Need clothes for trip to london

[Nosebooper]

My wardrobe is very tired and a little scruffy! I have a 3 day trip to london at the end of the month and need something new to wear, in low budget but happy to use vinted if needs be. We're sightseeing and eating out.

I'm 60, size 16, 5 feet 7, usually live in jeans and jumpers/tops but want to look a bit more upmarket I guess!

I have jeans I like, so mainly looking at tops/ jumpers and coat/ jacket. No idea yet what the weather will be like! I do have a Weird Fish rain jacket, but not keen on it anymore.

I'll be wearing trainers or ankle boots from Rieker to protect my painful feet.

Any suggestions? With links if possible.

TIA.

The one thing I would say about puffer jackets is that they are a nightmare if you are going to the theatre or to a concert. The seats are so cramped and a thin coat is much better.

I would look in Oliver bonas as they have some lovely spring jumpers at the minute to go with your jeans. And I'd take a silky shirt or blouse for evening. I have them in grey and blue and feel a bit dressed up in them, still with jeans. Then good earrings for nighttime

Every London thread goes in the same direction - "Us Londoners are so chilled and cool that you'll look like a provincial twat if you wear anything that isn't 500 year old jeans and a pair of manky trainers." It's ridiculous and unhelpful.

Generally, on a trip, people might want to enjoy what they're wearing. They might want to enjoy thinking about what they wear. It opens up an avenue of thought beyond the every day - maybe this time I could be the put together person I'd like to be / maybe this time I'll feel just right / maybe this time I can be a bit more than usual, a bit different, maybe I'll swish around looking like an art gallery kind of person instead of a dog walking mum, or a Mayfair restaurant person instead of a pizza in front of the telly person, or a stylish person wafting around Bond Street instead of a tired person in a tracksuit slouching around Sainsbury's. It's part dressing and part dreaming and that's okay. Nobody is suggesting that the OP waft around in a ballgown and a tiara, or a micro mini and massive heels, or even a snazzy dress. They're suggesting simple, everyday clothes.

Just stop it with the 'We are Londoners and we know better about dressing than you idiots up north' please.

OP - I suggested merino jumpers earlier on the thread. They are great for layering. I wear them over a very thin long sleeved top, so they don't touch my skin. They're really useful for the changeable British springtime weather.

The coat you posted is okay, but personally I'd prefer something not so 'different' and more 'will work with lots of things on lots of days in my life whilst also suiting my need to feel a bit more swishy than usual'. For me, that would need to be a plainer coat.

I think it’s taken over a decade for you and I to agree on any S&B thread, @RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie …

Do you feel better now you’ve got that rigmarole off your chest, @RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie? Because you’ve made up a few things there, including the OP being from “up north” which I didn’t think she’s said, certainly not in her OP.

All us Londoners are doing is reassuring the OP that she’ll be fine regardless, in new clothes or old. I’m sorry you don’t like that, that we like visitors to our amazing city to be comfortable and not judged.

That’s not true. Some (not all) were sneeringly commenting how ridiculous wanting to wear something nice was. It’s a kind of reverse snobbery and it’s tedious as fuck. The OP has said she wants to dress a bit more smartly than usual. She’s asked for suggestions. Saying, “Just wear any old crap” in that sense can potentially become condescending and unhelpful, even if meant reassuringly - and not everyone has come across as reassuring.

I don’t recognise your name, but glad to finally find some common ground.

Well, that’s not what I’ve seen - no sneering and only one person (who admitted they were being snobbish) really commenting in that way. so we’ll have to agree to disagree.

However, what I can see is the OP pretty much turning down every suggestion made!

I would suggest a lovely blazer that you can put with your jeans etc. Instantly smarter without being OTT.

That’s the post I was largely reacting to, as, I think, was @Bailiwitch.

Agree that @Nosebooper is proving spectacularly hard to please, but understand that sometimes it’s hard to quite define or see quite what it is you actually want.

And not sure why my post was defined as ‘that rigmarole’ whilst you didn’t react at all to @Bailiwitch but I’m working on channeling my inner Jesus today after a really stressful few weeks at work, so this is me now zenning the fuck out.

Bloody hell OP, what was the point in you posting? Every suggestion has been met with ‘I don’t like that’ or ‘I can’t wear that’ or ‘I don’t suit that’

Just wear what you’d normally wear or don’t but if you’re stuck in a rut or aren’t sure what to wear it would be advisable to take the advice you’ve asked for onboard!

I saw a reel on Facebook yesterday of a woman who had landed in Milan taking videos of the incredibly stylish women walking by. You are not going to pick up that vibe in London!

I'm not trying to be awkward! I can't wear wool and don't like synthetics either, as I seem to attract static! I don't wear all black or navy on my top half due to psoriasis. I don't like trench coats. Is that so awkward?

I'm trying to use as much of my own wardrobe with a few new added pieces, without spending too much. I thought that was what Style and Beauty was for. If you don't like it, fine, leave the thread 🤷‍♀️

Ok fine, I'll leave the thread. Was just trying to get as many suggestions as possible, I was considering everything suggested and picking out what I like. Am I supposed to just wear anything, even if I don't like it?? If you read back, lots of suggestions are contradictory in the thread anyway.

Thank you for all the suggestions 🙏

Nobody is asking you to leave your own thread. The problem is you’re not commenting on the suggestions much, except the things you don’t like, so it’s hard for us to define what you might like.

Some of us have really been trying. We’ve listed whole outfits, several days worth of outfits even. We don’t know what shapes or colours you like or where you usually shop. We don’t know what kind of places you’re heading to or whose style you might admire, so we’re getting it ‘wrong’ because we can’t read your mind.

Surely we can find at least one thing you’d like to try?

Wow, don't leave the thread, OP. I stress over what clothes to take on every short break I go on. You haven't said anything wrong at all.

Me too - British weather makes it harder!

Sorry.

Usual shops?
Favourite colours?

I've seen lots of things I've liked, I just maybe haven't said so, for which I apologise. I've tried to feed back, but obviously it came across negatively.

I've bought a striped blouse as someone suggested. I've also bought a very light cross body bag to wear under my coat as I couldn't find anything affordable with inside pockets.

I've also bought another thin top and will layer up as suggested.

I have a blue cardigan already that I can wear over the top. I'll also take a black skirt for evening meals and a sheer blouse to wear over a vest top.

I really don't like trench coats or parkas, but will wear my own wool coat, so grateful for suggestions about that too.

I really do appreciate all recommendations and have looked at every single one, but have budget and health limitations that I had to take into account. Sorry if I didn't comment on your recommendation, to everyone. It is appreciated

Thank you.

I often buy on vinted, otherwise Next, M&S, New Look, Fat Face, Roman mainly. Colours .. I went through a very grey phase and am trying to bring some colour into my wardrobe! I wear a lot of blue and turquoise.

I'm glad 😂

Glad you've found a few things.

Are you still looking for anything else?

Have a lovely trip. I'm off to Manchester soon and imagine I'll have a similar dilemma, largely because if it chucks it down, I really struggle with the right coat. I've been toying with one of these, but it's a lot of money for something I'm not sure how much wear I'd get out of it. https://www.uk.rains.com/products/curve-jacket?variant=39584067747923