Help please! Turned into a frump!

[cheeseisthebest]

Hi. I'm 43, bit overweight and short and I hate my clothes!
Never know what looks nice on me? Please help! I wear a lot of black, navy, grey or I have very patterned dresses from White Stuff.
I just don't know where to look or what would flatter me?

Hard to say without pics?

Yeh was trying to find one.

This is the best I can do.

Oops

What do you need to buy? What is your budget, lifestyle? What sort of clothes do you see people wearing and think look nice?

Another pic, the shoes don't do me any favours do they!

A black leather jacket

@thedevilinablackdress

What do you need to buy? What is your budget, lifestyle? What sort of clothes do you see people wearing and think look nice?

Budget is low really as quite skint at the moment. Lifestyle is school run, work at home, take dog for walk, maybe meet friends for lunch/coffee. Clothes I see that are nice are nice jumpers, one colour, flattering style and shape. If I look like I've made too much effort I feel self conscious. I do (contradicting what I've just said!) tend to buy cheap poor quality clothes which doesn't help! Just looking stylish, which I never do!

Stop wearing:
Skinny jeans
Cardigans
Ballet pumps
Anything from white stuff

Browse through some outfits on John Lewis app, brands like Hush, Mint Velvet, And/Or or even Anyday to get an idea for new things

@MaybeWeShouldGoToEastbourne

A black leather jacket

Absolutely not!

@wombwithawiew

Stop wearing: Skinny jeans Cardigans Ballet pumps Anything from white stuff

Browse through some outfits on John Lewis app, brands like Hush, Mint Velvet, And/Or or even Anyday to get an idea for new things

What should I wear instead? I totally agree those pumps look horrendous and make me look even bigger than I am. Think my cardigan is really dated isn't it?

Why not ?

I would look ridiculous in a leather jacket! And I really hate them!

No advice but have you anonymised your cat there? 😂 Love it. Blue dress is nice, maybe could be jazzed up with a belt or some jewellery/a scarf. If you like flats, try something with a bit of shiny detail on the top (buckle etc) or try a low heel

I would start following a few people on Instagram for ideas
eg https://instagram.com/backofthewardrobe70?utmmedium=copyy_link

@Fireatseaparks

No advice but have you anonymised your cat there? 😂 Love it. Blue dress is nice, maybe could be jazzed up with a belt or some jewellery/a scarf. If you like flats, try something with a bit of shiny detail on the top (buckle etc) or try a low heel

Haha its not a cat so I must have anonymised really well!!

It isn't so much the shoes but the way you are standing. Feet closer together, one leg in front of the other, hip towards camera. That will lengthen the leg and take off a stone.

@BadlydoneHelen

I would start following a few people on Instagram for ideas eg [[https://instagram.com/backofthewardrobe70?utm]]medium=copyy_link

She looks great but everything she's wearing is so long? I'm really short! Any super stylish person able to suggest what would suit me? I have no clue. I'm looking on JL but have no idea what would look nice?

Oh, and get your colours done. Kettlewell have a great quiz and website.

@RosesAndHellebores

It isn't so much the shoes but the way you are standing. Feet closer together, one leg in front of the other, hip towards camera. That will lengthen the leg and take off a stone.

Oh wow really, will have to try that. I can see its a very unflattering pose

There is no reason you can’t wear skinny jeans and a cardigan if that’s comfortable and practical for you, plenty of people still do and look perfectly non frumpy, you just need to update the style. Instead of a thin short cardigan, try a long oversized cable knit with a plain t shirt and instead of pumps a low heeled ankle boot perhaps.
Vinted is really great for new and nearly new stuff, particularly if you want to try different styles on a budget.

Just order some stuff to try different looks.

Don't get a leather jacket they look terrible on most people.

I quickly looked on Hush on JL and what about any of these looks - you can obviously mix and match, sometimes even a new pair of boots can help.

@cheeseisthebest at the end of the day, if you're comfortable, wear what you like! But if you're not feeling your best I totally get that.
I hate tight things and don't at all dress 'fashionably' but try to be stylish/chic (and probably fail!). I'm quite curvy and try to dress comfortably, and relatively conservatively as I'm self-conscious. I mainly wear long sleeves dresses from Missguided or Boohoo or Primark- and pair them with boots or pumps or trainers and silver jewellery.

Examples-

https://www.missguided.co.uk/brown-leopard-print-ruffle-hem-midi-smock-dress-10234488?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvPyi1MTy8wIVQertCh2HwgeqEAQYAiABEgINvDD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

https://www.boohoo.com/ruffle-hem-and-sleeve-maxi-dress/DZZ35052-105-22.html?istCompanyId=4bd63293-f970-4d25-8695-422e3c08a364&istFeedId=4213e776-38e9-4fed-89b9-aadfd4011112&istItemId=waawqwrii&istBid=t&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrJ7byMTy8wIVR-rtCh0uYgM7EAQYAiABEgIZYDD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Couldn't add them all!

I agree about buying second hand - Depop is great. You’re not frumpy at all but it’s important to feel comfortable in what you’re wearing. I’m late 20s and dress in what I feel ‘comfortable’ in. In winter you can’t go wrong in some good quality leggings and longline/oversized jumper/cardigan with some nice boots. I personally love jumpers with a bit of sparkle (each to their own) and makes me feel ‘dressedup’ without actually dressing up