For me, tunics & leggings makes me feel too top-heavy and rectangular and like I have scrawny little legs. Which doesn't mean I think that when I see other women with my body type wearing that combo! Just that mentally, it puts me in an uncomfortable place. I tried pairing a tunic w slouchier skinnies (vs skintight leggings) last week, and that helped a bit, and the forum generally approved, but I still didn't feel nearly as good as I do in my go-to silhouettes. I have paired a fit & flare mini-dress with wide leg trousers though & felt good in that. Or sometimes instead of shorts & tights, I'll wear shorts & leggings, with a waist-surrendering blouse, w/o thinking anything of it. But the blouse is much shorter than a tunic would be & I've got some 'poof' at my hips thanks to baggy shorts.My pjs often involve leggings w a longer (covering the lady bits) silk blouse & long cardigan over top, but the cardigan has a strong waistline & then does a kind of frilly peplum cutaway thing. So for me, it must have to do with a combination of hemline proportions, waist definition or lack thereof, and volumes at shoulders vs hips. Not sure if any of that stream of consciousness that helps you!

It does, E. My legs are the opposite of skinny so that's not the issue for me, but I definitely feel bizarrely proportioned and too rectangular with a tunic/ skinnies look. And top-heavy, somehow --- I think I would need sky-high heels truly to carry it off.

This is such a fabulous thread - so much wisdom Eliza perfectly summed up my feelings too. Putting my money into the things I wear everyday has been life changing (& I don't say that lightly). Before YLF I was feeling short-changed, because I couldn't wear my dressier pieces as often. I really wasn't making the most of my retirement & the sartorial freedom it gives me

Since finding track pants & harems I have moved from slim fit bottoms to a much looser fit. I find this silhouette much better for me & it means I don't need to have lots of different style/length tops to go with all the different pants.

Caro, that is really interesting. Gaylene said something similar. Well, she still likes her skinnies and slim pants but has also embraced the luxe track pant. I got a pair recently in a weight that works better for my climate and I love them.

Since mid-September I have been tracking what I actually wear. It's been fascinating. But I'm not sure I can draw any conclusions from it yet. I had already been putting my money in most-worn items, that's clear. (Well, obviously I put some money in less worn items, but they are necessary items, e.g. one cocktail dress that only gets worn once or twice a year but is still required.) At the same time, a lot of my workhorses were less expensive items.

I have been doing a lot of musing and considering and have come up with a few ideas. Stay tuned!

Thanks again, everyone! Very helpful indeed.

I recognised reading through this thread that I rely on my hair, makeup and nails as pretty consistent statements for both dressy and casual.

As you know I don't really use colour to make a statement, so I would say things like :

• textures
• interesting design features
• asymmetric hemlines
• layering

are what I use to make a casual statement (and a dressy one for that matter).

My wardrobe generally crosses over from dressy to casual / work to home quite seamlessly. I might wear my harem pants with a top, blazer and ankle boots to the office, but for home I would swap the blazer for a draped cardigan and the boots for a flat shoe.

I am also seeing the sense in better quality purchases for my essentials/everyday wear as I would rather spend my money on great pieces that I enjoy wearing often and have longevity than on say a very cool statement jacket that I actually might tire of much sooner.

IMO -tracking + outfit photos = changed shopping habits

Can't wait to hear your musings.

I imagine some shopping carts got filled up this past weekend after revisiting this post a few times! I had to refrain, as tempted as I was since my cold weather season is so short I will barely have a chance to wear the sweaters and warm tops I already own.

Can't wait to see what Suz comes up with for some of her statements.

I think that it is fine not to want to wear leggings--- maybe revisiting skirts with leggings under them may be the ticket.