Getting out of my comfort zone

Double_Trouble

Like the jacket and the scarf is lovely. Having met you I think you need warm colours too was a bit concerned when you said red but that shade is lovely. Of course I have gone for black but when I am not in court I will be brightening it up with vest tops and scarves and jewellery can you see how positive I am

DTxx

gilligansyle

DT I wear far too much black! And grey, and grey/black patterns; my Mum criticises my sister for not wearing colours (she's a fan of beige and cream) but somehow never notices monotone me!

I am always wary of beads, being top heavy as I was always told to draw attention away, but looking through my wardrobe tonight I have a few tops that are a sort of t-shirt with another top attached which creates a sort of v so will see if they actually are more flattering.

On a completely different note - the bloke who got knocked out of the Apprentice this week has the opticians shop on the main road by me. And my friend used to rent the flat over the shop from him. That's my claim to fame anyway.

savingholmes

Hi Gill

Forget the top heavy comments that were probably made by your mother, teacher or other jealous people.

If you dont want to show your bust wear a V neck but with a straight line lace camisole underneath so you get the slimming effect without showing all your bust. You can also buy a bit of pretty lace to cover the bottom section of the V and sew it on the inside if you have that skill. Beads and scarfs genuinely do work to create a V and create a visual slimming effect. Wearing darker colours under a slightly lighter cardigan also are more slimming than if you do it the other way around...

I found rocha john rocha were good with their jackets as they litterally did some of their decorative buttons in a wide V shape on a jacket which created a more flattering look.

I buy chunky heeled shoes generally they look better but a couple of inches can make a difference. My grandad always said tho you can tell on a woman's face if her shoes are comfortable - so that's my rule - they have to be comfortable - and then nice to wear not the other way round...

Good luck.... If you ever wanted to fill your car up with stuff and have a wardrobe session at my house I'm happy to advise you if you wanted to drop in again one day on your way past.... You could come to tea again without splashing out on all the cakes... Save it for a quick trip to Asda for accessories!

gilligansyle

Thanks SH
I've got lots of lace in my 'bits box' - I think my nan used to take it off stuff before she threw it away. I've just had that idea in my head about beads. But I *do* wear scarves, so have got a bit confused there.
Actually thats not a bad idea,someone a bit more neutral,rather than friends and family who are too used to seeing me.

Similar thing with ID badges, people have to peer at your chest to see your name!

Today I have to take Mum for various appointments, diabetic clinic, renal clinic, etc. She's got a bee in her bonnet now because she saw on her form 'kidney failure'; her GP said 'oh that's normal, everyone over 40 has a degree of kidney failure'. So now she wants to know why its on the form. When she was in hospital she nearly needed dialysis, but she wants it taken off the form as 'it gives the wrong impression'. Hopefully someone can explain it better to her.

I've been really good with food this week, until last night when DS fancied KFC for tea. So I had a few pieces of chicken, and told myself I was being good by not having chips. I still don't know what I weigh, but will do some measuring anyway at the weekend, as I'm going to do some sewing.

Double_Trouble

I never used to wear beads or scarves until I went and did that big clothes shop in Kendal and they did make an enormous amount of difference to the way I looked even when I was at my biggest and nobody could be more top heavy than me ..... well except Dolly Parton, Jordan, Jessica Rabbit :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

DTxx

Karmacat

I think no matter what our shape, we can look better with carefully chosen accessories ... its a skill I'm still learning too.

se999

KC - The accessories thing is one area I've not got sorted yet - it's far more complicated than it seems to get right. This is what I've been doing it might give some ideas.

I'm using the gradual step approach. Only things so far are the basics like improving and upgrading shoes & handbags, getting a nice watch and wearing my engagement ring as a dress ring. I've tried scarves, but they need to be the right length, weight, texture, colour etc to work really well. But going to try them a bit more this summer.

Wondering about trying more jewellery, but like a few posting already I'm bigger on top, so it's not only scarves that it can cause a problem with but also necklaces etc.. I always remember a scene from Thoroughly Modern Millie, where Julie Andrews wanted to look like the true flapper, and that meant long straight hanging beads, but of course if you're not flat chested they kink. I was starting to wear a plain silver necklace more which sat high on the collar bone so distracted from the cleavage, but I think it got lost during the numerous hotel moves. Anyway if I get to any carboots when we're back in England I'll definitely be on the look out for some jewellery to try out, maybe I'll try the charity shops too.

One thing not to forget is hats - especially in the summer it's good to shade the face and back of the neck - so it's good for the skin as well as part of the outfit. But again difficult to find the right ones.

DT - your session at the Kendal shop was really good, as they'd probably already worked out what accessories went well with the outfits, so it's given you a good basis to work from. I'm wondering about trying one of the dept store free personal shopper services to see if they can give me some new ideas especially about accessories.

Karmacat

Just running and posting at the mo .... the last bit of your post gave me pause, se - literally the only hat I have is a safari hat I bought in Zimbabwe .... oh, I tell a lie, I bought a beret in Claire's Accessories for £1

To be honest, once I've got something warm for the winter, I won't be going for hats. If I've got a really posh occasion to go to, my beautiful little ebay fascinator will do me :j

se999

The hats in summer is more about skincare and eyecare than completing the outfit. OK you still need SPF high factor block of some sort and decent protective sunglasses. But hats that shade the face and neck do help a lot once you get used to them. Both OH's parents had to have moles removed off the back of their necks, and all the family have sensive skin and burn easily, maybe that's why we're more careful. There's also the ageing factor of the sun on the face too.

But with wanting to look better I want one's that look good too

Karmacat

Totally agree on that level on the hats! And I've been known to wear my safari hat in England ... like your OH's family, we have sensitive skin - 8 cases of skin cancer and pre skin cancer do not tell a lie! SPF 50 too.... I still get caught out sometimes, mind you. I went to a *funeral*, last year, for heaven's sakes, and it was completely outside on a roaring hot day - my arms were over-tanned for weeks afterward tho I managed to avoid enough sun for them not to burn, at least. Some was inevitable - before it started, tho, I twisted my arms behind my back to avoid the sun, I felt ridiculous, but it was necessary I'm going to another in a few weeks, at the same place, and I'll take my *big* bag for a hat and suncream, I've learned my lesson.