Define my style/find me an icon!

[PerpetuallyUnderwhelmed]

Hi, would be grateful for some help from people who are good at this!

I have a vague idea of my style but it's not really 'defined' and I would like to define it more in the interests of buying less crap and better quality pieces.

I would describe it as a mish-mash of classic, slightly boho, slightly preppy (in an english, not american, way). I'm tall and thin, little to speak of in the way of a chest but don't like revealing things. Very pale skin and blonde.

My favourite pieces:

• straight leg or very slim jeans
• weakness for broderie blouses and blue shirts (Sezanne style)
• white converse or Toms- would like to find an alternative but don't like stan smiths or veja - too clumpy
• battered leather bag (i have loads of nice, designer ones and like the worn-look)
• oversize cashmere jumper
• lots of earrings, lots of jewellery - i mix gold and silver
• hate looking 'done' - like to look like i've made no effort....
• tried plain white T-shirts but feel like i prefer blouses or shirts

I could veer towards 'mumsy' and boring OR look like I'm trying too hard to be French

Can anybody recommend any one to look at on Pintrest or Instagram or good places to shop?

These:

www.instagram.com/anoukyve/

and

www.instagram.com/ruerodier/

Oh I really do like both of them! I would say they are probably a tiny bit more minimalist than me and I'm slightly more Boho (and scruffy ) but good recs, thank you

Bum40 sounds ideal for you

Some of her outfits yes, agreed. But I just can do long patterned maxi dresses with trainers without feeling like a try hard, insta cliche! Plus I'm generally too tall for them!!

She’s 5’10 herself so could be good to help you find things long enough. I agree though the voluminous maxi outfit is a bit ubiquitous - she used to wear jeans a lot more!

Have a look at Little Spree on Instagram

And here
littlespree.com/category/fashion/

littlespree.com/fashion/tall-style/

I'm also tall and thin with a similar love of blouses, cashmere, Converse, Toms and mixing up gold and silver jewellery.

At the moment I rather like some of the outfits on www.instagram.com/suzannedelahunty/ and I'm lusting after some of the clothes from Stine Goya as well as a couple of jackets from Brora: this one and this one.

Wolf and Badger is a nice site to browse if only for ideas; it has lots of independent brands offering pieces that are often very different from those on offer on the High Street. That said, I recently succumbed and bought a maxi skirt from there; I realise it's very marmite but I love it. My other recent - and much cheaper! - purchase was this jumpsuit in blue from Uniqlo. I think it's very flattering and was surprised how much I liked it when I tried it on.

@MassDebate I didn't realise she was that tall! Thanks!

@Railingsohno I really like that tall style link - thanks

@BothALarkAndAnOwl thank you! Good to know I'm not alone! Did you find the jumpsuit long enough? I tend to presume they won't fit. I'm 5'10 with most length in legs (34 leg jeans)

What I'm taking from most of these links is that shoes are my missing link! I could recreate loads of these outfits using stuff in my wardrobe but I fail on the shoes and rarely change them. Scuffed converse may need to step aside...

@PerpetuallyUnderwhelmed have you tried Supergas? I used to be a converse lover but now live in my Vejas and Supergas!

Yes I have my eye on supergas. I love the way converse are so light and thin on my feet (I wear the 'dainty' style ones so was worried supergas might feel clumpy.....?

I think I might need to branch outside of trainers (which feels crazy!). Ballet flats are a bit passé i think? I have some nice sandals for summer so maybe I should just go with them for a while and resist the allure of my beloved converse

I get this style as it’s less chunky and lighter to wear. Fred Perry used to do amazing plimsolls but sadly they don’t seem to do them anymore!

@Someaddedsugar they look great- thanks!

@PerpetuallyUnderwhelmed - Looking at the pictures on Uniqlo, the jumpsuit is meant to be cropped and it seems flexible as to just how cropped! Mine ends about 4 inches above my ankle bone - roughly similar to the picture of the 5'9" model wearing the black version. (I'm 5'10.5" FWIW)

sounds like Parisian style to me. Olivia Palermo? She is chic. What about loafers or deck shoes for a change from trainers?

Thanks @BothALarkAndAnOwl might be worth a try for something a bit different!

@katienana yes I agree she looks wonderful but she is a little bit too 'perfect' if that makes sense! I have a totally irrational hatred of looking like I've made an effort! I wear loafers for work but I do need something casual for running around with DC

Hit ‘Pippa Middleton’ on Pinterest or wherever. She’s like a boho Kate. Never trashy, covered up but always on trend in a rich preppy way. She might be your girl for style icon, OP.

Look up Elizabeth Debicki (from The Night Manager)

Ohhhh that skirt is wonderful.

I could never wear it (short and fat), but it’s beautiful.

@MrsVeryTired oh she is chic, cool personified. I can only dream!

@PersonaNonGarter oh yes. I always thought of her as prissy but some of her casual outfits are good inspiration.

Jeanne Damas, Leia Sfez, Clemence Poesey?

@OhRosalind oh yes absolutely. But I do feel like they are very stylised. Not sure we see much of what they look like in 'real life'....

No, it’s all very “curated” for social media and selling, that’s for sure. I find them a good starting point on Pinterest though, often among the other pins suggested there will be something good and more natural/real.

Sezane (since you’re already a fan) do some lovely flats. I also like flat espadrilles.