MN, help me be more put together.

[DomesticElf]

MN, I need your help. It recently dawned on me that I have no sense of style. If someone wears oversize coat and a woolly hat, they look trendy. When I wear the same, I look homeless 😬 I want to look put together, and current. I don't care for trendy or latest, I want to be sleek and classy.

I am 34, and keep to a reasonable condition. I cut my hair every 7 weeks, it's a short blunt bob with a small undercut at the base of the neck. I wash/blow-dry my hair everyday and it's in good state.

I wear statement prescription glasses all the time 🤓 Think red plastic round frames. My prescription makes my eyes appear smaller than they are.
I am regular with my skincare and my skin is in a good condition. I don't wear make up everyday, mainly because life is busy and I just can't be bothered with it. I have heart shaped face with chubby cheeks.
Weight is fine, usually size 6-8, but I am pregnant right now, so shape is rather spherical 😂

I have a toddler, work full time in a busy job, and pregnant with baby #2. Life is hectic, so I tend to end up wearing comfortable clothes, but I feel none of them particularly match that well, unless I end up in trusted horizontal stripe top and navy pants combo. Biggest problem is shoes. I feel all the pairs I own don't particularly go with the clothes I own, and if they do, they look frumpy. I don't want to look frumpy, I want to be comfortable (low heel is fine) but put together.

Help me build a predominantly business casual capsule wardrobe where things go together, being fairly classic with a twist of current, and that wash well. Not asking for much. I like baggy styles, I don't think I fit sexy/feminine aesthetic as a make up less permanent glasses wearer.

Where would you go to buy stuff? And more importantly, what are your shoe staples?

Just following with interest as another makeupless permanent glasses wearer, who also has foot problems so really has to wear frumpy shoes.

Ditto

Same problem here! I follow lots of stylists on social media and it does help but due to my shape (short legged, slightly overweight pear 😕) most of things I like don't look good on me.
I haven't found anyone with my shape and style I like but I really like Style by Claire Lopez (stylebyclairelopez.co.uk) she does lots of nice combinations with not that many different clothes and with your petite figure, I'm sure you will find most of her outfits suitable. She's on Instagram.
Good luck!

@DomesticElf good hair, good skin, good specs, good understanding of your aesthetic — it sounds like you are in an excellent starting point.

I am much fatter than you and much more reliant on a face full of make up, but it sounds like we like the same kind of look. The below might be a bit heavy on your slimmer frame, but trust shoes for me include DMs - classic boots and loafers - and a pair of Birkenstock boots that for a while I worried made me look like I had ducks feet but actually are just a good hefty boot. I think blundstone boots do the same job. I also have a pair of chunky Chelsea boots and have been coveting a pair of Solovair boots

i also have trainers: sambas, air force one, some platform pumas, as I like a rolled boyfriend jean with a bright sock and I wear a lot of wide-legged trousers and I often prefer how they break over a trainer (they can sometimes be a bit odd over a boot - tho I also like them with a brogue).

in spring and autumn I very often wear a wide-legged trouser (flowy or tailored) with a slim top or fine knit jumper French-tucked and a wool shacket over for outdoors. Shacket sometimes a colour, trousers sometimes a geometric pattern, top sometimes a Breton. It works as an easy capsule for me that can take you from pretty smart to a bit more exciting. Good with a slick of bright lipstick (which I like on a bare face fwiw). Change it up with layered or chunky jewellery.

Might not work for your frame? But I am revelling in it after years of trousers all being skinny - I like how wide legs can look mannish or very feminine depending on fabric and fit.

Oh! And I love a shirt and trouser co-ord. yes a bit like pyjamas, but no harm in that.

Can't advise on the clothes but re the glasses, I would get the really thinned down lenses - it really does make a big difference to how glasses look.

@Tangelo thank you so much, now you are my fashion guru, that's exactly what I was looking for!
@ImAvingOops thank you. They are already thinned to the max. I've been wearing specs since childhood, and on an odd occasion when I put in contacts, I end up pushing my non existent glasses up my nose all the time 😬