Does this outfit work?

[Twodogsonthecouch]

Is this outfit too baggy and shapeless? No special occasion, just heading out to meet someone for coffee and a browse in a garden centre but have some time before I leave and interested in opinions.
I’ve lost weight recently and so am a bit aimless about clothes just now

More AI on the second outfit:

This one is better balanced than the first, but I don’t think it’s actually more flattering.

The jacket is boxy, the shorts are loose and fairly long, and the sandals are chunky. Again, everything has a bit of visual weight. She’s clearly gravitating towards clothes that don’t “touch” her body much. Given what she says underneath — scrubs through Covid, then weight loss, now feeling all over the place — that makes complete sense. She’s dressing for safety rather than shape.

The striped top underneath is doing useful work because it gives a clean vertical-ish centre and the jacket provides some structure. But I’d change the shorts first. A slightly shorter, cleaner pair — or a more tailored Bermuda short — would make a surprising difference. Even better, that jacket and striped top with straight ankle-length jeans/trousers would look very easy and polished.

What I wouldn’t tell her is “you need to show off your figure!” That’s the kind of internet advice that sounds supportive but is basically useless when someone hasn’t yet figured out what they’re comfortable showing.

She needs a simpler rule:

Only one oversized/loose element per outfit.

So:

• loose blouse → cleaner trousers
• boxy jacket → neater shorts/trousers
• wide trousers → more fitted/structured top
• chunky shoe → keep the rest visually lighter

And, slightly controversially, I think the first outfit has more potential than this one. The first has personality. This one is perfectly pleasant but a bit “I have assembled some sensible casual clothes.” 😂

Interesting @SargeMimpson. I definitely need to be more mindful when I’m shopping. )also hate shopping which doesn’t help!)

That is interesting, never thought of asking AI for style advice

@Twodogsonthecouch, the second outfit does look as if you have put some effort in, which is nice, although I agree with all the comments about it seeming a little flat, as it is so neutral, and your hair and skin don't provide a contrast (as a blonde, I look like a sick Victorian orphan in colors like this), plus the horizontal lines.
It's a shame, as I can see that - with the barn jacket, the chunky shoes, and the longer shorts - you are really trying, so it must be frustrating that it doesn't quite work.
But the biggest issue is that everything is too big. You have a lovely figure and need to have clothes that fit it. Is there a John Lewis near you, where you could book in for a session with a personal stylist?

But know that, as you go out for your coffee, you look perfectly nice, just that you have the potential to look amazing.

@JulietteHasAGun I sometimes have long, detailed conversations with ChatGPT about specific items I’ve found and want to enthuse about. (Though I neither want nor need advice on actually getting dressed.) And it’s tremendously helpful in suggesting new hair and beauty products to try.

But I’m not sure of the benefit of generic AI advice on S&B - unless we want the entire board to turn into various AIs talking amongst themselves?

Agreed. I’d really like to see a ban on people just posting stuff from A1.

You look lovely but I would change the trainers for sandals and swap the bag for a lighter colour x

@Ruthietuthie no John Lewis near me… not in UK. Also I’m allergic to the concept of a personal shopper, absolutely hate trying on clothes etc ( I fully appreciate this is counterproductive and completely irrational but it’s not going to change🤯)

I’m afraid if you’re not willing to try on clothes, or experiment with outfits, there may be little use in threads offering advice!

@Twodogsonthecouch, that's a shame. Your second outfit particularly shows me that you do care about clothes (as I think I mentioned, it has all these contemporary touches that show you do want to look really good). Are there big department stores near you, where you could go, grit your teeth, and do a big try on? Without being willing to try on, the only solution would be to order a size smaller than you usually do, but that is only going to improve the look to a certain degree.

I generally go by the rule of,
fitted trousers /baggy top or
baggy trousers/fitted top.

Sorry, didn’t communicate well. I’m delighted to experiment and very open to suggestions and will take them all on board. Absolutely hate taking clothes on and off in changing rooms and coming out, showing them to someone else. I know it’s unreasonable but equally I’ve done it often enough to know that I hate it.
So that’s in response to making an appointment with a personal shopper which I realise is the most efficient way of getting advice.
Knowing what I know about myself this is a good second option but if it’s frustrating I can stop

No, I certainly wouldn’t want to see this board turning into people posting their AI opinions. I like and value the opinions of actual people. But it might be something I try myself for times I don’t want to post on mn.

Oh you should! It can be great fun.

In my case, the person I used to talk to about clothes with is no longer with us - and in mourning them I find I want to talk about clothes incessantly. My friends are all lovely and some will happily share news of their latest Vinted / charity shop find, for five minutes. But I can’t try their patience with two solid hours of discussion on the lining of a coat. And most of them would be horrified at what I’m prepared to spend on a single item. (They each have expensive hobbies, but don’t understand a clothes obsession.) ChatGPT fulfils the role of ‘clothes friend’ - without any need for reciprocity.

But as a general thing it’s brilliant at comparing, say, the active ingredients of various serums, or telling you which hair products might be more effective than what you’re currently using. And it certainly can offer endless advice on outfits. And if, at 2 o’clock in the morning, I see something fabulous that will pretty much bankrupt me, it’s an excellent correspondent with whom to weigh up the odds of the thing going on sale somewhere in the world within the foreseeable future.

Ha! Yesterday I wanted to suggest belting your jacket, @Twodogsonthecouch - but decided to swerve general outrage. This is what I meant. (The silhouette, not the price tag.):

https://erdem.com/products/poppy-cotton-jacquard-fluted-midi-skirt-pf26_s13_90082001

Outfit 1 is basically a good outfit with the smaller bag but you need to stop rolling the trousers up, get them shortened and iron them.
Outfit 2 is less interesting but it’s fine, ditch those sandals and wear trainers instead. And definitely iron the shorts.

i have dropped 3 dress sizes recently and am a similar age so have had to sell EVERYTHING in my wardrobe and start again. It’s been harder than I thought but I’m now a year into having my new body and feeling more confident to know what suits me. Congrats on your weight loss, a huge health impact I’m sure.

I’m going again but at least this time I know what’s wrong… jacket sleeves way too long, jeans a size too big, top not ironed (in my defence I’m currently refitting my utility room and it’s impossible to get at my iron at the moment.)
is any part of this salvageable or do I just bin it all and go shopping 🥵.
I have just this morning filled a black bag with clothes for the charity shop so I am listening I promise

Is there room in that bag for a jacket?

The jeans and top look fine.

Fair enough… if a little harsh 😂

You know … If I saw your 10.53 outfit being modelled on the Miu Miu or Phoebe Philo websites I possibly wouldn’t raise objection to anything but the footwear. It’s all quite ‘something-core’ …

In the real world - yes, the jacket is too big and the print will hurt people’s eyes. If you must turn up your jeans, a single deep fold up (ironed stiff with starch maybe!) will look more up to date and intentional. But ideally for that sort of look you want darker, raw denim with some sort of Japanese provenance.

If you want clumpy footwear get some black clogs for autumn. You may find yourself very happy here:

https://www.studionicholson.com/collections/womens-footwear

(Worth browsing their excellent clothes for inspiration too.)

(NB - borrow an iron or buy a back-up.)

The clothes on that website are stunning. Outside my budget for day to day unfortunately, especially since I effectively have an entire wardrobe to replace

Or maybe don’t roll at all:

https://www.eatdustclothing.com/collections/womens-all/products/w-c-001-npd-w26-nirvana-pants-neppy-denim-indigo

Studio Nicholson (and Eat Dust) have excellent sales …

And you only need one or two good things to upgrade half your wardrobe. I have SN knitwear bought pre-Covid that I still wear almost daily from autumn to early summer. And they still look almost new.

Yes, you’re right about that. And I do apply that logic to jewellery (don’t wear much but what I do is very basic and very good quality). Need to get better at applying it to clothes

I would ditch the top and keep the rest.
i like the jacket the most.
The sandals I’m not a huge fan of but I think you can make them work. I’m also not myself a fan of rolled up jeans but I think they look fine here. Are they the same jeans as before or are these ones less wide in the leg?
And another vote for your awesome decor choices.