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.

I didn’t see her post! So I’m happy to say the same thing to her too? 🤣

We don't have concrete plans, apart from going to Kew gardens and to a museum .. I thought I'd mentioned that early on the thread, but maybe not.

I don't really notice anyone's style, I don't really look at magazines or watch much tv. I'm generally very casual, as mentioned jeans and jumpers with trainers. However, trying to be still casual but smarter in general when out and about.

I never said you were getting it wrong, my mistake was to mainly comment on what I didn't like. In my defence I've been out and about all day yesterday and today, so only looking quickly in-between and commenting briefly.

Cotton knits from Marks - I've done a search for just a few brands, so hopefully this will link to a selection https://www.marksandspencer.com/l/women/knitwear/jumpers/fs5/cotton?filter=Brand%253DFatFace%257CM%2526S%2520Collection%257CSeasalt%2520Cornwall&originalPrice=15%2C465

Lots of colours and prices. A cotton knit can be useful in changeable weather.

Oh dear …

@Nosebooper when I suggested a co-ordinated casual jacket and trousers I wasn’t insisting they must be navy. I simply meant that the combination of two pieces would give you the basis of lots of options that could be more or less formal, as you choose.

This is a different example:

https://www.toa.st/collections/womens-coats-jackets/products/birch-gingham-cotton-jacket-burnt-umber

This set from Zara would fulfil the same purpose - you could wear them together or separately with other things, both on your trip and afterwards:

https://www.zara.com/uk/en/zw-collection-shoulder-pad-waistcoat-p02388586.html?v1=427873316&v2=2420285

Again, it’s just a suggestion of the types of thing you might look for that seem to meet your stated criteria.

If you look through all the websites that have been suggested across the thread I’d be surprised if you don’t find something!

(FWIW I’m around your age, have lots of London history and continuing connections that mean I’m there pretty often. So when I’m buying clothes I generally want them to work for London, for the city I live in and for the odd work trip beyond the UK. I buy the best I can afford and like things to last, so I can mix and match from different years or even decades. And I’ve got to an age where I expect people to worry about what they’re going to wear to meet me, rather than the other way around. It’s very relaxing …)

Kew and a museum sounds lovely. Sorry if you mentioned that and I missed it.

It sounds like a new pair of jeans and a new jumper could just really boost you for your trip. Coats are the trickiest part, for me, at this time of year.

I have to agree with this as my thoughts had run in that direction too. Perhaps @Nosebooperis not familiar with the usual formalities of posting on threads but yes her answers have been curt and no idea given of likes.

Because I am zenned, I will take that in the spirit of internet friendship in which I'm sure it was intended. :)

Absolutely! I can’t really disagree with Remus Lupin’s Biggest Groupie.

She's apologised and has given lots more information. Give a gal a chance! :)

@Nosebooper you say you don’t notice other people’s style and don’t read magazines or watch TV. Presumably you also don’t regularly browse fashionable shop websites, or follow people or brands on instagram? If that’s the case I’m not surprised you’re finding it difficult to engage with any suggestions from posters.

It’s great that you’re asking for advice - but if you want to look a little more stylish for your trip then surely you have to do a little work too?

Go on to the websites of … I dunno:

Cos, Toast, Studio Nicholson, Nobody’s Child, Wiggy Kit, Zara, M&Spencer, Mango, Uniqlo, Margaret Howell, and Daughter, YMC, Massimo Dutti, Joanie …

and see what’s in the shops and what other people are buying to wear now. Doesn’t matter whether new or pre-owned - acquire an idea of what’s current.

It will make life a lot easier.

Some lovely jumpers there! Especially like the khaki metallic one and the red and white v neck one.

I love the burnt umber jacket, especially the colour! I knew what you meant, sorry I didn't reply originally.

I have looked at all suggestions and seen many things I like, just trying to limit how much I spend by picking my favourites 😊

Yes, a new jumper definitely. I'd love new jeans, but if I have to close between the two, I'm trying to decide if I need a coat more 😂

Brilliant! I tried the red and white one on in a vague desire to bring a bit more colour into my life - it came up HUGE and didn't suit me, but gotta be worth a try of you can get to a store for a trying on session. The shorter, cheaper red one worked better on me - I didn't buy it, but I'm going to try to it on again because I think it might work with my satin skirt as well as jeans.

My very stylish daughter has a few like the khaki one - she says the sort of 'chainmail' type tops are very 'in' and several of her friends have them too. She layers them over dresses, wears with jeans, or with patterned palazzo type trousers.

I don't really follow people on social media, no 🫣 I think what I wanted was exactly what you've said, suggestions for where to look. I'm not "fashionable " and really struggle to step outside my comfort zone, so any suggestion is great! I'm happy to put in the work. As I said, I've been rushed off my feet for the lady few days, so only dipping into the thread briefly on and off. I'm sorry about that.

Unfortunately not many shops nearby and I don't go into town often, I'll look online at the shops though.

I think that many of the suggestions being given to this poster are OTT. Loads of websites to look at 🤷‍♀️ the trip is in a week's time. The poster isn't going to be dropping nearly 200 or whatever on a little Toast jacket. When you are out and about in a city at the time of the year you need a decent coat one that can be worn in possibly wet weather or with an umbrella. Everything else flows from that! @Nosebooperinitially I was too embarrassed to say but I don't think that coat will cut it.

Our local M&S is tiny, but I'll order online, I can return to store if I don't like them. Thanks again 😊

No that's fine, I'm not sure either 😂

Yes, I agree. One good coat would be more useful than a little Toast jacket. And somebody who lives in jeans and jumpers (as so many of us often do) is unlikely to suddenly decide to buy a cream trouser suit or whatnot.

Totally agree a coat is where it's at, but without knowing the weather forecast, it's really hard to say what kind.

I don’t necessarily follow people on instagram either, @Nosebooper- but I have a million other ways to keep up with what’s current. (And, even if I didn’t care massively about clothes it does pay, at 60, to look as if you know which century you’re in …)

I wouldn’t be mad about a sheer blouse over a vest right now … Even at ROH it would be dressier than necessary. And would require a change between daytime and evening, which might waste your limited and precious time. Can’t you choose something more neutral? A plain crewneck jumper, say. Long or short sleeved as you prefer. Plus a couple of necklaces or pendants.

It's going to be about 12 degrees with some rain .

Thanks all. Yes I get that, I just have a really nice blouse I picked up on vinted I wanted to wear 😂

And you should definitely wear it! If sheer feels a bit much, you could always layer it over a T-shirt instead of a vest. Whenever I’m in London (and I go a lot) I see people dressed to the nines and dressed down, so absolutely feel free to wear the nice blouse. Last time I was there, I saw lots of people in their 20s in sequins and trainers and felt they’d struck a fun balance of dressed up and down simultaneously!

Upthread comment re puffa jackets taking up too much space at the theatre - I always sit on mine, makes any seat 100% more comfortable and pops back up like new each time.