I’m just heading out for drinks/ a late lunch with friends for only the second time since I had a baby just over a year ago - well since before that really what with lockdowns etc.
I know I look a bit dated and not really in keeping with what people are wearing these days but I’m not quite sure how to get it right.
I’ve lost a bit of weight recently so had to dig into bags of older stuff to find something to wear which hasn’t helped. I’m still a size 16, and I’m 5ft 7.
I’m wearing a black above the knee skirt in a kind of textured fabric, a long sleeve black and white top - high neck - in a fabric that kind of gives the impression of being sheer but isn’t. Both are Dorothy Perkins so not exactly high end! I have opaque black tights on and black ankle boots with a slight heel, what used to be called back in the day ‘a boyfriend blazer’ over the top.
It’s too much black which isn’t really my colour but it was slim pickings in my wardrobe this morning.
I feel like I’ve forgotten how to dress since maternity/ lockdown wear and basically living in leggings and tops since having dd.
I think I’d feel better in jeans but I got rid of the thinner sizes and the ones I kept are now too big. I don’t know what shape/ style to go for.
I struggle with what to wear on my feet. I broke my foot a few years ago and need reasonable support. Ankle boots are comfortable but don’t work with everything or the ones I have don’t anyway. I see everyone wearing white trainers with everything but I never feel like I can quite pull that off somehow. I don’t think I’m buying the right ones of those either.
I’m a mostly SAHM on a tight budget, but I’m not against buying better brands second hand if I knew where to look. I have just started some freelance work so am hoping to have a little to spend on some more up to date things, I just don’t know where to start.
Today I have my long hair just blow dried straight as couldn’t think what else to do with it. Red lipstick as I felt like I needed some colour but that doesn’t seem right either now! I have good (big but not bad in a decent bra) boobs, ok arms, ok legs - everything in between is not so great. On the leg front - I do have a lot of bruises and random marks which puts me off going bare legged though, just because I’m clumsy and bruise if you so much as look at me. Not that bare legged will be an issue as we go into winter I guess.
I’ve always looked best in v neck type t dresses and wrap dresses but they just feel very mumsy all of a sudden and I’m bored of them. I have a sort of hourglass shape which is supposed to be a positive thing but it’s a fat hourglass so a lot of the suggestions for that shape don’t really work. I’m 41 - did I say that already? If it means anything people are generally pretty surprised by that and I think I look a few years younger but that’s mostly weight I think. I’ve found some exercise and a way of eating that are really working for me and the weight is coming off pretty easily, but I’m always going to be around a 14 I think, it’s just my build - big hips and fairly broad back/ shoulders.
Can anyone give me any pointers at all for how I can freshen up my look a bit and not look so much like an old has been? I don’t want to and am never going to achieve a cutting edge fashion look but I would like to update it a bit. Needs to be fairly low maintenance as I have a young toddler and am working into the night after she goes to bed most nights so I really haven’t got the energy most mornings for much (on a normal day it’s just tinted moisturiser and a pony tail and I generally look a mess then too!)
Id love to hear ideas for what sort of styles I should be looking at for clothes/ shoes/ hair and make up even! What shops are good on a budget? I’m less concerned about casual stuff but more for on the odd occasion I do get out with grown ups. Also I have a conference coming up connected to my freelance work so I’d like to know where to look for something for that.