I've lost two long reply posts My keyboard is stuffed, if i press the space-bar too hard it acts like a "go to previous page" button and takes me back to the main forum list.... how weird!

Anyhow! thanks everyone!!! A few specifics:

Fiona: yes, a lot depends on body type: I have a weird one! Kinda hourglass but not big busted.... broad shoulders, small waist (probably my best feature) broad pelvis (matches shoulders) but carry weight on my butt rather then my hips. Legs a good length but too solid to wear short skirts. I am nearly 5' 7" but can look deceptively tall in heels. I'm happy with my figure and don't really have any issues that I stress over... I'm a Winter in the colour system with neutral toned skin (neither warm nor rosey according to my Clinque consultant... I wear "Just Neutral" shade foundation in their palest shade (I am quite fair in winter, I tan well but avoid the sun). I obviously have very dark brown longish hair (avvy). My eyelashes/brows are naturally very dark so this gives me strong features (probably why I can get away with wearing strong colours like red).

Bellelass: Thanks for your input I agree, i probably should have put "Basics" but i wanted to indicate that I also want to avoid fad style choices. I don't, for example consider hipsters as Classic. Infact, even though I own a few pairs of hipsters i don't really like them. Unless I wear a skin-tight top I lose all my shape. Picture this: broad shouldered woman wears a loose cotton shirt with her broad hips in hipster jeans... my waist is "lost". Why do women like them so much? They also cling to the butt making it look too big IMO a MUCH more flattering pant-style is a cut that falls stright down from the curve of the butt without clinging to the underside IYKWIM. In a few years hipsters are going to make me look like mutton... I'll be giving them all to my teenage DD. My stomach is basically flat... I have two jutty bits (bones at the top of my pelvis) that I like the have as the point at which my waist line sits. The perfect pant falls straight down at this point.... no pockets, just nice and smooth... but do you know how HARD it is to find a pair that sits at that point??? they are all about 5cms too low... so that when i tuck in my shirt there's this silly crumply area that messes up the way it should lie flat. I think my problem is that my torso is very female in the way it curves and the current fashion is for women who must be more straight up and down? it's all very frustrating to have a feature you like but for current fashion to ignore it... It's all about covering/hiding your waist it seems these days. Unless you want to wear a stupid wide leather belt over the top of everything! UGH! I couldn't think of anything worse than having a broad decorative belt cinching everything in.... I don't "do" decorative fashion... it's comfort before looks.

Someone said they like Colorado; me too! they do the "basics" very well.

Thanks sis (rosehannah)... I've always prefered plain blocks of colour over prints... I find it is more versatile. That black dress I wore over summer is falling to bits! it's perfect. A friend gave it to me secondhand nearly 10 years ago! Dontcha just hate it when a favourite item 'dies'. I think I might take it a tailor and ask them to make me a new one! i'm sure they could. Same with a pair of pants i have... nothing could beat the way they are cut... i feel like I shouldn't waste my time looking. The best thing about them is that they have two little buckles on the waist that adjusts it perfectly... I have a sway back and most pants "swim" around my waist near my lower back. It's the bane of my life. I don't like elasticized pants.

Lucy: yes! I prefer natural fabrics as far as possible! My synthetic clothes are mainly those 'special' night out pieces that can be worn at night... less chance of me feeling hot or cold in them... synthetics make it even harder for my temperamental body to adjust it's thermostat... give me natural fibres anyday. This is also quite limiting though.

Rayray: thanks for the vote of confidence with wearing red I gotta be in the right mood... I usually don't feel right in bright colours and to be honest that particular red top i wore I bought for the cut rather than the colour LOL fitted around my waist but covered my butt... perfect combination! Green is probably the most common colour in my wardrobe... i wonder what that says I like black but it makes me look too serious.... I am always told i look intimidating so i use colour to soothe other people! I also wear a lot of white. Like a lot of you have said, a white linen shirt is called for!

Better post this before I lose it...