clothes

The last couple of days I have been wearing leggings under a floaty dress, sandals and a shrug. They have taken me to the beach, to an outdoor theatre performance, a choir practice and WI, and I have felt very comfortable, neither too hot nor too cold.

I do like dressing up to go out, but I don't get many chances to do it now. My current "Best" outfits are a very nice rather pucciesque dress which hasn't had an outing at all this summer and a black and grey animal print jacket which has been to a Christmas dinner with black trousers and a funeral with a rather dressy black skirt.

I like to think my normal look is smart casual, but I fear it may just be casual The majority of my clothes are M&S because I get staff discount, although it gets more and more difficult to find anything wearable there! I seem to have quite a lot of shoes but I've had some of them over 10 years and some of my clothes go back nearly 20 years (Vintage darling!)

Deedaa, I like the sound of your jacket - I've been looking for something like that for ages! And for just those types of occasions!

rubysong, that's been me, too - and as I am now although it is so hot today that I am wearing skinny linen capri pants.

Ive had a bit of a poke in my spare wardrobe where I keep DD stuff that she never took when she left home, I found a lovely vintage velvet jacket that Id never worn, bought years ago, a maxi dress and a long wool winter coat with a huge fur collar, several velvet skirts, several jackets. I guess that I shall have to check the moths have left them alone and maybe I will get dressed up one day.
By the way what is smart casual, those words are a contradiction. You cant be smart and casual.

You might need another pair of shoes to go with all that lovely vintage stuff, ethel!

No will just polish my work boots until the new year sales. lol. I like great big boots with skirts, not fashionable but comfortable.

Smart casual is tricky. I would say - wearing your best newest casual clothes before they get scruffy and tired. For men, it means that at least one half of them upper or lower, has to be nicely and smartly dressed. So, either a nice shirt with new jeans and a jacket, or chinos with perhaps a new polo shirt, maybe a smart jumper. Tie not necessary. For women, it means a nice top, maybe new jeans or a pretty skirt, some jewellery and nice shoes, hair looking good - as if you have made an effort, basically. Not something you would go to the supermarket in, not something you would go to a posh party in. Somewhere in between.

When I was at work I used to describe all the smart suits, dresses and accessories I wore, specifically for work as my 'School uniform'. Coming home in the evening I took my school uniform off and got into clothes chosen for comfort rather than style, worn jeans, old sweaters, sometimes, my dressing gown. Casual, but not smart

At weekends and all week now I wore/wear the kind of clothes that were too casual for work, jeans, trousers, sweaters, casual skirts, however, all would have been carefully chosen and co-ordinated to be comfortable but smart but chosen with the same care I used to use for my 'school uniform'. That to me is smart casual.

I agree smart casual is what you would wear for lunch at a wine bar, cafe or visiting a gallery with friends I.e. Not what you would wear to paint the bedroom or do the garden in. A nice summer dress and jacket or cardie, white shirt and coloured jeans or pleated trousers. Smart bag. Scarf. Smart is suit, silk dress, jacket, posh shoes, bag etc etc.

I love clothes, although not so much since the arrival of middle aged spread. Can anyone recommend a really good stockist (not hugely expensive) for a very short, slightly rounded figure please?

Soo confusing think I will just stick with a different t shirt every day regardless of where im going. I must admit I feel a bit foolish if I ever try to dress up I hate it if anyone makes a comment even a complement. I think what liars or just laugh it off. Wish I was a man they get wear much less complicated stuff.

In the end, you have to wear what you feel happy and comfortable in. As long as you don't wonder what you are missing, that's fine. I buy the odd thing from second hand shops or ebay just to experiment, if it doesn't work for me I pass them on. If you have no interest in clothes, and that works for you, that's brilliant! It must save you a fortune!