What Not To Wear - What To Wear

[Becky]

Dark trouser jeans and a sweater are my go-to for social events that require a little dressing up, but nothing formal. IMO, a good pair of jeans are priceless, even if I don't wear them frequently.

I wear a lot of black too. Looks good on me, matches everything...can't go wrong!

[ny biker]

IMO, a good pair of jeans are priceless, even if I don't wear them frequently.

Specifically dark-wash (dark blue denim) jeans. They look dressier.

Honestly, watch a few episodes of What Not to Wear and you'll see some good ideas for relatively simple outfits (like jeans or slacks with a jacket or sweater and colorful top) that look great. Also you'll see how much of a difference it makes when clothes fit properly. I used to buy a lot of clothes because I liked the color even if it was baggy or otherwise ill-fitting. Now I pay much more attention to how clothes fit.

[Crankin]

+1 on the black.

[Biciclista]

oh yeah (and i can't believe i am giving this advice!!!) if you HAVE to wear a nice dress, spend money on a good bra too. go to somewhere like nordstroms and get their experts to fit you..

[indysteel]

Specifically dark-wash (dark blue denim) jeans. They look dressier.

Honestly, watch a few episodes of What Not to Wear and you'll see some good ideas for relatively simple outfits (like jeans or slacks with a jacket or sweater and colorful top) that look great. Also you'll see how much of a difference it makes when clothes fit properly. I used to buy a lot of clothes because I liked the color even if it was baggy or otherwise ill-fitting. Now I pay much more attention to how clothes fit.

+1 on proper fit. Really, it should start there. I am amazed when watching that show what a well-tailored outfit can do for just about anybody, no matter their body type and no matter what type of outfit it is. I know how much better I feel when I'm wearing something I know fits well. The other rule they employ on that show is to dress the body you have TODAY, not the body you hope to have someday.

[surgtech1956]

wow - thanks for all the great advice. Especially Knot, I love Target too. I consider myself a 'soft butch'. I'll keep you posted on what I find.

[malkin]

I had a homework assignment from a therapist to go to a store and try on a bunch of clothes that I normally wouldn't wear.

I learned quite a bit from the experience.

[Selkie]

I buy mostly online, too.

Wear what's comfortable.

[ny biker]

I will also add that even for people like me who like to shop, it can be a chore at times. Sometimes everything you try on is wrong, either because it doesn't fit, or it fits perfectly here but not at all there, or it just looks wrong, or whatever. Sometimes you have to try on a lot to find one thing you like.

But it is worth it to make the investment to find a few good outfits. It's also worth it to spend a little more for quality that will continue to look good for a long time.

It's important to be comfortable, but part of that is fitting in with the crowd around you. Not that you have to dress exactly like everyone else, but if everyone is kinda dressed up and you're extremely casual, it's hard to feel comfortable even though your clothes are soft enough to sleep in.

[Maxxxie]

I had a homework assignment from a therapist to go to a store and try on a bunch of clothes that I normally wouldn't wear.

I learned quite a bit from the experience.

Do tell!

Clothes I normally wouldn't wear would be anything remotely "girly". Dresses, skirts, frilly shirts, lacy underwear... all of it is just wrong, wrong, wrong on me! I think I'd be really uncomfortable even touching that sort of stuff, let alone trying it on. I'm not sure what that says about me!

Max

[lph]

I never thought I'd be trying to give dress advice to anyone, but here goes I'm answering mostly because I spent many years of my early adulthood being clueless about clothing and feeling very uncomfortable when I'd yet again dressed "wrong".

I'm not very feminine, and being heavyshouldered frills and lace around my neckline tend to look very silly. Anywhere, actually. But dresses are a lot more than that, and I've discovered that "athletic" dresses are my best friend. My favourite at the moment is a loose, black, sleeveless knit dress that stops just above my knees and has a draped shawl-like neckline. It's more comfortable than a bathrobe, I can wear it to work or wear it to a party with a little jewelry and attractive tights.

I never wear shirts, blouses or blazers, since I've never found any that fit my shape. Being tailored and often (always?) in unforgiving fabrics, they have to fit well to look good and not bind. I usually go for lightly fitted clothes with some stretch. All my work clothes are basically some variation over jeans/knee-length skirt/loose linen pants plus a light sweater/thin wool top/simple sleeveless top. Most of this is "dinnerworthy" too.

I second the idea of trying things on at home. Take it all home and just return the things you don't like. Whatever your shape, count on 90 % not fitting. It gets easier once you can spot what you're after