Casual but stylish clothes for uk holiday next week

[BasketballScoop]

Im in a bit of a style rut clothes-wise as my weight’s been up and down a bit the last year, but its gotten to the point now where I’m desperately in need of some new stuff and am off on holiday next week and literally have nothing to wear 🙈 (I wear smart office stuff for work that’s not suitable for holidays, and the last time I bought non work clothes it was for a very hot sun holiday, so not suitable for uk April).

Im in and around a size 16, hourglass shape but have a large chest which sometimes restricts my choices. Love wrap tops, not a huge fan of jeans. Style wise I’d be more smart casual, though I want to also be comfy. I have a budget of around £210 and would like to get at least 3 nice outfits that I can possibly mix and match. Have many jackets and coats already, and a few cardis but not much else.

Would love some suggestions if anyone has seen any nice outfits recently, I seem to have lost my way with style so cannot see the wood for the trees at the moment.

"Starlight dresses from nobody's child which look fab but are very booby so maybe not if you're doing brass rubbings in Canterbury Cathedral"

Quote of the Week @MynameisJune!

I'm busty and had to size up in the only NC dress I've tried. Even then, it might have been a bit risqué for brass rubbing.

Hahaha thanks

As Hugh said in Four Weddings, nothing worse than a vicar with an erection

Oops sorry, wrong poster! You conjure quite the image there @Namechange032025 😄

Mind you, I wish retailers would consider the brass-rubbing effect when they produce necklines that are completely impractical. The number of times you read in reviews that a neckline is ridiculously low - then some helpful person will suggest 'putting a stitch in it' or 'just wear a cami / modesty panel😣' - either of which would ruin the look as far as I'm concerned. I've discounted many a dress because of it.

And in your sixties - when busty becomes plain ol' bust - nana cleavage isn't a look most of us aspire to. My compliments to those happy to flaunt it; I just prefer not to.

I also size up at nobody’s child. They tend to be fine initially but shrink on first wash

I've bought a few tops & bottoms from The Set by Next. It's coordinated & designed to be mixed and matched with other items from the range. It's very easy to look put together with this range & elevate it with accessories.

https://www.next.co.uk/shop/brand-theset-0

Yes definitely not me! My boobs are more compared to a pirates favourite find - a sunken chest 🤣🤣🤣

@MynameisJune what is the length like on that nobody's child dress? It's really nice and a good shape for me on the top half but I'm 5ft3 and find the length of everything difficult.

I've struggled to buy trousers for the last ten years as they seem to just be getting longer and longer...

I’m 5’9 and it hits mid-calf on me. I’m going to say it would be fairly long on you. Usually I have the opposite problem in that even longer length trousers aren’t often long enough. Why shops can’t get it right is beyond me.

Thanks. Probably will be too long for me in that case. I usually wear a knee length dress as a mid-calf dress 😁ho hum!

I was predicted to be 5ft6 when I was at school and my mum was delighted I 'was going to be tall' but my body didn't get the memo...

M&S!

I just got...

bright red dress
Breton t shirt
Black square neck top
Navy wide leg trouser.

I'm going to pair with my nice jacket and Levi's Mom jeans for a bit of a capsule wardrobe?

Look at the capped sleeve t shirts in next. Cheap, wash well and loads of colours. They do come up big in my experience

I'm enjoying wearing this outfit currently. The jeans are much wider than they appear on the website. Plus I'm only 5'4" and they don't sweep the floor.

THANK YOU!

I love this style of dress but hate angel sleeves or puff sleeves that they all seem to have. the sleeveless version of this is literally my dream dress

F

There are loads of patterned 50's style dresses in the shops, great for summer.
I thought they looked old fashioned last year, this year, they are still the height of fashion and I actually now love them.

M&S have some nice ones.

I’m mid 50’s and like to wear tapered trousers and Chanel type jackets/cardigans either buttoned up or undone with various top/ T shirts underneath. I cannot get on with wide leg trousers.

I have a pair like this from M&S. The cut is good, but the fabric feels a bit polyestery and is a magnet for cat hair if you have pets!

I think the Lake District has recently relaxed its rules about attire, you can now wear what you want, when you want, where you want in England! hth :)

Agree anything goes from serious walking/hiking gear to the farmer look and then extremes of fashion from non locals that stick out like a sore thumb.

You would be fine in Jeans (as long as its not raining which it frequently is), any kind of casual trousers or shorts if it’s warm and a t shirt and extra layer either any sweatshirt, any fleece, hoodie, jumper or jacket (depending on the day). And a waterproof for when it rains.

A question for those who wear shirts over t-shirts or vests. Don’t you find that the shirts are too long for any subsequent jacket that you might put on? I love the look of a loose shirt but find that when I inevitably have to put a jacket on as the evening gets chillier or the rain starts to fall, the shirt sticks out underneath and looks a bit messy. Most of my lighter jackets are waist length.

Loving the ideas on here.

You sound very elegant and put together. I aim for this look but it never quite comes off.

The shirts I wear over vests/sleeveless dresses tend to be quite short and boxy. I’ve just bought a long trench coat though, which should work over longer shirts too. Generally though, I only wear longer shirts open over shorts, with no jacket required.

This sort of thing www.arket.com/en-gb/product/relaxed-linen-shirt-black-1262613006/

Loving some of these suggestions Fl, following for more inspiration, thanks OP!