If you were ever frumpy, how did you revamp yourself?

[EbbyEbs]

I’m not one for nails and heels etc but I do want to look my age rather than looking 10 years older than I am.

What were your “game changers”?

vitamins? Skin care? Hair care … what product or habit changed how you look and feel for the better?

Well I lost 70 lb or five and half stone on the cancer diet, (not recommended I have only put on five pound in seven years, so I am not between sizes like I was, and things look fitted IYKWIM.

I also couldn't colour my hair during the six months and my wonderful hairdresser said she really liked the shade of grey that was coming through and no she wouldn't colour it for me. 👌I use purple shampoo so my hair never looks flat.

Being the talented individual I am I managed then to acquire breast cancer in my portfolio 🙄and my hair had to go, I now have a very funky shorter on one side than the other haircut that I didn't have the nerve to have in the 80's.

I like funky boots, but I tend to team them with a very plain outfit so there is a splash of colour but I don't look like a jumble sale.

The first lot of cancer caused my front teeth to rot, so I invested in veneers, I see my dentist every six months , ditto my hygienist.

I never wore much makeup, but I have pared it back even further to just foundation blusher and lippy, no point in mascara I wear glasses.

Due to the nature of the first cancer I need water to get every bit of food I eat down my throat, so on a good day I drink a litre and a half of water, so my skin looks clear.

That is all I can think of.

HTH

Well apart from the two rounds of cancer.

Can I answer about the loose skin? It really depends on your age, genetics and how fast you lost it. Skin elasticity varies between people. Sometimes the arms don't sag because they were never that big comparatively but the stomach shows sagging... so.. it depends on so much.
Skin can tighten a bit if you stabilise the weight and work out in about a year or so the skin can slowly shrink but not completely. I hear fasting helps with skin elasticity.
Another thing is that you don't have to lose weight to a size 8 from say size 20. You could aim for 14 or 16uk where you don't have as much sag and then take a very scenic route with exercise to a healthy bmi or where you feel good.

Having loose skin is still better than being overweight. Loose skin can be hidden in shapewear or by wearing certain styles and certain fabrics but being overweight the way people treat you and your lack of fitness is constant. To play on that saying: being fat is hard, having loose skin is hard, choose your hard.

This.
The only thing thats ever made any difference.
My body used to make even the best hair and clothes look frumpy. Now I can get away with very mediocre clothes, no make up and hair in a pony tail and carry it off.
Not saying its true for everyone but certainly was for me.

good hair cut and lost a few kilos, wear a tinted moisturiser and wear clothes that fit . That's what I did and it made a huge difference -

clothes that fit your body as it is, not how you imagine it might be or how you want it to be, mostly clothes that are classic but with a trendy edge or accessory I think as you get older smarter works better than more casual
if you are wearing jeans a jumper and boots wear a coat or jacket not a fleece with it
brushed hair, clean or polished shoes, trainers or boots, a nice bag not necessarily expensive or designer just something that is bit cool
don't wear clothes with holes stains or ripped, I simply don't think you can get away with ripped jean look

Love your name @DevaleraSpawnOfSatan - sorry you've been through the shit

I hit 40 and made a conscious decision to 'ramp it up' and not for anyone but myself.
I'm 52 now and looking better than I did 10 years ago and this has had a hugely positive impact on how I feel about myself.

Stuff I did....

Cut in a thick blunt fringe, it frames my face and I always look 'done up' even if I just shove my hair in a bun.

Ditched the cardigans and dull colours. I wear lots of bright colours, pretty prints etc

Everyday is a dress up day. Gone are the days of saving stuff for best. If I want to wear my favourite dress to work, on a Monday, then I do.

I never skip my skincare routine (nothing fancy, just Aldi's finest) and wear a light but full face of make up everyday. Again I do this because it makes me feel good!

I get my legs out as much as possible. My current fave is tiny little shorts with thick tights and ankle boots.

I look after my nails, they're short and neat and always pillar box red.

@ghostyslovesheets

Thank you, but as I always say at least I am here to moan about it.

Oh I think you are owed a good few moans @DevaleraSpawnOfSatan - along with a bitching haircut and snazzy boots!

Stopped drinking.
Dropped a dress size as a result.
Increased exercise.
Gave up fighting my hair and had a very short blonde pixie crop.
Botox and subtle fillers.
Stopped using eyeliner under my eye and softened the colour - Stash by Urban Decay is my go-to.
Swapped foundation for CC cream.
Swapped to cream blusher.
Swapped matte lipstick for tinted lip balm.
Keep hand and cuticle cream by the bed.
Use clear nail varnish on short nails.
Take vitamin D and Equi Glow edition.
Follow some fashion Instagram accounts - I particularly like Wears My Money - her clothes are my cup of tea and she’s relatable.

I don’t think I’m doing too badly for 48.

Drank loads of water, every day.

I lived in a house with no mirrors (well, it had mirrors, but I was too short to see in them) and stopped caring what I looked like. I still don’t much. Frumpy is other people’s problem, now. Occasionally, I decide I will Do Something about my “image” and then remember that it’s hard work and takes lot of time and that I don’t care enough to put the time in.

I’ve a lot going on in other areas and don’t interact with people (well, the patriarchy) in an unequal way where my looks matter much (no boss, no DH, no clients etc) so I appreciate I have a lot of freedom to give no fucks. It may not be for everyone and it may change.

Lost weight.
Fresh hair dye and cut.
Makeup that suits my look. Same with glasses.
Wearing clothes that make me feel confident.
Tattoos have also massively increased my self confidence post pregnancy. I also spent some £ on some really beautiful piercing jewellery.

I went through the “frumpy” stage after two pregnancies, even though I’m still in my twenties, when previously I had been very clued in to my style and aesthetic. Once I lost a chunk of weight the rest of it fell into place, really.

I appreciate that tattoos aren’t for everyone but they have done absolute wonders for my self confidence and love for my body. I love the concept of taking back control and adorning my body with designs I think are beautiful. I have two booked in for next year and I cannot wait.

A really excellent bra is transformative imo. That and making an effort with posture

I'm in this journey too. I'm late 40s and dress dreadfully... this thread is great, I'm making notes!

I detest the word frumpy.

Some nice things I've done - invested in a good ring, earrings and necklace which I wear every day.

Stopped giving so much of a fuck.

Had some highlights put into my hair after ditching the dye.

Regular sex 🤣

TEETH! and hair. but not in that order

Losing weight
drinking lots of water
SPF Cc cream
dressing nicely no matter what
eyebrow tint
eyelash extensions

Does it really matter how old you look? The main thing is to be healthy.

Yes to eyebrow tinting! My face has a bit of structure now - weirdly, I feel more comfortable with no makeup than I did when I was young and pretty.

@IrisVersicolor
im not sure this is an age matter. I am fairly young and I could still look frumpy - it’s more about looking stylish than young

Agree. Tinted SPF CC cream and tinted eyebrows are just everything to me!

I’d never say this out loud because it would be boastful but I really did transform myself about 10 years ago (45 ish). Before that I was a kind of frump, even in my teens.

Losing weight is the main thing. I think you can make excuses about what it does to your skin but honestly losing weight makes everybody look better. I really am into body positivity and I’m not thin but losing weight made a huge difference to my overall look as well as making clothes look better on me (and health as well of course).

Good skin care. I thought skin care was an expensive con until I was about 42. Then I started reading about it and tried a proper routine but with affordable products (eg.The Ordinary) When I look back at photos it’s really obvious when I started doing this. My skin is noticeably better.

Exercising. There is no way around it. Exercising is pretty essential not only for mental and physical health but for the way you look. I did find out that it’s not the key to losing weight though.

Clothes. Investing some time in working out what clothes really suit me and about trends. Not in a fashion victim way but just to look a little less frumpy. I don’t read womens’ magazines but there are a number of bloggers/influencers who are good for women of a certain age/type. I used to be totally uninterested but now I quite like spending a little time thinking about what I wear and I don’t spend any more money at all, just put more thought into it.

It’s really possible to do without spending extra money and without getting self obsessed.

Holy shit, are you me? Xx