Please help me develop a casual wardrobe???

[JANEITEPatrickNormanMcHennesy]

Hi.

Am pretty good at doing work clothes and okay at doing going out clothes but I really struggle with what to wear to go out for a coffee, a mooch around the shops, lunch with friends etc.

Please give me ideas for what a 5' 2" size 12 curvy brunette might wear for weekends etc.

I tend to stick a pair of jeans on but tbh they don't really suit me.

Oh and no leggings or tunics please. I have a tummy and norks - and a short waist.

Am I a hopeless case?

since you love skirts and have an enviable boot collection, that seems to be the way to go

i agree about the no tunics/leggings thing. i dont do them either - although i'm 3 inches taller than you I have even bigger norks

Love the stripey White Stuff cardigan. We haven't got a White Stuff here but I'm off 'up North' tomorrow, to where there is one: so I will investigate.

What sort of coat do you ladies wear? I have little blazer type things and I have a full-on winter one but I could do with a lighter Autumn one - preferably a lovely rich colour and long enough to wear over my long (ie mid thigh) cardigan. It has to be single breasted for obvious reasons!

I like those slouchy trousers as an alternative to jeans - think they'd be more flattering on me.

Know it looks like I'm on commission or know of no other store but I do like this

But I have seen some others somewhere...back in a mo.

I LOVE that green WS coat. It's a lovely colour.

Janeite - try some stuff on but investigate the MN discount for ordering WS too, might work out worthwhile if you order a few things?

Had my eye on this but haven't tried it on, might be too tight across the chest.

But now very tempted towards these two in M&S and Boden

This is a lovely colour though probably not a good shape for you. However worth a mention as it's £36 with the 20% discount code that SimonHowl found.

Love the Boden one in teal, such a lovely colour. But the price is a bit out of my league I think.

Love the colour of the Hobbs one but argh at the price. I don't like the Boden one.

The green WS one would look awful on me - my skin is a cross between dead-oth pale and olive, so it would make me look as if I'd spent a few weeks underground I think.

Pink or purple would be good - oh and deffo no to funnel necks.

Love the burgundy but not the shiny fabric.

Surprisingly hard to find... the funnel neck is ubiquitous it seems.

Colour good, not convinced about suede though and it's still expensive

Bit shapeless?

Sorry - don't like either of those. Purple suede is v seventies, belt not ideal for short waist and yes, the Joules one is v shapeless looking.

I'm glad it's not just me who has failed in this quest!

too funnelly?
not sure about this but hey
Helene Berman

But see what you mean, double breasted funnels are the coat this winter.

How about short chunky cardi with bootleg jeans or skinnies tucked into boots?

I like this or this, lots of these about.

This would also be an alternative to a coat, cosy and cute!

I've happened to find grey ones, but there are lots of these kind of knits in lovely colours, I love the deep blues.

Arghh - sorry but:

1st one too funnelly.
2nd is a nice shape and colour, if minus the belt - but I don't like the fabric.
The red one would make me look pregnant I think.