Would like a restyle and don’t know where to start… help!

[sittinginacarparksomewhere]

I’m early 40s, 5ft 5, size 8-10 (trying to lose a stone as feeling not great about my body) and I have about £1,500 to spend. I’m ok for shoes I think - have a mix of trainers and boots and a pair of ‘nice’ shoes if needed.
My hair isn’t so great so I could probably do something with that ideally.
What are the best things to invest in? My issue is I only really like very casual stuff and I can’t always wear very casual stuff.
I feel like I’m a sort of in between age and in between size and nothing looks very nice.

Gets some high quality basic

good jeans

https://www.meandem.com/leg-elongator-jean-authentic-dark-wash

trousers

https://www.meandem.com/leg-elongator-trouser-navy-blue

a good dress

https://www.reiss.com/style/sv166802/k88540

A good top

https://www.reiss.com/style/sv262795/g81705

And get a good cut and colour if you colour, with decent products for your hair,

I quite like a nice bag and matching purse that you only keep things like expensive make up and not the usual shit. And good sunglasses.I think a Me and Em dress if you get a classic day time one rather than one with holes cut at the waist is good as they are cut well and are good quality. A dress is easier than top and trousers IMO to get right. You can't fail to feel good and put together if you have a well cut dress, nice bag and shoes. Get a classic colour like navy and pretend you are French.

I think the power of exfoliated skin is underestimated. Ive got a really good face scrub (I know they are bad and chemical is better but I don't use it often and I think the results are immediate which is good. Or an exfoliating facial sponge) and then make up goes on better. Buy a good face tint or base like a Chanel one and your skin will look perked up. Blusher is always good.

I love those me+em jeans & cords linked

Tell us a bit more about why you need these clothes?

Work
Weekend daytime - meeting friends / brunch / city exploring etc
Going out at night for drinks / dinner etc
Occassion wear

What sort of look do you like? What colours suit you.

Pic?

Which style of clothes do you like - so we can make recommendations?
Get a good haircut and style it daily. If I don’t straighten or blow dry at least the T section of my hair it looks shit.
Shape brows and tint (just for men beard dye is good for diy brow tint)
Consider Botox
Phillips Zoom teeth whitening system is great - costs to get the tray moulds done at the dentist but then you can buy the peroxide gel online.
Regularly trim and shape nails and cuticles. Essie polishes are great.

Why would a 5’5 size 8-10 need to lose weight?

She slready said, she’s not feeling great about her body, I’d assume she is used to being a stone lighter.

I can read. And my question still stands.

Because it’s really annoying being in between sizes. I am the same and am also wanting to lose some weight so my clothes fit better.

Add colour and accessories. I'm similar age and also a casual dresser. I've invested in a smart blazer and some scarves and necklaces to smarten up my usual plain offering. Feels good!

got some nice structured jeans from next recently. Wide leg. Looks great with my white tops (plus accessories of course )

im also into knee length cord dresses and tights and DMs (crew, boden, John Lewis for the dresses)

Start with a stylist or colour and style consultation, knowing your best colours and style is the best investment, those things never change even if your weight and body do. Best money I ever spent.

Huh? So it’s not enough for you she is unhappy with her body and prefers to be lighter?

Maybe let your style evolve rather than a full overhaul - spread the budget so some on beauty/hair and then just one or two nice clothes a month.

A decent coat.
I love a wool coat, but maybe that's not casual enough. It just seems to lift every outfit. This sort of style.

https://www.johnlewis.com/hush-edie-leopard-double-faced-pure-wool-coat-brown/p114107592

Or https://www.johnlewis.com/hush-wool-longline-overcoat/p114107588

What do you like? Maybe find some people on insta that you like the style of.

If you're feeling things are a bit dated, think about proportions and how you might tweak those.

Are you warm / cool? Are you curvy or angular? How high-contrast are your features? What three words would define the kind of style you're going for?

Enlist a stylish friend to help?

Uniqlo is good for modern casual clothes that won't break the bank, but that might not be your vibe at all.

Hire a personal stylist. Best money I’ve spent.

“You can't fail to feel good and put together if you have a well cut dress, nice bag and shoes. Get a classic colour like navy and pretend you are French”

You are a woman after my own heart… I spend my whole antipodean life trying to be a bit French!
I agree that dresses are the best .. you always look put together.

OP if you are 8-10 why do you want to loose more weight? …I say this with kindness…

Exercise. Get a fit and strong body.

Get a good haircut, one that works for your hair not against it.

The best advice I ever got from MN is to start with what your life is actually like, then work out what would make you feel good in those moments. If you need office wear, focus on what would make you feel stylish in that; but if you WFH and spend your life on Zoom calls, that means a different choice. Likewise, is your social life going to the pub, standing around with friends, so jackets, shoes and handbags are important, or is it dinner at friends' homes where you are jumping from car to house and then taking your shoes off once inside? Do you have dogs, sporty kids and need warm/waterproof gear, or do you tend to do more indoor activities? None of these is right or wrong, but knowing it can stop you from chasing after clothes that might be nice but just aren't what you need.
As an example, between walking dogs, WFH, and actually going to the gym, just binning all my scruffy sports stuff accumulated over years and then updating and buying more expensive gym gear was worth much more to me than buying a couple of new dresses.

Have microneedling session to rev up yoyr facial skin.

Have a deep tissue massage - i like hot stones.

Book online and visit vidal sasson academy, london for a restyle.

Book and see a john lewis stylist for clothes.

Great advice @SoloFlying. I’ve just ditched my scruffy old dog walking coat and upgraded to something much more elegant but equally functional.

I always recommend reading this article, or get a styling analysis. It gives good advice on what body shape you are, and what clothes suit you. Also, find out what season you are. Having a body style analysis made a huge difference to me.

theconceptwardrobe.com

Really good advice there. I spend 90% of my life in jeans, sweatshirts/jumpers and trainers but I do make sure they are really flattering jeans in a style that suits me, I buy good-quality sweatshirts and knitwear and keep an eye on what the current trends in trainers are. I also make sure that I pull all these together into an actual outfit every day rather than throwing on a scruffy sweatshirt that the cat has slept on and any old jeans that have gone saggy and do me no favours.

And me! I look totally and utterly different to how I did pre-meeting the stylist I worked with (and I don't mean I've lost weight, because I haven't). I have never felt more "me".

Tell us which part of the country you live in OP and perhaps someone can recommend a stylist nearby?

Because she might think she looks better at a lower weight? A lower weight might suit her build and frame? Most of us have a weight where we look best, which is not necessarily at the top of the BMI range.