What should I buy now to make me look a bit more modern?

[WoodSageandSeasalt]

I’m in a bit of a rut style-wise and with Spring hopefully approaching and lots of new clothes in the shops I feel like I need a bit of a makeover.

I mainly wear jeans or coated jeggings with sweatshirts or jumpers and trainers or boots. My style is casual, maybe with a slight edge - I really like the Mint Velvet relaxed glamour type look.

I’m 5’2 and curvy, boobs and bum and currently too much tummy. I haven’t got loads to spend so ideas of budget friendly places to try would be great - not asking much!

Floisme yes! You put it much better than me.

It definitely isn’t the end of the world to be in an outfit or a piece that dominates its wearer. Might be fun. I guess I wanted to flag this because it’s relevant to us wanting to look ‘ not outdated’ , and on that journey we can tip into ‘owned by some statement pieces’, which has an air of “out of step” about it,.

Out of step with oneself rather than out of step with current trends.

I really like Ganni but only ever buy it in the sale and often from the Outnet

Floisme I just saw your post about glasses. I wear specs and am struggling with the update of my framer because “modern” specs are big and chunky. With High Index lenses required for me and smallish features I think I’d look terrible in chunky specs. Do you have favourite frame designers? I wear quite thin round ones, still.

@KalaniM - that's exactly my problem. High index lenses, small face and small features. I'm still wearing small, light frames.

Wow didn’t expect so many responses! I’ll read through them all later but happy to look at Sainsburys, Gucci and everywhere in between for inspiration if nothing else.

To add the additional info some people had asked for I’m 49 and a single mum with a creative job. I like to express that side of me through what I wear but I hate looking try-hard or overly ‘look at me’. Effortlessly cool would be my dream look. Comfort is very important to me and my lifestyle doesn’t require much in the way of smart clothes which is why the MV ‘relaxed glamour’ thing appeals even though I don’t love all of their clothes and do find them very pricey for what they are. I like clean lines and a bit of colour but not loads, I often go for new trainers or a bag as a way of updating my look because they always fit and feel safe!

OP - you could try a couple of local boutiques/clothes shops in your area and see what they have.

Where I live there are two - both different styles - one is QED London and Italian/modern styles - the other is more Selected Femme, YAS, some Danish brands. But they often have 'on trend' clothes.

@CountryCousin

I’ve just had a look at Mint Velvet and now realise this must be where other women get their clothes from. It’s all so … normal. If normal means droopy, colourless, inoffensive. (Sorry!)

So. Rude.

Like CountryCousin, I look at Matchesfashion for inspiration as I think it's the best styled out of all the multi e-tailers. (Also, I love their own brand Raey). Otherwise, I scroll through Instagram, not at influencers, but at posts that users have tagged with the various brands I like.

I have always erred to classic rather than on trend, as the former ensures style whereas the latter dates. I tend to use accessories - jewellery, shoes and handbags as a way to make an outfit more current.

Another one not understanding the countrycousin pile-on, I got what she meant, she's apologised for clumsy wording, and still it continues. Getting a bit tedious now. Serves you right for trying to be helpful, @CountryCousin

KalaniM I like a cats eye shape, with an uplift in the right hand corner, and my current frames are from Oliver Peoples - I think they've been discontinued now but they're something like these but not as dark, more tortoiseshell. Not cheap but I spend as much as I can afford (and then some more!) on specs cos I wear them every waking moment. Next time though I'm thinking of going back to rounder, possibly metallic frames, (if my prescription allows it - my optician looked a bit worried when I mentioned it). I know the first few times I try them they'll look odd but then you adjust.

I think it's a good point choosing clothes that are current but 'out of step with yourself'. I just think that very few of us have a fully formed sense of style - it evolves with lots of twists and turns and false starts and mistakes along the way and I enjoy that process.

I also kind of knew what CountryCousin was saying. Matches is very good style inspiration (the prices are well out of my league!), so another recommendation for them from me.

@Ra12345

I really like Ganni but only ever buy it in the sale and often from the Outnet

Ssshhhhh. Don't tell everyone.

Floisme those are great specs. I laughed when I saw them because they are identical to my first ever pair of glasses. I’m talking 1967!
Impressed by the range of lenses available on the site you offered. £400 for the thinnest available. I wonder how good their lenses are. I tend to use Zenni and Firmoo because a fraction of the price.
I’ve actually been scared of wearing cats eye shape specs now because of my childhood memories of my mother in her black ones. Time for me to expunge those associations I think.

Thankyou for sharing.

Maireas I feel you! It’s like a process of elimination choosing things, I find there’s so much that’s a ‘no’ for practical reasons that actually the range of ‘possibles’ is relatively small!

I got my first glasses around the same time as you KalaniM. Mine were NHS frames in pale blue, see through plastic - lovely. I was also offered round metallic frames which I turned my nose up at because I was 11 and thought I knew all about fashion, and then a few months later, John Lennon was photographed wearing them: my first style comeuppance but definitely not my last

I don't know about the lenses - my optician sorts out that side of it but I don't pay as much as that.

@Floisme - those were my first glasses! Pale blue NHS ones. My parents dissuaded me from the John Lennon metal frames!
Also, I remember the cat's eyes look from bygone years.
Those of you old enough to remember Dick Emery in drag as Hettie will note that those were the glasses he wore!

Ah I like Gucci. Can’t afford it but I love browsing the site for inspiration. But then I also like the style of Katie price and Mrs Hinch so maybe I just have shit taste, or definitely non-mumsnet approved taste.

I definitely agree that the main things that can make you modern would be cut of jeans - skinnies are out, wide are in - make up, hair and glasses (if you wear them).

And the woman in the Guy Larson cartoons Maireas - I can't search for a pic right now, supposed to be working, but an icon for our times.

www.tigerlilyboutique.co.uk/

Ah, yes, @Floisme! The Larsson cartoon woman!

I really like this lady on YouTube
www.youtube.com/c/MMStylingAcademyMMPersonalStyling
I have bought quite a few things she has recommended, or bought similar things a bit cheaper from M&S and Next.

I would look at the following for inspiration

Sezanne
Saint & Sofia
Me & Em
Margaret Howell

See what you like and then go on the H&M and Uniqlo websites and see what they have that is similar

ALso second trying the John Lewis shopping service but do bear in mind they sell a lot of the Mint Velevet/Fat Face/White Stuff that you are trying to move away from.

Stradivarius for Mum or even Dad jeans and bright jackets.
White trainers
Korean/ East Asian influences, everything cropped (including sleeves) and boxy.
Jogging pants with very tight cropped cardis (fastened with one button!) under a huge puffer jacket.
Stunning hair and make up.

My DD and her friends, spend more on hair/skin care and make up than fashion.

@KalaniM I wear these bloobloom.com/products/glasses/icon-spectacle from Bloobloom and can highly recommend them! You can borrow a box of five different frames to try out for a week and the customer service is great - I haven't had online glasses before and I was very impressed .

I do look a bit like the Gary Larsson ladies, but I can live with it 🤣

Petite here, I love the wide jean cropped look on others, but on me, I just look like my jeans are to short, any advice for a 61 year old who want to look current but not like a teenager.