Desperately need fashion advice for upcoming proposal

[HopelesslyUnfashionable]

Hi all, have name changed for this because I think a few people in real life know who I am on here due to previous posts & our engagement plans are very much a secret atm.

So I'm essentially a rather plump mum who wants to look elegant for our trip away & proposal. Going to Bruges hopefully in February, so it will be cold. I won't know where or when exactly the proposal will take place- I want an element of surprise! So I could really do with help finding a coat that is practical in terms of being warm & waterproof but also looks stylish.

I've lost over 2 stones so far on my weight loss journey & hoping to keep going (still need to lose around 3 more) so something that looks good cinched in so I don't slim out of it too quickly would be a bonus but not essential.

I'm 5'5 and currently in a size 16, but some are a little big on me, hoping I might be a 14 by the time we go.

Budget ?

Are you likely to be captured on camera? My DH proposed to me in December in Budapest. The only picture that exists is of a selfie we took afterwards (he chose somewhere with no one else there- thankfully!). When I see the picture I objectively can see that I have hat hair that could have done with a brush and am wearing an old winter coat (and am about a 16). But honestly all I see is that we look so happy.

You can’t spend the whole trip expecting it as you won’t enjoy it as much and it will put so much pressure on that you may be disappointed. Just pack warm clothes that suit you, if it’s going to be cold I’d maybe splash out on a beautiful soft scarf in a colour that really suits you.

@IHaveNeverLivedintheCastle Budget- not too much because if I keep losing weight it will be redundant fairly soon but equally enough for it to be decent. Umm that's not super helpful I appreciate. Maybe between £50-£100??, I haven't bought a coat in years, so don't even know if that's a reasonable price range.

@CultureAlienationBoredomandDespair Very good point, I expect it will be somewhere quiet, just us & probably the only photo would like you be a selfie, it's not really even about the photo evidence, it's about treating myself to a look that makes me feel like me & not a frumpy mum for a few days, a nice scarf could also help with that. I essentially am not sure what my style is anymore, particularly now my body is changing shape with my weight lose.

Also would be very open to tips on actual outfits whilst I'm away as well, I rarely trest myself to new clothes, and think I might actually get a couple of outfits as well

Sorry but there's really not enough to go on beyond suggesting you Google "women's coats under £100" There are results from Zara, Uniqlo, H&M , John Lewis and surprisingly Cos at just over £100, but I don't know what style you're after. There's plenty of options which come up.

You could look on Vinted I suppose. I don't use Vinted as they manage to make the clothes so awful.

So far as picking outfits, Bruge is always heaving with tourists and it's not a dressy up place. I would just wear what I normally wear here and add maybe a dress to wear out for dinner, but a casual, not dressy up dress.

I mentioned where we were going purely for weather reference, don't care what other people are wearing at all.

I just thought the style section was meant to be great at helping people who had no ideas.

I don't want to wear my normal clothes, I want to feel fabulous for once.

Style wise, I wanted advice on want looks chic but will fit my frame/size.

I don't think I dress well for my size. I think I try & hide my size & then just look frumpy.

As I've said, I'm 5'5, size 16 with a roughly hourglass shape. I want a coat that's waterproof, but doesn't look like a rain coat. Doesn't need a hood, I can take an umbrella.

I just thought people liked to send actual suggestions, but maybe I was wrong.

Will keep looking myself

So far as outfits, again I've no idea what sort of things you like. Have a look at say John Lewis, M&S, Next, Anthropology, Cos, Seasalt, Whistles, Jigsaw, Hobbs, LK Bennett and see if anything takes your fancy.

Posters here make suggestions but you have to give some steer of what you might like.

I'm also 5'5 and a 14/16 but on its own that doesn't tell anyone anything about what I would like to wear.

I've got this from ASOS, it's warm, it looks stylish, it's fairly waterproof and will see you through sizes as it's just belted. Maybe something like it?

www.asos.com/prd/202263623?acquisitionsource=pasteboard

Do you actually know you're getting engaged?

Colour wise blues & green suit me, I can also pull of pinks & purples but don't wear much in those colours.

Length wise, midi length dresses/long coats cut me off in completely the wrong place & it's not flattering.

Similarly straight up & down shapes don't suit me, I need something that tucks in at the waist.

Brands I like tend to be a bit safe & mumsy & I'm trying to steer away from that, places like fatface/joules etc....

I do have a John Lewis voucher, so could spend more there, but had a quick look & nothing jumped out at me.

Sorry I'm probably not being very helpful, I think that's why I asked for advice, but I don't know where to even start.

Wait.. you know you're going to be proposed to?? Or might be? Sorry off topic I know!

@Rina66 , thanks- I like the beltedness, but think a shorter coat would suit me. Really helps to see an option though, so I can work out what I do & don't want.

Ok given you say you don't like straight up and down this is one of my favourite shops for dresses.

Palava dresses

They also do beautiful waxed cotton raincoats, but they're over your budget.

Palava Heritage trenchcoats

No one ever looks stylish in a waterproof coat.

People here bang on about Rains, Didriksons etc but they all look like exactly what they are. I wear waterproof coats myself - I have 3 or 4 from technical ones to more city ones but if I want to look nice I don't wear them

My tip OP is a swing coat - I've bought a few lovely wool ones from eBay for 20-40 quid or so. I bought the first one when I was losing weight and wanted to buy something that looked ok in a range of sizes. I'm now a 12 from a 14/16 and they all still look good - bit more roomy but they don't look too big at all.

If you buy wool they will be warm. And just get yourself a nice hat or a brolly and a cosy winter jumper. Done.

Avoca swing coat

If you're going away in february I would make sure you have a lovely coat had and scarf gloves combo, as you'l be wearing them everywhere and every day so most if not all the photos. Get these in the colours and styles that really suit you and make you glow.

Then you're presumably looking at a decent pair of jeans and a couple of jumpers, and a nice dress again in colours that make your complexion sing.

I have this and its very forgiving for colour and weight changes. It shows off the waist but isn't the best for very cold like it will be in Feb so i team it with a chunky bright scarf. https://www.dorothyperkins.com/product/dorothy-perkins-longline-wrap-coat_bqq11235?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAqNSsBhAvEiwAn_tmxYMYByIpc97my5_Vj2sESKFgHwXdZvIxusaE-WmjnmKRgFfeEJCDGxoC3d4QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&colour=grey+marl&size=M

I think these are lovely but perhaps a bit too expensive rainsisters.com/en-gb

Of course there are stylish waterproof coats. I don't think puffa coats are stylish but there are plenty of non puffa options.

This is very expensive but there are plenty of cheaper variations of this style of coat.

Mackintosh

It's not waterproof. It's water repellent. And doesn't meet the brief.

I get your point though. But this is all way over OP's budget.

ETA - it does look like it's waterproof as it has taped seams.

Thank you for all the suggestions, definitely some lovely looking coats. Now to work out whether I can justify upping the budget.

All these options have made me realise the following

• I don't want a long coat, but I do want it longer than a jacket, probably top of the legs type length, knees at the longest.

• I'd probably settle for showerproof for the right style, as long as it was also warm or worked with layering

• I don't want a busy/patterned coat, I want it to go with everything I wear, so either a block of colour or something very simple, like a herringbone pattern on the inside/collar/details type thing.

• I really like ones with belts, or the ability to adjust the waistline.

Vinted is your friend and when you lose more weight you can sell it on.

Maybe it’s for the photo opportunity? As they are already engaged to be married.

Try Seasalt - lots of waterproof coats, some fairly smart, and sale may bring under your budget.

For general dressing up a bit while you're away, a dress and boots would be good- thermal tights and a cardigan will keep you cosy as you potter around Bruges. A wrap dress probably a good bet as you're losing weight.

@sunshinesupermum , have just downloaded the vinted app & already found one coat I love- not warm enough for this trip, but still really tempted by it.

Is Vinted fairly reliable? Can you check out sellers ratings?