I want to try a new look that suits me but dont know where to start!

[Hallesmellie]

I’m early 40s and stuck in a bit of a style rut. I tend to wear skinny jeans and jumpers, or leggings with a jumper dress when casual. For work I would wear black tights with a patterned shortish skirt and tight black polo neck, or black tights with a skater style dress.

Please help! I’m 5ft 1, pear shaped with a small waist, hate my arms, boobs small but too crepey to display (thanks kids), size 8-10, slight c-section pouch (again, thanks kids) and just feeling a bit dated/dowdy.

If someone can suggest an outfit style, I’ll have a hunt on vinted and see if I can find something similar to take my chances on!

Chat gpt?

That's what I thought!

Do you follow anyone on Instagram for inspiration? You might like thesilverkat who is petite like you.

I've been trying to get out of my mid 40s rut too. I've been really just lazy I suppose for so long. Being tall and broad doesn't help tbh.. I end up looking like a pro wrestler sometimes.

I've been slowly replacing things I don't like for things I love tho. Even silly things like dumping the men's multipack sports socks and getting some nicer bamboo women's socks, make me smile when I put them on.

I dumped the cheap Asda jeans and picked up some comfortable but nice jogger type trousers. I got some slimmer fit standardish kind of joggers too that look a bit like thick leggings, I don't do leggings so it's not a bad middle ground for me.

The old walking boots have gone and I got some nice trainers, I asked on here about some nice ones for big feet and got lots of suggestions.... Which I googled and looked at but ended up with some white Skechers Uno, I love them. I got rid of the Dunlop £12 wellies with the flappy tops and bought some Dublin River Boots in a sale and I love them, I could wear them every day and often do.. most knee high boots either don't fit my calves or make my feet look very long, pancake like.. the dublin boots fit lovely and make my feet look teeny tiny.. 😁

I was watching an unrelated video on YouTube and the girl in it was wearing a denim jacket over a very smart crisp white formal shirt, I loved that look. It gave me the idea to get a denim jacket and a blazer as well.

Then underneath either I could wear a nice button down with some simple jewellery to give two different looks.
Then I thought a nice hoody under both, nice under a denim, but under a blazer? Maybe if I turn the sleeves up a little. might work depending on blazer and hoody, kind of formal but casual formal. 🤣

So yeah. My rambling nonsense doesn't have a point really.. other than if you see others in clothes, if you like how they look, maybe you could work them in somehow too..
And if you go to a shop, pick up something and think "That'll do"
... put it back, don't buy it...
Wait till you pick something up and think,
"I love this..." wear what you love, that gives confidence and you'll always look good. ❤️

My posts on MN and getting longer and more rambly by the day.. sorry.. 😊

Edit:
Also.. if you like YouTube, look up AndreasFashionGalaxy... She's so quirky and fun and you might get some ideas.

You need to work out your preferred style first otherwise you'll get suggestions for things you'd never want to wear. For example do you like the aesthetic of Jennifer Aniston, or Tilda Swinton, or Beyonce, or Billie Eilish? Smart or casual? Stand out or blend in? Elegant or fun? Feminine or gamine? Prints or plain?

Work that out first then it's easy.

Having said that I'd suggest looking at some different trouser and jean cuts like straight cut or wide-ish. Try tucking jumpers in if you don't already (french tuck). Try layering your existing clothes in different ways.

Don’t over think it. If you see a dress you like for whatever reason like colour, pattern or shape etc then try it on. If you like it on you for whatever reason then consider buying it even if it’s not right at that moment and go from there.