Frump to Fab 2017 - A Whole New World

Floss

LL do you have a proper lingerie shop in the city? That may be a good place to start...;)

lessonlearned

Hello Flo.....

Interesting comments about your dilemma about whether to go for “quirky” or “classic”. I agree classic can be aging.......Maman has made some highly amusing comments about the “classic” styles of clothes you get in shops like M&S. Deadly boring and horribly ageing.

People watching is a great idea and a good way of learning, especially what to avoid!!! Seriously, without being unkind, you really do see some awful sights. And it’s not just middle aged or older women who look terrible. I see an awful lot of young women who look little better than bag ladies.

I think the secret is to find your own style, dress for your body shape, your colouring etc. Also bear in mind your lifestyle, your job, the way you spend your leisure.

I don’t really believe in age appropriate dressing, you can be stylish and attractive at any age. Some of the best dressed and most glamorous women are not youngsters. I do however believe in “occasion appropriate dressing”.

We live in an age where I think, in general terms, smart casual is right for most occasions, dressing up or down as appropriate.

So I would suggest a mixture of both classic for the more expensive investment pieces such as coats and jackets, and suits if you wear them and then you can add a few more quirky touches that appeal to you for cheaper items such as dresses, tops, accessories etc.

One thing I find helpful is to think about female celebrities who you think are attractive and whose style appeals to you. Maybe don’t follow them slavishly but think about how you can adapt their look to suit you.

For me I choose a mixture of full on Helen Mirren type glamour for formal evening wear and then try and adapt the looks of Jacqui Kennedy, Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren and Rene Rousso for day and less formal wear.

I like a look that I call “eurochic” and I try to incorporate some of the little flourishes that French, Italian and some of the more glamourous Eastern European and Russian women wear.

Chic and elegant for French style, a bit of Italian sexiness and a bit of Russian glamour. Sounds like a right mish mash but I think I have found a style and a look that works for me.

I think half the fun is experimenting and just trying things out. I think this is where charity shops can be so helpful. You can be adventurous and try out new looks and styles without breaking the bank.

I would say just have fun, try out new looks and styles and see how you go.

Floss

I have recently gone to the opaques & ankle boots rather than tights & heels, am 53 and feel less frump when dressed this way My previous corporate wear has been put away, I have a selection of shift dresses which I wear with opaques and a few silky tunics to wear with leggings & boots and feel much more comfortable and less "mature woman"...IYKWIM!

lessonlearned

Floss wrote: »

LL do you have a proper lingerie shop in the city? That may be a good place to start...;)

Alas no, or at least I haven’t been able to find one. We used to have Contessa but they closed a few years ago. The best we seem to have is Debenhams.

I even looked at Agent Provacateurs website (yes I know horribly expensive) but I didn’t really see anything that appealed. I am too old for some of the more overtly “sexy” styles if you catch my drift. I would just feel silly and self conscious.

Of course I want to appeal to a mans sensibilities but I think I want to appear sophisticated and alluring rather than tarty. :rotfl:

greenbee

Sounds like you need a trip to London LL and a visit to Rigby & Peller... Or at least somewhere with an independent department store/lingerie shop or maybe a Harvey Nicks or John Lewis?

have a look at Freya - they have some good quality stuff and you may be able to get it in debenhams.

lessonlearned

Greenbee......yes you are right - definitely a trip to London at some point when I have lost some weight.

But in the meantime that Freya link looks good. Thanks for that. I will make a start looking at Debenhams this week. I definitely need some new bras so will go and get measured again.

I think we have a John Lewis in Nottingham, and I think the nearest Harvey Nicks might be Birmingham.

Time to go shopping.......lol.

indiepanda

Good afternoon all.

Well how exciting about your trip LL. In all honesty I wouldn't be too worried about underwear - if you get to the point of revealing it in the early stages of a relationship it rarely stays on long enough to be appreciated. I think it makes me feel better to wear something nice, but the only bra I ever recall a guy commenting on positively was one which I thought of as being a very practical and not at all sexy one, so I've given up trying to work out what men like! I suspect having a naked and enthusiastic bed partner was enough to keep them happy...

That said, especially if you are well endowed, a nice fitting one improves the figure no end - despite issues with sizing, I have had some good ones from Bravissimo - Freya and Panache. My issue with finding sexy underwear is I often wear jersey tops, which require smooth lines - so I sacrifice having pretty, lacy bras for t shirt bras to make the outfit I am wearing look better. I can wear something pretty underneath my cotton dresses, but that's not what I wear most of the time.

I've been feeling rotten the last couple of weeks - think I've had two bugs on top of each other and I still have a cough, sore throat and cold. Day time is less bad, but night time I can't sleep properly for more than a few hours as I can't breathe properly and wake up coughing etc. I've tried resting to shake it off, but it made no difference aside of making me feel grumpy and lonely, so I've been out dancing on Friday night (local club night, dancing to lots of 90s indie classics) on Saturday for a walk and to a butterfly exhibition at the Horniman museum which I would definitely recommend to any SE Londoners (I think Sugarbaby and Chanie might live in this part of town) and on Sunday for a Ceroc workshop. I don't think I will go dancing tonight as I've got quite a few errands to do, but will see how I feel later. If I am not going to sleep properly I might as well have some fun!

My house is starting to feel like a money pit. I've discovered a damp issue in the lounge that was mainly hidden by curtains, had to get one of the built in cupboards removed ready to get the damp treated and some of the cupboard will need to be rebuilt as the wood has been affected by the damp. Anyway, the room will need to be repainted after the plaster is dry post treatment, but I am looking at the ceiling and thinking that needs to be done too... It's been papered with lining paper - but very badly, you can see join marks and bubbles. And the cornicing has been painted over so many times the lines are no longer clear anymore. Plus although I have a plaster ceiling rose in there, its not really to my taste, and it's spoiled by the fact it then has a plastic pendant fitting.... I have a nice Tiffany glass shade hanging from it, but it's nothing like as nice as my gorgeous chandelier in my new bedroom which doesn't have a nasty plastic fitting (it was me that mentioned Debenhams are now being supplied by the factory that used to do BHS's lighting). Also, though it's not anything like as bad as the carpet was in the former lodger's / now my bedroom, the carpet is a little moth eaten, and if I am going to get everything else done and have to move the furniture out, I might as well do the carpet at the same time and save myself having more disruption in the future - at least that room should then be sound for a number of years.

Either way, definitely going to have to economise a bit. Cut back a little on the holiday budget next year and try to home cook as much as possible rather than eating out. Some economies will be easier - toiletries for example - I have such a large supply and I am going to be super focused on checking what sample sizes I have from various beauty boxes and calendars before buying any full size items. I am also well supplied enough on footwear that I should be able to go without buying much. Clothes..... well, I will need some winter ones... and if I succeed in shifting more weight I will just have to deal with the consequences. Am definitely not going to use this as an excuse to stop trying on the weight loss....

Despite feeling grotty this morning I still went training in the park, just adjusted a bit what we did - not much moving up and down quickly to avoid dizziness. My plank was still nice and solid at the end which was I was pleased about.

I have my colour consultant coming round this afternoon with some clothes I ordered from Kettlewell via her (she gets a discount plus free delivery and returns) so I can decide which ones to keep versus return. Hopefully most of them will be a good fit!

Anyway, still in my sweaty workout gear so better sign off and hit the shower.

Have a good week all! x

maman

Lots of fab chat going on this morning.:)


Yes, you're right, LL I do have strong views on M&S Classics! I can't stand being in there for long midweek as it seems populated by frumpy women all dressed the same. It's not only the greige colours it's the horrid look the elasticated trousers give and don't get me started on the anoraks!:eek:


I agree Freya is a good brand and Debenhams do have a good range. What also matters is that you have the right size. I'm lucky in that we have a couple of good independents locally. They do tend to be better at measuring but often it's a case of trying loads until you find a bra that fits well. Unfortunately, although they do sell matching pants I don't like wearing prickly nylon stuff and that's what seems to be available in sets. LL, I googled for you and a shop called Can Can appeared in your city but not sure if it still exists? That being said, once you do know your size I've got some lovely bras from TKMaxx but it's just a case of looking regularly and trying on.


I'm off into the city this afternoon so might have time to do some more browsing of winter ranges. I'm going to pick up my new glasses. Fortunately I didn't need them urgently but I'm a bit cross because they chose to let me know when they were ready by snail mail (and wasted a week) although they'd promised to phone and I even checked they had my right contact details.:mad:


It's bright and dry here and promises to be 20 degrees this afternoon. Hope the sun is shining on you all.:)

LaineyT

Afternoon ladies,

Have just caught up on the thread, phew! lots going including LL's full use of her siren call and two Johns landed good for you m'dear, you sound so bright and cheerful.
Re the undies issue another here who would recommend getting yourself measured properly and go from there, I tend to wear a fair bit of sports type bras what with the horse riding and everything (lord knows don't want to accelerate the drooping) along with low hip shorts which go well under jodhpurs. But they are the work horses of my lingerie drawer and there is plenty of room for lace, matching bras and panties, makes me feel good and my beloved appreciative
If anyone has a minute pop along to Nicki at MidlifeChic blog (sorry can't do links on this tablet ) she always manages to look classy and yes chic whilst not too overdone iyswim.
Weird old weather here today, hot and sunny this morning and now overcast with a strong breeze, the light is really weird, almost orange and there is a burnt leaf smell to the air, my dogs keep going outside and sniffing the air.

lessonlearned

Yes we had that weird orangey light at about 2pm. Back to normal now.

Just back from a nice walk to try and get my step count up, then called in at my neighbours for a cup of tea and a catch up. Didn’t eat the biscuits on offer. :rotfl:

Going to cook a nice healthy chicken stir fry now. Have been really good with no starchy carbs, no alcohol. I am determined to nail this and get some weight off.

Ladies thanks for all the undies tips. I have been looking at your recommend websites.

I think Can Can is still going strong and I have been looking at the David Nieper website. They have a factory shop near to us. And although they do some really gorgeous and really expensive luxury lingerie I noticed they do have what they call an “everyday” range which is a bit more moderately priced but still very pretty.

I don’t mind purely functional and as you say when you are being active then you need underwear which is practical. But I agree it’s nice to wear something that makes us feel feminine and alluring.

Indie.....I take your point that most men don’t really care much either way. They are more interested in what lies beneath the undies. I think it’s more a girl thing isn’t it. I think wearing nice undies might give me a bit of a much needed confidence boost. :rotfl: