Calling all you fashionistas/style gurus! We need your style-and-beauty tips

[HelenMumsnet]

Hello.

We're thinking of doing an MN Guide to Style and Beauty - but we can't do it without you!

We'd love you to post bestest, wittiest, most practical style/hair/beauty tips, secrets, rules, dos and don'ts on this thread.

Obviously, we're thinking "this will make you look good in the 13 seconds you have between getting up and getting the kids up", rather than "this will make you look good but takes six hours and £3000 to achieve".

Right, over to you. And thank you!

wear the right length trousers

buy a full length mirror

wear natural under white not white

Keep the labels on all new purchases until you wear them.

That way, if you buy a new dress, put it in the wardrobe, and decide 2 weeks later that you dont really like it you can always exchange it for something else.

Skinny jeans are flattering for many body shapes

Long line tops are flattering - do not wear tops that end where your jeans begin, particularly if you have a muffin top!

If you are going to spend a lot of money on one or two items it is best to invest in shoes and hand bags.

Don't buy clothes that are too tight.

Wear good underwear - it will make you feel more confident. Throw away anything in your knicker drawer that is unsexy.

If you don't have much of a waist wear belts, especially with dresses.

Changing bags steal your identity - don't buy them!

Semi-permanent hair colour is great for adding shine and giving your hair a lift. Get regular hair cuts and invest in GHD straighteners - they are worth their weight in gold!

Exfoliate your skin regularly and moisturise, moisturise, moisturise. Don't let your face get in the sun on holiday.

If you are experiencing a skin break-out, have a day where you eat only fruit and drink lots of water.

Don't paint your finger nails and toe nails the same colour.

Have your eyebrows threaded to get the best, possible shape.

dont save make up for special occassions and be bare faced in the day.make the most of yourself!

A good bra transforms outfits. Don't be afraid to try loads on.

if oyu have no waist WHY wear a belt?
surely you look terrible

AGREE re long lenght mirror

Hide The Style and Beauty topic

A belt will create curves if you have a boyish figure.

Hello from MNTV, Mumsnet TV.
Thanks for posting your ideas and experiences. We're hoping to put together a short film of some of the best, for MNTV.

We're looking for some willing victims candidates to have a go on camera, and see if your pearls of wisdom really work.

hands up anyone????

(p.s I won't be buying a swinky, although at nearly 40 with long, faux blonde hair, I'm probably heading in the right direction for one!)

.

I was going to say I totally agree with hatwoman (buy clothes for your actual lifestyle not the lifestyle you would like).

This includes buying lovely woolies (instead of covering your gorgeous tunics with a fleece), if you live in a cold house (and your dh won't turn the heating up).

Also buy a coat/coats you love as you'll probably spend more time outside (swings, school playground, football pitch) than in. .

is it too late to post a tip then??

never buy clothes that are meant to be 'slim fitting' in a body hugging size. (bit like electra's point above)

if it is slim fit get it so that it is just a teeny bit loose, this is very flattering and will take pounds off. wearing slim fit that is too 'exact' can give you a sausage-like appearance

I have no waist and belts make me look FAT and no mistake.

Maybe they are OK if you are ultra skinny with no waist but otherwise avoid like the plague.

Never wear thin plain trousers if you are over 20. Your arse looks dreadful.

I will second/third/fourth the blusher tip - if you are over 35 and have children, mascara AND blusher is the prerequisite for leaving the house.

If you have big boobs, only ever wear underwired (bfing/pg excepted) and get yourself a decent bra from Rigby and Peller. You don't have to buy every bra from them forever but once you have seen what you look like properly fitted, you can replicate with cheaper ones. And replace at least annually!

Burn your pregnancy clothes in the woodburner asap after giving birth.

Be careful with sleeve length. If you have untoned arms, little cap sleeves will make your arms look at least twice the size.

Light reflecting moisteriser works wonders.

Highlight by Benefit is amazing and makes your face look slimmer and more defined.

Totally agree with a decent bra, especially under jersey fabric or anything that clings.

Message withdrawn

You can get the best most baby-soft skin ever by scrubbing yourself down inthe shower with used coffee grounds before soap or whatever you use to wash.

I don't do it often enough but it is truly remarkable. I don't do it often enough because you do then have to wash out the shower.

But try it. It does give you the skin you have always dreamed of.

What is OCM? And curly girl method??

don't go shopping for leisure and buy stuff for the sake of it. Don't waste yr money on loads of stuff that you don't really need / things that'll do but actually are just alright, but bought in a last minute panic for some occasion

That way, you can save yr money and just buy fabulous things that you really adore. That you look really great in. You'll be able to afford stuff that you would never have considered.

Dance to the beat of yr own drum. Give scant regard to other people's opinions of yr clothes. Opinions are like arseholes. Everyone has one. If people laugh at yr style they are just very dull or an idiot

Focusing on classic pieces / vintage stuff will give you a wardrobe of loveliness that can just keep going and be added to. Rather than bin liners of out of season tat destined for the charity shop

Iron ALL your clothes.

Use a big make-up brush to smooth down fluffy stray hairs

Spend a couple of mins massaging in your face cream in the morning. Gets the blood flowing and gives you a lovely glow.

except undies!!

Don't buy clothes for the whole family from the same shop/website. Seeing a family unit all in head to toe Boden or White stuff always gives me the giggles.

If you're old enough to see a fashion come around for the second time then think twice before you wear it.