Wardrobe Crisis!

[SaraS12]

My husband is taking me away next weekend for a surprise weekend. The problem is that over the years my wardrobe has become a haven for jeans, leggings and ‘comfy mum wear’.

This will be the first time in over five years that we’ll be able to spend time together -just us, but I’m really stressed about looking my best - for me and for him.

I just won’t get anytime to head to the shops and going online is just completely overwhelming.

I want some new outfits that are elegant and help build my confidence but I don’t know where to start. I feel like I’ve lost myself.

Can anyone help inspire me or provide some advice?

Where are you going ?
that will make a big difference to wardrobe choices

Im not that great at putting together outfits I’m afraid @SaraS12 so I’m following for inspiration. Hope you have a wonderful time away!

He’s taking me to a hotel in London (he’s not said where) and then we’re going out for dinner (again he’s not said where). So you can see why it’s stressing me out! I know it’ll be somewhere fancy and probably expensive.

Budget?

How lovely! (I’ll actually be in London myself next weekend - we may pass each other on an escalator or at the opera.)

Anyway, you have time. I would firstly browse the websites of

Massimo Dutti
& Other Stories

to get a completely up to date idea of Spring 2024 shapes and proportions. Then see what you can replicate from your existing wardrobe. See if there’s just one piece - maybe a new coat / jacket that would update everything else. If you order it this weekend you should have it by midweek.

Depending slightly on what your DH has planned, it would be great if you could shave off just a couple of hours to go to one or two shops once you’ve arrived in London. If you identify a specific shop / area beforehand it won’t be too time consuming or overwhelming. (I would never take a man on a clothes shopping jaunt but it’s up to you.) This would be your opportunity to try on and buy something to wear for dinner and whatever in the evening.

(I will be firmly shopping my wardrobe …)

We need more information OP. What shape are you, what height. Do you prefer trousers or dresses? Do you like patterns or not?

For instance, I’m 5’3” so if someone is recommending clothes to me, they need to be petite fit. If they show me a dress from COS, it will look like I borrowed a giant’s dress!!

I love trousers and can tell you wide leg are in and I can show you how to style them. If you prefer dresses, midi dresses are still in style but the shape has changed from ‘prairie’ and A line, wide, to a more fitted, tube style. Then you wear an oversized blazer with it.

For outerwear, a Mac is really in style and goes with the above dresses and wide trousers perfectly.

Give us a little more information on what you like and I can send you links.

Thanks, budget is about £200. I don’t think I’ll get the chance to check out the shops when I’m there, so will have to be an online order by Monday/Tuesday

I’m 5’6, hourglass, size 12, 36-30-38.

Would love to get back into wearing elegant dresses and skirts and get out of scruffy jeans.

Wear a colourful blazer with a dark pair of trousers and same colour casual top. Wear with some trainers. Pack a pair of boots or shoes and tights. Find a nice dress that'll tie in with what you've got that you can dress up or down. Cami top to go underneath both (then you can choose to wear your blazer or not). Plus coordinating scarf/ pashmina type thing.
Swimsuit, just in case

Day dress. This is fabulous - cotton and wool mix so really versatile.

Dinner dress. Really easy to wear and flattering.

Done!

Thanks - I really love that dress!

Which?

The mesh midi dress. Nice to have a dress with sleeves. I’m thinking of tights and some heels with it.

Not sure about the day dress. Would prob have to wear a cami top with it. Might get a bit hot if we’re out all day?

I start with your day outfit.

be comfortable and practical, no point looking great if you can’t walk or are tugging and adjusting at an item of clothing you are not used to.

wide leg jeans, trainers, white blouse/top/tee with a bomber jacket/quilted jacket and an easy bag to hold what you need for the day

mesh dress is perfect for evening, pair it with boots and the new jacket

if all else fails a gorgeous new set of underwear!

I really like both of those dresses too. Definitely trainers for day time and a dressier shoe for evening.

I would get a really lovely coat first (if you haven't already got one) as I reckon it will be cold next weekend... You can add it over dress or make it more casual for sight-seeing/shopping etc

I've got my eye on this dress which could work for lots of different eventualities. Note sizes run small

https://www.nobodyschild.com/brown-spot-print-tasha-midi-dress.html

Thanks, like that dress too

Oh god, I’d not even thought about new undies…

How about this day dress from & Other Stories?

https://www.stories.com/en_gbp/clothing/dresses/midi-dresses/product.collared-midi-shirt-dress-beige.1167200004.html

Also, I received a discount code from them the other day. It might still work today. It's TREAT20

I think you need to ask your dh what he plans to do all day. If it’s a bit of sightseeing you’ll be walking for miles, the last thing you want to wear is a dress and heels. You’ll need trainers, top layers (it gets warm on the underground) and trousers/jeans.

Who said she would be sightseeing in heels? I credit the OP with considerably more sense than that. But it isn’t the law that you have to wear jeans if walking around London. (I’m in and out of London all the time - and don’t currently own a pair of jeans. Or trainers, actually.) As long as your feet are comfortable you can wear what you like.

I'd get a lovely knit dress which would be beautiful for a restaurant meal but which you could also wear in the day the next day, just with different (flat) shoes. Currently obsessed with this one from Sézane.

Even fancy London restaurants are not mega dressy places. This is the right balance of elegant but not overdressed.

https://www.sezane.com/en/product/belinda-dress/forest-green?CHEQ&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Marque&utm_content=&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA3JCvBhA8EiwA4kujZi0Vgp8JcayMrB3bbT5qIgTTssGTSfLP9-Pu9ia6VKBYb40p7UQ5ChoCSo8QAvD_BwE#size-XS

This one also lovely

Dont panic You say you have jeans and leggings right you can dress them up with a nice blouse or top and maybe a heeled shoe.Go and buy a couple of nice dressy tops . Accessories are also the key to dressing up mumsy clothes.You will be surprised what a pair of heels and earrings can do for an outfit .
Go and enjoy yourself no matter what you wear.
👌

I didn’t say “high heels”, I just meant most women do wear something resembling trainers inorder to be comfortable. I’m in and out of London frequently and the vast majority of women are wearing trainers.