How to Put Outfits Together

[SheepDogAtWork]

I have a few formulas for workwear that I am bored of - smart jeans, blazer. I am so fed up of it but looking for clothes in shops, can’t see what else I can assemble.

Patterns clash, colours clash, shaped don’t flatter or go together, seems that apart from very plain stuff, you cannot combine something sassy. And even new stuff somehow looks dated, but may be it’s me?

Lots of inspo online but can fulfill them in shops if that makes sense.
Anyone else is stuck like this?

I think you need to go in shops you wouldn’t normally.

What do you want?

Trousers? Tops?

I know someone who follows a (lesser known) instagram fashion influencer roughly her shape & size & literally just buys the entire outfits this influencer puts together.

She admits she lacks creativity when it comes to clothes & just wants an easy life so that approach suits her, & she normally looks really nice to be fair.

not for everyone

I rarely step into a physical shop these days. Online browsing seems so much more leisurely - I might see an item and take 6 / 12 / even 18 months to think about it before pressing Buy. And over that time I might be imagining or noticing how the thing might work with my wardrobe or with other new things.

But I like colour clashes! Just through experimentation I’ve found, for instance, that the best thing to coordinate with a red white and blue skirt is a bright green camisole.

Actually, experimentation is really helpful. Over the weekend I had a mostly willing relative (whose taste I trust) comment on various outfits and combinations of clothes I’m planning to wear for a trip. I’m generally confident about what I choose but it was good to get a second opinion.

However - if you’re struggling to put separates together, why not take a break from that and spend six months or a year only buying dresses? There’s an infinite variety.

(Where do you shop, btw? You may just not be going into the best places …)

Thank you. I shop in M&S, JL, look at Next. For specialist items, I find it easy - like sportswear, wellies, waterproofs, where you buy the best you can afford from specialist brands. But everyday wear is where I struggle, especially given short height and perfectionist tendencies for fit and quality.

Both are good calls - dresses and whole outfits, thank you.

Perfectionist tendencies demand encouragement!

How tall are you? How much are you willing to spend? (There’s a slight implication in your last post that you … economise on day to day clothes, in contrast to specialist wear?) Are you only looking for workwear - and if so, how formal?

How would you feel about the Palava look, for instance?

Or Batsheva?

Or YMC?

Amongst a million other possibilities, obvs.