Help needed for an inveterate scruff who needs to look presentable for cocktails and a meal out with dh's new boss.

[LongTermLurker]

I'm 50, size 10-12, 5'6". Usually wear kinda frumpy cords and woolly jumpers. Was thinking of the same sort of garments but fancier....like a fancy jumper and, erm...nice cords? Also always wear sensible wide toe shoes like hobibear, and I'm unwilling to wear any heels. So maybe some nice looking comfy shoes?

Would prefer to get stuff on vinted if possible.

Pleeeaaase help 🥺

No I’m referring to the silly jumpers

£100 is neither here nor there for a decent jumper, but those were just comical/ugly.

The palava knitwear ? If yoh quote the poster people know who and what you’re refering to, like this response.

I really like that colour!

Okay, I've just bought this jacket on vinted, otherwise it was going to be an anorak or a parka 😆. But that probably interferes with the velvet trousers plan. I'm wondering if I should go for skinny/jegging trousers. But I have a feeling I'm basing this on a sort of sienna miller 2000s boho look, which is probably a bad idea.

Surely you’ll need a proper coat of some sort if it’s going to be raining?

Also, I can totally get the suggestions for classic, capsule items, but I'm kind of a hippie at heart, and if I'm dressing up, I think it's best if I just go for "smarter hippie" than classic and elegant. So textures and colours get a thumbs up. And I am also basically obsessed with comfort (softness, no itchiness, no aggravating seams or pointy shoes)

Iwas swooning over suzani jackets on etsy earlier, but they weren't going to be delivered in time.

It's looking pretty dry. I can also take an umbrella? And not planning on hanging about outside much.

Hmm actually it's looking like drizzle

By the way, I'm particularly grateful for being steered away from sezane. I definitely thought that the relative priciness meant that the knitwear would be really good quality, so interesting to hear that it's not necessarily that great

Not sure about your jigsaw velvet coat. Looks quite well worn and not particularly current. A structured blazer would perhaps be better. But worth a punt at £10 I guess 🤷‍♀️ Not that keen on velvet generally so maybe I’m biased.

Your brief is right up my alley and infinitely possible with current styles. You want to look manicured, sophisticated AND comfy.

I would be looking at natural luxury fibres - wool, cashmere, merino, suede, silk.

I like the top you linked. Taupe is a classic neutral so I’m surprised others take issue with the colour. I don’t get French. It’s pretty ubiquitous and a lot of brands do a taupe wool waistcoat. I agree that Sezanne often has quite low natural fibre content and the quality doesn’t always align with their pricing. But what puts me off more is that I think it ships from France. I can imagine returns being problematic. I’ve almost purchased a few times and then just thought “potential ball ache” and gone to someone in the UK. Nothing looks special enough to import in my opinion. If I were to wear this I’d put a merino roll neck under it.

I’ve attached looks that I consider to be smart and comfy - all with flat shoes. I’m not suggesting any particular brand or product. More an overall theme to your styling.

A selection of outfit inspiration in the first post and shoes in the second. Offering them as sort of remote mood board 😀.

Let us know what you end up picking!

The jacket looks good!

it would look great with a plain t-shirt underneath, a simple necklace and jeans, but not skinnies / jeggings as you say.

You may have noticed that wide legs are more common now, and they are usually surprisingly comfortable around the waist in case you were put off by past incarnations. If they seem too ‘out-there’ for you, a classic straight leg will be pretty timeless.

M&S have been widely recommended by PP, and they have some great styles. Grab one of literally every style and try them all on to see what you like.

Variety of shoe types to consider - obviously depends a bit on what you wear but these are all classic, flat, sufficiently smart and easy to style.

Love the Hobbs, Poetry, and particularly jigsaw pics you've got there. I'm seriously going to upgrade my normal daily wardrobe!

I'm already very on board with wide leg trousers :-D. As well as wide leg cords, I have these from m&S. But beige is probably a bit daytimey?

I couldn't agree with this poster less. The colour is chic and it's stylish with nothing underneath and smart trousers.

Check out With Nothing Underneath OP.

Jeans, silk cami and a mohair cardigan. Boots. Get a wool coat you can stick over the top and a slouchy leather bag. All v doable on Vinted. Would take you most places, without feeling over or under dressed.

This sounds very chic & lovely, but also very you rather than the OP?

It looks very short & waisted? Perhaps it's just the picture, but the only trousers I can see it working with are wide ones. I think it must be from aaaaagges ago in Jigsaw, as I have no memory of that style, & it looks a bit dated to me? More of a blazer style (in velvet if that's what you want) would be better?

If you're going for cocktails & then a meal, that sounds pretty dressy to me? More than a prettier-jumper-than-usual & cords? Lots of the stuff posted so far is more what I'd think of as lunch with friends, rather than an evening with my husband's new boss.

Do you know the venue(s)? And would you consider a dress ...?
Also, you've said you won't need a coat but that you're always chilly & want jumper suggestions - & have bought a short velvet jacket that will not be remotely warm - nor does it look as if you could fit much under it ...?

Was it a bit of a panic buy? What if you spot - or someone recommends - a nicer jacket or coat?

You might get some accuracy from the forecast if it's the day before - but it's in about 11 days, is that right?!!! I'd look for a coat myself ...

This isnt hippyish, it's more graphic than that. But it is Jigsaw & silk, in navy, black, grey, beige & red. I have a dress in a similar style, which I wear unbelted, with opaques & chunky ankle boots. Silver hoops & red lips? If you like it, it could work? With a different coat or jacket than the one you've just bought, OP - unless the shape is misleading.

https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/5725846602-jigsaw-graphic-print-dress

There are loads of very good-quality Jigsaw coats on Vinted, OP - but if you were buying one now I'd get an unlined one (like the double-faced wrap coats), as otherwise you'll be putting it away within weeks of buying it.

This, on the other hand, is smart & classic & can be worn for most of the year? It would work well over the dress above ...

https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/7908191279-jigsaw-womens-black-leather-jacket-size-12

Or, if you want to stick with a top & trousers, this silk Jigsaw one with diamante buttons would also go well with the jacket & either smart indigo denim wide-legs or black wide-legs? You could go for velvet - leather, silk chiffon & velvet would all feel good? That's if you're a fan of black ...!!!

https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/8325656466-jigsaw-black-silk-blouse

But satin elasticated wide-legs would also work with the silk chiffon blouse & leather jacket? Not Vinted, but still a bargain from M&S ...

https://www.marksandspencer.com/satin-wide-leg-trousers/p/clp60779035

Add a different texture/colour with silver metallic pumps - thought these ones would be excellent for comfort, OP. They are, amazingly for the price, leather. Not as "in" as pointed flats etc - but you did stress comfort!!! And they're now £16!!!

Deal: Clarks Women's Fawna SoftBallet Flat https://amzn.eu/d/0c6Sw2Lf

And a silver leather clutch bag from Whistles for £10 ...

https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/7653651366-whistles-leather-silver-clutch-bag