I need some help!

[Wassat]

Size 12-14, rounded tummy I hate and top heavy. Good legs and ok arms. Have been described as 'bohemian' (compliment??) but I feel a lot of the things I love are ageing me now:( I am lost! I need clothes for work (teaching teens and adults), and also for a train holiday in the summer. Where/ what should I be looking at? Can stretch to £4-500 for some sort of capsule wardrobe that makes me feel happy and me, but not look like an ageing dumpling- any help?

Surely ‘bohemian’ and ‘capsule wardrobe’ are antithetical?

Where do you usually shop?

What height are you? To put the 12-14 in context. What body shape?

What do you currently like to wear?

Teachers I know across the age ranges are mainly in wider stretch trousers (like the m&s side stripe), some form of decent weight tshirt and trainers. Do any of your colleagues have a style you like?

It's very difficult without knowing more, you can easily manage a capsule on that budget eg
Trainers
Sandals
Suit which can be worn as seperates
Relaxed trs
Skirt of style you like
2 t shirts
Cami
Long sleeve shirt or light jumper
Nice 'out' top

5ft 7, but fat back and tummy. I don't know- I just think all my clothes are making me look old!

Usually shop at warehouse (floral shirts), fat face or try and find second hand vintagey stuff. Did get some beautiful wide leg trousers from saint and Sofia but my budget won't stretch far there!

My body shape has changed a bit and all my old clothes don't fit quite right- I'm feeling a bit lost. Time to accept the styles I love don't actually look good on me?

Maybe just consider looking for better quality - which may mean more Vinted / eBay / wherever or saving up for one good thing rather than compromising?

This thread may help:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/4753001-can-we-talk-about-clothing-brands-and-target-demographics?reply=124266319

As far as bohemian dressing is concerned - I’d have said it’s a matter of attitude and how one wears things, but it’s easy enough to buy into that look via clothing intended to give the impression of free spiritedness! For the first approach the thread I’ve linked will give endless sources of excellent clothes. For an instant-boho look:

Acne Studios

Plümo

Free People

YBD

are the first places that spring to my mind. None of them are cheap, even in the sales - but I’m sure they’re findable on re-sale sites.

If you scroll through the last half dozen pages of S&B you’ll find several other threads addressing a similar question to yours - so there’s endless potential inspiration here.