Are these ok?

[Rosti1981]

Like many other posters I've seen recently, I feel like I've lost my sense of style (if I ever had it!). I've just bought the following things but I'm a bit arrrrgh am I getting this right, are they too safe / boring, will they go together? I would ideally send some back as well as I can't actually afford all this!

I'm 10-12 (12 jacket/structured tops as I think I have broad shoulders, 10-12 waist). Fairly toned but tummy a bit wobbly/prone to bloat. 5'7. Shape probably quite rectangular/up and down, not that much boob going on.

Lifestyle is wfh most of the time, office 1 day per week (try to dress a bit smarter on those days - Hobbs dresses or just some plain black trousers and a top), quite active (walk/cycle a lot locally and also go to the gym), have 9 and 12 year olds so beyond toddler/baby sick phase. Like to be outdoors/camping etc. Colouring is classic summer I think.

These are the things I've got - are they ok / is it overly safe/boring? / how would you style (and have I got everything I need here without buying yet more stuff?!). Have sort of collected together the things that I'm hoping fit together and hoping this is a reasonable wardrobe for spring/summer.

These navy chinos
A white/silver lace Mint Velvet top from Vinted
This jacket, will go back unless I absolutely love it because it is so £££
Silver/teal belt
With a silver necklace, possibly this though I am also looking at necklaces I own already including turquoise/blue ones

Khaki zip top (I can't see that much green in this, it's more a dark grey)
Grey sparkle tshirt
These black wide trousers
These black espadrilles with heels

White/pink trainers
White short t-shirt from Hush to be worn with a green pleated midi skirt I bought in Spain for next to nothing. Could do with a different belt as it has a ribbon tie which hangs weirdly.
With Hobbs light blue denim jacket from last year
Green dress from Hush
Pink sandals
I also already have some pink trainers (like these ones)

And a couple of jumpers - this one and a stripy grey/white one with nice zipped wrist sleeve (Mint Velvet) from Vinted, white M&S jumper from charity shop. To be worn with jeans (have M&S Lily Bootcut, could possibly get a different cut but not sure what... I like bootcut as 90s girl at heart, but then don't wear with boots which I think is a no no!)

Also have some cream/navy vest tops from last summer and hippy/harem cotton trousers (Thought I think) which I will pull out for this year as well.

Am I channelling boring/safe, children's TV presenter inanity, or mix-and-match-that-will-never-work??

Everything is really nice except for the M&S jumper, that needs to go straight back to the charity shop.

Haha! Ok fair enough. At least that was only £2.50!!
I would love to be stylish and pick up bargains from the charity shop .... I am generally not capable of this though!

Not loving the plimsolls and agree with PP about the M&S jumper 😬. Other than that it's all good.

Agree the M&S jumper is not a winner, and not keen on the white/pink trainers but love the rest. The wide leg trousers are a good price!

The other day someone linked to a cockle necklace which was similar to the one you have linked. I'm going to have a google.

Obviously the jumper is terrible but I liked everything else. The green dress was my least favourite item.

I feel like it's all a bit safe and frumpy personally. I like the blue trousers for the office but the rest isn't great.
I don't like anything from White Stuff or Hush, it's not my style.

If you feel good in these then that's all that matters at the end of the day though.

www.clairehowardjewellery.com/products/necklaces

Ooh yes please. I haven't ordered necklace yet as undecided, bar wanting silver. I don't have pierced ears so I'm looking to the necklace as main way of accessorising instead.
I had ordered a leaf one from Mint Velvet which turned out to be massive and I hated it, so I returned it, this one looks a bit more subtle which is what I want but I would welcome other ideas!

This is my concern tbh. Safe, moderately stylish but ultimately a bit frumpy is where I'm in danger of heading. In my 30s I shopped a lot in White Stuff, Fat Face, Boden, Seasalt. I like the fabrics and I liked the prints, but actually I think I am dressing older than I actually am so would like a bit of funkiness if poss. I'm now 42 and realising I'm not sure why I was in all the dresses I wore for so long (well comfy and I liked the prints, but I don't think they did much for me). I'm never going to be a style goddess but I would like to be smart but also a bit more interesting/glam

These are gorgeous

I know! I can't take any credit as a poster linked to them on a thread about star necklaces and I thought they were beautiful.

We obviously have very different styles because I don't like any of these (I'm 48) I think it's all very safe, very Boden mummy, not really any personal style involved. The belt is ok but I wouldn't buy any of it. For the amount of money spent I think you could get much better stuff. Mint velvet and hush are horribly overpriced.

The plimsolls, green dress and slogan jumper are not great. I’m also not loving the detailing on the espadrilles as it cheapens them somewhat.

I think I can see the direction you want to head in and I’m probably not your target audience as I like a more classic look so feel free to disregard my input!

Happy shopping!

Would love other ideas tbh, and would also love to spend less! I don't want Boden mummy look any more (my safe space for the last decade or so!). I want work/smart/professional with some individuality where poss, and casual/smart/funky the rest of the time.

I think that you have picked some lovely clothes that will mix and match well. Apart from the M&S jumper! Not sure about the plimsolls but if you like them, they're not awful.

Personally I like the All saints jacket but it's my favorite high st shop so no surprise there. I also like the khaki top and the wide trousers.
Seen much nicer trainers/pumps around so they were disappointing and I don't like the espadrilles even though I am partial to a few studs they look odd like the front doesn't match the back.
I'm not into patterned dresses but feel like the only person who isn't so probably ignore me.
Also hate the M&S jumper and I never buy anything with hearts and stars on as they remind me of when I used to shop for my dc as tweens. They are nice enough but don't look like grown up clothes to me.

I also think it's all very... safe. Trying to be "on trend" but really taking no risk, and with no edge or flair. I like the All Saints jacket, but I think Mint Velvet in particular manages to be expensive and look cheap and, well, out of touch. The chinos are fine though.

I'm 40 and the only things I'd wear there are the biker jacket (I have it in oxblood leather and it's always commented on) the zip mint velvet top, but it's a crazy price & the Adidas trainers.
But for decent jewellery that doesn't break the bank have a look at Lucy Kemp jewellery, all handmade in Cornwall, she has some beautiful pieces.

I feel for you OP. I'm in a similar boat - a bit lost style-wise but every time I think I have a handle on what I want I see the direction I'm going in/shops I'm looking at described on here as mumsy/try-hard/predictable/frumpy and I'm back to square one...

I'm also noticing a bit of a trend on MN at the moment of some posters being very disparaging/patronising about certain lower-priced shops and labels, so brace for that too...

You'll likely get advice to go and look at Toast, Osska, Margaret Howell etc but the reality is we all have different lives/budgets/tastes/body shapes and you won't please everyone. So I'd just try to please yourself (but also do send that M&S jumper back to the charity shop, it's not a goer 😁)

Yes I think if someone has come on for advice it would be really good for posters to link to alternatives when they say something is too safe, edgy, mumsy. Otherwise it just reads as people being mean.

John Lewis personal shopper might be a good idea OP if you're wanting a bit of an overhaul. I've heard good things about them and I think it's free.

*not edgy enough

Absolutely nothing from Mint Velvet, for starters.

The John Lewis personal shopper is a good idea. They stock plenty of brands that have some fashion creds and it's a wide range in terms of price and style. FWIW I own one item from Toast and zero Margaret Howell, it's not my bag at all. OP needs some external help to put together some looks with more personality.

OP, you could also consider looking at some IGs - there are a lot of 40-50+ women who wear looks with some fashion edge. I like wearsmymoney as a starting point to help you get your eye in.

I don't mind the robust feedback, not least because these are all clothes I've got to try rather than commit to.
I know I don't like Toast clothes much already.
But alternatives and ideas are really welcome. I've just taken a quick look at wearsmymoney and that looks great.
I signed up to stitch fix ages ago then never used it- is that worth a whirl as well? Especially if I tick the box that says something like "send the more experimental stuff" rather than the safe one I'd previously ticked :P

@Rosti1981 I'm not a big fan of Stitchfix. I tried it out of interest, also hoping to have my fashion boundaries pushed a bit even though I'm pretty clear on my "look". The stuff I got sent was also very safe and very, very limited. It's mostly their own brand. I asked to try a few looks that were everywhere on the high st at the time and they told me they couldn't source them. I think it's good if you have absolutely no idea what would suit you in terms of colour and shape or if you just passionately hate clothes shopping. But if you want to get away from "safe", then believe it or not but the JL personal sjopper is a much better bet IME.

That's helpful feedback. I don't think I completely don't have a clue, it's more than I am in a rut and want to be pushed/challenged to try some new styles rather than always going for a) total scruff can't be bothered, b) slightly bonkers dressing like a toddler or c) preppy office safe wear