48- stuck in a style rut

[Needathickskin]

Looking for some practical style advice really. Am 48, work from home with occasional meetings, also do school runs.

My go to daily uniform is fairly simple: jeans, Oxford shirt of some sort, trainers/heeled boots as well as jacket/ camel coat/gilet/ puffa. It mostly works - I’m tight for time, with kids, and need something that looks reasonably smart for work zoom meeting, if needed.

But I’m feeling increasingly meh about everything, not helped by delightful bloated tummy (thank you perimenopause!) and feeling so tired all the time, even though I’ve been on hrt for 9months. Everything is such an effort!

Whereas in my 20s and 30s I felt I looked a bit ?elegant? or at least had made an effort…I just now feel so bleurgh.
My shirts now feel like sacks to hide my tummy.

I hate the current trend of floral, floaty Amish style dresses (never suited me even when I was in my 20s) and I live rurally so dainty dresses/floaty trousers not really v practical.

I had my children in my early 40s so am somewhat older than other mums at school by a good ten years, so am also feeling the contrast too. Just feel so frumpy!

I am a bit older than you, also in peri, and have a big tummy too. I also WFH so have no use for frilly dresses, and they don't suit me anyway. I go for a more streamlined look, and I totally understand a uniform.

How about more luxe versions of your daily uniform? Better jeans, better waterproofs, better shirts? A brighter silk shirt for the zoom meetings?

Or what about wide leg trousers and a tucked in shirt?I know the general advice is to disguise the tum with oversized shirts, but I actually find a fitted or tucked in shirt looks better. Melissa Murrell on You Tube has useful tips for large tummies.

I also recently tried a jumpsuit. Took some trial and error to find the right one, but it's a nice change from jeans.

If you’re unusually tired all the time there’s probably a reason. Have you been fully checked for anaemia, and thyroid issues?

You’ll probably feel better about your wardrobe once the exhaustion is sorted out.