What to wear for a night out

[pinkyponkyplink]

im late 40/ and have a mums night out. I’m feeling overwhelmed with what to wear and what’s in. I’d like jeans and a nice top ideas. I’m a 12/14 and feeling conscious of my tummy so would like something with shape and a v neck or plunge if possible. I’ve no idea about what jeans are in either so please send me suggestions or links

I hate people who say ‘you do you’, it makes them sound bitchy and unintelligent
in the early days of mumsnet it was ’suck it up’. I hated those people too

Sainsbury's TU have a really nice pair of barrel leg jeans in several colours. They're the only items I own from TU but had heard a lot about the jeans so thought I'd give them a try and they're great. I'm the same age and size as you and love them.

I'm a similar size and tummy conscious too! I sometimes feel better in a dress - bought this recently and it's really cute. Could wear with black tights and little boots? https://share.google/mx1lx7f8MkwP73brf M&S are my go to for jeans - you can get the shapewear ones which help a bit! Indigo or black either wide leg or flared are flattering. I also love a loose shirt too - I have a bronze coloured satin one that I wear with gold hoops, gold necklace, red lipstick and leopard print bag or leopard print trainers to dress it up a bit. White shirts are always classic too - roll up the sleeves, stack your bracelets/wear a striking necklace, wear a bright lip, get a statement bag, etc etc

Everyone will say barrel leg / carrot jeans but unless you are skinny they will make you look boxy or chunky.
Same goes for round necklines.

I just had a lovely girls night out and looking back at the photos - the most flattering outfits were:
shorter (not mini mini)skirt, black tights, top, boots
casual straight jeans, v neck top, converse

least flattering were:
skin tight body con dress
big wooly jumper and barrel jeans
and sleeveless tops looked awful all round

I do love this post, like your taste is the deciding factor, you do understand people have different tastes and may have looked at the same women and thought something completely different to you, well if they were the sort to look at women, judge them and decide they look awful that is.

I was going to say the same, those lace things were hideous.

I'm personally a big fan of high waisted, wide leg. They are so flattering. However, I think they key is to wear a body suit or short top and a larger blazer or something similar over, so you still see some shape.

For the avoidance of doubt, I’d like to say I wasn’t ’recommending’ the Zara lace pedal pushers, I was merely trying to show what people can possibly wear with stillettos

That's a good shape too if the OP wants to both define her waist & skim over the stomach. Very 70s retro with wide indigo jeans! Good with tan boots/bag.

This is a really lovely shade of pink, @pinkyponkyplink - & a great shape with the dark wide jeans?

https://www.johnlewis.com/boden-poppy-lace-trim-top-rose/p114751377

Another pretty pink top from Boden. Not sure if this is the type of thing you were thinking of with jeans? To me its perfect for a casual night out.

https://www.boden.com/products/women-leah-short-sleeve-linen-top-pink-parfait-t2006pin

https://www.johnlewis.com/mint-velvet-heart-print-puff-sleeve-shirt-light-pink/p114724728

Marks and Spencers have a great selection of jeans at the moment - all different styles, do different lengths and only £30-£40.

Everyone saying skinnies are dated haven’t been reading the latest copies of Grazia, Vogue etc or looking at what celebs are wearing. They are back big time and some people (Princess Kate, Meghan, Kate Moss etc) never stopped wearing them anyway. Wear what suits you I’d say. Leather skinnies with a nice belt and top would look fab for a night out. High waisted wide leg jeans won’t necessarily look that great on a size 12-14, I’m that size and they definitely aren’t a good look for me!

Yes I did a Google search yesterday for what jeans are going to be in style in 2026 and skinnies came up as one of them.

Where did you see that then?

vogue says straight leg.

https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/denim-trends-2026

good house keeping i]says straight, boot cut and flares

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/fashion/style-advice/a69986797/best-everyday-jeans-2026/

Elle says big baggy, low rise or cigarette, etc

https://www.elle.com/uk/fashion/trends/a70257385/2026-denim-trends/

Marie Claire says fluid and voluminous.

https://www.marieclaire.co.uk/fashion/shopping/denim-trends-2026

no one I can see is saying skinnies?

Oooo, I used to love cigarette trousers. I had loads, some patterned that I used to wear with lightweight sweaters and flat pumps or heels. On a night out I'd drink lovely expensive cocktails and look amazing.

I love my children very, very much and am not at all bitter that my life is no longer like that, honest!

what kind of things do the other mums wear on a night out? That makes a big difference. For me it would be wide leg jeans and a jumper with DMs - which in some circles could be wildly underdressed. But in some it’s just right.

Wide leg jeans, I have some from Hush, Mint Velvet and Next which are all very flattering. And knitwear is very in, either a chunkier jumper or a finer knit jumper, it’s nice to go with something a bit interesting whether it’s pattern, button detail, neckline, sleeve length. A nice belt with whatever jumper or top you wear tucked in in the middle where your belt buckle is, not all the way around. And either ankle boots (beige suede go with everything), or some funky trainers depending on the venue and the length of your jeans.

Skinny jeans have been worn loads in the last 6 months by various celebs …Victoria Beckham & Kate Moss being trailblazers. Holland Cooper for example now don’t stock any other jean styles in their stores.

But ultimately surely it boils down to what suits each person. Wide legged/high waisted jeans look great if you’re skinny. Not so great if you’re not.

No skinnies in the Vogue article. Straight or wider. All wearable I thought.

A simple Google search will show you photo upon photo of celebs wearing skinnies lately. SJP, Rihanna, J Lo … and also less famous UK celebs like Tess Daly or Claudia Winkleman (she wore skinnies in The Traitors most days!).

Basically anything goes jeans wise so I think people should wear the style that suits them most.

Claudia wears leggings. Very much been reported on! They are not jeans. They are also her style and yes, leggings are coming back. Here, in uk, skinny jeans not so much.

Celebs and runway are only part of the story. Magazines are also trying to tell us skinnies are back but then showing images of baggy or straight or bootleg jeans. I was out in my local city last weekend and there were lots of women wearing skinny jeans, but they definitely look like they're still wearing them from last time round. Top half too tight, wrong footwear, poorly styled, cheap looking handbag. I do agree that anything goes, but in general stylish women on the street are not wearing skinnies at the moment.

lol what are you talking about. Firstly Holland cooper are hardly the epitome of current, far from it, but even they do multiple Jean styles, including wide leg.

https://www.hollandcooper.com/collections/womens-jeans?page=2

Victoria Beckham is not trail blazing skinnies. And doesn’t even sell em, she wears mostly her own clothes.

https://www.victoriabeckham.com/collections/jeans?page=1

kate moss I can’t comment on other than she goes her own way and I’ve not seen her In jeans for ages.

Claudia also wears Holland Cooper’s skinny jeans…they are denim with pockets, most definitely not leggings!

Kate Moss is in her skinny jeans and has been for months. Victoria Beckham just wore them.

Anything goes denim wise. Wear what suits you I say.