Low effort max return clothing

[timeforteaforyouandme]

What's your favourite item of clothing or make up or hair thing that makes you feel/look like you've made an effort without actually making much effort?

I'll go first: mine is a John Lewis navy wool coat (that I got cheap in an August sale). I wear it instead of my usual puffa (with trainers) if I want to look a bit smarter going into town but it is a bit warm.

What's yours?

VO5 hair oil. I have fine, flyaway hair with kinks in. You warm the tube of oil in a cup while you run the shower, wet your hair and massage in. Leave it 1 minute, rinse and wash. Voila! Shiny, obedient hair. I do it once a month.

And I love my faux suede orange biker jacket. Not warm enough for winter but the rest of the year you have to tear it off me. Lifts any dress or jeans outfit to new heights.

Oh I loved hot oil I didn't know they still made it! Going to get some

A drapey navy dress from Cos. So drapey it is like wearing academic robes. I swish in it and feel like Professor McGonagall.

@Divebar2021

Im pretty drawn to monochromatic looks - obviously head to toe black works although I probably prefer navy which is a bit kinder to my complexion. I have also got a forest green look to try comprised of blazer, trousers, wool coat, shoes and bag but haven’t been brave enough to wear that yet. ( I don’t know why I feel I need to be brave). There’s something about similar tones which looks chic and cohesive to me. A “good” coat thrown over a casual outfit definitely takes it up a notch - I love a wool coat and have a few in different colours.

This look sounds awesome. Bonus points if you are a red head.

Another vote for the blazer, I have at least 20 in various materials and colours. Can be dressed up or down, go with anything and always make you look smarter.

Clean/polished shoes, a good bag and sometimes a scarf..not a woollen one a nice one to compliment your outfit.

I always feel great when I'm wearing something a bit tailored, classic and possibly a bit masculine. I dunno, a pair of trousers that fit you well, good-quality top and a blazer with red lipstick makes me feel kick-ass. I also like the grungy version of this where I swap the trousers for jeans and the top for a well-cut t-shirt. The blazer is a standard. Messy hair in the way French ladies do it. Pretty easy and all those items are a staple in my wardrobe

I like dresses for ease but I always feel better in trousers

Re the brooch conversation I love repurposing 80s style chandelier earrings for pierced ears as brooches. They look so glam and drapey and always sit well as they are literally pinned to the fabric.

I've got a cheap (I think aldi originally) denim jacket that was 50p from a charity shop, it's stretchy and really comfy. Looks great over a maxi dress in summer and the colour suits me.
I also have a Joules quilted jacket that is warm and lightweight and feels smart. I find coats generally tricky to get right with fit, warmth and being practical but smart.

I'm a lover of brooches too and been picking a few up secondhand recently.
I would love to see how people have styled up mens blazers, I'm tall with long arms so mens stuff often fits me better.

This is a great thread, and inspiring me to dig out some old brooches!

A red velvet 50’s coat I bought in an op shop 20 years ago.
I had it re-lined and that cost more than the coat!
I feel wonderful every time I put it on and it always gets lots complements.

Maxi-dress - no contest. You can dress it up or down. If you’re not sure what the dress code is, then it covers all eventualities. It suits my pear shape figure perfectly, and is easy to sling on..

A pair of gold plated sterling silver earrings I bought from TK Maxx for about a tenner, they're sort of a hammered gold disc on the earlobe with a wide hammered gold hoop hanging from it. They're magic and make absolutely any outfit look instantly more put together. Unfortunately I've worn them so much that the gold plating has worn off and they look a bit too dull now. I can't find similar ones anywhere and am probably going to have to pay 3x what it cost to buy them originally to get them replated.

@Divebar2021 go for your Forest Green look! Many moons ago, a woman at uni at the same time as me rocked this look. She had red hair, and it was fabulous and memorable. I've remembered it this long, though have forgotten many other things!

@Puppylucky how are you doing that re the brooch? Using a brooch fastener?

I have the denim jacket too. I bought one from M & S last year, sold as 'carpenter jacket'. It's stretchy and cut a bit longer, which is better for me.

I also have a pair of earrings that I can leave in, as sleeper type, but with a bit of bling, which I need to show up in long curly hair. I'll find a link soon.

here
are my blingy earrings. Mine are gold plated silver.

Mines a navy linen mix dress, shift style with short sleeves, side pockets and faux buttons down the back. Easy to dress up or wear casually.
Re brooches, I’m another fan, used to have a huge collection of bow brooches, but sold most of them. I’ve now moved on to insect brooches, they tend to be popular thus more expensive and rarer.

I’ve got a selection of dark coloured fine knit wool polo neck tops which can be dressed up or down and are very cosy. I wear them with bright trousers for a casual look or smart skirts and the right jewellery and they instantly look fancy

@Theworldisquiethere

I’ve got a selection of dark coloured fine knit wool polo neck tops which can be dressed up or down and are very cosy. I wear them with bright trousers for a casual look or smart skirts and the right jewellery and they instantly look fancy

I absolutely love the word fancy.

@Theworldisquiethere

I’ve got a selection of dark coloured fine knit wool polo neck tops which can be dressed up or down and are very cosy. I wear them with bright trousers for a casual look or smart skirts and the right jewellery and they instantly look fancy

Where do you buy them from?

@evilharpy surprisingly, the men’s section of a H&M outlet!

I put interesting bangles and a necklace on one of my bedposts every night so even when I am running late in the morning they take 2 seconds to put on and make me look a bit more coordinated.

A pull-on wide legged yoga pant that is made of slightly finer and heavier material than you would find in sportswear ranges. Very easy and quick and can dress up or down.

Ribbed polo shirts made out of a slightly silky cotton. Very good if you are big of nork like me as they have a deep v, the collar makes them slightly more formal for work and the ribbing means they fit your form without being bulky.

Uniqlo plain round-necked fine mixed wool cardigans with tiny buttons. They do them in a myriad of colours. They wash well and look classier than they are.

Seconding M&S midi dresses - flip over the head, trainers, squirt of scent, out of the house in moments to take on the day looking a great deal more together than one feels 😀

Oversized tailored coats are a dream for delivering a sharp silhouette with no bits poking out. Brooch on lapel, of course. Trainers, done.

I had a robe

Like @Theworldisquiethere I have a collection of black polo neck tops to which just go with everything.

Leather biker jacket makes any outfit instantly put together even joggers or slouchy trousers.

Along the brooch theme, I use a scarf pin instead. Keeps the floaty scarves in place and adds a little sparkle in the outfit.