summer wardrobe for those of (ahem) advancing years

[basildonbond]

I have problems dressing for summer - I never seem to look quite right - and it's got worse since I reached my mid-40s

For the last 3 years I've been wearing a linen wide-leg trouser/floaty top combo but they've mostly given up the ghost and ressemble used dish-cloths instead of the effortlessly cool, floaty, sophisticated vibe I was aiming for

I'm 5'7, size 12 (or 14 or 10 depending on shop) but pretty much solidly 12 - not sure what my good bits are (if any) any more, but I don't like showing off my upper arms (which cuts out sleeveless anything), knees (saggy), thighs (sporty), stomach (marshmallowy after 3dc and not seeming to respond to years of pilates ...). I also have that classic English pale, freckly, fair-haired colouring, which I think automatically puts me at a disadvantage in the summer dressing stakes.

Help desperately needed before I resort to covering up with the sartorial equivalent of a bin-bag ....

could you..

get yourslf to a selfridges and put yourself in the hands of the personal shopper (no obligation to buy and a good way to try things out of your usual comfort zone)... or

get a stylish friend to come shopping with you and ask her (constructive but critical) advice.

sounds like you need to find a new vibe. widelegged linen and floaty tops sound a bit droopy. you also need to give yourself a pep talk about being more positive about your looks. you sound in good shape!

have you had a fab new haircut lately? that's often a good way to kickstart things.

Ok enough with the 'advancing years' crap. if you were 70 then yes, you are of advancing years.

SO now we've got that cleared up

you are slim and should not be wearing loose trews and floaty tops. Wear floaty top and slimmer trews or slimmer tops and wider trews

OK

what shops do you like the style of? Are we talking All Saints or Joules?

some FAB ideas on here to get you started

LOVE number 3 and number 9 especially would look fab with your colouring too

control I suspect the personal shopper route is the way to go - I've completely lost my shopping mojo and am no longer sure exactly what would suit me

cyb thanks! I think part of the problem was that before dc I had a great body - slim, toned, athletic - and although I realise that by most standards I'm in relatively good shape, compared to what I used to look like it's all v depressing

I used to love Banana Republic when we lived in the states a while back - I'm definitely NOT a joules sort of person

I think the problem is also that I was v good at dressing for work (sharp, Paul Smith trouser suits etc) but now I'm a part-time SAHM I'm not so sure what look I'm aiming for (and I only need to be v casual for the part-time work I do)

personal shoppers can be good.
can you make a point of notiv=cing what other women you like the lok of are wearing too? you need to get your eye in.... or is there a particular shop / designer you like? go and try a load of stuff on....

Good Housekeeping magazine has a feature on looking good at any size/age this month ( well, the new issue with Michelle Obama on the front) There are lots of "real" women in some very sexy, fantastic dresses - well worth a look.