I?m the wrong side of 36 and am consciously for the first time beginning to think about my ?style? ? what I wear and how I wear it.
This was prompted by a well meaning work colleague pointing out that I may want to stop wearing my hair in ?ironic retro? bunches. Ouch ? the shame!
I am someone that although I like clothes, I don?t know much about fashion or trends, and have never seen Gok?s programme despite it being Water Cooler TV for a while. But, I would like to ?get into? it all (fashion, that is) seeing how many women my age look amazing, but I am slightly embarrassed and feel like I?ve ?missed the boat? a little.
About a year ago, after two pregnancies close together and medication, I was very overweight. I?m 5?2 and from always being a curvy 10 throughout my 20?s and early 30?s ? I went up to a size 18, a lot on a small frame. Over the course of a year, I?m back to being slimmer than I was in my 20?s. But, not being that age any longer, I am no longer happy going to the shops I previously liked. Top Shop and River Island feel far too young and I can?t remember the last time I walked out of there with anything I liked. Karen Millen and Next feel rather ?prissy?. Unlike a friend who only ever shops at H&M and Primark, she can spend £30 on a dress and it looks amazing, whereas I can?t quite pull off the same look. Marks & Spencer?s feels too old, and I don?t want to shop at the same place as my mother just yet!
Unfortunately, the isn?t stock of Mary?s clothes where I live but I?ve spent a good while having a nose on the internet.
I?m addicted to Mad Men, and have always loved wearing dresses ? I feel her collection easily channels some of that feeling. Unfussy, grown up and elegant without being dull, mature without being ?craaazzzzzzzyyyyyyyy??and the cut looks lovely.
What's your favourite piece in the Collection? Do you have more than one? Was there anything in the Collection that you were immediately drawn to? If so, was it the colour, pattern, style or something else that grabbed your attention?
Particular impressions of dresses: Lorelec dress looks lovely. Like the sort of thing I would really like to wear as ?casual wear? rather than my current ?casual? wear which is jeans. I like the idea of the Ray dress, but having watched the video, I think that look would be better carried off by someone taller than I am and also, my tummy isn?t flat?.so I?d be looking for a bit more coverage, but the burgundy one looks stunning.
The aurora dress would be exactly what I am looking for, channelling my Mad Men (actually, just Christina Hendricks!) obsession, I think as long as it isn?t too long on me, it would look perfect. Colour, neckline and coverage of the shoulders immediately drew my eye to this. Whereas, although the colour on the Siren one is wow, I think that the slight flare on the skirt detracts from the look I would be ?trying? to create. So I was also drawn to the coralia. (Notice a themem here?!). Theia dress looks lovely too and would cover my tummy well.
I can never really find nice enough tops that aren?t formal. But I liked the design on the Elipse hem batwing top ? really funky. Did think variety on tops was lacking though.
I thought there was rather too much ?orange? overall but I may be saying that simply because as someone who is mixed race - orange and yellow really aren?t my colours! I would like to see more emerald greens and turquoise colours used.
I liked the look of the black pleat front blouse, but unsure how the front would fall on me?.the slub box tops (esp. the green one!) look good quality and super comfy.
Absolute favourite: Boyfriend knit cardigan is my idea of heaven. I love cardigans but hate buttons, especially down the front of things ? maybe another reason why I never wear shirts?
When I was in my 20?s, I was very top heavy, 34GG and a size 10, so I was never able to do up buttons on cardigans ? that combined with a horrendous teenage Boob-Gaping-Episode?which saw me never wear a shirt again. The burgundy one is lovely ? I?ve never seen this design with a zip up the front.
Armery looks like a fab idea, but I think the material should be not so tight really since it looks like it might get uncomfortable, especially if you have a bit of ?top back fat? ? or Armpit Cheeks as my daughter calls them?
What do you think is the most appealing thing about the Collection?
Definitely seems to cater for a good range of sizes, however, I would like to know about leg options.
Pull on peg trousers don?t look like they?re designed to be full length, but I think that having a standard size on trousers is limiting. Isn?t the average height 5?4? I looked at the high rise jeans too ? I?m sure you must have a shorter option? I would love to see more jeans/causal trousers but that aren?t so slim legged/tight fitting, rather more flared, but not boot cut.
Do you know what I love? This is going to sound a bit stupid, but I love some the videos of ?how to? accessorize. For example, I?ve never ?worn? a scarf, ever. Mainly because I?m not quite sure of ?how? to put it on/drape it round my neck. I found this brilliant?.I really liked these videos on here and would welcome more of them! A jewellery one? I only ever have 2 pairs of earrings ? not sure what goes with what etc?and always wear the same ? very boring ? jewellery. Also, I have never worn a belt, except on jeans.
I also like the ?new? descriptions of women?s bodies. Not only are there 4 types now but they?re more ?fun? and nicer sounding than the previous fruits ? apple, pear?(they really should have included banana, shouldn?t they?) Although, I think I might be a violin but when I clicked on the products that would suit that shape, no dresses came up ? sob, sob.
What would you like to see in Mary's next Collection? Would you like to see her take on a different style all together? Or would you like to see something similar but with a few key additions? If so, what would those additions be?
Bit more ?tummy? coverage perhaps ? is there a way to work these into the basic ?chuck ?em on? dress?More leg length options.
I wouldn?t want her to take on a ?younger? approach, we are grown ups BUT, I would love to see a couple of pieces that might appeal to certain vintage types or periods of history for example?.
My fingers hurt now. But they are staying crossed in the hopes that I win some time with a personal shopper who can tell me how I've been dressing terribly for all these years but not to worry because she will help me and transform me into an object of beauty...........