How to change my 'style'...

[PorphyrophillicPixie]

or lack thereof?

I'm 20 and since starting college I have lived in plain jeans and quirky tee shirts, which suited me brilliantly last year living in Gloucs because every charity shop was filled with brand new and usually expensive brands like Roxy, Quicksilver, Volcom, etc so I had plenty of choice then! But now I'm back in Essex, can't afford high street prices for clothes I don't even like but really want to change my style to something that makes me feel comfortable and pretty, rather than being just that tomboy why dresses like a boy...

So, what do I do?

[PorphyrophillicPixie]

'who' not 'why'

[PorphyrophillicPixie]

Bump

If it helps I'm a size 8-10 tops and 10-12 bottoms, have small boobs so low cut tops aren't really an option. Erm... I really like knitted things such as this but am worried about how it'll look on me so don't buy them.

I'm into the Joe Browns stuff but a lot of it is very girly and I've never done girly before and the surfer/skater brands are my usual wear.

[Jewelsandgems]

How about going for skinny jeans and converse, and top-wise there are lots of long-line Ts around right now, wear with boyf cardi.

This is nice and not too girly
top

[Jewelsandgems]

Also these shirt worn over jeans/leggings with skinny belt look nice.

[frakkinaround]

1. Learn to accessorise - necklaces and bangles are easy fixes and instantly feminine
   
2. Ditto high heels
   
3. A denim skirt, opaque tights and a quirky tee is a quick modification on your existing style.
   
4. Learn to try things on which you think won't suit you. Am not entirely convinced by the thing you linked to as I'm sure my DH has something remarkably similar...but you should try them anyway!
   
   Surfer/skater is good! Lots of potential to do stuff, especially with skirts/tights/legwarmers.

[frakkinaround]

I want that top for myself, jewels.

OP - Tesco is FABULOUS and not expensive. They do knock-offs of lots of styles. I stock up there whenever I go home.

[PorphyrophillicPixie]

Sorry, but boyfriend cardi?

I'm clueless, my sisters have always been fashionable and I'm not!

I'm on ebay at the moment and just ticked off the brands I knew I liked and am going through the pages now, had a lot of Joe Browns for less than a tenner including postage so I will see if I can find something like that top for the same It's cute

Oh, & I normally wear darker colours: red, green, purple and black/grey are common. Do I stick to these colours or what could I branch out too without looking silly? My skin colour is very light natural tan, colours like olive just don't work.

[PorphyrophillicPixie]

Sorry, that post was for Jewels first post

I love that shirt in your second! I love shirts but find my boobs are just too small for them But it looks like I can get away with something like that.

So accessories, I'll pick some up cheap somewhere . Where do I start? I knit and have made hats and things for myself but nothing trendy, just "it's-cold-outside-I-need-a-scarf!" type gear. I would like to make some more trendy accessories for myself but am not sure where to start, same with buying them.
High heels I can't wear due to knee problems Can only get away with a couple of inches before problems arise
I have demin skirts buy have no idea what colour tights to wear or shoes to wear, I live in my skate trainers

I'll try get to tesco as well then this week for a browse

Thank you thus far! I think the key for me is cheap, I'm on benefits at the moment whilst looking for full time work (I have a relief job at a nursery though) so I've not got much money coming through if anything. I don't go out and rarely treat myself, most of my money goes on food and travelling just to get out of the house! I'll be getting my hair permed into wavy/loose curls soon too I hope so I want to change my look a bit too!

[MaggieMaeve]

It's not a big thing, but I stopped buying patterns a couple of years ago. I love them, and I'm really drawn to them in shops, but you get them home and put them on and look like an argos cushion at worst.... they just aren't good for small people.

If you can keep yourself slim enough and your hair in a nice style, so that you look nice in good jeans and a navy v-neck t-shirt then you will be careful not to hide behind fancy clothes and remember to stay fit and healthy.

As you mgiht guess, I can't afford nice clothes. But I think I look better in simple clothes now. It has taken me 20 years to figure that out.

[MaggieMaeve]

oh you're only 20!! you will look good in anything! honestly.

[MaggieMaeve]

I hate that boyfriend look. If you are under five foot four then don't go there. It only looks good if you're five foot ten and eight stone and need to look less tall and less slim.

hardly any woman looks better in a shite baggy cardigan and a pair of enormous jeans hanging off her.

[upahill]

TBH Porphhy... I like your current style by the sound of it. Gloucs sounds like it could be be my kind of place!!

[Jewelsandgems]

Maggie I would only wear the boyfriend look with skinny jeans (or I would normally wear leggings) You definately don't want the volume on top, and on bottom

pixie this is kind of the boyfriend style cardigan
cardi

[frakkinaround]

Personally I like BRIGHT tights. Teal and purple are my current faves, or rather were because confusingly it's summer here! I also had black in various patterns, brown, grey and cream wool.

I would start with two strings of beads, one long with smallish beads and one shorter but chunkier IYSWIM. Same with bangles - a couple of bright, chunky ones and a handful of little, thin ones.

I saw some nice necklaces on the ASOS site when I was last browsing, will see if I can find them again.

[PorphyrophillicPixie]

Maggie, I thinkt he problem is that I don't like the look of anything And that I get paranoid about wearing anything girly because it's just not me but I want to make it a bit more me so that I feel attractive more often!

Hair is an issue but I'm hoping that a perm will make it better. I suit short styles but can't afford to keep getting it cut so I'm 'splashing out' to get a very loose perm from a group of students who'll hopefully not destroy my hair... Have no idea how loose I want it though at the moment which is why I haven't booked my appointment yet

I'm 5ft 6in. Average size legs and a long torso.

[PorphyrophillicPixie]

upahill: If you visit Cirencester, they have 15+ charity shops all stocking really expensive stuff for super cheap. I worked out back in the Age concern there so it was a fight between me and a coworker as to who managed to buy things first

Jewels: thanks for linking, I'm not sure how I feel about those, I like the look of boyfriend jeans but never knew about the cardis.

Frakkin: I love the look of bright tights but don't know how they'll look on me!

I really like bohemian influenced and cutesy styles but I'm not really a cutesy looking girl, I'm a b cup with broad shoulders and hips, chunky-ish thighs and a bit of a belly. The closest I ever get to wearing pretty clothes is my work outfits which are smart/casual. I'm too boyish for my own good

[Jewelsandgems]

pixie I do also like boyfit jeans but then you would only wear with a tight top.

Also sainsburys has some great necklaces in right now and they are always cheap - some great boho style things too.

Teal tights are really nice, or - to start with - go for a skirt and black tights and then when you feel more confident move onto some other colours but it is a very easy look to wear.

I wear long sleeved Ts under floral shortish dresses, with leggings/tights and chunky mol london boots or ballet pumps (my favroutie ones have chunky jewels on the front and were £5 from tescos!) . And although the dress is girly, the rest is not so much and the boots/flats really calm it down for daytime.

Now I know money is an issue, but buying the odd fashion magazine is really worth it. I like grazia because there are lots of high street clothes used too. Or Look magazine.

I am a bit unsure of having your hair permed by a group of students! Are you sure it would not be better to invest in a conical wand and do your own curls/waves as and when you want them? Only £20 marker and very very good.

Definatley try lots of things on - you will be surprised at how many things you try and on and LOVE.

[PorphyrophillicPixie]

I have no idea about how to do my own hair! I never do anything with it! I really don't understand hair and make up but I know that I want a hassle-free hairstyle that's not straight and that I don't have to do every day.
Students will only charge £15-£20 and apparently (according to my hairdresser who is a student at this college) they are the NVQ 3's and 4's who do the perming so already have a good amount of experience fingers crossed All done in the college with tutors hovering so it shouldn't go too badly, maybe a bit looser/curlier than I'd like but better than paying out £40 to get it done elsewhere.

Boyfit jeans + tight top, I'll remember that (not that my tees lack in tight lol, just need to tone up before summer!)

So sainsbury's and tescos are good, I'll see if I have a sainsbury's with a clothes section nearby. Look and Grazia, I could probably 'borrow' those from someone I know with a shop, he's always lending me mags

Thank you for the help