Dressing fearlessly: throwing out the style rule book

I seem to be incapable of being stylish. DD has a large blanket/wrap thing to wear instead of a coat, which really suits her, but not sure if one would be 'me'. I have therefore ordered a cheap version to try (£19.99). Could I have some honest opinions as to the suitability please? I am 5'3", size 14/16 with rather chunky legs. I always wear trousers, straight leg, not skinny, have knee high and ankle boots. And would it keep falling off my shoulders? I hate clothes that need to be adjusted during wear! I am always too hot for coats, but thought it might be useful when the cold weather comes.

OK, so are any of you feeling like a rebellious New Year? Wondering what happened to the Mod, New Romantic or Hippy chick you used to be? Is there a creative style guru gathering dust in the corners of your mind?

Come over to my Mumsnet thread PLEASE!!!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/2538616-This-is-not-about-crepe?msgid=58396169

I enjoy dressing smartly, but always dress comfortably. I have never been prepared to suffer for fashion, not even in my teens and twenties.

I like to know that whether I am spending the day in the house or going out that if I pass a mirror and catch a glance of myself, then I will be happy with what I see. The same with make-up, and even if I am home all day, as well as my skin care routine I will apply a touch of blusher and pencil in my eyebrows.

You do not have to dress in old sloppy clothes to be comfortable. Today I am wearing smart jeans and a big sweater, fine for raking leaves this morning, going into town to shop this afternoon and going out to supper and a concert this evening with friends where the venue is a large old, cold abbey church.

I do not have lots of clothes and rarely go clothes shopping (boring). What clothes I do have I wear regularly until worn out and then replace. I can get all my clothes, summer and winter, into one Victorian wardrobe and chest of drawers.

Nobody sees me at home, except the dogs and the Tesco delivery man

Clearly not uncommon among Gransnetters then!

No that was another Gransnetter Alea

Or indeed for the Tesco delivery man??

I'm glad I'm not the only one who 'dresses down' during the day at home. Trouble is, everything I buy, even plain, boring teeshirts end up 'being kept for going out' while I carry on using my shapeless jeans and tees round the house till the get too shabby. It stems from a long period in our lives when buying clothes was not possible except for wear and tear and every new item was treasured.

Now we're a little better off and I'm finding I'm almost scared to spend any money on clothes, let alone wear new about the house. Nobody sees me at home, except the dogs and the Tesco delivery man.

You've got me thinking I might just put something a little prettier on for when hubby gets home. :-)

Like a Mae West jingl?
Gordon Bennet, I'll look like Boobyerama, bearing all before her
That'll clear my pathway like a ship in full sail , heaven help anyone who gets in the way!

Frontways that is!

Just 'ang it round yer neck loopy.

13lbs Loopy

I carry as small a bag as possible, just big enough for my purse, keys, phone, a small pack of tissues, small hairbrush and a lipstick.
Anything bigger than that leads to requests from DH to accommodate his stuff, instead of using his man-bag that I bought him some years ago and which rarely comes out of the cupboard!

My GP weighed my 'fairly large bag' when my neck and shoulder started playing up....13lb

Her raised eyebrows said it all!

Trouble is, I should use a cross-body 'back bag' but they're awful if you have boobs. Backpacks are ok but total faff as I'd have to keep taking it on and off and resort to carrying it on one shoulder so back to first line

Any suggestions?

I'm the same as you thatbags.

I carry a fairly large bag about with everything I need in it. On special occasions (not many of those these days) I have a smaller bag and do a bag cull.

The bag is a Kipling bag (other bags available) and it's 95% perfect.

I have one shoulder bag. It matches nothing I wear but it matches me. Ask soop who 'made' me buy it . I couldn't cope with several bags. I'd be forever forgetting things. All my essentials (driving licence, toothbrush, lipsil, etc) stay in my shoulder bag so I'm ready for anything.

I find it almost impossibly hard to resist the temptation to match or coordinate accessories. Drummed into me since childhood I expect, but when I see the "young ones" combining surprising colours, I find myself thinking that would never have occurred to me.
Different mindset, so not criticising you in any way Coolgran, more of a general observation about our generation.

Alea you made a comment about all matching being aging i.e. bags/shoes, and I've heard younger folks say this also. Also heard that it's old hat to have jewellery matching too much.

I made a comment earlier that I'm always matched but wasn't quite clear in what I meant. I really meant that I was decently enough put together (in my opinion) to be seen in public
When I would wear for example grey jeans or whatever, I'd be inclined to go for other greys and throw in a colour to brighten it up.
If stuff tones then I'm happy.

No longer do I save stuff for best.... there are a few things that I do wear but not on a daily basis.... there's nothing hanging in the wardrobe being saved for a special occasion. I don't do so many of those nowadays.

Oops somehow jumped threads!!!
Please ignore the gremlins in my iPad!!

Then how about moving on and back to the discussion, are you going to comment on what has been said, either by Elegran or me?

Larger louts too.

Lager ladies, biker?
Love it

That sales person needs banning to the store room rosequartz! Daft bat, she must be joking
Sainsburys have some lovely tunic jumpers, I bought a navy knitted one (has a cowl neck) this afternoon.
don't tell anyone but I bought some of their navy and grey leggings too DH hopefully won't make derogatory comments about 'parsnips in pumps' (I love that expression from one of you lovely GNs!)

Just a thought for those of you who think the colour pink is on the banned list. Victoria's Secret's Pink is a range of casual clothes. DD has several of the collection. None of them are actually pink either. Daft name!

If you see someone tearing off their nice scarf that will be me (getting hot and bothered)

Longer jumpers, that's what I need. Despite the sales person the other day telling me that shorter ones were better for not showing up a larger tummy

next time you are in town people watching, just take note of what people are actually wearing, we come in all sorts of shapes/sizes/ages there are I notice what lager ladies are wearing and they look lovely and comfy in their nice leggings/trousers, with longer jumpers over and long boots or ankle boots, a bit of bling or nice scarf.

I don't wear makeup much any more and my hair seems to look the same whether it's brushed or not (unless I waste spend a good half hour trying to fight it every morning).