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?

@nzeire

I’d go with suggestion above. Start with ONE outfit. Top to toe. The best fit jeans. A great pair of sneakers. A perfect plain tshirt. A plain cardigan, someone put a pic up of an oversized grey one that looked ok.

Don’t be messing with new looks, prints, lots of ok stuff. Get one outfit down, perfect and take it from there.

Also as PP said - top to toe includes grooming - great skin care, brows, teeth, invest in top quality hair cut and colour - as you wear this all day every day - keep this maintained - will make you feel good and people will rarely notice what you are wearing (keep it simple) if groomed and radiant

www.marksandspencer.com/mom-high-waisted-ankle-grazer-jeans/p/clp60448793?color=GREYBLUE#intid=prodColourId-60527451

These jeans? Which colour? Trying to find the white trainers with the silver stars?
Also the sainsburys olive green cardy but the link doesn't work?

www.next.co.uk/style/ls126942/r42367?dp=a&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_fiLBhDOARIsAF4khR2r3Pdr6OuUb0ZMlhE-VOG07MDA1q-UdCrwKEQirO8vBHwKoFkYcMkaAtseEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds#r42367

If you're not very tall and a little bit overweight then I don't think Mom jeans will work- I would try straight like these

Lots of people are recommending that you get just one full outfit to begin. Yes!
Jeans - M&S
Plain jumper or striped top - personally I'd go for Arket or Cos here, or M&S if the fabric isn't shit
Chelsea boots - Clarks usually have a decent range
Trainers - maybe leather Converse - black, grey or leopard print would be more use than white for winter

these are the trainers I think you were looking for

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie

Lots of people are recommending that you get just one full outfit to begin. Yes! Jeans - M&S Plain jumper or striped top - personally I'd go for Arket or Cos here, or M&S if the fabric isn't shit Chelsea boots - Clarks usually have a decent range Trainers - maybe leather Converse - black, grey or leopard print would be more use than white for winter

Yep. I like this idea. I actually have navy converse already.

Thank you badlydonehelen

Then a second outfit:
For me, that would be a casual dress that I can wear with the boots, or a shortish skirt that works with the boots and the trainers.

www.marksandspencer.com/l/women/tops/shirts-and-blouses

Any thoughts on any of these? I like a few of them but think they would look very different on my pale skin?

www.next.co.uk/style/st572342/238313#238313
Love this dress and boots but too long for me I think. Like the boots though. Beautiful Naydia would look good in anything!

@cheeseisthebest the white trainers with the stars are John Lewis, the and/or range. All the stuff in the photos I attached is from John Lewis

Thanks Isabelle

The boots are good. I think if you got boots like these you would soon prefer them to your old favourites OP.

Re the shirts, keep them simple and unfussy. The bib detail long-sleeve shirt - third one shown - looks good. Nice slim straight jeans and good trainers and you're sorted.

Don't get a dress that will drown you if you're not very tall. You just have to try a load on really and see what looks good.

@cheeseisthebest

www.marksandspencer.com/l/women/tops/shirts-and-blouses

Any thoughts on any of these? I like a few of them but think they would look very different on my pale skin?

Order them and try on (or go to a large store) - the only way to see if something suits your colouring/shape is to try them on

@Isabelle70

I had a JL online styling session and here are couple of the ideas that I have copied. I swapped the white Breton for a navy stripe and rather than buy a new coat I wear with a khaki parka, have the jeans and trainers already. This red/black top I really liked so I got it and have worn with black jeans and some black suede trainers. I put on with a black Primark padded coat but that was in the cloakroom all evening so just worn to keep me warm on the wall to the taxi!

Sorry yes you did say JL!

I've just bought this dress to wear with tights and Chelsea boots or chunky loafers for work. There's a black and white animal print version but that's not my thing.

It's a good price for basically most of an outfit.

www.marksandspencer.com/collared-knee-length-shirt-dress/p/clp60520279?color=BLACK&prevPage=srp#intid=prodColourId-60520279

You've had lots of great advice op! I always turn to Pinterest when I'm getting in a rut, just type in casual outfits and save the looks you like, then try and replicate them. I've attached a couple that I have saved for ideas.

These Clark's boots are nice boots

Now says out of stock since I posted earlier this morning …. but might well still be on the shop floor if not online.

Also have those M&S jeans - same shape as you and game changer - no way could I wear Dad, Mum or whatever jeans.

Agree with looking at how the (trained expert) stylist has put an outfit together top to toe. They would have arrived at this result after considering loads of options so don’t bother reinventing the wheel.

Not sure which of the M&S tops you were suggesting from the link.

Oh! And I also wanted to say, I avoid thin knit jumpers like the plague. Really unflattering.

Hush, although I am not a fan, have this tee at the moment which is flattering on me. I'm a 32g bust. Lots of t-shirts don't work for me because of this but I bought 3 of these. I'll link in a sec.

www.hush-uk.com/search?hidden=&q=Mimi&search-button=&lang=en_GB

Sorry for multiple posts but I should say the dress is not that short on me, in case it's off putting. It's just above my knee. I'm 5' 6

@DFOD

Now says out of stock since I posted earlier this morning …. but might well still be on the shop floor if not online.

Also have those M&S jeans - same shape as you and game changer - no way could I wear Dad, Mum or whatever jeans.

Agree with looking at how the (trained expert) stylist has put an outfit together top to toe. They would have arrived at this result after considering loads of options so don’t bother reinventing the wheel.

Not sure which of the M&S tops you were suggesting from the link.

Yes I should have been more specific! Will have another look.

I love this thread so much and am picking up lots of great ideas myself!

I think the first thing for you to do is get a pair of those chunky black Chelsea boots that are everywhere at the moment. Those will instantly help update any outfit.