Please help me feel amazing for a trip to London

[MerryBeard]

I'm going to London to tour galleries and have a potter around some lovely shops and drink wine with a girlfriend as we're both celebrating being 60.

I'm a country mouse and have no idea what to wear. I've just lost about 4 stone and all my clothes are hanging on me and are very old and worn (didn't want to buy new things whilst I was losing weight). My previous style was Seasalt/Fatface type things and now I'd like to look a bit younger and funkier if at all possible.

I'm 5 foot 5, size 10 (NEVER thought I'd write that) and wish someone could wave a wand and make me look like Jo Whiley. Can someone do that please?

Alternatively can you please suggest some outfit ideas/shops/anything that will make me look as London and Whileyish as possible. Thank you!

Are you on Instagram? Check out @buttonsandblazers who I think is the same height and shape as you are now, and wears a lot of high st and M&S stuff but styled really chic and minimalistic. I get a lot of good ideas from her pictures eg her outfit on Aug 4th might be good for a trip to London with trainers, or her outfit on 1 July.

Could part of your London stay include one of those free no obligation personal styling /accompanied shops at somewhere like John Lewis, to celebrate your recent weight loss accomplishment/as a fun experience in yourself, if your friend would be up for that? I know that doesn’t solve arriving in London dressed up, but it could be a fun and useful activity

Thank you both so much for your fantastic inspirations. buttonsandbangles has exactly the kind of look I dream of - only better! Love the relaxed, chic look complete with baskets and broderie anglaise. How clever of you to suggest that just from my woolly post. I'm off to look into personal styling. I'd thought it would be beyond me but YES I could treat myself. Thank you.