What to wear when modern clothes look like the wardrobe department of 1995 Grange Hill

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I hate most of my clothes.

I want a refresh. I don't want to spend thousands and thousands. I don't want to buy 'classic pieces' because that's generally code for boring and frumpy.

I want funky, fashionable clothes but I also don't want to look like an extra from Byker Grove/Grange Hill/The Queen's Nose in 1995. But the shops are filled to the brim with shit rehashed 90s garbage at the moment.

I'm also at a weird age. I'm 35. But I look younger. My hair's a bit crap at the moment (shoulder length, stretched roots) but I gave myself a shaved undercut to spice it up a bit

I look a dick in fashionable clothes (as in following the latest trends) because I'm a fully grown adult and can't get away with pretending otherwise.
But I feel boring in sensible, classic clothes.

I tend to wear skinny jeans, French tucked T-shirts, over-sized jumpers, white pumps, hoodies, chunky casual ankle boots, jumpsuits. I have a very casual style but I need some oomph. Maybe even just a couple of items to sex things up a bit. But what? And where to get them from?

HELP!

Ugh I agree OP! I looked shit in it the first time round, never mind now. I've found some nice tops in boden, trousers in m and s and shoes in hobbs. Jeez, I sound am old.

For oomph I've switched jersey tops to a silk shirt and upgraded my h and m hoodie to a baukjen one. Not sure if I have oomph but I feel more me.

I can't deal with trousers at all at the moment so basically am living in dresses. Very little thought required beyond "do I like the pattern" and "it doesn't look like a bag"
Although the puff sleeves craziness might put a stop to it!

I've signed up to Thread.com. Not bought anything yet but I'm enjoying browsing the ideas so that could be worth a try.

I find the only current look that works for me is the long skirt and t-shirt plus sneakers or boots and a crossbody bag. At least it’s comfortable! I do feel like I’m back in 1997 though with added dowdy “mum” vibes.

I can’t wear pretty much anything else of anything in the shops right now. Wide leg denim culottes that stop mid-calf? I’d look like I was in training at clown school 🤦‍♀️

I think if you’re only finding 90s fashion you’re shopping in the wrong places - you’ve got to go up a notch price wise. I would start by creating a board on Pinterest and just looking at images of outfits and pinning the ones you’re drawn to. Hopefully an overall style will emerge - Scandi / minimalist, boho, preppy etc. There is plenty of advice online / books to help you find your style if you don’t know it. Just walking into a shop and buying random items isn’t going to get you to where you want to be… you need a plan. If you fancy watching some videos on You Tube then I recommend “Use Less DK” “A Small Wardrobe” & “Justine Leconte”. Use Less is a Scandinavian designer with a middle of the road aesthetic that’s pretty on trend but not super trendy (if that makes sense.) A Small Wardrobe is more arty and Justine is more French!!!! If you want a recommendation for one shop I would choose Arket but my secret, cheaper, not very well known source is Lindex. That being said I recommend pre-loved / second hand and when you know what you want I recommend Traid, Oxfam online and of course EBay, Depop etc.

Glad it's not just me who feels like this.
At 40, I've finally got enough money to shop in actual shops instead of just charity shops so I eagerly had a look...not impressed!!

Me too. I've been either pregnant or horribly overweight for 3.5 years and now I'm back to myself I'm cringing at most of the trends. I'm 43, with a big diastasis belly and the big jeans trend is shockingly ugly on me. Ankle swinging wide legs make me look like a denim clad barn door. Was in London this week and all the young things either looked like Clerks or Clueless rejects or my gran.

My 11 DD is refusing the jeans change, clinging to her skinnies no matter what so I'm doing the same in solidarity and edging my look back to the slightly alternative / rocky grunge me of yore. Biker boots and DMs, expensive check shirts, skinnies, leather Spanx, fitted band t shirts, drapy jumpers and skater trainers. It hides the belly, I feel slim, and I like it 🤷🏻‍♀️

This thread has made me have a proper think!
Have you seen Emmanuelle Alt’s style? I mean she’s older than 35 but if you like a good old tshirts and jeans look she absolutely rocks it. Might be just a case of updating shoes, jackets?

I reckon fashionistas do this on purpose so we either have to sign up to style consultation services or keep buying crap in the hope something will be wearable.

Your style sounds similar to me. I shop in H&M, Zara, ASOS and Mango.

I feel your pain! Also 35 and feel like this is the first time that I am just to old for the current fashion trends! I feel like my style has got a lot younger and more alternative since working from home (I was always a bit alternative growing up then became an accountant so had to be very corporate in how I dressed) but I agree with previous posters about putting together a Pinterest board of things you like and also taking a look at sites such as Depop and Vinted (get past all the shite Y2K stuff) to find things you like. I also find it difficult to dress for the lifestyle I have (kids smearing banana and snot on me) vs. the lifestyle I want (European city dweller with shit loads of time on her hands).

I have literally cried today looking for new clothes that aren’t shit. Half the high street is boohoo, the other half is ASOS. Everything’s man made fibres or recycled manmade fibre and no one cuts for women with waist lines and seeing as 64% of the uk is obese you can’t blame them. I’m literally in rags & I look tatty. I know I look a mess and it’s getting me down. I used to be glamorous. I feel dowdy & frumpy.

I’ve bought jeans and a long cardigan in Abercrombie and Fitch & a reiss serena jumper today. I’m planning on some mint velvet faux leather leggings.

Thanks to vanity sizing I’m also now a size 6 despite still fitting into my size 10 stuff from the 90’s. Possibly a size 4 in Reiss. I had to send a size 6 top back as too big and the corrected the reason code to “too small” on the return email.

Dh has been looking for me too and has come back with “fuck me, I wouldn't want to be a woman now it’s all rubbish” but he buys stone island for himself which isn’t me even if they did women’s.

I miss Karen millen when I could just walk in and be spoilt for choice.

I’ve cried for the past two days as the only thing I like, a relaxed Breton stripe jumper (Arket and &other stories had one and both are sold out! I’m like a petulant child as that’s the only one i like!

I do suggest however to either try vintage or a really good boutique with independent styles.

@LimpLettice

Me too. I've been either pregnant or horribly overweight for 3.5 years and now I'm back to myself I'm cringing at most of the trends. I'm 43, with a big diastasis belly and the big jeans trend is shockingly ugly on me. Ankle swinging wide legs make me look like a denim clad barn door. Was in London this week and all the young things either looked like Clerks or Clueless rejects or my gran.

My 11 DD is refusing the jeans change, clinging to her skinnies no matter what so I'm doing the same in solidarity and edging my look back to the slightly alternative / rocky grunge me of yore. Biker boots and DMs, expensive check shirts, skinnies, leather Spanx, fitted band t shirts, drapy jumpers and skater trainers. It hides the belly, I feel slim, and I like it 🤷🏻‍♀️

I was in Brixton last night and saw a few nice dresses and jumpsuits on younger people - guessing 20s/30s but they’re super slim and have the sass to wear it. One young woman I saw had I think a velvet two piece shorter top and trousers with platform bright shoes which was kind of the sort of thing I’d have worn in my 20s. Another 20s woman was wearing a lovely powder blue sweater outside a restaurant in Brixton Market. Another woman was wearing a silver sort of 20s style beaded fringed hat.

In the 1990s/2000 I could moreorless wear what I liked as size 8-10 but the quality seemed better. It was all much better made too. We had independent brands in Hyper Hyper in High St Ken, club wear brands in Camden Market but kookai, Morgan etc was much better made and it seemed better quality and style.

I did buy a nice knitted dress by Morgan via La Redoute last year (navy, white and mustard) but my other stuff is work sweatshirts etc. It is getting harder and harder to buy flattering clothes as they don’t design for women with waists etc. Tragic.

OP - if you want an update, why not try a different cut of jeans/trousers, eg. barrel leg, or flared, or wider crop - all more contemporary shapes than skinnies (a shape you’ve likely been wearing for 10 years). All those go with chunky boots and half-tuck T-shirts. Ditto midi skirts suggested by a PP. You could make small changes that don’t require starting over/spending a ton.