What piece(s) am I missing?

[RudyKazoo]

This is a part “stuck in a rut” part “feeling put together” request…

I’m mid-30s, 5’9”, size 10, comparatively broad shoulders, small boobs/waist, long body.

I mostly WFH and free time is largely a mix of DIY, garden jobs and National Trust visits.

I’ve been buying fewer but nicer/better quality things over the last couple of years and have built up some good classics but I just never feel “put together” especially when WFH (probably because I’m a big fan of chunky socks!).

My go to WFH outfit is skinny jeans and cashmere/merino jumper (Woolovers, M&S, eBay).

In the office I’m wearing Hobbs pinafore dresses with jumpers/cardigans, dark tights, chunky Grenson boots, cashmere scarf.

Out and about its jeans, Breton top, gilet, Boden (blue) blazer, Hobbs long swing coat.

What pieces am I missing that would boost my capsule options/help me feel more put together?

Chunky cardigan? Shirts? Another blazer? Jewellery? Lipstick? I had a House of Colour consultation years back and I suit gem colours (but I struggle to fit them in my capsule).

Help! Please and thank you.

A different style of trousers that's not jeans? Blazer/jacket instead of the knitwear.

But does it really matter? Is there something specific you feel you're not appropriately or stylishly dressed for?

Thanks @NigelHarmansNewWife I’ve been toying with wide legged black trousers for some variety.

No specific examples, just every day really. I’ve let things slip over the last year and feel sloppy, which is starting to impact my confidence/mindset.

You've given an impression of a life that could easily be lived entirely in a nice track suit, @RudyKazoo - but I’m sure there’s more to it than that. (In my 30s my home life also revolved around DIY, gardening and garden visiting - and I dressed for that. But I also had a City profession which required a satisfyingly flashy wardrobe.)

You can’t be completely solitary - how and where do you socialise? As a pp has asked, what are the occasions for which you feel the need to be more ‘put together’?

One thing - for a more dressy outfit I’d abandon the Breton tops and replace with silk shirts.

@RandomersAssociation silk shirts are a good call, thank you.

I’m ex-City and my current wardrobe is the total opposite of the one from my old life. Maybe that’s where I’m struggling - I need something in between City and track suit.

DP is always nicely dressed (the kind of man who puts an ironed shirt on to clean the car) and I don’t like feeling sloppy next to him.

Socialising is mostly NT visits, yoga or coffee dates. I’m not one for evening plans at the minute (time/money issues) so I don’t really need date night outfits.

I think a good white shirt could be absorbed into any of those outfits. Either fitted with the pinafores or with skinnies for wfh , or oversized for casual.

Hi @RudyKazoo👋. We have a similar work style (I’m also primarily in Hobbs for the office). I started a thread on some of the new pieces I bought to try and re-discover my sense of style - it’s here and you might find some inspiration.

Do you have a muse? They’re great for helping you work out what’s missing in your capsule wardrobe. Georgina Lennon, Lydia Jane Tomlinson and Beth_bartram are on Instagram and I like their style. I’ve found their posts helpful as they repeat key pieces a lot and make it easy to pinpoint what I’m missing.

For an instant style upgrade I would replace your skinny jeans with wide leg jeans or trousers, or drain pipe trousers. If you styled with a Breton top, black cross body bag and either a trench or gilet I think that would E a solid, polished look.

As for lipstick, if you favour jewel coloured clothes I would probably lean towards a nude lip. I personally nearly always wear a red lip for a splash of colour as I favour a neutral palette for clothes.

Jewellery - layered necklaces upgrade most outfits.

@IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads great shout, thank you.

@Mumsanetta wow, that’s hugely helpful 😊. I’ve caught up with you other thread and I’m definitely going to order some black wide leg trousers. It also made me realise I don’t own a single belt, so will get on that too! Thank you.