I don't know what to wear any more.

[Lotoro]

I have been shielding my CEV daughter since covid hit and have been WFH. As things are changing and I will be going back out in to the real world I have realised I don't know what to wear any more to look nice. I have spent over two years largely in comfies. I am 36 and a size 8/10, I used to wear skinny jeans/black trousers with a range of tops/jumpers and the odd . I have bought a few bits but nothing seems to suit me any more.

It has been a fairly stressful few years and I have aged quite a bit and definitely need a hair cut which isn't helping matters. I also used to be a small 8 and I am bigger now too.

I need smartish stuff for work and some bits to feel a bit less drab in general.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, I'm not even sure where to start.

Following with interest! I'm a similar age, similar size, and in a very similar predicament. I don't think it helps that styles (jeans and trousers especially) have changed so much at the same time that my body has through pregnancy etc. I keep trying to wear mom jeans instead of skinnies but I feel totally wrong in them, but totally out of date in skinnies

You probably don't need to be as "smartish" for work as you think. It's all gone very casual these days.

Go on Instagram and follow some style accounts. They are helpful, they model clothes and you can get an idea of what type of stuff to get. @tessmontgomery is one I follow she has nice outfits.

That's part of my predicament @stickybear I have tried other jeans but feel really dumpy, I have short legs which doesn't help.

No, maybe not as smart as I think, where I work is very mixed clothing wise but I don't feel myself in anything at all really, even the comfies/exercise stuff I have been living in.

I will have a look on Instagram and have just followed Tess Montgomery. Thank you, I will have a look on there. I think most people either appear tall, super toned or curvy and my shape is a bit more meh

uk.saintandsofia.com/products/apartment-pant-charcoal-straight-leg-trouser?_pos=3&_sid=4e083c4c7&_ss=r

No idea if that will work as a link.

I think I like these but I am a very different height and shape to all the models on the website. I have lost all confidence in what to wear/what suits me.

A decent pair of loose black trousers is a good starting point and and a comfy alternative to jeans or joggers. Maybe look at Cos for something a little tailored.

I think you need to work on your self esteem more than anything op.likr everythi g your seeing through a veil of how you "see"yourself.so your not seeing your ability to look probably great.id start with what you like and us comfy and work on truly seeing what s in front of you and finding the positives.grow your confidence a bit. Your you and that makes you just fab as you come.your picking out the bits you don't like in your posts and I from the outside see nothing wrong or given a second thought too.you gotta mean some self body and soul lurrrve here me thinks😚

These work.and you can outfit them a few different ways.a nice shirt oversized and fitted.a jumper.a blazer.a long cardi or short.polo neck.t shirt and scarf.

@Notarealmum Thank you, I had a look at Cos and all the trousers look very wide legged, I feel like my legs are too short but can always give them a go!

@kateandme I think self-esteem/confidence is an element, I want to look nice but even when outfits look lovely on other people I feel ridiculous when I wear similar. Part of it is getting older, changing shape and then barely leaving the house other than in dog walking clothes for two years.

I’d get your haircut first. Makes such a difference.

I’ve got ludicrously short legs and have realised skinnies still look good even if they are not that ‘trendy’. They are a timeless classic now, like a twin set, which I also love! If they aren’t comfortable that’s a different matter (lots of women seem to have been pouring themselves into them and are grateful to move to looser styles) but you see all sorts of jeans styles on the streets (I’m in London).

Maybe a slightly oversized blazer?

I look at Who What Wear which is full of ideas about the latest trends. I don’t like most of them but helps just to get a sense of what is fashionable. For example massive fisherman’s sandals for summer.

I also get emails from Thread which has lots of ideas.

You could try a Lookiero or Stitch Fix box.

Or a Style day with House of Colour.

@TheOGCCL I definitely do, but no idea what to do with my hair either, it is just very long and has got progressively curlier over the last few years. My hairdresser also retired so need to find a new one! I can have a Google and look for reviews as a starting point. Thank you, I will have a look at Who What Wears and Thread too.