Help me find my style

[justlass]

I've just seen a photo of myself today and I'm horrified! I know I'm overweight, I'm size 16, no waist, apple shaped, large tummy, legs ok ish, but big calves I guess, size 34/36ff or g bra size, dark below shoulders curly hair, brown eyes, 5 foot 7.

I tend to wear jeans with vest tops and cardigan in summer and jeans with quite long hoodies or jumpers in winter, with either Converse or ankle boots.

I thought I looked ok until I saw the photos. I'll try and attach one. My stomach looks huge, I look scruffy.

I tend to buy things off eBay or Vinted because I'm on a very low budget, the disadvantage is of course that sometimes clothes are too small or awful condition etc.

I don't have many stores nearby, so mainly shop online. I can't get to John Lewis or Debenhams for a consultation about what suits me and I can't afford to have my colours done.

I've tried looking at influencers, but can't find anyone who wears the sort of clothes I wear. I don't need going out clothes or work clothes, just casual wear. Plus they're all slimmer or larger.

Any ideas or advice? Just been feeling really down about myself recently and feel I need to change something but want to still feel comfortable.

That outfit sounds nice! Do you feel you look a bit more shapely in it?

I'm not sure if anyone has recommended Style Me Happy - Emily Innes on Facebook on Instagram yet but I definitely recommend checking out her and her group. Think about getting your colours done and that's a good start. There's lots of shapes and sizes in the group and it's very supportive

Thank you, I'll check that out. I'm trying to find how to have my colours done virtually.

If you're feeling brave, post a photo of your face without make-up. There's a few good MNetters who are really great at diagnosing colour seasons. Could save you money for your actual wardrobe.

I felt ok in it, the shirt kept coming untied but I'll work on that.

Get rid of the vest tops. They are not flattering. Start buying blouses and smarter tops for jeans. Ditch the cardy and try and find something smarter or pay a bit more money for a good fit cardigan. M&S has some lovely stuff in just now.

You could do a reasonable job on identifying your own colours. This is a pretty basic quiz to start with
https://30somethingurbangirl.com/free-quiz-what-is-your-seasonal-color/

Once you've worked out your colour type, then google what colours suit [season] some of the better sites will split the basic season into a few other categories eg for winter there are brilliant/deep/delicate categories.

The original colour me beautiful book is available secondhand on ebay and Amazon for £3/4 and is probably worth buying as it deals with this in a lot more detail.

The safety pin is always your friend - I often put one through the back of a knot so it doesn't come undone. Also if you roll your jeans up a couple of pins from the inside to the out near the side seams should help keep them rolled up. I use them so often I have a special set in black which show less in my wardrobe.

A brilliant idea! I don't think I have any safety pins, so will look for some.

Thank you for the link for working out my colours, I'll definitely have a look at that and maybe get the book.

Yes I do think identifying your colours will help. It gives you at start at least. The Emily Innes ones are virtual - you just send her photos of yourself and answer questions like 'do you tan or burn', colour of your veins on wrist and questions about silver and gold jewellery. Emily does it mainly from your pics though. I was surprised at mine but started dressing to my season and have never received so many compliments and just feel better in my colours.

It definitely seems like a good idea. I'll have to wait until pay day, but hope to do it then. Is the whole style consultation for £75 worthwhile or is it mainly the colour one?

Would this cardigan be the right kind of length?

Or shorter like this one?

Neither of those cardigans are likely to update your look I'm afraid.
Look for blazers instead in a jersey fabric.
If you do want a cardigan, make it thick and long line - below the knee. Mango do gorgeous ones every year.

I think just the colour one is best. You already know your shape - apple (Same as me!) but the colour stuff is useful. There's always people posting in the group asking for style advice so we are all in it together!

Thank you.

Today I'm wearing the blue shirt dress, with the top 3 buttons open and a blue vest top underneath. I tried it with a belt, but didn't like the fact the front seemed longer than the back then - probably due to my sizeable arse 😂 However I quite like it like this, so thank you for giving me the idea to wear it open at the top!

Glad you like the "new look"! Definately one to play with by looking at other things in your wardrobe that might be worn the same way.

I don't find belts work for me but often need to give my waist a bit of definition as I need to size up to accomodate my boobs. A quickish hack I've found is to sew a strip of fabric inside a dress across the central half of the back waist and then thread elastic through it and stitch the ends in.It pulls the waist in a bit without the "cutting me in two" effect of a belt. Takes about half an hour and very little skill with a needle.

Jersey fabric blazer definitely.

Vero Moda do some and so do m&s.

I have those sienna jeans and agree they are great jeans but that they need rolling up at the bottom - completely changes the look of them. We are a similar height and j find the waistband is at my tummy button, so I wear t shirts tucked in as it pulls me in at my narrowest point quite nicely.

if you roll up those jeans, tuck your vest in and swap the cardigan for a shirt it would immediately update your look without buying anything!

Thanks everyone.

Today it's sunny but not warm and cold rain later. I've no idea what to wear, I wanted to wear a dress, but looks like it'll be jeans again. I'll try rolling them up (visibly rolled I presume, and so that they're ankle grazers?) and tuck in a vest with a shirt over - the shirts aren't at all fitted shape though, does that matter?

Still feeling confused and despondent about my wardrobe and my look. Found a couple of floral dresses in the wardrobe yesterday that I really don't like, think a lot will be going to the charity shop!

"COULD rain later" that should say

Is this blazer smart enough? What about the colour? I think it might be too pale for me?

@justlass I have a feeling that you haven't really absorbed the advice on this post and are still casting around to buy the magical piece of clothing that will fix everything. Before you buy any clothes you need to buy a full length mirror and do a big trying on session with what you have already based on the advice you've received. Put on a bottom and one or two tops. Roll, tuck, tie, button, unbutton and style in lots of different ways. Once you see a combo you like take a photo of it. Look at the Instagram pages suggested and style your clothes that way. Then you'll be able to make a good choice of what to buy next.

Personally I really don't like that Next jacket. When something doesn't even look good on the model it's a red flag!

I agree with ChinHairDon'tCare. It reads like you're a bit hooked on Vinted when you need to have a big trying on session. Put some more pics of yourself up here if you're feeling brave. Btw that jacket doesn't look at all too light for you but isn't it a petit, ie for someone who's not much over 5ft when you say you're 5ft 7in?