddlebags is good.

I have trouble finding tops that end at my hips, as the boobies alter the length at the front.

Utterly at sea with boots. Staring at shoe collection wondering what's dated and frumpy.

I wouldn't worry too much about looking dated, as such. If the shoes themselves are inherently quite classic and stylish just not particularly "in" right now, you can usually still get away with wearing them as long as it's with the right outfit - knee boots and high heels, for example, have been replaced by ankle boots and flats for a while now but it doesn't mean already have. Take a look at the "shopping our wardrobes" thread, for example - lots of stylish people wearing clothes from years ago in creative ways. They don't look dated. On the other hand, if you find your wardrobe is full of things that are neither particularly stylish, flattering nor current (the ones that make you feel frumpy etc) then it might be time for a purge.

I don't think I could do narrow heeled ankle boots as I'd fall over all day, so they have to be flat or chunky heel. No clue where to start looking for those. If anyone has any ideas, I'd be very grateful.

Thanks for all the help - I really appreciate it and I think I'm slowly learning (very slowly) but it's hard because I still think I should be 21 and a size 8 when I'm really almost 40 and squidgy.

*but it doesn't mean people don't still wear the ones they already have, that was meant to say

I've just put this on because it's a bit tunicy. I feel like a potato because it shows all my lumpy bumpy bits.

I think one of the issue with your tops may be that lots of them are stretch/jersey type material. The pics you put up a while back with more of a blouse type top looked much better.

I can’t wear stretch tops because they make me look frumpy. Proper fabrics looks much better I think.

Narrow heels aren't in anyway OP!

I love the green dress, the older blue dress and the wide leg trousers are fantastic

Thanks, @ClientQueen which blue dress?

The middle photo with the waistband

The dress you have on in that last picture would look so much better with a pair of ankle boots, maybe with a block heel. A chunkier boot or shoe would balance the outfit perfectly.

Regarding the dress clinging in the wrong places - don't wear anything you don't feel good in.

A Chelsea boot is a classic option, easy to wear as they're flat, and a dark pair are really versatile.

For longer length tops, try scandi brands which are cut longer as they cater for taller people as standard. So maison scotch, samsoe, mads norgaard etc or Gap do a longer length option in most tops/sweaters.

Love the high waisted trousers with the buttons.

I think you'd suit shorter skirts or dresses, rather than the midi/calf length you've been wearing. I'm a tall hour glass and find that skirts have to be either mini or maxi, anything in between looks very, very frumpy.

I agree with other posters about avoiding fitted, stretch tops. They do you no favours. Shirts/blouses are good, as are the boat necks tops you've photographed.

Love the white pumps and also the knee boots look good. Polish them each time you wear them. Clean, polished footwear in good condition lifts an outfit. Scuffed shoes bring down your whole look.

Get some statement jewellery. Long chunky necklaces to break up plain tops and draw the eye to your best features. Great earrings too.

You have a fabulous figure. The later outfits you've posted have looked so much better. Enjoy your new look and always keep experimenting and having fun with fashion.

My advice is to take a friend to zara/h&m/whistles/warehouse etc and try a whole lot on. IMO the outfits you have posted are dark/boring/frumpy (sorry). Nothing to do with you, you have a good figure, just need to move away from advice on necklines and skirt lengths and work out what actually looks stylish. Look at pinterest and style blogs maybe, to work out what shapes and silhouettes, colours, are stylish. For instance, I think supergas, an oversized coat, slouchy jumper and your skinny jeans would look great on you. But you would have to move away from the outdated silhouette you are aiming for. The dresses are all awful sorry. Tight jersey tops, also a no. The wide legged navy button trousers are nice but quite dressy for a school run.