“Young” outfit for a 40 year old to wear to a 30th? Help!

[TheHoneyMonster82]

I’ve changed my username to Honey Monster because that’s how I feel when I try and dress up.

I’m a size 12/14 but top heavy in that I’ve got wide shoulders and a big rib cage. I’ve got really good legs, but they look unbalanced with my bigger top half.

I know I look better in low v necks/wrap tops and with some sort of sleeve.

I’ve got a 30th in a few weeks with my young and beautiful workmates. What on earth do I wear to feel good and not like an aging honey monster? I’d be so grateful for any ideas. I want to aim for ‘glam night out in a pub’, not ‘wedding guest’ if that makes sense?

Please help me hate the way I look a bit less.

Budget?
General preferences?
Absolute nos?

This is so doable! Do you have a department store near to you? Even if you don't have department store money, you could go for a try on and take advice, then find cheaper alternatives.
This is the start of your next version of you!

Thank you both. My budget is £100-£200.

Style-wise? Not sure. Not girly, more edgy? Black rather than colorful. I want to look fantastic but also blend into the background. 😬

Your thread title sounds horribly misguided - there’s no reason at all why you shouldn’t aim to look the best version of you.

But ‘edgy’ / black is quite a dated idea of glamour …

Also in my 40s, imo the more casual the better. Nice top & jeans with trainers. Genuinely feel like the less if a shit you give the more 'on trend' you are 🤷🏻‍♀️

Linen pants are really popular right now, I think white, wide leg linen pants with either trainers/sandals. I'd then maybe double linen with an oversized shirt!

How to fit in sort of depends on your workmates. Are they likely to be in tiny BooHoo frocks with cut outs everywhere or a patterned maxi with a shirred waist?

Something like this

American Vintage top

with whatever casual skirt / jeans / trousers you like best.

Really it’s your grooming that will make the difference. (I’m not sure any women outside MN wear eye shadow nowadays, for instance.) And your footwear.

This skirt would be fun to wear with the AV jumper.

Zara skirt

Add boots as shown. Or trainers if you must.

And read this - it’s not what you think …

‘How to dress your age — the rules for women (and men)’

https://www.thetimes.com/article/a3596008-218a-43ee-baaa-7328507ca337?shareToken=f56d48f4d91407c5be3f66c089495a35

A mini dress?

https://www.anthropologie.com/en-gb/shop/by-anthropologie-long-sleeve-sheer-mini-dress?category=clothes-mini-dresses&color=009&type=REGULAR&quantity=1

or this top with grey jeans

www.anthropologie.com/en-gb/shop/by-anthropologie-ruched-sleeve-v-neck-top?category=tops-blouses&color=009&type=REGULAR&quantity=1

Satin slip skirts are everywhere at the moment, very current and pretty cheap. Finding the right top to wear with them is the problem, but just a plain fitted V neck top would be fine if you've got an shiny bottom half.

I'm early 40's my current favourites are Manners LDN dresses (like witchcraft, suck you in and don't need a bra!) or mesh midi dresses. You can get lots of the mesh ones with sleeves. They'd fit your edgy vibe

Oh my God this is so true!

I generally find older people go for ‘nice’ and younger people go for whatever they want. There’s a lot less body consciousness.
It’s tricky because I think as we age we do need to make a bit more of an effort to avoid disappearing altogether but if you look like you’ve made too much effort you look try too hard. My advice:

40 is obviously not old to begin with so you so no danger of disappearing quite yet
You don’t say where the party is which would be a factor for me
Aim for balance in the outfit so not heels + dress + obvious jewellery. Heels generally not so cool these days. Add a casual element. Pare everything back including make up.
I’d probably wear jeans, a shirt and pointed flats and some nice jewellery.

Now that's an interesting statement about make up. I would love to hear more?

I guess "edgy" means different things to different people but apart from the Zara skirt I don't see anything edgy in these suggestions.

If I wanted to impress young people I'd wear something I already own from Klements as I know it impresses young people but they are over budget, not black and definitely stand out.
Klements

On the OP's budget and remit I'd probably end up at Cos.

Slip skirts are a good shout, but really depends if you feel comfortable in them and your figure. I previously didn't wear them as I felt they didn't flatter my stomach. Now I've lost a bit of weight I love them. If you don't feel confident, you won't look as good.

I'd go for a shirt (sleeves rolled just below the elbow), tucked/tied at the waistband, wide leg trousers (black) and probably trainers. Sort of like this, but rolled sleeves and a different bag. Shirt options: this or this

I think 'edgy' depends on context. In this case I'm taking it to mean 'not girly, please don't suggest a floral dress and white trainers' rather than high fashion.

You could do a supermarket shop in jeans, a shirt and pointed flats and some nice jewellery. And nobody would notice.

Everyone wears trainers these days! So I agree

If you like your legs then I'd probably go for a shorter length black dress from cos. Black sandals (I always wear birks but you may want something more glam) then well groomed hair, nails, make up and a red lip

Black wide leg trousers or jeans with a black linen waistcoat and trainers/birkenstocks. This or similar is my current mid 40's size 12 uniform

Jumpsuit with a v neck and high waist?

I follow a few people on insta for inspiration, here's a few mix of 40's and midsize fashion

Livelovesarablog https://www.instagram.com/livelovesarablog?igsh=NW1mMnppZ2Q5MWk2
Betterwithchardonnay https://www.instagram.com/betterwithchardonnay?igsh=aHI3MzAzbWFqZTJ5
Molliecampsie https://www.instagram.com/molliecampsie?igsh=MTQ5dnllamtrbmc3Mg==

Laurenelyce https://www.instagram.com/laurenelyce?igsh=MWcxZHZiaGVsYXBwcg==

Jademarie_
https://www.instagram.com/jademarie________?igsh=MTNudDR0ZGl6azFlcA==

But that's not "edgy" - that's everyday clothes that don't have florals.