I need a makeover, need new clothes :-)

mummybearx

As above really, I'm needing a whole new wardrobe. I'm sick of everything I have. It's either too dressy or too tired and worn looking.

I'm a 28 year old married woman, I feel like I should be more' grown up' looking. But I like my converse and skinny jeans. But sometimes I just want to look like a girl

I don't know where to start. I've looked on New look and River island websites, trying to get a bit of inspiration. But I still don't know what to buy.

So, what's in your standard wardrobe? Do you have some pieces you cannot live without? What should I buy??

Moomum

Hi hon, know exactly what you mean, I've just turned 30 and live in skinny jeans and flossys at moment! This thread would do really well over in the health and beauty section! Some great ladies with great advice over there!

TheConways

I'm 29 (& married), and I'm the opposite - I have hips and a full chest, and always go for dresses and skirts. I wish I looked good in jeans and Converse, but they are just not me!

Here's a few things I have as wardrobe staples

- A brightly coloured block shift dress. Wear to work with a shirt underneath, wear on a night out with strappy heels, wear to family gathering with a cardigan. I have four - grey, black, bright blue, acid purple (all from TK Maxx).

- Shirt dress. I love these.. My black one is dying on me though (bought in the US). I vary the look by wearing it with different belts, sometimes with a jacket, sometimes with a cardigan... I saw a lovely one in Monsoon recently to replace it, but I was struggling with the 85pound price tag!

- Decent black pencil skirt, to the knee. Ideally a bit stretchy and then you don't feel like you're constricted. Wear with a big jumper for slouching around, shirt for work, nice top and heels for a night out, ballet pumps and a cardi for running around town.

- Sundress - I like halterneck ones personally, as I don't then need to wear a bra underneath. I have several I live in in the summer, mostly bought from Monsoon, New Look.

- Capri trousers. These don't work for me at all, but I see a lot of women who favour jeans looking good in a pair of capri trousers. It really depends if you're slim. These work well with a little jacket and a t-shirt to look smart, or a shirt if you're chic.

- Crisp white shirt. Buy a couple (I love Matalan) and use them to smarten up a pair of jeans, over a t-shirt and tied around your waist for a bit of casual chic, with your shift dress and pencil skirt...

Shops for inspiration
- Monsoon - full of girly stuff
- Matalan - quality is variable, but you can find just what you're looking for sometimes
- Sainsburys - quite like some of the clothes in here
- Phase 8 - lovely clothes here
- H&M - trendy stuff that is well priced, definitely good for a fashion fix


Good luck!

MummyOfTwo

check out the House Of Holland stuff in debenhams at the moment, i fell in love with about 20 things in the range yesterday! casual but a little more modern, some nice little dresses that could be dressed up or down, which i think it the key. Your wardrobe has to work for you any way you want to wear it. bear in mind as well, if you dont feel comfortable in something, you wont look it!!!

LMCD

hey Zepsgal! I am 30 this year.. am currently wearin converse, bootleg jeans and a superman t shirt! hahaha. i am also a mother of three..but I do have other stuff like few smart / casual things .. I have dressy stuff too wen I go out!!

check out tesco clothing

x

Taadaa

I would have a look in a few charity shops to see the sort of thing you might feel comfortable in first. You might not feelike you otherwise and it wi be a waste of money.

If you are slim a gathered knee length skirt will add curves. A waist belt is always a winner for jazzing am outfit up. A shift dress is a fab idea as already mentioned. Look at what you want to keep and buy things to compliment what you alreadu have. Flog anything reusable on eBay.

ognum

I am interested in the post, and have some years of experience!

I would like to say that we all have an inbuilt style, whether it's jeans and converse or skirts and heels and after many purchases that I have looked at and not worn because I thought I wanted a new style I believe you should embrace who you are and the style you like.

If you are comfortable in jeans then wear them but combine them with a slightly smarter top, if you are not comfortable you won't wear the things you have paid for.

I do enjoy charity shop shopping, trouble is you can't look for a specific item you need to be open minded and buy something that takes your fancy.

I did over a six month period buy 6 lovely cocktail dresses, something I would not normally wear for a very special vacation, total cost £30!

Charity shops fulfill my need to spend a bit, you know that feeling of wanting something new, just to get the buzz.

So I would say don't stray to far from who you know you are!

browneyedbazzi

Hiya, I know exactly what you mean! Up until recently I had two sets of clothes: professional stuff for work that was all rather dark (black/grey/blue) and rather scruffy outdoorsy stuff for weekends because we spend a lot of time in the fresh air. I moved to the South East recently (from the wilds of Shropshire!) and feel a fair bit of pressure to dress nicer when going to the shops etc and I also felt pretty fed up with being in dull colours at work all the time.

I've started reviving my wardrobe and bought some lovely dresses/tunics in the sales from monsoon. I will also buy second hand stuff of ebay provided it is a shape that I know suits my body type and from a shop where I know what my size is (I know what size will always fit from monsoon/joe browns/white stuff etc).

The bottom line is to buy things that you'll feel comfortable in and will get use out of

rachbc

I'm 38 and still in my skinny jeans and converse...I figure there's plenty of time to be grown up! I found ealate 20s early 30's a hard time to dress for - felt too old for the scruffs of my youth but to young to dress properly! Now I'm older I don't care and wear what I want!

mummybearx

Thanks to everyone for your replies :T

I think I will start small, maybe a new jacket and shoes to go with my jeans. Maybe a blazer type jacket, something that will make my outfit look smarter, but still casual.

Ebaying this morning, looking for new shoes. I'm thinking maybe a nice tan pair of flats, something different from my plain black flats. I cannot wear heels at all, maybe a kitten heel or low block heel, but that's about it. It really restricts what I wear, cos something might look okay with flats but excellent with heels, so I will only ever look 'okay'

Thanks again guys x

raven83

I was like this too! Must be something in the air! I look on ebay for clothes as you can get some right bargains on there. I like to change my style, i am nearly 29 and sometimes i like to look funky and wear leggings, converse type shoes and punky t shirt or the like, then other times i like to look classy and go for a nice smart looking top and a pair of nice boots and accessories. I do think however you always feel the best dressing in what you feel comfortable in. If you feel most comfy in jeans then work with that, maybe buy some new top that are more smart than a t-shirt but but not that dressy and instead on converse if you like flats how about a pair of dolly shoes or pumps? Making changes to your accessories can make a big difference too, you should look in primani as they are dirt cheap in there! Also do you wear make-up? I find i need to change my make-up style reguarly or i start to feel bored, its amazing what a new colour of lippy or doing your eyes in a different way can do!