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??

I'd keep the trousers and then think about tops. I avoid anything with a slogan or motif on. Have a look at different plain tshirts and tanks (order loads of different styles and try on, then order more in colours you suit). I have a biker but I don't wear it in summer....I'm not sure what jacket I wear in the summer - I just take a jumper out with me😬

Look at Who What Wear. Lots of ideas (and lots of crap too but you can determine what fits with you). It's good for identifying summer shoes that are decent for example. With belts, stick with black/tan /brown leather and you can't go wrong. Honestly, you don't have to spend loads at mint velvet - mango, h and m, m&s all do decent basics for the summer if you're prepared to trawl. Arket and cos do slightly more expensive but good quality things that will look more current.

You have got good taste, OP. My fav is the khaki zip front top.

I like the navy trousers, the zip top and leather jacket (though not the colour), but not too keen on the rest. I think the trainers are a bit 'meh', I'd look for some funky Nikes or New Balance 237's, but that's just personal preference. I really like some independent boutiques that I've found through Instagram like Studio 12 and The Style Attic. I just about live in these cocoon pants (I have them in many colours), they are so flattering and easy to dress up and down, but appreciate not for everyone.

I like those trousers.

I also like these on Cos https://www.cos.com/en_gbp/women/womenswear/trousers/product.high-waisted-wide-leg-trousers-black.0992842004.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwo7iiBhAEEiwAsIxQEXyFvfl8y4tYfPAaA7t-2buBpszdel23nZfhG8i5-9X-IxDan1mdXRoC2q4QAvD_BwE

Definitely drawn towards the wide leg, especially if slightly more tailored/fitted at the top.

There's a nice green jumpsuit on Cos as well but I'm not sure where I would actually wear it!

I like this (and there's one in navy with a tie waist that I also like, though that feels like it's in the "safe" zone again): https://www.cos.com/en_gbp/women/womenswear/jumpsuits/product.bow-back-wide-leg-jumpsuit-green.1152409002.html

I think really what I need to do is go shopping in real life, because I go into a mad wormhole of obsession online and make bad choices, and then I get stupidly wedded to things that are just ok because I can't be bothered to send them back. Whereas when I try things on in shops I am really quite fussy especially about fabric/cut, and only buy when I'm 95% sure.

And I also feel guilty at the amount of credit card hammering I am doing, even though most of it will be returned!

I will check out the JL personal shopper idea as that's probably the least painful way of doing it.

The Cos green jumpsuit is good. Cos is rarely "safe" (although I'm sure it does sell some plain t-shirts that wouldn't scandalise your granny) although its styling does sometimes require a bit of dilution for the average real person.

So, I've found that I have got some nice pieces that make me look like I know what I'm doing fashion wise by going into shops I feel I have grown out of, like H&M, River Island, those kinds of places. I would get a couple of things from there to lift an outfit and add edge.

Also, I have certain things that are very "me" so I have an obvious style. I wear loads of dresses, I love bright leggings, and I have a lot of funky footwear like metallic DMs and quirky heels.

That's how I try and dress, so I've got my personal style and mix and match across shops.

I'm very unlikely to ever wear anything from mint velvet, white stuff, crew, M&S, etc as to me they scream middle aged middle class mummy and while I am that, I don't want to look like all the other mums I see in my town.

I'm also a fan of second hand shops and I refashion items a lot too.

If you want a silver necklace, get something made by a British jeweller
https://elementisle.com/collections/coastal-waters?filter.v.availability=1&filter.v.price.gte=&filter.v.price.lte=&filter.p.m.custom.type=Necklaces&sort_by=best-selling

I really didn't like daps, they look a lot better in blue.

Look at doesmybumlook40 on Instagram. I think she really nails the look you are trying to achieve

Just looked up WearsMyMoney on Insta, thanks - I really like some of her looks.

Me too.
I'm enjoying all the wide leg jeans and converse too, reminds me of my (not very) misspent youth!

Same, @Rosti1981 - I immediately went to look up the Sézane and Albaray cropped wide-legs! It's a difficult thing to get right though - I had some faded black ones, can't remember where from, that were way too clown-like...the proportions do need to be just right!

I remember having a raw-edge waistline pair back in the early 2000s - they were v Britney!

Also I ride a bike a lot, like most days (not far but more to pop to the shops or take 9 yo to school, so I do it in normal clothes not exercise gear). Even bootcut jeans are a bit tricky with pedals and chains!
I suppose I could go down the trouser clip route...

Absolutely nothing from Mint Velvet, for starters.

Why @TheNachtzehrer ?

I don't understand comments like that.

I also don't think there is anything wrong with wanting to look fairly middle of the road with a bit of unique jewellery and accessories.

Not everyone wants to look 'edgy'.

I am in the late 50s/early 60s age range and slim.
I wear a lot of old Boden classics ( smart trousers etc) for work, but my tops, coats and dresses are a mix of Jigsaw, Uniqlo (casual), John Lewis (Any Day and And Or), some Mint Velvet, The White Company, a jumper from Comptoire, etc.

As a brand, it screams "I don't have a clue, but this is reassuringly expensive". It looks like supermarket stuff but costs four times the price. Its look is kind of... Sixtysomething who's had the same bleach job and eyeliner for forty years but still feels With It because she owns a cold shoulder top.

"That's not very nice." No, of course not. It's a thumbnail sketch of a stereotype. But fashion is communication, and I hate to see people fork out for crappy stuff (and their fabrics are also horrible) when they could at least get the equivalent a lot cheaper.

Of course not everybody wants to look edgy, and if you have MV stuff you like, good for you and please continue wearing it. But OP specifically asked if what she'd chosen was too safe, and she got answers to that question.

:D sorry just hit send too soon!

Can sort of see that, and it is as you say really £££. I do like the khaki zip top, the feel of it and the cut on me, and I think I'll keep that, but otherwise rethinking where I shop (tbh I hadn't actually heard of MV until another thread where everyone was recommending it, and then I ordered lots of things to try).

And I got a couple of MV pieces on Vinted as well (white/grey lace tailored blouse and a stripy jumper), so if they fit they will stay, but they were a fiver each so I'm not too worried about those.

Are cold shoulder tops BAD btw?
I do own one. I haven't worn it yet. It was also from Vinted (Jaegar I think, which I suspect would be a similar kind of 'reassuringly expensive but old' shop). Dark green t-shirt material, again was about a fiver. I quite liked it but I don't want to channel bleach blond expensive cruise ship look... (I am not bleach blond if that helps :D).

Grown ups should not wear clothing with writing on....IMO. Its the female equivalent of grown men dressing like toddlers.

Snark aside, how about trying Me and Em or Whistles? Both are a bit more minimal and less self-consciously 'funky'.

Perfect, sounds good. Got it. No writing (not sure why I've suddenly been drawn to these, I never have in the past!)

I genuinely do appreciate some harsh advice here btw, including snark. I usually struggle with feedback but when it's clothes, especially clothes I am not overly invested in and just want to try, it's fine... Especially if I can send loads back and therefore not spend an absolute fortune on stuff that is Not Good.

Wow that's harsh!

I don't have a bleach job or wear that kind of eyeliner. I don't wear off the shoulder clothes of any kind. I've never seen clothes in supermarkets as I only shop at Waitrose.

You're very rude, actually. Do you realise that?

All brands have some no-no items and MV is no exception. The items I have are a couple of jumpers and a T-shirt style top.

I agree they are expensive and I only buy with a discount.

I'm not saying that every MV item is universally hideous and awful, FTR. I'm quite sure they have some basics and neutral items that could be combined with other items and look fine. But it is definitely overpriced for the quality, and it is definitely not where I would look if I had the OP's stated goal, ie feeling and looking a bit more fashionable and less mumsy and safe.

Me + Em and Whistles are both good suggestions; M+E is pricey but I'm sure can be found on Vinted.

I don't agree universally with "no tops with writing on", btw, although it's true I am very selective with sloganed/printed items, so easiest to stay clear right now if you feel unsure. (Or items posted on Kate/wearsmymoney are good bets.)

Cold shoulder tops... Well. I've just never seen it not look a bit... cringe. Bardot necklines, off the shoulder, these all have their place in creating a particular silhouette or drawing the eye. But cold shoulder just looks like... a misguided attempt to be youthful and edgy by randomly exposing a patch of skin. It breaks up the line of the shoulder unpleasantly to no good purpose.

@Rosti1981 this may be useful for "shapes", then choose your preferred price range, colours and material? 😊

https://theconceptwardrobe.com/build-a-wardrobe/how-to-dress-the-rectangle-body-shape

I haven't even heard of 'cold shoulder' but have never exposed mine in my life. Except on the beach.

I just hate all this writing-off complete brands.

Most people buy a bit here, a bit there.

I do have some Whistles and find them very expensive and mostly man-made fibres - much like MV. With a few exceptions they are very 'ordinary' and their current ranges (dresses and skirts) are for very tall people.

I quite like looking 'safe' as there is nothing worse than someone who tries to be 'different' and it screams 'Look at me! Trying to be 'edgy!'