what are 23 year olds wearing?

[Booyhoo]

i dont know what style i like or what suits me.

i stick pretty much to dark bootleg jeans, tan boots with a heel and TBH whatever tops my sister has got bored of wearing. most of my clothes are second hand from my sister so in effect i am wearing her style of clothing but i dont think i am even getting it right.

i dont wear any jewellery. i have bought lots of stuff i think is nice but dont really know how to put it all together and then when i try i feel 'overloaded' with accesories and they tend to get in my way (ds2 is 9 months and pulls everything).

i have noticed lots of people wearing lovely scarves and i tried it but it just doesnt look right on me.

what is a good look that is easy to carry off and wont cost me a fortune in new clothes and accessories? also one that i wont have to change every season.

i am 23, size 8/10, 5'3". i am also BFing so tops that are 'easy access' are quite important. i want to feel my age again and not just feel like 'mummy' all the time.

[SixtyFootDoll]

Jeggings?
Tunic tops.
Funky boots

[SixtyFootDoll]

Have a look on the NEw Look and River Island Websites?
I am old so am just guessing here.
Look at what peopl are wearing when you are out and about.

[Booyhoo]

i think i will be barred from topshop soon because i keep hovering around the girls that work there trying to see how they put their outfits together. i have even asked them to help me put an outfit together but when i do it myself i end up wearing something my mum would wear. she does dress well but she is 55.

[SixtyFootDoll]

Thats what they should be doing is helping you put a look together.
Go to Debenhms they have a top shop franchise normally and book a personla shopper to help you?

[Booyhoo]

does it cost to book a personal shopper?

[SerenityNowakaBleh]

I believe Topshop still does personal shoppers for free in some of their larger stores. Maybe beforehand, have a look through something like Grazia and note what you like, or a particular sleb's style that you think is good, and tell them.

also bear in mind what you do all day - so it's hardly a good idea to get into platform gladiator sandals and micro-minis if you're getting down on the floor to play with your DC, but there could be bits of that kind of look that work for you.

[bethjeff]

debenhams have a personal shopper as well... some of their collections are quite good.

if you have real problems putting an outfit together then the easiest thing to do is go for structured items instead of the bohemian flung together look.

Its all down to personality and your preferences in the end mind you.

You wouldn't happen to know Gok Wan by any chance ? ;)

[frakkinaround]

I'm 23 and currently sporting white linen trousers, a vest top and a flimsy gauzy shirt thing. This is, however, because I'm about to go and teach so need to pretend to be older!

Usually skirts, often with tights/boots or tights/heels or skinny jeans with knee high boots. Flared jeans (not bootcut, v ageing) - H&M do a great selection. A long top over skinny bottoms, a more fitted one for flares. If you're going boho then mid-calf/long quite full skirts with boots and a little fitted blouse. A blouse and jeans with one chunky necklace and good shoes is a good start. Wrap dresses or wrap tops are also quite young looking. Try accessorising 'plain' outfits with a belt.

Layering is something to consider for when you stop BFing.

Tops with interesting necklines/backs are good and tops with prints/diamante bits instantly make you look younger - think rockstar pictures, rather than laura ashley.

What's your 'ideal' style? Can you pick out a few slebs you like the look of and we can help you identify bits you can incorporate into your outfit?

[juneybean]

I'm 24 and shop in New Look. I usually wear jeans, a tee and a cardy/jumper

[Kayzr]

I am 23 and I shop in New Look, Dorothy Perkins, Topshop and Primark. But I am not really very fashionable

[Booyhoo]

i shop in those same shops but i never seem to manage the same look the manicans (sp?) are sporting.

i have about six pairs of those opague tights and a few of the scarves that all the trendies seem to be wearing but when i put it all together it just looks silly on me.

good idea about looking through grazia. i will do that and see if i can manage a few outfits from whart i already have.

thanks for all the tips.

[frakkinaround]

I never got scarves either....

[Ewe]

I am 22, I mainly shop at H&M, All Saints, Urban Outifitters, Topshop, Zara and ASOS or Joy when shopping online.

I usually wear jeggings/leggings with dresses or skinny jeans and a jumper. Flat ankle boots for day to day wear and stupidly high heels when going out.

Do you have a budget in mind?

[Booyhoo]

i hadn't really set a specific budget but really as little as possible.

i have blown loads in the past trying to get it right and i am still none the wiser so i dont want another empty account with nothing to show for it. OH would go mad. he doesnt get it because he looks good in a binbag.

[Ewe]

Something like this? or this? Depending on your colouring over leggings/jeggings.

Perfect with skinny black jeans

Dress with cardi and flat boots. Ditto this dress in a couple of different colours

[frakkinaround]

What do you have in your wardrobe right now?
What are your 'top 10' worn items?
What are your 'bottom 10' worn items?

I bet we can make you over without you having to buy a thing.

There was a really interesting thread recently which started off about grooming and culminated in looking at clothes in terms of 'outfits' rather than pieces of clothing. Do you think coming up with outfits would help?

[Ewe]

I have these boots, they're comfy and go with pretty much everything. Do you accessorise? Good jewellery goes a long way too ime.

[Ewe]

Oh bugger, forgot about bfeeding, not terribly accessible things I linked to.

[Booyhoo]

yes i think outfits is the way to go. i am trying now to visualise what i have in my wardrobe.

top 10 worn:
dark bootcut jeans
slightly lighter flare jeans
dark green vneck fine knit
pink vneck fine knit
white vneck vest x2
cream 3/4 sleeve vneck (but the buttons keep popping open)
dark green 'boyfriend' cardi
purple 'boyfriend' cardi
long blue cardi

bottom 10 worn:
leggings/jeggings x3
dark blue skinny jeans (cause they sag at my bum)
tights
tunic tops x2

lots more i cant even think of.

i dont accessorize because i feel 'overloaded' when i'm jangling and catching myself on things.

[Booyhoo]

i dont own any skirts or dresses.

[frakkinaround]

Do you have any chunky necklaces? I find flinging one of them on, or a long string of beads, can instantly glam up an outfit. Likewise chunky bangles, although they take a bit of getting used to.

What you've listed isn't bad as far as bits of clothing go but they sound quite plain so accessorising would be a great start. Brooches are a fab way to add interest to a cardi.

Obviously you won't wear tights if you haven't got a nice skirt to show them off in so you need a skirt! Ditto the leggings/jeggings although you could put them with the tunic tops.

loves shopping for other people

[Booyhoo]

ok. i am setting aside tonight to go through my entire wardrobe and see how many trendy outfits i can put together and what accessories i have that will go with them.
i will look online when i get a chance between children (half term) for inspiration.

thank you all. i will come back and let you all know how i get on.

[crumpette]

Good luck! I've just turned 24 I wear mostly skinny jeans and longer tops and knee high boots/ballet pumps with a long cardigan thrown over the top. Sonetimes wear leggings with something like a cowel-neck wooly dress on top or a tunic top. I like wearing scarves when I'm not wearing a baby but don't really do jewellery all that much, although I do have a few necklaces which are quite bold and unusual and can instantly make a very boring black t-shirt look really good.
I only wear about 5% of the clothes I own so I'm trying not to buy anything new... it's weird because I feel way too old to wear most of my clothes (mad funky t-shirts etc which I am still clinging on to) and too young to wear all the sensible stuff..argh