What should I be wearing to look stylish but practical at 40?

[GoSmallOrGoAway]

Through ill health, parenting, divorce and work I've lost my way with my appearance and live in jeans and baggy tops (even for work). I want to change this and am asking for ideas. I'm an hour glass figure with a large bust which seems to make getting clothes that flatter that extra bit more difficult when everything in fashion is shapeless. Please share any ideas you've got.

Hourglass with large bust - rough clothes size? Height? Colouring?

How practical? Do you admire anyone’s style?

Following for tips!

Just back from a brilliant session with a personal shopper at John Lewis- free, no obligation to buy. Excellent. Highly reccomended

I live in jogging suits and trainers most of the time. I work from home and am only usually out to do the school run and go to the shops. Or I'm in my gym wear going to the gym.

On the weekends at the moment I'm living in jumper dresses, denim dresses or shirt dresses with tights and boots. Or mom jeans with converse and a t-shirt, long sleeved top or jumper.

I generally fling on my camel coat when I head out which I think makes everything look stylish. In my opinion anyway haha!

What kind of lifestyle do you have? Are you WFH or in the office or in the community? What are your hobbies?

I'm sorry for all the crap you've had to deal with recently

I am in a similar situation and am a very similar shape. So far I have found a jeans shape which suits me, high waisted balloon or barrel legged and have found that loose fitting blouses with slightly puffed sleeves are flattering. Currently experimenting with t shirt shapes but so far a slightly lower neckline and very short cap sleeves seems to work best. I have also managed to find a couple of jumpsuits which work.

Sorry I'm a 5'8, size 14 hybrid worker in a professional industry but office wear is business casual. Weekends and down time I like to be outside, I'm outsidey but not outdoorsy and am certainly not a high maintenance blow dry and nails person (but would love to be!)

I like some of what Holly Willoughby wears and I wish I was slender enough for the duchess of Cambridge style! I loved what Claudia wore on the Traitors.

That sounds fun, I might try that!

I'm 42, I have to be smart for work so I wear shirts and "sweater vests" to hide accidental gaping. Wide leg trousers or pencil skirts (forgiving with mum tum!).

Weekends I wear skinny jeggings and shirts with jumpers, batwing tops or jumpers, general high neck tops (to hide boobage).

Always chuck my camel coat on top of everything which helps. Ironing helps too!

I'm 42, 5'9", size 16

Oh dresses I always try for fitted but not waisted, something that clings to bust and glides the hips. Tea dresses and shift dresses work well. As hour glass I avoid peplum, flared skirts or any attention to hips or I look huge.

I put up a thread the other day to say that I've been impressed by the fit of Pour Moi clothing (I am a JJ cup). Lots of nice dresses and tops.
I got a wrap dress which looks like wool (but isn't actually wool) and it's lovely on.

If you like Claudia W’s style on the traitors maybe check out the Dark Academia aesthetic- there are two recent linked threads on it here in S&B that were active not so long ago.

I’m an hourglass too. I love the baggy styles that are trendy at present but they don’t suit my body. I need to have a waist otherwise I look huge! So I’m wearing a fitted top tucked into loose fit trousers, so I still have some of that trendy loose style but you can see my waist. Or I wear a baggy jumper that’s cropped around waist level, so again you can see my shape (I’m not a tummy flasher, I wear a tight tshirt or vest underneath).

I follow Anna Cascarina on Instagram, she’s a larger lady with an hourglass shape and she adapts the baggy look to suit women who aren’t beanpoles.

Another hourglass here…following for ideas!

Have a look at Claire Hall (clubforty.claire) on Instagram, she's got good tops although I think she's 50 now

Her reel about capsule wardrobe made easy is pinned and immprobaly 5% of the views!