Has anyone drastically changed their style?

[PJsEveryday]

Just that really. I work in an office and always wear trousers and a blouse. I'm a size 12/14 and a bit of a stomach and err on the side of safe and very boring. However I love dresses and skirts. I bought a few in the black Friday sales and while I think they suit me, I'm not sure and DH is of no use because he is always complimentary. 🙄

My issue is that my new clothes represent a major shift in my dress sense and I'm very self conscious. I bought knee high boots, such a change from my comfy loafers. I'm 47, middle aged with a bit of a tummy. Also, I'm not very pretty. I am haunted by my school days when I got teased so much when I started wearing doc martins and being asked if I was trying to be trendy that fron then on really, I've worn boring non descript clothes for fear of standing out and being talked about .

So, has anyone braved a very different style and it has worked (for context, I bought a few shirt styles dresses from Hobbs and I think it looks good, but I'm plain and I don't know of I feel conscious that I am trying to look pretty (impossible) and in actual fact look ridiculous 🙁

The best style advice I ever heard was from the new guy who sings with Queen. He said all you need to ‘carry it off’ is to want to wear it. If you want to wear it, then you carry it off. I’ve always tried to abide by that since.

Writing this in jeans, DMs and a big skeleton jumper with lots of silver jewellery btw

Afaloren.
Great advice. Adam Lambert is gorgeous and fabulous.

You sound like you dress like me. I bought a new skeleton hoodie this week and always have boots on.

Ill wear whatever I want. (Lockdown arse permitting )

I’m excited for you! I love new clothes! If I get something new, I gradually introduce it like someone else mentioned, mix it with something old first... go for it with hair products, I think I’ve finally found a good formula for my frizzy mane :)

I'm following your post OP and rooting for you! Can't wait for your new clothes to arrive and I hope you post to let us know how it's going.

I think starting already with beauty / grooming will get you in the right headspace for when your new stuff lands. And I also agree with @nzeire about mixing old and new at first as well as my previous suggestion of wearing the new stuff outside first - supermarket / coffee etc so you have time to adjust to it and feel comfortable in it.

I also love the idea of a new perfume, one that you will associate with this new happy phase of focusing on yourself. If you're in a position to it might be a lovely Christmas present, something luxurious that makes you feel gorgeous when you wear it. I am a huge fan of good perfume and I have different ones for different days / moods but I LOVE each one of them. Life is too short for wearing perfume you don't adore.

Over time I would invent in a really flattering, excellent quality coat and scarf and then a proper leather bag and ankle boots etc

@nzeire is your new formula CG friendly? I still need to get mine sorted

@laiste - brilliant idea about the perfume. DH bought me the classic Jean Paul gaultier when we were first dating. It might be a bit dated ,but I might just treat myself to it. It will bring back very happy memories of when I felt on top of the world 🌎

@afoloren - that is a fabulous attitude! Adam Lambert has some way out clothes but he does wear them with confidence. I will channel by inner Adam when I wear my new togs 😁

@nzeire - would love to know your method for taming your hair. My hair has gone horrible wirey and dry. It's curly so I've invested in CG products so hoping that makes a difference. It also needs a good cut but that can't happen until January 😟

@caperplips - I promise I'll show the new clothes. But blending old and new with gradually phasing in until its all new is a good idea. 🌼 I can't wait until my clothes arrive. I do have a phase 8 skirt and too waiting on me when I get home. Looking forward to trying them on 🙂
Thanks for the support everyone 🌺🌺

It shouldn’t be that only gorgeous women get to wear gorgeous clothes op. You go for it, I’m sure you’ll look good

Instagram can be your friend here - I love instagram.com/thatsnotmyage?igshid=l4ss8bzn71o6
I don't necessarily love everything she wears but I love her attitude. Find people who inspire you and you'll realise how many people will cheer you on

Go for it - it's the perfect time to be trying new styles as well, emerging from a Covid lockdown chrysalis like a beautiful you that you always were.

I shifted my style from nondescript clothes and no skirts or dresses. To now wearing skirts with DM boots and bright tights and dresses and all the weird and odd tops I want to wear. It's liberating, I just stopped caring what other people thought and decided to please myself.

So go you! Try new things and enjoy!

Ok, the hair! So dry and frizzy.... so, olaplex 3 overnight (mixed with some oil)... wash out in morning, use sans shine serum, sealed in with sans conditioner, leave on for five mins, rinse out. Small squirt of olaplex 6 mixed with a few drops of oil. Sounds super high maintenance, but quite quick and easy. I’m in nz so the sans product is one local to me, totally organic and beautiful.
I now wash my hair twice a week, it is looking SO MUCH BETTER!

And, something else, I love these threads, totally supportive of each other. Identifying with all the challenges and stages of a woman’s life.
I’m always working at being a better version of me. I’m plain, but sometimes you wouldn’t believe that :). I have gorgeous clothes, spoil myself with really good skincare, invest time in my hair and nails. I don’t have a lot of money, so do it all myself and am good at spotting a bargain. Always buying and selling too ;)

@nzeire

Yeah! It makes all the difference to take care of ourselves a little. I get lazy & then every few weeks I do my nails. I take good care of my hair & moisturise my whole body which makes all the difference to my bodily skin.

You sound lovely and your husband obviously appreciates your beauty inside and out.

There are books and u tube videos to help build up yourself confidence that has been knocked

Have a look at Marissa Peer on u tube and her book is very good

Ultimate Confidence: The Secrets to Feeling Good about Yourself Each Day Marisa Peer

She has worked with lots of women and men with low self esteem

Paul McKenna has lots of books to develop confidence

House of colour style day really helped to give my confidence back

Good luck

I did it. I was very much trousers/shirt for work, pretty much every single day, very plain and had long dark hair. I really wanted to dress in nicer stuff like dresses, the way lots of other women at my work dresses, but I just felt like I couldn't suddenly appear in a dress or everyone would comment on it and I'd feel even more self conscious.

So while I was on maternity leave I decided I would just go for it. I went back to work with short highlighted hair and wore dresses pretty much every day. Almost nobody commented beyond saying I looked nice. I think nobody much noticed how I dressed in the first place to be honest!! I now love dressing for work and enjoy buying work clothes, which I never did before. I also feel more confident and professional.

So do it! Maybe after Christmas if you get a break, so if anyone asks you can say it's a New Years resolution of something if you feel awkward. But do it. You deserve to feel and look nice.

Arrggh! Posted twice with photos but it doesn't post. I'll try later tonight from my laptop instead of the app on my phone. Thank you to everyone for their comments, it sounds like everyone has really embraced the new changes (as well as not giving a stuff) and that it has been quite liberating.

What a lovely thread this is

@nzeire We can get sans stuff in the UK so I'm going to order some, sadly Olaplex 6 has silicone in it so no good for my curly hair but I'm going to try the Olaplex 3 as well. Thank you!
And @PJsEveryday sorry to derail your thread , can't wait to see photos.
I changed my style from corporate office wear, full make up, straightened hair, 'classy' jewellery, heels to Toast, Kin, Scandinavian/Japanese architect.

yes I have. In my 20s/ early 30s I was all about cowboy boots, ditsy print dresses, wrap dresses, florals with red lip - a bit more vintage.
Now mid-late 30s I've gone very monochrome, but I'm erring towards lots of warm earthy colours too now - camels, terracotta, olive green, and high quality fabrics. If I wear a dress it will be black or leopard print, and more likely midi/ maxi.
I'm not sure if it's fashion has changed or because I've put on weight that I want to 'blend in' but be comfortable. Ironically my older style would probably suit a curvy figure more but I just don't like it any more!

I'm so pleased I found this thread. For a long time I have felt frumpy and scruffy, always jeans and a next top, usually not anything I have bought myself. Turning 50 this year hadn't helped my mindset.

I've decided to update myself, starting with a new hairstyle and a dress for Christmas Day. Hoping to have overhauled my wardrobe by the time I go back to the office in the Spring.

OP, I'd love to hear how you get on

@Lastdanceagain - a new look for christmas day sounds like a lovely present to yourself - would love to know wht dress you buy/have bought.

@DameCelia not derailing at all - its good that other people can benefit from this thread too. Good luck with taming the frizz - i bought Cantu but so far it's doing nothing, but it is early days. I'll be taking a look for the products @nzeire recommended

Ok, be kind but be honest (and ignore that the mirror and carpet need cleaned )

Pic of what I bought and pic of how it looks on me - i feel that i look a stone heavier than usual and feel a bit frumpy. Also, i KNOW this is not a dramatic look for some, but mt staple wardrobe is cheap next jeans and blouse, every working day of my life, this is out my comfort zone.

And this: I feel to old for this skirt

I'd love to wear this style (pattern is a bit too busy for my, but I love the style) www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/isodora-midi-shirt-dress-black-garden-chintz-bouquet/sty-w0421-bla?cat=C1_S2_G4

I love that second look! Where are those boots from?

I'm 52, about the same size and shape as you, also with the splodgy tummy and I find dresses far easier to wear than skirts or trousers.

I do find Boden dresses the waists come up too high on me though, they sit on my lower ribs and I spend the whole day pulling the dress down. But generally I love a shirt dress.

You're not "too old" for the skirt, it looks great.

Not sure about the dress, I think it just doesn't fig you quite properly.

*fit!