How do you know what looks best?

I’ve flipped the thread so I can see you in the green dress and the jeans and jacket simultaneously. You look so much better in today’s outfit, you really do. The white top makes you look good; your bust is defined; I envy your flat tummy; the jacket’s a good fit and length; the jeans fit well; you have matching footwear. What particularly comes over is your body language - relaxed confidence. What a difference it makes.
Your DH’s comment says it all, that you don’t look a mess. Perfect. If he’s like my DH he’s visual. Your DH clearly likes your appearance. Need I say more?

Any thoughts on tomorrow’s outfit? I’m learning from you, so keep going.

Any thoughts on tomorrow’s outfit? I’m learning from you, so keep going
Ooh, if folks were brave enough to post outfits daily, we could all learn a lot!
You look so much better in today’s outfit, Scentia - the outfit is more flattering, but also the way you are standing. Big lessons for me to learn!!

growstuff

Have a look at some pictures of Dawn French. She's tiny and has been much bigger than you, but always seems to look stylish.

She favours the glorified sack look that I like.
She makes sure that her beautiful face and hair are the focus. Her hair, skin and makeup always look immaculate.

I have to agree with you, Fanny!

Funnily enough, ladies I have been told more than once that I look like dawn french. I think it’s my grin that does it?

I like the dress in the first photo but agree that the length is too short, on or just below the knee is more flattering to most people.
I also think "interesting" shoes help make an outfit: I've got a pair of green leather ballet flats that I would wear with that dress. Plus some nice green earrings. Where is the dress from? ?

V3ra
It is a Boden dress but very old maybe 7 years old!!

Trousers definitely suit you better than the dress, you really look good in them. They make you look taller and slimmer. As regards the dress I would agree just below the knees to elongate the body and longer sleeves, maybe plain rather than patterned with a long necklace also next size up so it doesn’t cling. Also, can I ask if it’s lined? A lining makes the world of difference. If unlined always wear a slip to stop clinging. I’m size 16 but generally buy 18 so a bit looser and comfier and am a trousers and top (or trouser suit if I have to be smart) person. Lost a lot of weight about three years ago and looked ok in a dress for a special occasion, wouldn’t look good now! Lack of exercise and too much comfort eating in lockdown!

May I say one more thing Scentia?
In today’s photo..I think a long shirt plus the short denim jacket would have been more flattering and would have given a variety of lengths to the outfit.

I wonder, if I set up an Instagram or Facebook page to show off my —unlikely— progress into a style icon Boden and Toast would send me clothes to wear so my followers would buy them. I could be the next Stacey Solomon?? how do you go about getting 2.4m followers?!!!

My daughter is similar build - a v- neck draws the eye down and makes you look taller - a round neck emphasises the chest. I agree a longer dress would be more flattering. In Europe a lot of mature ladies wear ‘lagenlook’ - literally layered look- check that out. Hope that helps.

I agree with lemon that a ‘less is more’ approach to patterns often gives a more flattering look.

Scentia

I wonder, if I set up an Instagram or Facebook page to show off my —unlikely— progress into a style icon Boden and Toast would send me clothes to wear so my followers would buy them. I could be the next Stacey Solomon?? how do you go about getting 2.4m followers?!!!

Well, we’d all follow you, do that would be a start! It would be great actually to follow the progress of someone on such a ‘journey’, as we’d all pick up
tips on the way. I’ve always loved clothes, so used to follow quite a few bloggers - but none hit quite the right note for me

This Canadian blogger thinks a lot about her clothes and how to style them
www.highheelsinthewilderness.com/2021/08/why-styling-matters.html

Sally12
Your link is exactly me: even the hair ? I’m 5’ size 12.
I never wear prints. The closest I come to a print is a spot or stripe.
A friend is under 5’ and just a bit smaller than Dawn French. She always looks stylish and like Dawn French, you never see her in a print.

i would love to wear a dress and that one looks lovely but i agree with some of the others, a better bra and maybe you would feel better in one size bigger if it feels tight or clingy. i have put on weight in the last 2 years, i was already a size 20, my problem is everthing is hanging down, i had to go to a doctor about my vulvar cancer and having all my lymph nodes removed from my groin, he said it would be difficult to heal as they are at the top of my legs and the fat hangs over...lol, i only ever wear straight leg jogging trousers because i have severe psoriasis and it cuts and breaks whenever i move, i always wear nice t-shirts and tops and always get a size bigger than i need. i have got a couple of those knicker type things hat pull everything in, just in case i need to wear a skirt and blouse for a funeral. please scentia, wear clothes that you are comfortable in, if that means jeans, a fancy top and some make up, then go for it, this is all about how you feel, it does not matter what anybody else thinks. when you buy something new and are not sure, take some pics and send them to your daughter for an honest answer..lol
ps. i am now a size 22/24 so i would be so envious of you in a size 16. xx

I think either a lower or v neck, longer dress, not so clingy would look better. With your jeans a shorter denim jacket and longer shirt or top underneath. With slim leg jeans you need hip skimming, preferably empire or shirt style top. Scarves help too.

please scentia, wear clothes that you are comfortable in, if that means jeans, a fancy top and some make up, then go for it, this is all about how you feel, it does not matter what anybody else thinks
I think that’s a very fair comment, Nexus63 (and by the way, sympathy for all your medical difficulties) - but if you know what suits you and you dress with a bit more effort, then others may well comment positively, which will make you feel good? But you should never dress so that you feel uncomfortable or awkward, or purely for someone else.

I could make one suggestion. I have a different body shape to the OP but I do love to wear dresses. I never wear any dress or skirt without a slip. I have a selection of different lengths and also a couple of waist slips. I buy them in m and s. I really feel it makes a big improvement to the look.

I would go for a longer dress which flares from the waist.

Scentia

I am the one holding the baby not wearing the babygro?

Lucca

May I say one more thing Scentia?
In today’s photo..I think a long shirt plus the short denim jacket would have been more flattering and would have given a variety of lengths to the outfit.

Blimey. That's my style - my long white shirts with a tee underneath cover my bum, hips and tum, with a short denim/leather jacket on top, and jeggings underneath. Exactly what I'm wearing right now.

(I'm not as young or as slim as her though )

This web site seems to think there is a formula to dress lengths.

How to Find Your Ideal Skirt or Dress Hem Length

It may help but could have you tearing your hair out, good luck.

I worked with a woman who had been a model and her advice was never to wear anything that was too tight or too big, if it didn't fit put it back on the rail.

I have similar problems - I put an. Lot of weight on round the tum area and then was found to have a lymphoma cancer there - it’s one of those that can remain dormant and then suddenly become active - at that stage I lost three stone - had chemo and cancer in remission - now the fat around tum has returned! I don’t eat loads indeed when I was in hospitali had half size meals and could hardly eat them - the French were eating the full Monty!
Can no longer wear the stilettos which would elongate me - 5’3 and a bit. I think I will try the bigger size tops a nd see if that helps me!