How to get the motivation to dress up

[marlowe5]

I'm wondering how to get motivated to 'make an effort' with my appearance with more success. On the occasions I do, I 'brush up well' and look good for work (suits) when I'm out of the home. But working from home and being a person who gets cold easily too, I tend to wear my old cosy scruffy stuff for warmth (jeans, fleece, slippers!) and probably also do this out of habit from having younger kids in the past and knowing things would get dirty or food on from cooking etc. so I don't wear my 'good clothes'.
I'm a single parent, so half the time don't see many people apart from my teenage kids, but then on the odd occasions I pop out I don't look my best. And for a bigger night out I'm so out of the habit, I end up throwing clothes around the bedroom not quite having the right thing that 'goes' with anything else.
Anyone else made a change to look better on a day-to-day basis as well as being warm and cosy?
I do the basics like having. Good quality haircut regularly (though on days at home I don't tend to do much with it), I have good skin and a reasonable figure and healthy diet. It's just the clothes and outfits thing on a day to day basis that defeats me! Have any of you managed to make this change?

I am the same! I have tried to buy nice versions of my comfy clothes - nice jeans, nice jumpers, nice trainers - so that when I wear them I am comfy but a bit smarter.

This can be hard when you aren't feeling good - I struggle with it sometimes. But my teenage daughter likes it when I'm dressed up - she says she feels proud of me so that's a motivation.
Also I find if I dress up, I end up eating better because I feel less awful if that makes sense. So I end up looking better the more I do it.

Having nice versions of casual clothing makes a difference too - I look really drab in most casual clothing so I have to have a few embellishes on t-shirts, a pair of sunglasses with gems on - a few little things like that can lift an outfit.

I wish I knew!

Yes nice versions of the comfy things help. I have some good platform trainers that people often comment on but the whole recent changes to jeans fashion has also defeated me and that isn't helping.

What's the change to jeans fashion?

WFH Outfits:
I WFH & am also someone who feels the cold. This is my approach & I feel so much better about myself as a result.

Ditch the fleeces & buy good knitwear in wool or cashmere. Synthetics/acrylic knits do nothing to keep you warm. Try TK Maxx - better prices in store than online & Uniqlo. I also recommend The Outnet & Boden for cashmere: both offer good discounts & clearance sales.

Layers are a good idea: again ditch the synthetic thermals & buy plain long sleeve tees that are flattering instead. This means that if you’re warm & need to take off your jumper or cardigan you still look good & properly dressed. Silk camisoles are brilliant & feel lighter & nicer to wear & less bulky. I have Reynauds & feel more warm & cosy in a silk camisole than a traditional thermal layer.

Consider dresses & skirts too. Nothing too voluminous/long as it will constantly catch on your chair etc & you’ll be irritable as hell within minutes 😆 Lots of midi length styles around now, with sleeves & easy to layer with knits. M&S have a good selection & less polyester than other hogh street brands. If tights irritate you as much as they do me, try leggings underneath instead. Just cut or roll them so they’re not visible. Otherwise, M&S merino tights are very soft & cosy.

Switch jeans for cords or chinos. Also lots of wide leg, slouchy styles on the high street which look great with either trainers or brogues.

Finally, I know it’s an MN clichéd throwback but I love a good scarf for when I’m stuck at my desk for extended periods & my neck becomes stiff with cold & inactivity.

@EdinaMonsoon thank you. Loads of good ideas. I hadn't thought about upgrading to cashmere but maybe a couple of pieces and changing the under layers.

@coodawoodashooda maybe not a recent change but the whole 'out with' skinny jeans (which I looked more elegant with a longer top) and 'in with' ankle grazer style trousers and mom jeans with trainers - both of which I think make me look squat and wide with longer tops so it would then mean relaxing tops and jumpers.I liked bootcut years ago with a slight heel which made me feel a bit more dressed up tbh and were more flattering for me. Seems like they are now back in the shops (I'm hoping) or some that are a bit more flared, though they can be a pain in the wet weather as they get soggy.

Wide leg/palazzo trousers! Comfy for wfh or lounging yet can look smart, elegant, glamorous even. Team with simple slim top or loose shirt or tunic, look good with layered tops. Examples from Zara (nice to see them use an older model - more of this please!)

Skinny legs are still in all the shops stock a wide range which they wouldn’t do if they weren’t selling

Thank you.