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Style & beauty

Lost confidence in dressing

(68 Posts)
MawtheMerrier Mon 09-May-22 20:15:43

Perhaps it was the pandemic and not going anywhere for two years, perhaps it is being on my own without paw to give an opinion on what I am wearing, but from somebody who was a confident dresser, good at choosing what suited me and dressing (I think) with style and good use of colour, I am now totally clueless.
Whether it’s a theatre outing, a Golden Wedding, a party or a funeral, I have been known to have to post pics of two or three possible outfits on my FB group and ask for opinions because I feel I have lost my touch!
This Friday, for instance, D’s MIL’s funeral - quite relaxed at a Green Burial Ground , but although I don’t want to do all black, I am not happy in bright colours at any funeral
So - navy blazer, beige linen trousers and white top? Black linen jacket, same trousers and white top? Cream linen jacket, white top and black or navy linen trousers? In each case with a floaty scarf with shades of yellow/grey/blue.
See what I mean about undecided?

Iam64 Wed 11-May-22 08:20:27

Love the Morris scarf Maw. I’ve strawberry thief wallpaper on the wall the dogs May lean on as the wander into the sitting room. Love the paper and - it covers a multitude of doggy sins

MawtheMerrier Tue 10-May-22 19:22:49

Silk scarf in Blue Strawberry Thief!
I love William Morris designs and his family home in Walthamstow is in Lloyd Park just along the road from youngest D and a shortish walk from her big sister.
But you are right, those who said I have too much choice- I think it’s a reaction to that feeling of bringing out the same old, same old jacket/coat etc for every occasion - and since the pandemic there seem to be far fewer occasions.

Callistemon21 Tue 10-May-22 17:53:00

Marydoll
Someone gave a scarf demonstration once but I am still hopeless.
Some people have it, some don't.

I don't!

kittylester Tue 10-May-22 17:50:40

Marydoll, I have a friend who is a scarf expert and even she has given me up as a lost cause.

I love the look of scarves and have far too many but the only sort I can get away with are continuous ones or the Clive Myrie look. Both available from Kettlewell.

MayBee70 Tue 10-May-22 17:48:24

I don’t go to many weddings but I’ve got a wardrobe full of clothes that I have bought for weddings because I used to fret so much about what to wear and ended up buying several outfits. None of which were ever worn again as I don’t wear dresses. At one wedding I wanted to look good because my ex husbands new partner was going and in the end she never went anyway. And at my sons wedding, in retrospect, I ended up wearing something totally unflattering.

Callistemon21 Tue 10-May-22 17:46:22

kittylester

maw I envy you having the panache to carry off a scarf. Mine would slip off and trip me up or end up dangling in someone's tea.

???
Mine too, or I get too hot and end up tying it on my handbag.

Shelflife Tue 10-May-22 17:41:40

Any combination of what you have described will be appropriate. That scarf will compliment your choice. I fully understand your dilema regarding choice of clothing. Since lockdown it has happened to me too, however I now feel my confidence returning.

Marydoll Tue 10-May-22 17:20:07

*Kitty there a a multitude of ways to try a scarf, so that it won't fall off.
You should look on Pinterest.
www.pinterest.com/ruthray2/how-to-tie-a-scarf

I have lost count of the number of scarves, I have, they finish off an outfit.
I have just been on this site (I am not on commission!), I already have some.
www.lusciousscarves.com

kittylester Tue 10-May-22 17:15:47

maw I envy you having the panache to carry off a scarf. Mine would slip off and trip me up or end up dangling in someone's tea.

Callistemon21 Tue 10-May-22 16:34:25

Ps when you have a chuck-out to the charity shop can you let us know where, please wink

Callistemon21 Tue 10-May-22 16:33:17

Boo ☹️
The scarf arrived today and it’s not yellow and shades of grey/blue, it’s yellow and animal print browns , so that’s going back!

There we all were coveting the scarf. I've gone off it too!

MawtheMerrier Tue 10-May-22 16:29:48

Boo ☹️
The scarf arrived today and it’s not yellow and shades of grey/blue, it’s yellow and animal print browns , so that’s going back!
I have a William Morris pattern scarf ( Blue Strawberry Thief) which I should have thought of before, so it’s the navy trousers, beige linen jacket, white t shirt and the scarf.
Then following Corners excellent advice, the other options go back in the wardrobe and I can stop wittering on and dithering.
It also means I can wear my very comfy blue Rieker loafers which have a bit of a floral pattern on the front but are so light and soft.
End of!

M0nica Tue 10-May-22 15:39:05

I love scarfs, but cannot wear them. I have narrow shoulders and they slip off.

Millie22 Tue 10-May-22 11:41:10

Maw
My view is that the scarf is lovely. I am a person who loves scarves and I have a lot! The colours will go with everything you mentioned earlier. Personally I would wear black trousers and jacket and a lighter top.

M0nica Tue 10-May-22 11:06:08

All outfits sound equally appropriate and equally stylish.

The real answer is to have fewer clothes so that choice is limited. I have five modest events taking place this summer. They range from a funeral to a special wedding anniversary (my sister's), a graduation and a family party. I have bought a dress and denim jacket at my local supermarket in France and will wear it at all events. No worrying about what to wear, there is only one outfit to choose from.

MawtheMerrier Tue 10-May-22 09:48:35

I think you’re right, but wouldn’t dream of getting rid of anything I still wear and like!

Polly73 Tue 10-May-22 09:46:50

Perhaps - and I mean this kindly! - you have too many clothes / too much choice? I say this with great empathy, as I have a large wardrobe of clothes - not expensive brands like yours, but plenty of it! Perhaps if we had a minimal, capsule wardrobe to choose from, it would be easier? But I couldn’t do it, I’ve tried! I like buying different clothes - eBay, charity shops, local market, etc.

MawtheMerrier Tue 10-May-22 09:14:36

Good suggestion Cornergran too much dithering - if I didn’t have a choice it would be decided for me.

cornergran Tue 10-May-22 08:44:49

Another vote here for the darker trousers maw, although you may be less likely to slip and stain pale trousers than I would be. The scarf is lovely, the shoes would work well. Trust your instincts. No matter which way you go try please to decide today and put the other clothes out of sight and out of your head, you’ll feel more confident then. I’ll be thinking of you all on Friday.

MawtheMerrier Tue 10-May-22 08:34:02

I do think it must be an after-effect of lockdown and isolation. When I do get to anything I find myself thinking “Oh I could have worn my such-and-such” when I see what others are wearing, but it didn’t occur to me.
Need to get out more!

JaneJudge Mon 09-May-22 22:45:23

navy is fine at a funeral
the scarf is lovely

crazyH Mon 09-May-22 22:42:55

I love the scarf- I am a scarf person - I feel it sets off any outfit. My neighbour who very rarely uses a scarf, came in here with a lovely scarf round her neck. She looked so smart. I thought her trouser and top were new. She said she said she wears it regularly, but I only noticed them because of her scarf?

CanadianGran Mon 09-May-22 22:36:12

That is a very nice scarf. I agree with others with the darker trousers and light blazer.

BigBertha1 Mon 09-May-22 22:25:09

A navy blazer is always a stylish look.

MawtheMerrier Mon 09-May-22 22:24:01

I have these in black and also very dark navy, MerylStreep (Gabor) or, if wearing the beige trousers either these Rieker -(which I also have in brown) or these tan boat shoes from M&S