Ideas please for a bit of an update

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

I am little and a bit fat (14) and quite old.

I’d like to buy one or two nice things to freshen up my wardrobe for spring. Not a coat or boots or a bag.

Ideally these one or two things will be able to take me to the pub or out to a nice restaurant, without being too dressy.

I wear a lot of black, so maybe something that isn’t black might be nice. I suit slim flare or rolled up jeans, various dresses and pencil skirts. I hate belts. Think I’m somewhere between an apple and a fat hourglass. I quite fancy something red, maybe, or some going out trousers that aren’t jeans.

Any suggestions very welcome to force me to look at things I wouldn’t normally look at. I hate polyester and have mixed feelings about viscose!

I saw these in store yesterday and am tempted
https://www.frenchconnection.com/products/lily-mozart-short-sleeve-true-red - and they’re cotton!

I have also just ordered some wide leg black cords after weeks of dithering. Same age and size as you OP but a smidge taller.

I was in London yesterday for Chinese New Year and a lady was wearing this in the restaurant, with dark jeans and trainers- it looked so nice I asked her where it was from and she said Next, it had silver metal buttons, it was a gorgeous colour and it's 100% cotton.

I am considering this. Monsoon is usually not my thing- I don't like frills and florals- but I adore the colour of this shirt, it's not polyester, and the price is good. Not sure about the frill collar but will try it. https://www.monsoon.co.uk/prue-pintuck-blouse-6404950754.html?utm_source=criteo&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=Conversion&cto_pld=wGsvMsdOAAB35AKq6uOmnw

I like those French Connection jumpers! Esprit usually has some good jumpers too. Underrated.

@Floisme have you seen the Sezane wrap knit? It also has the slightly bell sleeves. The colours are not my thing unfortunately. I’ve ordered the Me+Em to try as I like the cut out at neck and it’s my colour, but very much hoping it’s no good 😆

@SiobahnRoy thanks for the red top link!

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie if you’re busty what about a silk shirt in a colour that suits you? M&S Autograph/Boden/Jigsaw might have something.

That's a lovely blouse @Lentilweaver - very like the Sezane Chlo but a quarter of the price

Thanks for all of these. Love the colour of the Monsoon shirt but not the fabric.

I like the red Next shirt but not for me (too long and would swamp me) although it’s reminded me that I had a cropped shirt from H&M last summer and it might be worth seeing if there’s a red one.

I don’t like the red and black Klass one.

I’m off to town today, so will report back later. At the very least, I’ll try the M&S cords. What shoes do people wear with them? I’m on the lookout for either some new trainers or perhaps some of those Birkenstock clog things.

Do you have a Benneton locally? All the trousers are too long (easy enough to sort) but I find the fit good otherwise and they do good solid colour pieces. I regularly forget they exist then am.pleasantly surprised when I pass by.

No Benneton. I had no idea they still existed!

So today's trip to town was useless - M&S only had three pairs of the black cords, none of which were my size and all of which were absolutely covered in white fluff, which puts me off ordering them online. Their knitwear was all awful unless I wanted cashmere or black or beige, which I didn't. They had a few cotton knits but the colours were absolutely revolting imo.

Arket and Cos didn't have anything that appealed.

Did you see this denim dress in M & S @RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie
I saw it in store today, I didn't have enough time to try it on but I thought it will be good for now with boots and in the summer with chunky sandals...

Hi @Rina66 I wasn't looking at dresses, so didn't notice that, sorry.

Update- I’ve bought some flared jeans from M&S. Not sure about them - will have a trying on session, but fear they might only work with heels, in which case they’ll have to go back.

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie if you still like the idea of some wide legged cords, try Uniqlo. They aren't the lovely deep glossy velvet cord of the M&S ones, but the colours are good, they are well cut and last well.

FWIW, my M&S black ones haven't picked up any white lint. They still look new after a few washes, so maybe your local M&S just has a bad batch.

I was going to suggest Uniqlo wide leg cords too Remus if you didn't get on with M&S. I don't think you're a Uniqlo fan but I've seen them in real life (although I don't own any) and they looked pretty decent.

Re flares, I really wasn't feeling them at all this time around but then around Christmas I had an Epiphany* and they're now my favourites. No idea what changed and I wear them with flats.

@hashisucks sorry I've only just seen your post and yes, I'd missed the Sezane wrap top. I'll take a look.

*Any Epiphany / Christmas pun unintentional!

AS it happens, I'm off oop North tomorrow and there's a Uniqolo, so I'll have a look. DP and dd have both just approved the flares, although they feel very out of my comfort zone. So far, I think they will work with my platform Converse and my stack heeled suede boots, but I'm hoping I can find some flats that look okay too.

Well my first thought was - gosh is size 14 fat??????

It's definitely fat compared to what I used to be, and I'm short so the extra weight is more obvious.

In flares news, I really like them. I wore them with a fitted t-shirt and platform Converse hi-tops, and with a blouse and heeled boots and then with a jumper and flat Converse low tops.

I love the look of cords but I'm always concerned my thighs will start to smoulder if I have to walk very far

😂

Have you looked at the other wide leg trousers in M&S? I've bought black and chocolate brown ones, (they are the pull on ones ). I've also just bought some beautifully soft jumpers from F&F lots of colours to choose from. Just a thought.
I also wear them with platform converse.

I bought this last week. I saw it and loved it, but did a slow walk towards it, dreading the touch that I was sure would tell me it was polyester....but it's linen.

I love it, it's so soft, decent quality and not see-through, and so far I've worn it out to dinner with a pleated black satin skirt, and tucked into jeans for work.
https://www.marksandspencer.com/pure-linen-printed-collared-popover-blouse/p/clp60632479#intid=pid_pg1pip48g2r12c2

I ordered that green blouse from Monsoon I linked to upthread to try, but it's horrible. Too many frills.

I really like that linen blouse @ToriTheStoryteller except brown does not suit me.

How about this nice broderie shirt? Pure Cotton Broderie Shirt | M&S Collection | M&S (marksandspencer.com)

I've already got a previous version of that M&S black shirt - black broderie is one of my favourite things!

I've seen the brown blouse on store and really like the print but I wasn't sure about the shape. I'll try it on. I 'think' brown suits me.

I'll have another look at the M&S trousers too.

Wow. Who have M&S finally brought in to oversee their womenswear lines? These blouses are beautiful (though no bust darts which makes those of us who are short with norks look twice our actual size). But I might have to go into town tomorrow and check them out. That linen one...

I love the broderie too but black adds years to my face these days.