Please help me inject a new lease of life into my look

[hangingoutattheendofmywick]

So I've had the same "look" forever. I'm various shades of blonde through the years varying from bright blonde to dark blonde with blonde ends. My hair has ranged from chin length to just below shoulder length. My make up is minimal. I've looked the same forever.... I look ordinary, boring, average. I've lost half a stone and on my way to losing a whole one. My goal is to lose 2. So I'll be about a large size 10 when I'm done. Currently a 12.

Basically I'm bored and need a shake up! Need a good idea to just make me feel different & more stylist - any ideas?

I would love to look styled and fashionable for once. And maybe younger.

Exhausted mum of 2.
Thanks
Ps. I'm in my early 30s.

[hangingoutattheendofmywick]

That should have said stylish not stylist

[cheapskatemum]

I would recommend you go to an image stylist. Whereabouts are you? If no one you know can personally recommend one, ask any that you find for references. I say this because the 1st one I used was brilliant. She became a prison tutor. I just assumed the next one I found, a few years and 4 DC later, would be brilliant too, as that was my experience. With hindsight, she was absolutely rubbish! All she could do was recommend the sort of clothes that she liked to wear - we were completely different shapes! Good luck!

[hangingoutattheendofmywick]

Thanks - I'm in Leeds

[superbfairywren]

Look at some photos and work out how you'd like your hair, get it done and then maybe go to one of the big department stores in the city and see a personal shopper person. Tell them what you have said here and they should be able to suggest things for you to try.

[ivejusthadacake]

Google "lookbook"? See some outfit ideas?
Ive bought some neon necklaces recently from accessorize and then have worn then with grey soft jumpers from h and m. Nice bit of accent colour going on at the moment for me.

[ivejusthadacake]

What about doing a bold lip colour with neutral eye make up?

[Floowho]

Do something of a statement with your hair, perhaps a new colour? I don't keep the same colour or cut for more than two years, I don't mean anything too outrageous. Perhaps brunette or auburn? Or be brave and go for full on bleach blonde. What is your usual clothes style? If top and jeans, perhaps try a different cut or go for a blouse instead of a t shirt.

[Wagglebees]

Get a lipstick on a shade you wouldn't usually wear. Easy and quick way to kick start it.

Something bolder or brighter than usual. Revlon do brilliant lipsticks and at the higher end Chanel ones are gorgeous.

[Twinklestar2]

Have you looked on Pinterest?

Are there any looks you like that you'd like to copy?

[maybemyrtle]

Some really good ideas here. Well done on the weight loss. What do you want to look like? Is there anything that you like on other people?

I really like street style type blogs for ideas/inspiration, the sartorialist is interesting and there's a Japanese one called wear.JP (I'm taller and larger than most posters but I like the style). Lookbook.nu is another one it but I find it a bit exhausting - too much posing!

[hangingoutattheendofmywick]

Oh wow! Thanks for all these answers. Well I think I want to look confident & noticeable as opposed to the slightly chubby blonde woman who just blends into the background. I have always played it absolutely safe in regards to looks and don't like to be noticed. When I look back on all my FB photos I just look blah. I'd love for once to walk into a room & people notice. Do you know what I'd love - for someone to think
"I wish I was brave enough to have that look" As I think that about loads of women I see and here's me being too scared to change anything.

Clothes wise I wear jeans and sweatshirts at the moment due to being full time mum. If I was to go out (this will never happen) I would typically wear same jeans with heels & a shirt or black jumper (boring) or a casual day dress (from next) with black tights.
I think the key is to shake up my hair as that'll shake up everything. But don't know where to start. Only thing I can't do is go dark as my husband hates me with brown hair & loves me blonde. The blonder the better. I mean - I know it's my choice and he'd never say it - but just aware that blonde is his preferred choice. I also look depressed and even more bland with dark hair. I look a bit like Bridget Jones. To give you an idea!

[hangingoutattheendofmywick]

Oh and as of today I'm 10 pounds down. 4 to go! Hurray.

[amarmai]

wd you try a short hair style , maybe blonde with pink streaks?

[hangingoutattheendofmywick]

That's exactly what I was thinking .... But don't know if I'm confident enough to take the plunge!

[prettywhiteguitar]

Right I have the perfect solution for you. !! I do it when I'm bored with my look, if you have blonde hair the Bleach range of hair colours in boots are perfect, they're quite cheap and they last maybe a week and then completely wash out !
I have done purple, peach and pink. They all looked cool in a different way. It also changes how you dress, look at pintrest I did that when choosing a fringe recently. Although lookbook has more normal people and not models.
Have fun !

[hangingoutattheendofmywick]

I'd be very very nervous about doing anything like that myself. I'm remembering the Hell of the Sun in days and when I once cut my own fringe. Urgh.

[Floowho]

What about different types of bobbed hair? Go asymmetric or a fringe, then graduated? Honestly cutting my hair from bra length to a pixie cut was one of the best things I have ever done, got loads more compliments, then I did the full on peroxide. Instead of having blah hair I had wow hair. What cut if jeans do you wear? And what shape body do you have? I think it's quite hard to upscale your look when you are at home and it's freezing, and all you want to wear is a massive jumper and thick socks. Perhaps start looking at clothes on different websites and see what you like.

[hangingoutattheendofmywick]

I'd say I'm a pear shape and I wear sort of skinny jeans but not too skinny - stretchy. And baggy tops. Which is probably the worst thing for my body shape. I'd love to have a short do but so scared I'll just look like a man!

[superbfairywren]

therighthairstyles.com/pastel-pink-hairstyles/
Maybe no.4 or no.9 could work if you're thinking of pink and might suit a shorter hairstyle.
I'm thinking of having my hair coloured this year(is quite mousey), kind of think it will be last chance to go for it properly before I go back to the working world(sahm at moment). Was thinking of having blonde sections underneath that I can then get coloured pink or purple.
Try fitted shirts instead of baggy tops?
Try dresses instead of jeans?
Try something you've always wanted to wear and not been brave enough to!

[Floowho]

Do you watch BBC breakfast news? I can't remember her name, but one of the women on there recently had her hair cut short. She is tall and blonde and does the finance and business reporting, I think. Perhaps go slightly more fitted with your tops? I am not a pear, so struggling to picture what to advise. Perhaps do a separate thread about tops for a pear shape.

[hangingoutattheendofmywick]

She's called Steph - think that's who you mean.
Thanks for all the advice! This is great.