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

Thanks so much to everyone for taking the time to reply. I’ll dump the jacket.
I actually think ye are right… I need to allow myself to have a style, embrace it, but spend some time, and money, on getting it right.
The compliments on my house are lovely. I love my space and have chosen the colours and accessories myself over the years without any regrets. I need to give the same energy and consideration to my clothes.
I don’t have the personality to be buying lots of clothes so really should invest intelligently in what I do buy.
Thanks again.. onwards and upwards

Please feel free to keep sharing, I agree with a pp that you’ve taken feedback with good grace and hopefully you’ll stumble upon the right combinations for you while retaining your personality expressed partly through what you wear. Plus it would be a shame to not see the various backgrounds of your lovely house 😂
Not many people are brave enough to share their outfits on here so well done to you.

Honestly I know you didn’t seem keen on a stylist appointment but bite the bullet for a morning. Will save time, hassle and money in the long run. Try John Lewis?

I really like your first blouse. Without the cross body bag making it look a tad fussy /push the sleeves up a bit and a pair of cropped barrel/straight trousers it would look great. Sadly the second outfit just doesn't look right on you. However your house is amazing and you obviously have an intrinsic sense of style when it comes to interiors . It just needs to be tapped into.
Wearing scrubs for years means you lose all sense of clothes that suit you and current shapes/styles. You will rediscover it back though. It may take a while.
My suggestion is an online styling consultation. After answering a series of questions a suggested portfolio of online outfits will be sent to you. This has the benefit of experienced stylists knowing what best shapes/brands/sizes will suit you. Plus it avoids all the hassle of shopping and trying on loads of unnecessary clothes.

According to the Saturday Guardian current advice is, don't tuck tops in, let the loose layers waft free. I don't always follow trends but I think that top would look better loose - it's a boho style with white jeans, and the tuck looks like something from a sleeker more conservative way of dressing.

I love the top btw.

You will have been out now- thread is 2 weeks old.

However, I like each item but not together.

I'm sorry but the fit of those jeans is not good. They look 2 sizes too big and are very very long. I wear turned up chinos and jeans but they are not that long.

I think the blouse is nice but baggy bottoms and a baggy top don't do you any favours.

I thought that a baggy loose top was better with more structured trousers and vice versa.

With baggy jeans/ chinos I'd wear a fitted top.

The dark big handbag draws attention from the delicate pattern on the blouse. You need a much smaller bag (have a look at Apache for small across the body bags) and maybe in a lighter colour, or tan.

That was your first photo.

Looking at the other pics- the shorts- no, sorry.
It does nothing for you. Makes you look as if you about to play sport and not in a good way. The shorts are not a nice look.

Overall, your clothes look too big for you.
You need simpler and neater outfits.
And maybe move away from bland cream and beige and consider colour.

Buy a roll of wundaweb, stick the iron on and take up all those over long trousers! I have to take up every pair I buy now, and I often wonder what kind of giants the trousers are being made for. Honestly, I looked at a pair of wide legs in Next the other day and there was easily a foot of extra material there at the bottom. (not to mention in the width!). Now I'm not tall, 5.4 but not petite either. It got so bad that I thought to myself - am I supposed to wear them strealing along the ground or what!

Anyway, you look great, and will find your style. I'm all for comfort and a bit of colour, no long tunic tops, but max hip length, never tuck tops in (my belly sticks out then), and I never wear dresses unless it's for a wedding. I don't like wide legs much but it's all there is out there for now, so I re wear my tapered trousers (suitably wundawebbed ha ha), and hope that wide legs will soon sail off into the sunset. On a height challenged person like me, they look ridiculous - I think, so I avoid. I do have a few pairs but they are not WIDE wide IYSWIM.

Enjoyed reading the thread, and best of luck OP.

Oh and I love your house, in fact I want to see more of it, forget about the clothes for now! 😊

Picking up on one point- why are you against fitted dresses at 60?

I don't get that at all. I'm your age ish and love fitted dresses.

I don't get the idea that you are or are not 'conforming' and can't see what boarding school, a career and 4 kids has anything to do with what you wear in your 60s!

You appear to have money so get some style advice as PPs have said.

Is this a confidence issue where you no longer know who you are now the kids have flown?

@MotherHenPeck I knew I wasn’t expressing myself well. I have no issue at all with fitted clothes, or any kind of clothes, on anyone. I’m talking about on me specifically. It has nothing to do with confidence or my shape, it’s a sensory thing but what I was trying to express is that I won’t conform to what was considered “power dressing” or “appropriate for my age and professional” during my career.
I work at a senior level in an environment where men wear suits. I won’t conform with what was the female equivalent of that.
my age is only relevant in term of the attitudes I would have grown up with.
I absolutely know who I am now that my kids are adults, I love being a mother and am very excited to be a grandmother; but it never defined me and I have moved into more senior roles consistently throughout my career and continue to do so.

I love your Farm Rio blouse, and it looks lovely on you - but personally I would wear it with jeans in the darkest colour shown in the pattern in your blouse. Also they would need to be slightly more fitted and the right length, maybe even a slight crop. I would lose the trainers and go for either less chunky ones or some plain ballerina flats. Possibly a straw or rattan type small bag in a neutral? There's loads of those boho type silk or cotton tops on Net-a-Porter, maybe have a look and see how they style them on the website?

Regarding the shorts outfit, personally I don't think shorts ever do anyone any favours, regardless of weight etc. I do however like your jacket you're wearing with that outfit and would team it with jeans of the slightly fitted variety.

The final outfit is ok apart from that blouson jacket - not flattering or stylish.

I don’t really understand what you’re saying either, fighti’ng against the norm of wearing fitted dresses tailored clothes or suits? I would understand if you had some quirky individual sense of style, but the pics you’re posting shows you in bog standard middle aged woman uniform high st type clothes, except they don’t fit you, and you’re also asking if outfits work. So clearly lack a sense of identity or dress sense.

I disagree with @Viperregency. It sounds to me as if the op has quite a strong sense of personal style but that it's got a bit buried under scrubs and general life, as it does for many of us. Nothing in my opinion that time, people watching, a blast of trying on and a willingess to make some mistakes wouldn't fix.

Unless you can get a personal recommendation op, I'd be wary of a stylist as they're likely to have been trained to focus on clothes that show off your shape etc etc. If you can find one who gets you, great but otherwise I'd steer clear and learn to trust your own instincts.

As an aside, while I've come to realise not many people are as into clothes as I am, I'm a bit bemused at just how many posters on a Style and Beauty board appear to find the whole business a chore.

I'm confused. Is this present or past?

You won't conform to what the dress code was when you were working.
Is or was?

You said you spent/ spend your days in scrubs in other posts.
Are you working as a type of medic or are you retired?

If the dress code is suits for men (which is very dated- usually only the financial sector and even then not often) you'd be expected to dress appropriately not in boho (as an example.)

What has this 'rebellious' attitude got to do with work or power dressing?

If you don't like fitted dresses, fine. No issue. But you seemed to link that to being 60.

It's not clear what you mean or what you do now- work, no work, scrubs etc.
If you are looking for advice on having lost you way a little with clothes, it helps to know what you're doing day to day now. That's all.

I like it. Nice and summery

I have a strong sense of personal style, which means I don’t wear clothes too big for me and ask mumsnet if outfits go together, I mean that politely to the op, but her outfits she’s picking are typical middle aged, middle class mum uniforms.

im 57, I also lost weight, so im simply speaking factually, these are very ubiquitous outfits. She looks fine, but generic in mismatched items.

so im struggling to understand your view point this is someone with a strong sense of style, I just don’t see it,

again, op, I am simply confused on your comment you reject the norm, when the outfits you’ve shown as are as middle of the norm as it gets. This poster sees you rejecting the Norm and a strong sense of style in these images, but I personally see something much more ubiquitous.

So, having read all your posts, you say you wore scrubs during Covid and still wear them now for work, in a snr managerial position where men wear suits.
Are you in a clinical role or not?

I see you're not in the UK. Men in suits are a rare breed here now.

I do think you've lost your way but what's not clear is if you want advice on work clothes or leisure, or both.

Woman can dress smartly for work without power dressing but it depends what the job is. Fitted dresses are not the only option.

But depends what the job is and the dress code. Only you know that.

I think there is some confusion here with “fitted” in terms of suiting and formal, and “fitted” in terms of
not flapping about in the breeze 😆. Most of the outfits that you have shown are too loose for you and consequently not the most flattering. That doesn’t mean you have to go to the other extreme and wear structured formal dresses etc. It’s more not wearing acres of extra, unnecessary fabric. For example, the trousers in your first picture are way too long and turning them up just doesn’t work on that style of trouser. Both the jackets on the second and third picture are too large. The effect is to make you look rectangular. It would be the same for anyone. There is a difference between deliberately over sized as a style and a garment that is too big iyswim. But you don’t ever need to go “corporate”. There are lots of ways to look smart and considered without doing that

@Twodogsonthecouch, I understand what you are saying about not wanting to conform to a particular expected look, and about the sensory element (that you want clothes that look and feel a particular way). But, at the moment, if I were to describe your look I would say harried and disheveled. I am certain that isn't the look you are going for.
That isn't "not going corporate," that's "given up on life and myself." But, from everything you've said and from the care you've taken over the aesthetics of your home, that obviously isn't the case. I would honestly - as much as you say you can't - try an in-person personal styling session - as I don't think you are seeing yourself accurately. You deserve better.

ok everyone, I’ve said many times I really appreciate the help and advice and I do. I’ve also said I expressed myself badly which I also believe. I don’t think it’s that complicated however but since it appears to be;

I work in a senior clinical role
I lecturer in my specialty in university to undergraduates
I train postgraduates in my specialty 1.5 days/week
So still working; in a diverse role. For the past 6 years only wear scrubs for my clinical job. Yes, a lot of men in the other areas wear suits whether you believe me or not esp in the senior clinical role if they don’t wear scrubs
I’m not going to keep explaining myself as though there’s something not adding up or as though I’m stupid. Neither are true.. Nor am I directionless in my career or my life, but yes in my clothes due to life circumstances including weight loss.
I might suggest that if it’s so tedious or difficult to follow maybe move on?
Otherwise constructive advice and criticism very welcome

Okay fair enough.

You're in a clinical role at partner level in a private practice, so I'm guessing dentist or some specialist med practice.
I can see that if you don't wear anything but scrubs for 4 days a week you're relying on out of work dressing to get your style up to date.

I do know some snr medics who wear suits (but you are not in the UK) but it's fair to say many now dress more casually- very few wear ties. But what men wear isn't your problem.

I hear what you say about not being directionless but the issue is that when someone wears a uniform for work it can be harder to find a whole wardrobe suitable for out of work.

I used to have a work and home wardrobe, maybe like a lot of women.

I wonder if one issue is you've got used to hiding under loose clothes for decades but now you're slimmer you're not sure what your style is.

Wearing looser clothes makes people look bigger so I'd embrace your weight loss and try to think about more fitted clothes.

There is a whole ocean between fitted 'corporate' dresses and chinos/ jeans. How do you feel about skirts?
Do you have any fave brands? What kind of shops etc can you access where you live? eg Europe has similar brands to UK but if you're in the Middle East that's more challenging.

In Europe. I like Cos but aware can drown me. I often go to and other stories. I’m out of touch though and am very interested in some of the brand suggestions above but trying to remember that since I last truly thought about my clothes my kids have left home and I’m mortgage free so can afford to treat myself a bit 🤯😂

You might like these Uniqlo trousers. Much cheaper than some of the suggestions on here but good quality. Their thermal tops are excellent too.

www.uniqlo.com/nl/en/products/E475344-000/00?colorDisplayCode=30&sizeDisplayCode=003&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20509775240&gbraid=0AAAAAoh1-9gNZoNX9TUDJ5BwrY9bJflt5&gclid=CjwKCAjwkaXUBhASEiwAZI3ds7wqcZj7JXpK3rIOcHYwlUhiXyKC46w7UsgniuHVuJsCVM9D4_v2WRoC5_oQAvD_BwE&pldDisplayCode=010

Sezanne
Sandro
Me&M
Jigsaw
NRBY
The White Company
Whistles

I know you don't have a J Lewis where you live but their website is a place to start.

Might help if you do a search for a 'capsule wardrobe'.

Dresses
Skirts
Smart trousers
Casual Trousers
Jeans
Tops - blouses, T shirts, smart, casual,
Knitwear

Shoes/ Bags/ accessories

Basics should be lovely wool coat, (Jigsaw or Max Mara) decent boots, a good bag and you can wear all of those with jeans.

You can also do your 'colours' online on an app to find what season you are and if you're soft, warm, light etc.

Brilliant. Thank you. I’m going on holidays tomorrow. You will all be horrified to hear that I brought some of the offending items with me ( not the jacket 😅) but I have no options at present. I’ll
get working on it.
you will however be delighted to hear the workmen left today. I now have a beautiful utility/laundry room and was able to do some ironing 🥳🥳