Have just dispensed with literally three-quarters of my clothes and need to start from scratch.

[TrickOrTrefusis]

With a landmark birthday coming up next week, I?ve decided that life is too short to continue wearing scaggy, ill-fitting clothes that I picked up in charity shops five years ago and didn?t particularly like to start with. I had a pile of clothes that I (rightly) never wore. Those are now gone, and I have wardrobe/drawer space to fill.

I?m OK, as you might have guessed, for tatty, round-the-house-and-garden wear. I also don?t need to buy any work clothes, as I have enough (albeit boring) things to wear there, especially as my job is temporary. What I need is stuff that will make me look and feel reasonably good when out for coffee with friends, trips into town, casual nights out ? that sort of thing.

Anyone care to advise?

Are you very far from Belfast? Victoria Square is great.

although i spose you could polo under a dress ....

Will try to find out, Coco. Appreciate the reminder: had forgotten about those places, tbh.

Am going now, to have the remaining pants scared off me by a spooky film. Thanks for all advice, as I am ludicrously ill-informed on all things sartorial. Especially for a woman of my age .

With layering I tend to go for similar necklines on each top, or so the outher top covers the inner (I'm complicating things here, its v simple really).

It's about the sleeves really, or a little bit showing at the bottom hem. (I have a PhD in layering)

For eg I wouldn't wear a v neck tee over a round neck one. But I would the other way round.

Yup, definitely going to make finding a couple of good pairs of jeans my first priority. Free returns are a lifeline out here in the sticks. And I could maybe even get to Belfast for a day, with enough planning.

happy birthday for next week btw

Will try on some stuff tomorrow, in the couple of RL shops available to me. Dh thinks he's working at home, and I'm off work for half-term... so with luck I could scarper for most of the day .

Thank you, LTEC. Am trying to see it as the start of being Grown-Up, rather than the beginning of a slow slide into decrepitude.

Really must go, as dh is getting impatient. Thank you for your help and patience .

Just saw what you said about jeans, the high waist bootcut 7 for all mankind might work for you, you coudl get them taken up.

Also have you looked at Great Plains? They have some nice things, quite easy to wear.
www.greatplains.co.uk/

Hope you find some decent clothes and have a fab birthday!