To ask MNer's to *please* help me with my appearence?

[Orangeworkclock]

I have none. I used to be confident in choosing beautiful clothes. My hair was done every morning. Face made up. Toe nails always painted. Fingernails always manicured.
Fast forward 6 years.. I look awful. Seem to have lost the ability to dress myself. My hair's lucky if I run a comb through it in the morning, and throw back in a clip. Hardly wear make up, seem to look like an experimenting teen if I do. Nail varnish chipped if I even bother.
I know I need to make more effort, I want to. Just I look in shop's and just can't seem to pull an outfit together. Plus I'm about 4 stone more than I was back then - I had 1 ds, now I have 3 dc.
I have started Slimming World,so got my weight issue sorted. I just really want to look nice, pulled together I guess. My current outfit is black legging's and vest top with a cardigan over it. Its bloody awful and I alternate between that and a faded maxi dress.( only outfit's that fit me)
My confidence is very low and I want it back. I am v. tired at min though as have ds 11yrs, 4yrs and 6month baby girl.
I have no idea why I have become so incapable of simple style?
BTW I am very this sounds shallow, I just pretty miserable of being the fat, drab girl.

Clear nail varnish with a bit of shine (Sally Hansen Diamond Shine is good). You wont notice chips as you do with a colour but the shine always makes me feel a little more "polished"

Blusher and mascara if nothing else

Something that smells good to you (i used Malibu suntan lotion every day of the year mostly because the smell perks me up, and makes me feel sunny)

Small (tiny) white sparkling stone earrings - they match everything and put a bit of bling around your face. I never take mine out.

A smile .

Oh OP, again I totally get where you're coming from with the body stuff. It's so hard isn't it? I used to be really really big, I lost half my body weight on a VLCD, and since then I've been reeeeeaaallllllyyyy paranoid about my weight. I was ok with being bigger when I was actually pregnant, but since giving birth I hate it. I can't do a VLCD again (cost and also not sure it's a great idea with a tiny DD to run around after!) so I'm losing it with a traditional diet, but I'm so impatient!
What I keep telling myself, and what you need to remember too, is that even though it's taking a while, it will be worth it in the end, and if you do it sensibly it'll be a lot easier to maintain because you'll be used to eating the right things. You've taken the all important first step, and things like the make up etc will give you something to focus on as you lose weight. The end result when it's all combined will be fabulous. (Not that you're not already!)

Just want to say I'm not ignoring my thread- hardly get time on here..

BigOrange what is a VLCD?

Link to blazers: www.matalan.co.uk/search?q=blazer

oh it hasn't worked

I have actually name changed as I am embarrassed to think I could give looks advice. But here goes. Weight - can you manage a 20 minute walk every day, literally just that and you will actually stop caring about your weight because you will feel fitter and your skin will look younger. Decent foundation, tidy eyebrows, clear lip shine and mascara. Clear nail varnish (so you can't tell once it starts to chip). Easy hair style, make time to wash and style it every other day. Clothes - day dress, decent jeans, nice boots, maybe one pair of leggings, skirt, couple of long jumpers/tunics and a few nice fitted tops. Nice boots. If you can run to a new coat, if not nice scarf, gloves and possibly hat for freezing cold days. Be happy, smile, don't slouch. FWIW this is what I try to do, hope it helps !!

Oh one last tip. Do you have a slow cooker? They are fab for this time of year. Any combination of meat, stock and lots of vegetables - nice, easy, yummy healthy meal at the end of day. Eat porridge for breakfast, keeps you going with little ones

Am slowly building wardrobe up - well so far have bought 2 pairs of jeans. Have been to get a blazer, out of stock though.
I've been looking at hair styles, just cant find one I think would suit.. Any suggestions?
Yes I have a slow cooker. It needs replacing though I think ( not big enough now ds1 is 11 and always 'starrrrving mum!')

Ooops.. posted too soon. Was just going to say it's a small slow cooker. I love it so wil get a new one. Perhaps a sleeker model. Mines old and cream.
Am really trying with everyone's advice here.. So many useful tips and advice. I feel better just knowing I have practically step by step guidelines. I just didn't know where to start.
Plus I am really hoping to be well groomed and slim ready for my wedding next year however it's probably not going to actually happen as nothing has been planned AT ALL

will*

It's a very low calorie diet. I did Lighter Life and it honestly changed my life.

What sort of hair do you have? Thick, thin, curly, straight?

Thick hair. It will curl if I leave it to dry naturally. It used to form its self into beautiful natural waves/ curls everywhere. Almost like movie been to bed hair and still look great. 'twas wonderful. Now however when I leave it I look like the woman out of Helena Bonham Carter in The demon barber of Fleet Street. Or worse Sweeney Todd himself

Oops what I meant to say was 'look like the woman out of Helena Bonham Carter

I'm starting to think we're the same person?! I also have thick curly hair! I find that having it just below shoulder length with some layers in to avoid a mushroom hairdo is ideal. If it's longer it tends to drag the curls out, and shorter it's too bouncy and gets too big. I find that if I spend about twenty minutes or so doing it as soon as it's washed it's relatively low maintenance for the next couple of days. I use the Aussie stuff to wash it and condition, then I use John Frieda frizz ease curl spray, and scrunch the hell out of it! I leave it to dry naturally, but I make sure I keep scrunching it every so often as it dries, and then the next couple of days I just spray it with some water and run some herbal essences curl cream stuff through it to stop frizz. John Frieda is three for a tenner at Asda which is a bloody bargain!