An impossible ask?

[millefeuille1]

I am nearly 58, 5ft4 and a bit of an apple shape. Working from home for 14 months now. I have nice work dresses/skirts for when we return but can never find nice, casual, comfortable clothes for homewear. I like trousers and usually wear jeans and jumpers/ t shirts for housework and gardening but I just look lazy and scruffy. I want to look put together! Current "loungewear" makes me look like a weeble. Any ideas? Including nice flat footwear? TIA.

Hoodies and sweatshirts tend to not flatter anyone.
Would a long shirt or tunic with leggings work for you, or more comfortable versions of your workwear.

Uniqlo might be somewhere to get basics.

I'm your height and a complete scruffbag, so i usually swap my top for a shirt for zoom meetings or put a scarf on.

Flat footwear for home use or for work?

You could swap slippers for birkenstocks, or wear nice trainer type shoes. I've just remembered that I have no medium height shoes. I usually wear good quality flats (bought on ebay). I have a particular fondness for a certain brand.

M&S is good for flat shoes. Their clothes are good too. The loungewear, jeans and sportswear are excellent, and don't be put off by the MN anti-M&Sness. Their stock depends on the shop and maybe I am lucky with my local ones.

I have found some decent clothes in Zara, Primark, H&M and New Look. John Lewis is good for a browse.

At your age, go for good quality but wear what you like.

Thank you for your answers! It was flat shoes for home I was thinking about. I do like the sound of leggings with tunics (not worn leggings for years but if I'm covered up properly it could work). I'll have a look at M&S shoes, too - currently other than trainers I have nothing to fill the gap between boots and sandals.

I'm not sure, I suppose it depends what you do. I don't wear shoes at home but use birkies as slippers if I need to put things in the bin or something.
For just walking to the shop I wear trainers - regular ones although I have had stan smiths and vejas.

OP I am in my (very) late 40's and I have also been working from home. For the first while there huge novelty in wearing pj / sweatpants for zooms as no-one could see it.
But I started to feel really bad about never dressing properly. I put on weight and the elasticated waist bands definitely didn't help me!

So, I sent time weeding out my wardrobe and decided to buy for my life right now, not my imaginary 'going out for dinner / cocktails' life or my old smart office role, these were my 2 default shopping modes. Somehow I resented spending money on every day / weekend clothes.

So I forced myself to start there. I cleared out the wardrobe and was ruthless! 3 categories - clothes recycling bank (worn out tshirts etc), charity shop and then I sold loads of stuff online. This gave me a nice headstart budget to restock.

I only buy quality things that I love but I don't allow myself to buy things I might love but that I can't wear to the supermarket or for a coffee - so no fancy dresses as I have loads already.

It's far easier to get dressed every day now as I have a nice selection of things that fit (I also worked hard and have lost 1.5 stones since the first lockdown gain) and that make me feel good.

I bought jeans, non skinny, and I invested in them from Sezane. Then it was easy to match lovely shirts / tshirts / blouses and knitwear with them. I also bought straight wide legged trousers and cropped wide legged coulotte style (actually bought them last year from Whistles) and 3 jumpsuits.

I only wear flat shoes and have winter and summer brogues, chelsea boots, birkenstocks, new balance trainers and several pairs of sandals.

You are my age, height and shape

I have felt a lot smarter since moving to wide legged jeans and trousers, with a neat-fitting polo on top (just covering the waistband). Some of my trousers look smart but have elasricated waists that can’t be seen with the jumper hem over them

Trainers, chunky slides, and brogues/loafers on the feet

Interesting jewellery and occasionally a scarf

Oh, you are all brilliant! Lots to look at here. I love the idea of loafers. I really can't do cropped trousers - they look very out of proportion on me, but wide legged stuff could work. Skinny jeans have never been a good look for me - I suppose the clue was in the name .