Help please - lost my style mojo 😫

[Askinvillarblues]

I’m starting to think about spring clothes now the weather is getting warmer, and have realised that I have spent the last three months wearing a ‘uniform’ of skinny jeans and polo neck jumper in various shades of blue/grey. I’m really comfortable in this but am bored of wearing the same things over and over and am conscious that I’m not particularly ‘on trend’. Can anyone please please help with ideas on how I can start to add some new styles into my wardrobe? I’m 5ft2.5, size 6, slim but not skinny (28D, hips), very short waisted/proportionally long legs so look daft in all the high- waisted, cropped top looks and am swamped by midi dresses. Soft Summer colouring (ash brown hair and blue/green/grey eyes, neutral skin). I used to shop almost exclusively at Oasis but now they’ve been bought out by Boohoo I don’t want to buy from there for ethical reasons (plus the quality has gone to shit). I find that more grown-up brands just don’t fit me as I’m too short, but then I’m not really short enough for petite brands either. Help please 😫 Oh, lifestyle - live rurally, SAHM, spend free time dog walking/ horse riding but used to live in the city and would like to feel a bit more up to date.

Have you tried Stitch Fix? If you gave them all that info hopefully they'd come up with something.

Oooh no I haven’t. I just wonder whether they will be any good at finding stuff that will actually fit, as so many high street stores just don’t work for me. I’ve tried teenage stuff but it’s all too high fashion and I don’t really want to dress like I’m 17 in my mid-forties...Also I’d like better quality but just can’t find a ‘grown ups’ shop that works. All the usual recommendations (Stories, Zara, massimo dutti) are just cut for taller people, and shops like seasalt, joules, white stuff just aren’t my style - I feel like my mum wearing their stuff. Really I want Oasis back but decent quality and no dodgy slavery ethics 😫

Well you won't find out if you don't try it.

If you liked Oasis what about having a look at Oliver Bonas? I’m taller and fatter (5ft 6 and a size 10) so they might still be cut too long, but they have lovely things. I buy a lot from Cos and Stories and tend to like quite cropped tops as I always wear high waisted bottoms - might that be something that could work? I mean things that sit on the waist, not things actually baring my stomach.

Oh thank you! I’ll have a look at Oliver Bonas. I’ve never really thought to look there for clothes - I’d always associated it with lovely trinkets and bits for the house.

I think one of the things I’m struggling with is the change from skinnies/longer tops which works well to balance out my short waist, to higher- waisted bottoms and shorter tops, which makes my legs look weird and my torso non-existent 🤣. Maybe I should just accept that fashion isn’t designed for my body shape at the moment.

If you can face Boden, they do have a lot available in petite (I'm 5'2" and the lengths work for me). Sizing is generally at the vanity end - so size down.

Being too short is probably your issue. Life is easier when you’re 5.6...

You sounds absolutely beautiful. With your figure I am sure that lots will look great on you. For summer clothes I can highly recommend Aspiga. They do lovely dresses/skirts/accessories and knitwear.

You might also like Sézane? It’s a bit pricy, but the quality is great. I miss Oasis too!

Yes I think it’s the shortness that the main problem, coupled with the really short torso! Thanks for the recommendations - I’ll have a look at them all this evening. I need to break out of my style rut but it’s so hard to try somewhere new when everything is online. I love all the floaty midis but they really don’t love me 🤣

@AmberItsACertainty

Have you tried Stitch Fix? If you gave them all that info hopefully they'd come up with something.

I came on to say StitchFix! If only I could afford them every month, they're fab.

People suggest StitchFix a lot on here, and often then offer their own referral code, but whenever I've seen posts that show what people have been sent it never seems to be particularly remarkable and generally quite expensive, unless of course if you keep everything, then you get a discount.

Yes I think that’s what I’m nervous about - I haven’t got a huge budget to spend and I already know how hard it is to find clothes that actually fit properly. I’d really appreciate some ideas for how I can update my look from skinny jeans and polo neck jumpers (which are absolutely fine but just feel so boring) to something more on trend. Otherwise I suspect I’ll be one of those people who find their ‘look’ and then wear it for evermore... not that there is anything wrong with that but I’m not quite ready for that yet!

How about just moving a little way- girlfriend or straight jeans, possibly rolled above ankle (can make legs look shorter but might be good as yours are proportionally long), sleeveless polo neck for spring, or jersey collared shirt under a fitted jumper for the same kind of feel and silhouette?

I’ve also been struggling without my beloved oasis. Sounds a bit teenage but have a look at Abercrombie, I’ve had some brilliant dresses on there (but some of it really is teenage). All Saints is good too. I think if you need to break out of the rut and height is an issue, invest in a few dresses. It will force you out of the same daily outfit. I’m an avid fan of a denim dress, don’t generally like sosandar but they have good denim dresses in various shapes.

How about moving from skinnies to flares? They’re still tight to the knee so shouldn’t mess with your waist proportions

Oooh these are all great ideas, thank you! Girlfriend jeans or flares could work, and I’d forgotten about Abercrombie - have had a few bits from there in the past and they are a good fit. I’ve also had some nice things from J.Crew but I think they’ve stopped shipping to the UK and I’m too far from any shops. US brands are often a good fit so that’s a great reminder. I like the idea of sticking to the same silhouette as that is what seems to work for me (and is also my comfort zone 🙄) as anything too flouncy or fussy just drowns me. Dresses are a good call too - are we too far into spring for opaque tights? I do feel the cold so not ready for bare legs just yet 🤣