So frumpy at 40, lost my way... Style advice please

[Reinventingat40]

Turned 40 last month... Had a huge fight with DH last night & he called me frumpy... He's right...
Currently I live in primark (cheap & easy to buy)
Hair always in a bun
I've lost alot of muscle tone, I'm around a size 12, very unfit, can't afford the gym
My posture has become very bad recently, I'm always slouching, very noticible in pjotos6
I love that posh polished style like Kate Middleton & like her off duty clothes.
I'm so lost I don't know where to begin but want to reinvent myself & stop looking so scruffy.
On a positve note my skin is very good & noone can believe I'm 40!

Or Sienna Miller in Anatomy of a scandal, loved her style!

I feel the same OP. I just turned 30 and feel like I have no style. I am seriously considering throwing away all my low quality clothes and starting again.

I personally don’t think you can achieve the polished Kate Middleton look from Primark or other cheap shops. You need a few, good quality, timeless pieces, and I think high quality materials work wonders the older we get. Like some really good, flattering jeans, and blazers, and good quality shoes. Then you can mix and match with tops and jumpers underneath.

I tried stich fix and I love it. I’ve done the style quiz everyday so they know what I like. I kept 3/5 items and have worn them almost daily so far. I only sent the two back as jeans were too long (shame as waist fit perfectly) and the second dress was a little same as first. That being said I’m in two minds to ask them to include it next month.

You might consider doing a couch to 5k program and work your way up to a weekly parkrun. Parkrun is a free weekly 5k run/walk that is really inclusive and accessible and is in many local parks around the country. Their website lists all the locations, and you can register to get your barcode so you can get your time emailed or texted to you.

Or Sienna Miller in Anatomy of a scandal, loved her style!

Can't disagree there!

It’s hard isn’t it? When you’ve had kids and they’ve taken your time and energy. If you are a sahm then you haven’t carved out time for work and the clothes for that and the face you have to put on for the outside world. Be kind to yourself. Make sure you nourish yourself mentally as well as physically. I don’t think make up / hair / clothes make that much difference - it’s more what is going on inside your mind and body.

have you got time to do what interests you?

Get some weights. You tube classes. Body pump is great for toning.
Body combat is good fun.
Get a new hair do and wear tinted moisturiser as a minimum during the day. You'll feel much better

I'm loving dresses and white trainers this summer, I got this beautiful dress In Morrisons at the weekend reduced to £15.
I know some on here diss the look but it is finally getting me out of jeans!
I think you always look smart in a dress and many are baggy/ very forgiving and therefore comfortable

I can recommend yoga with Kassandra on YouTube.

I do her videos 3 x a week -sometimes only a 15 minute one, sometimes a 40 min one, it depends how I feel. I now have super strong muscles. I’ve even started to add dumbbell workouts because I’m loving seeing my muscle tone and want to improve it.

logging all my food on My Fitness Pal helped me stick to 1600 calories a day so, between yoga and eating less, I’m now a size 10.

Can’t help with frumpiness though, I live in jeans & T’s & have no style at all.

I did a 10 min Jo Wicks & a 10 min yoga with Kassandra this morning, proud of myself finishing Jo Wicks!

Brilliant @Reinventingat40 Kassandra often says sometimes the hardest thing is showing up & getting on the mat. I always feel ridiculously proud that I’ve done something for me that makes me feel so good, & I know JW can be a good workout, so good for you 😊

Thanks, I honestly thought I'd faint at the end of Jo Wicks, shows how unfit I am! Kassandra was good, started lightly with a 10 min for beginners🥰

Better to start off lightly than to go at it like a mad thing and put yourself off before you’ve had chance to make it a lifestyle change.

you might be aching in the morning, Kassandra has some videos for sore muscles

Yes😅 I did sit ups yesterday, were a shock to the system, aching today...