Help me be more put together in 2026

[oustedbymymate]

I’ll start off by saying I’m far from stylish or have any sense of style.

my go to outfit is leggings and a jumper. Jeans (skinny) and a jumper. I like comfort over style. However I want to try and be more put together and look a bit nicer in 2026.

im a classic pear shape average boobs smaller waist (12) and bigger hips and bum (14) I don’t wear heels ever.

I have two wild DC under 5 boys that need exercising daily so we are out and about. So need to bare this in mind

I need practical suggestions of outfit ideas and things I could do to help me feel a bit more put together than a sad sap in leggings.

I’ll try and attach some photos of the sort of thing I like the look of. Thank you

Maybe a different style of jeans? I like mom jeans with a slightly cropped jumper at the moment. I also definitely feel more put together when I have my nails done so I’m trying to keep on top of those.

@oustedbymymate my DD is similar but a size smaller. She’s not really a skinny jeans person but wears an ankle grazer jean that’s not a skinny. She wears with ankle boots or loafers. She’s into a fitted top with a good chunky cardigan over. This year she bought a burgundy cashmere one. Wear good jewellery and have a decent handbag. An oversized coat over the top and a long scarf. Or a fitted coat and wear with a roll neck jumper. Nothing wrong with jumpers but style them with your coat or trousers. Burgundy definitely go to colour this winter.

Go for well cut trousers and jeans. I’m not sure of the brand but some are cut for pear shape.

I always find Red magazine worth a read. I get the on line version too. It gives me ideas at not ludicrous amounts of money - they have been pro M&S this winter. I’ve also seen ladies in jeans and a light weight pullover with a tweed jacket on top. Good bag and you are sorted.

This is what ChatGPT made of your photos, @oustedbymymate:

“We can’t know the exact years these photos were taken, but based on clothing, styling, phone models, and overall “fashion moment”, we can make fairly confident date ranges.

I’ll go image by image, top to bottom.

Image 1 (beige jumper, ripped skinny jeans, white trainers, headband)

Estimated period: 2018–2020

Why:

• Mid-rise to high-rise skinny jeans with knee rips were peak late-2010s.
• Neutral ribbed knit tucked casually at the front was very common around 2019.
• White minimalist trainers (Stan Smith–style) everywhere at this time.
• The visible phone looks like an iPhone 11 / 11 Pro era (2019).
• The Pinterest-style mirror selfie setup strongly aligns with 2019–early 2020.

Most likely: 2019

Image 2 (black cropped jumper, straight/mom jeans, white trainers)

Estimated period: 2020–2022

Why:

• Shift from skinnies to straight-leg / “mom” jeans marks the early 2020s transition.
• Slightly cropped, boxier knit = post-2019 silhouette change.
• Hair in a relaxed bun + gold hoops = very 2020–2021.
• Clean, minimal bedroom aesthetic typical of pandemic-era content.

Most likely: 2021

Image 3 (grey knit over white tee, dark skinny jeans, white trainers, coffee cup)

Estimated period: 2015–2017

Why:

• Layered jumper over longline white tee is very mid-2010s.
• Dark blue spray-on skinny jeans with ankle crop = classic 2014–2017.
• “Coffee-in-hand street style” Instagram look peaked around 2016.
• Overall styling feels pre-“mum jean” era.

Most likely: 2016”

Are you sure you wouldn’t prefer to aim for a rather more up to date look?

Try different jeans - wide legs or slim barrel legs, cropped chunky jumpers or cardigans that end at your waist (the slimmest part of your body)

Agree with this. As a pear with a small waist, I bet mid waist barrel jeans would look great on you with a slightly cropped jumper that hits at the waistband, or slimmer fitting top tucked in. Sainsburys barrel jeans for £22.50 are amazing, better quality and fit than many others I've tried including Whistles - size down though as they come up massive.

@TheRavenKingsDaughter
Why? I'm sure the op can check out ChatGPT herself.

I’m also following this as I’m a style free zone.

You’re a pear shape, so skinny jeans aren’t necessarily the most flattering, although you may find a pair that works for you. Not being mean - I’m a fellow pear shape (hi).

I would try wide leg trousers. I’ve found them to be surprisingly flattering. Top tucked in to emphasise waist.

I also like boat necks. Not sure how stylish they are though. They do seem to broaden my top half a bit to balance things out.

@TheRavenKingsDaughteryes maybe. But I have no idea what up to date would look like in my ‘mum era’ 🥴

Re barrel jeans I’m worried they will make me look even bigger and I’m conscious that my bottom is quite wide.

I don’t want cropped anything really as 1) it’s cold and 2) I have grown and birth two humans and my tummy defiantly shows that.

Thanks for suggestions re red will take a look.

wide leg reminds me for the emo trend with all the chains when i was at school but will take a look. What do you wear on top with these style of jeans or the barrel ones?

additionally where to buy nice t shirts that fit well? I’ve been wearing bigger next toll cap sleeved t shirts whilst I was feeling massive post kids but could manage something more fitted I just don’t know how to put everything together really

@OhDear111sill take a look at ankle grazer. What sort of tops? Thanks

It’s having to be practical too that makes it a little trickier. I do find it limits choices somewhat. I hope someone more helpful than me comes along on this thread.

This is so interesting to me. I may be one of the last remaining people not to have used AI yet. How did you do this please? And would it work on pics of my own outfits?

I’ve found wide leg helpful for wide bums. I do feel more up to date when wearing them. I think it’s about getting the right ones for you. I’ve found Sainsbury’s to be good. I tend to wear more fitted tops with them. But jumpers work too. I go for a medium to high rise and this makes my short legs look a bit longer. I don’t wear tops or jackets that end on the widest part of my hips.

Halara wide leg jeans are soft and super comfy. I like those for looking smarter than leggings but still comfortable.

Also seconding/thirding/fourthing Sainsbury’s for affordable denim options!

@dudsville - get the ChatGPT app. You can ask it whatever you want, and upload photos for it to comment on. But obviously in this instance it used the context of the outfit - the phone shown in the mirror, the photo style, hairstyle, jewellery, room style. So if you put an outfit on now and use that photo it won’t have those external prompts. But people on MN are always asking AI to say how old they look, so I guess it could date your outfits some other way.

@BusterGonad I was making a specific point, which the OP clearly hadn’t sought out for herself.

@oustedbymymate - you seem awfully cautious about just trying something new!

Do you have a tape measure?

Do you have a mirror?

Spend some time browsing fashionable websites (do you need suggestions?). Pay attention to garment measurements, having measured yourself, and order things to try on with your own clothes. Don’t second guess, just experiment.

There’s no shame in returning stuff that doesn’t suit, or fit - but gradually you will get to know which brands work best for your tastes and proportions. It sounds as if you’re a very average size and shape, so there’s no reason at all why contemporary clothes that look good on other women won’t also look good on you.

@oustedbymymate I have found m+s ribbed t-shirts to be a game changer, especially in white or black. They have short sleeve, or longer and they're a good line of basics. I've paired them with wide leg joggers (I'm a short arse, so they need to be short length, they look like knitwear material. My fave pair are actually from Morrisons) then a decent pair of trainers- not the white ones that everyone is wearing with dresses. This plus either a souffle knit cardigan from Uniqlo, or a fluffy jacket from them has been perfect for throwing on, on a day to day basis. Also, jewellery - simple and pick your colour and make it run through!

I'm a similar size to you and I don't know about your age, but received a lot of compliments from younger and similar age colleagues when I wore this outfit to a training day 😆

@TheRavenKingsDaughteryes I guess I am cautious as I’m not Jody confident and don’t have lots of money to keep buying things I don’t like. Just trying to gain some sort of direction of what to try as I said on my original post I have no idea.

I’ve now employed AI to help

@HollyGolightly4rbat sounds good. What sort of trainers did you go for if not the white ones?

im nearly 40

Adidas do a wide range of colours that fit in with your colour schemes - think they're the vi court bold (height as well!) - so comfy. There's probably loads in the sale round about now.

I prefer to stick to Nike/Adidas because I found new balance didn't look right on me, although lots of other people do recommend them.

I'm 36 btw!

I tend to live in variations of jeans/wide leg cords/jumpers and I always feel better and more put together with a few accessories. Like a black leather belt, simple chain necklace and stud earrings.

Getting the perfect colour can also make a big difference. Even if you prefer neutrals try and work out exactly which shades suit - really slight shade variations in light grey for example can be the difference for me between looking glowy or like I need medical intervention. There are lots of colour analysis type things on internet that can help.

My favourite brand at the moment is &other stories. It's mid - high price high street, but some good deals in the sales and modern shapes in range of colours.

Wear fitted t shirts and tops to balance out the wide or barrel legs

I haven't rtft yet but replying bc I am the same size shape and size and the outfits linked look nice, shows what I know!

Skinnies are so useful for the busy little DC era, I'm guessing slim leg might be an up dated tweak. (That's a guess, I know not because I might still be in my skinnies!) I find more fabric around my legs (I have slim lower legs, bigger thighs) tends to hide my slimmer parts and add fabric which makes me feel all baggy..I tried a bootcut and felt a bit like I'd been there in the pre-skinny era.