I no longer know what to wear!

[Lostinfashion]

I’m early 40s and have lost my way a bit.
I’m 5ft 5ish but my proportions are off so my legs are very short and I often have to buy petite or short trousers else they drag on the floor. This alone I think makes it hard
to dress for my shape.
Im an 8 but not very toned (working on that) and so I feel like I look short and blobby rather than short and petite.
Im fair complexion and am unsure of colours to wear also. I just feel like I don’t know what to wear anymore. I try things on outfits which are the same as a model wears online (I saw a tip on here which said that was a good idea) but everything on me looks wrong. I think being between seasons doesn’t help either!

Please give me some suggestions! I now prefer less fussy, less patterned. I never look stylish and always look cobbled together.

Do you have a John Lewis near you? Their free style advice appointments are great.

I tend to find dresses much easier to style than trousers + a top, since you can throw them on and just have to pair with shoes (and tights depending on the weather!). A dress like this for instance Dark Khaki Crinkle Texture Tie Front Midi Shirt Dress | New Look can be dressed up (heels and jewellery) or down (trainers/ sandals like the picture).

In terms of trousers and a top, I operate on the philosophy of either having a tight top and looser trousers, or tight trousers and a looser top. I find that breaks the silhouette up a bit and stops me looking boxy. Lucy and Yak are a good place to start with jeans because they have petite lengths in all their styles, and it's easy to see the various different styles they have. It might be worth ordering a couple of different styles of jean, and seeing which you prefer. Jeans - Sustainable Organic Cotton - Lucy & Yak. They're all looser styles, so I'd pop them with a more form fitting top/tshirt (ribbed, for example). Bootcut jeans are also back in fashion, and with them you could pair a baggier top.

There are lots of free websites online that allow you to check which colours suit you best. You can use one of them to influence what kind of tops/dresses you buy.

I second the JL styling sesh ^ I felt like absolute crap after my second baby. My body was so different and it’s taken nearly 3 years to really start to actually feel good again. I thought going to JL styling was a bit naff but it was really good and def helped.

I also think you can’t go wrong with brands like Cos - timeless

I’d maybe start with simple combos like jeans and a top. Finding jeans styles that you feel confident in ( you can do this at JL) and tops that you think look good on you will give you something to work from. You’ll then be able to work on getting other outfits sorted.

Following as also losing my way lately and similar stats!

Love that New Look dress @xmasdealhunter - really lovely shape. If only it was in a cotton/linen!

Shortlegged here too. Proportion wise you need to get your rise right on your jeans and trousers (and shorts) - mid rise works best for me. Tuck tops in. Wear lighter coloured shoes - neutral or gold also works so you are not blocking off your feet. I never wear black boots or shoes. Clumpy shoes like the big Nike Air trainers aren’t great either. On paper the new flatform trainers eg Adidas Sambas should work for re proportioning short legs but they are still a bit clunky for me.

Bootcut jeans are pretty leg lengthening, I got some in River Island recently which were nicer than I was expecting as they seemed old fashioned to me. They are short length but still too long - puddling is very in right now and does have a lengthening effect but I think it will be a relatively passing trend and then look a bit silly as who wants dirty trouser bottoms. I am getting them shortened further, I think tricky figures sometimes need to accept clothes tailoring.

When you are relatively petite, it’s also good to make sure fabric is not overwhelming you, a lot of the styles are so oversized now. I was watching Malpractice this week and the female doctor kept wearing the most ridiculous oversized blazers. Showing ankles and wrists at this time of year is good.

Personally I think colour analysis works best on pale people, we need all the help we can get to not looked washed out (or maybe that’s just me).

You're definitely not alone, so many of us go through that phase of not knowing what to wear anymore, especially as our bodies and tastes change. I’ve found that working with your proportions helps a lot, things like cropped or ankle-length trousers, or high-waisted styles that elongate the legs, can make a big difference. Soft neutrals like navy, grey, and camel are easy to mix and match, and you can add one or two colours you feel good in. Between-season dressing is always awkward, so layering lighter pieces like a midi skirt with a cardigan or a jersey dress and denim jacket can help. Sometimes all it takes is finding just one outfit that feels right, then building from there.

@FloraBotticelli Ralph Lauren do a linen one that is very similar, albeit for a very different pricepoint! Tie-Front Linen Shirtdress for Women | Ralph Lauren® UK

I find using Vinted and eBay useful as I have a great collection of clothes that have not cost a lot. Ages ago a lady on the bus told me about Vinted and at the time I had not come across it. They have adverts now!

I second colour analysis and found this really useful to work out the colours that suit me https://stylecoachinginstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/11/Colour-Analysis-Cheat-Sheets-_Full-Set.pdf

This combined with dressing for your body shape - I’m a pear so go for a-line dresses and wide leg or slightly flared jeans etc. But mostly the colours - if you wear the ones that suit your completion and hair this will make such a difference.