Help please - 46 & no idea what to wear or where to shop & have a night out soon

[Littlemiss74]

I haven’t seen my friend in nearly 2 years. In a couple of weeks we are going to meet in London, go for meal & drinks etc. I haven’t been out like that since 2019. Since then I have put on a bit of weight, am perimenopausal and feel pretty crap about my body. I have let myself go but also I guess age & hormones are taking over. I need to seriously start to improve my diet and do more exercise as can’t get away with it anymore. But right now I need something to wear for my night out!

Today I went to our small town to browse the sales hoping to pick up something to wear on my night out. The few shops we have consist of Oliver Bonas, Mint Velvet, Fatface, Phase Eight & Hobbs & a couple of boutiques. I really like OB on the hanger but just can’t see it suiting me, MV seemed expensive even in sale & I didn’t love anything enough to buy. The rest were just a no.

I literally just do not know what to buy anymore. I came home feeling a bit down. I feel nothing will suit me. The shops either seem too young or too old. I just want one nice thing to wear but it seems impossible. I don’t even know what people wear on a night out anymore! Should I dress up or is it more casual?

Please can anyone help with outfit ideas, clothes in general and not too expensive shops that are half decent quality? I’m 56, 5’3” size 12 with extra weight on tum area. I’m feeling incredibly self conscious and lacking in confidence about my appearance and generally crap. I’m guessing I will need to order online as there are bugger all decent shops near me!

Thanks for any help

They do say to keep the focus on the areas you do like so would be great to know that for more specific recommendations?

Do you have any hated outfits you would never go near?

I like a lot of stuff in ba&sh right now. They have really nice printed blouses and plain ones that are detailed enough not to be just plain.

What about something like that tucked into jeans and then…. You see this is where I fall down. Im rubbish at pairing outfits with the right footwear. I would say some flat boots where the jeans are rolled to show some ankle maybe?

Lk Bennett do some nice jumpsuits? Or can you travel to John Lewis and get a free style consultation? Lots in the sales now.
Next seemed to have upped their game a bit more lately with some new designers. I order lots, try on and send back what I don’t like.

No need to despair!

Have a look at & Other Stories online. It has a more contemporary vibe than the places you’ve mentioned. (COD and Arket are part of the same family, so also worth a look.)

I like Mint Velvet for nice tops with jeans. This style suits my mum tum:
www.mintvelvet.co.uk/product/Gold-Striped-Metallic-Knit-Top/33277
A bit expensive but keep an eye in the sale.

All Saints? Ghost? Silk slip dress, leather jacket, big boots or big sandals.

Can you think about an outfit that you have worn in the past that you have felt great in , and use that as a starting point? Personally I think anything goes on night's out now. So many people have waited to dress up that they may go for the dressy approach but then many have gone for the more casual approach since lockdown.
If it was me I'd go for a plain but long dress. A nice casual blazer over the top. Some gold chains around my neck and some flat mules