inspiration needed - have lost my fashion way and need serious help

[jeangenie]

I seem to have fallen into a pit of bad saggy faded jeans and tshirts that I need some help being pulled out of - anyone want to throw me a rope? I seem to have a wradrobe full of bits and bobs that don't work together so I end up throwing on the same old tired jeans etc everyday

about me
Lifestyle:
mother of two, work 4 days a week, informal office (but am sick of just wearing jeans day in day out), when off am carting kids here there and everywhere
Figure:
5 ft 6
slimish upper bod (10-12) small boobs, bit of flab under bra line but not bad
medium tum, fair sized bulge if am honest and stop holding it in
large arse, wide too (12-14)
large thighs that touch in the middle
fat knees
slender calves
nice ankles
arms ok
wide feet
short neck
crazy bobbed hair that I am growing so can put it up

my ideal style would be slightly retro towards the 40s/50s. I like aline skirts, fitted pretty cardis, wide legged trousers, boat necked tshirts - would love to try a nice dress'n'boots combo
am bad in heels but like the height - broad wedges work best

but I don't have any of these things in my wardrobe and I don't know where to get them. I am an awkward shape/size and find things fit in one place but not anywhere else. I have the two kids so rarely get out to shop and am in london and find trekking about on a Saturday in the crowds makes me want to kill someone

so, anyone want to help me and be my guru of change??? is there one shop that I can go to to find all of these things...

I can stretch to £500 or so for new wardrobe but I want things that work together

yes, do like frilly shirt - but tired of buying one off things I like but have nothing to go with
still, could wear that with jeans if all else failed ( am trying to eradicate jeans from wardrobe - not allowed buy any more pairs...)
saw lovely pair of shoes on a woman this morning on way to work - green suede wedge heeled mary janes with flower detail on front - I'll applaud anyone who can find out where I can get them
she was wearing them with aubergine tights and a patterned skirt knee length and I thought she looked great
I started a list of all the items I think I need, and the colours so that can see what will go with what and plan it out before buy (very strange for me, am normally a grab it on impulse when I see it girl - hence the mismatched wardrobe) - might put my list on later and see whether you think will work, or can help with where to get the things
hope you not too bored yet!!!
btw, do you think the shapes I detailed in my OP suit my bod shape? Is there anything I am missing that would give me the wow factor (rather than the frump factor I seem to be stuck with at the minute)

i'd wear that shirt w/brown cord skirt & brown boots. or something tweedy - wide trews perhaps.

this skirt would go with the shirt and those pinky-red fly sandals is good shape too. brown crochet tights, brown cardi, sorted.

oh puppy you are a star!

amazingly I had already online ordered this brown cord skirt and it arrived yesterday - is nice (only keeper out of order of 5 items) so could wear with the chartreuse shirt
need brown cardi (need a couple of pretty fine knit cardis actually) and tights now
(MAJOR CONCERN HITS - but will I be WARM enough in all these little cotton skirts and pretty shirts and cardis?)
have ordered yuna shoes in red AND black
AND the diane wedges
have emailed ebayer about size of that skirt, it's cute. Doesn't say label on it though so not sure whether large or small fitting, wouldn't get into small 12

Puppy - you'll see me walking down the street someday and think you've looked in the mirror they do say the sincerest form of flattery is imitation ...

i'd focus on one base colour, for me, in autumn, that would be brown. you might prefer grey (grey NOT good for me). don't choose black, is boring. what's fashionable colour at the moment? i've no idea...

then pick some main accent colours - so for me with brown would be green and pink cos i love pink. for you maybe green and duck egg blue. look at current fashionable combos for mixes you might not automatically think of. beware hideous 80s colours that seem to be everywhere lately, they don't suit anyone

get shoes & boots in main colour plus maybe one in accent - so e.g. brown boots & shoes plus pink shoes. then flattering fit plain wool/cord skirt & wide trousers in main colour also one cardi in base colour. then start adding tops, tights etc in accent colours. then you can start adding more standout stuff e.g. fancy skirts, a bright jacket. if you shop on ebay you can get all of this under £500.

if we're going w/brown get these trousers.

warm enough? get cosy coat and long socks

re warm enough - looks like crochet tights are out now anyway (must stock up on last remaining cos i love em, especially w/heels in the summer) and ribs are in, so that's easy.

i love this coat is great shape & length, though i prefer vintage-style to latest look in general. peacocks is good for getting cheap bits and pieces (eg tops to go with jeans) that are very current, better than primark ime.

actually, having second thoughts about posting that, i think i want it

am at work so can't write much - passed peacocks on bus today and did wonder whether any good

like the coat shape but not the pattern

thanks for your tips on what to get - will mull over more later - like the FC trouser links - will try to get to FC today and try some on to get idea of sizes

this is fab - total virtual style makeover

you can have the coat!

bad pic but this skirt could be v good w/jumper and boots (am thinking of poor genie shivering away...).

I neeeeeed a denim skirt (since spilt bleach on old one)

Puppy - I think I love you

another coat doesn't look hugely promising in pics but woman is wrong shape for it (all bust no hips). but is right shape for you/me (fitted, single breasted), is same colour (pinky red) as those shoes and the puffy sleeves would balance out pear shape. ideally it would be a smidge longer and fuller cut on the hips.

M&S have some great dresses at the mo, can be dressed up for evening or worn with a cardi for work. I just bought this one and they have a coffee coloured cardi I might buy too which will make it go with brown leather boots.

i find dresses tricky in the winter (summer is fine w/fifties/rockabilly style sundresses - fitted bodice, full skirt - or the multitude of smocky empire things this yr) but in winter it needs to be more fitted and then i have probs squeezing bust and arse into same item. knitted dresses might be the answer for someone lither than me (genie?) but they cling too much for my lumpy bits.

in no way could I be accused of being lithe - honestly! knit dress would be disaster on me
I bet you could find winter dress with fitted bodice and full skirt, maybe sleeveless that you could wear long sleeved top under
anyway
checked out that brown skirt you linked to puppy - she said is waist 30 ins and length 29ins. I do have a waist of 30ins or so but only if you measure at my skinniest right up under my ribs where I would never wear anything (prefer things that hang around my hips) and 29inches seems the wrong length - would be mid calf - so am thinking you would advise not to bid...???
wrt FC trousers - I went at lunchtime and tried on pair of wide legged ones in the shop - 14 was way too big and 12 fit ok (though they were gathered so looked awful on me) should I take risk of bidding on those brown ebay ones? she says large 12...they are up to £11 now
what about this uttam skirt ? is this what I should be looking for?
went to zara at lunchtime too and bought three long sleeved fitted tops - petrol blue, leaf green and a kind of mink brown. I think these should work with the wardrobe you have planned for me (and were only £8 so not a disaster if they don't)

puppy - if you are around and not actually gone off to live some kind of real life could you telll me what you think of this coat I'm liking it but you may have something to say about its double breastedness

need ease - 30 inch skirt for 28 inch waist just say no to calf length.

trousers sound like goer plus if been taken in can prob be let out again. have they finished yet?

spotted that skirt too is nice tho not quite the same green as the frilly top or red as the shoes (but have often been led astray by colours online). yes, is pretty (a bit long perhaps ).

thank lord you held off on coat is shapeless

did we settle on a single base colour? this grey skirt is verrry nice. could easily snip the bondagey bits if you prefer.

nice brown cardi alpaca is super warm.

would definately wear something under the frilly shirt princess sparkle, possibly even a long sleeved top..
bought that uttam skirt puppy but think I may be selling it on ebay again - will give it a try and see
missed the FC trousers
have decided on brown base colour for day (hark at me), but will do grey for evening wear/going out (not that I get to do much of that but xmas is coming and I fancy a silvery sparkley frock and those fifties peep toe heels I linked to earlier)
right - what about this coat then ? I like the collar a lot
not sure about that cardi you linked to - I like it but the chiffony business makes me feel a bit odd
bid on that warehouse denim skirt although again I think it might end up being too small... found another denim skirt too which looks like might be ok

monsoon skirt good if a bit basic. 2 minds about coat - is good outline but again is that bluey green i despise. if you want to escape the mismatching thing i would look for a brown coat. double breasted adds bulk. the silhouette yr looking for is fitted top, nipped waist (as much as waists do nip after 2 kids ), full skirt/wide trousers. look for a coat which follows that and still looks curvy (i.e. adding bulk to top makes you straighter up and down). did you compare measurements w/current coat for that one? i'd worry if you're 10/12 top a 12/14 coat might drown you. go for a neat fit up top and let the style accommodate hips/bum.

actually adding bulk selectively e.g. ruffles on top is fine, it's just i have irrational dislike of double breasted jackets also will be adding bulk around waistline which is def not good.

is true if you want to buy on ebay you have to be prepared to sell too, although my hitrate is usually above 50%. but is great, can continually refresh wardrobe effectively for free