I'm a frump and not even 30..yet..help!

[NightShoe]

I want to be more stylish, I really do, but I find myself resorting to plain top, jeans and pumps all of the time. I even wear this to work because that is what is generally worn (I'm a mental health nurse). I'm 30 this year and I want to make a change, I don't want my 30's to be frumpy and boring too. I'm trying to lose weight, have just lost a stone and have one to go, so halfway there, I've dropped a dress size to a 14 and so I would like to buy some new clothes.

Can anyone recommend some good shops/sites that might smarten me up abit? Where do you shop if you are around my age? What is the one item I definately need to buy?

nowt wrong with plain top / trous / pumps

try not-jeans though - cords? khakis? flannel? - and add accessories eg chunky necklaces, scarves etc

dark blue jeans, white top = dull

dark blue jeans, white top, chunky blue beads thus or thus = looks like you've put some thought in

love that portfolio necklace today i wore jeans and a black t shirt I received severeal compliments why??? cos i added a scarf with lots of pink in,had a pink cardi on and a sparkly purple bangle - its the accesories dahling......

Jeans do get really boring, IMO, although they are sort of indispensable to have in one's wardrobe.

As MrsB says, try to change your trousers - I have bright yellow cords, and also some purple cords, and they look nice with pretty ballet flats or ankle boots with a small heel, and a pretty top.

Thank you for the replies, I really am quite grateful that I can get away with not straying too far from what I have, but I can jazz it up abit. I do love those necklaces. I can branch into other trousers no problem. I will try scarves, but stupid question I know, what style do you wear them in? I perhaps need to invest in a nice handbag too.

Why don't you buy a dress?

Go on - I can guess it's out of your comfort zone, and that's why you should do it.

I bravely started pushing myself towards dresses a while back and ... it was a liberation.

Start off with an easy, plain dress. Myself, I like black, but I know some don't. But they are very easy, and can be worn with opaque tights and converse for day and dressier shoes of an evening.

Eek, a dress! I just about manage the odd summer skirt I guess I do feel too dressed up in a dress, although I have admired them in the past. I just can't seem to feel comfortable in a day dress. I think DH would fall over! Can I wear it over jeans?

well the square scarfs i fold in half and wrap round with the point at the front and the longer straight scarves I wear as you would a wooly scarf......

I too bought a dress!! its a black crochet looking thing kind of empire line/tunicy and I wear it with either black cords or jeans or with opaque tights and biker boots or patent flats,it isnt the sort of thing Id normally buy but it looks funky .

I agree with hbfac - dresses are great. You can wear them in the winter with woolly tights and boots for a good casual glam look.

Dresses are great! You don't have to find a top and a bottom!
Wear a nice one with leggings too and flats.

I agree dresses are the best as you don't have to worry about coordinating bits or tucking things in. Put one over leggings and flat boots. Very flattering and much comfier than jeans too.

There are lots of really pretty and romantic clothes coming into the shops for SS10 - I have bought two beautiful linen and steel (!) dresses from an Italian brand called Forte Forte, one in off-white and the other in grey, that tie with ribbons at the back - that's a real feature of this season.

I also saw some gorgeous ivory silk blouses around - would look fantastically feminine with jeans and some pretty sandals.

Disclaimer: I am not hugely stylish

However, I think you could be me about 4 years ago. I was in my late 20s and realised that I was dressing so boringly ALL the time. I am still not exactly the most sylish person around (and as I need to lose a lot of weight still, that makes it even harder) but I have learnt a few lessons and definitely feel less frumpy. I agree with everyone else about accessories. Necklaces and bracelets work for me.

My two other "tricks" are shoes and colour. Wearing a pair of "cute" shoes can change an entire outfit - low heels but in a bright colour or gorgeous round toed black mary-janes make me feel like I'm making more effort. Even in summer I try now to wear flip flops with a bit of personality rather than boring old plain ones. Or a bright coloured cardi over my plain white/black t-shirt or a colourful necklace or similar makes all the difference.

I also make slightly more effort with make up now. A good foundation with mascara and lip gloss can really make all the difference, before you even get into the rest of it.

Thank you for the further replies, I am off to the shops tomorrow to see what I can find. I've just hunted through my wardrobe and found that I actually possess a black size 14 empire line jersey dress which I must have bought in a moment of madness. It looks pretty basic and empire line so I'm fairly sure it would look ok if I pick up some good accessories to go with it. Thank you for all the advice.