What do 30 year olds wear????

[emsyj]

Help, I am a frump and don't know how to climb out of my frump hole.

I am very into my make-up and keep my face up to date but never get my hair done and never buy new clothes. I look a fright. Had a baby 11 weeks ago and am definitely in the 'old before my time' category now.

Someone tell me:

1. How to have my hair (it's naturally darkish blonde, long and very straight)
2. What to buy in terms of clothes and shoes. I'm size 12, 5' 7" tall, pretty well in proportion but with thunderish thighs.

I am frightened of shops and find them stressful. Would a personal shopper be worthwhile???

And are there any other companies aside from Duo Boots who do wide fit calf boots? I don't like any of the ones on their website at the moment.

Many questions - all help welcome. Going off to have some dinner now but will check back later in the hopes that someone out there will take pity on me and give me a definitive capsule wardrobe shopping list to save me from black trousers and manky old tops hell....

thanks in advance

Get a good low maintenance haircut - will make a world of difference to how you look (and with a nearly 3 month old baby you dont want one that takes ages to style anyway).

Worth trying out a personal shopper to get an idea of what suits you and your post baby figure, esp if you're scared of shops. To be honest, when home with my kids, I wear jeans/trousers and vest tops and hoodie tops (am 33) as have to dress quite formally for work. If you're a more feminine person, then the world really is your oyster - if you think your thighs are thundery, but your legs are otherwise good skirts are a good bet and with the right cut, quite slimming.

I am 33 (for a few more days ) and am a size 12, with darkish blonde, long and very straight hair, I am 5'8 so pretty similar to you! The difference is that I have good slim legs but the belly of a 4mo pg woman.

Anyway.

Hair - I have had lots of different hair cuts but have recently had a slightly layered style that has a long fringe swept to the side. It is so easy to tie up and keep off my face which I need with a LO but with a very rough (5 minute) blow dry it looks sleek. Batiste dry shampoo is wonderful - our hair doesn't kink does it so all you need is a spray of batiste and a blow dry can last a few days. To get the cut though I spent a long time talking to my hair dresser about what i didn't want and he took it from there. It was expensive but so worth it.

Clothes what sort of budget do you have? What kind of things do you like? My dd is 2 but in the months after she was born I lost all my style mojo and bought some criminal clothes. I am really into clothes but I know not everyone thinks they are as important as I do! I think a few good pairs of jeans are key. Buy the best you can (why do people spent ££££ on outfits for a wedding they'll wear once and £ on jeans they'll wear every day?) Almost every style of jeans are on trend this season it would seem but I am a fan of the skinny. Someone else would be best placed to advise on a thigh skimming style thought.

I am not a fan of Duo boots but La Redoute have some nice ones that cater for a chunkier calf (spg).

So, back to my questions - what budget and what kind of thing do you like (even if you wouldn't wear it atm iyswim)? Who's style do you really like?

Me again. Some good tips here on general style dos and don'ts.

Do you have good underwear? Good as in well fitting? I went down a dress size when dd was about 4 months and I got properly measured for a bra again (I bfed until 2yrs and changed size 4 times).

Oh god, my underwear is really tragic! I am in ugly saggy nursing bras, but the moment I've finished breastfeeding I am going to be back to the drawing board with bras and get myself some new Fantasie ones. They seem to be very supportive and I've always liked their sizings so will just get re-measured when I am able to wear 'normal' bras again.

OK, budget. Well, I don't know really. If I thought I could get a wardrobe of stuff that I would wear again and again and be happy with then I could 'invest' £2k but I feel scared of spending that amount up front in case I end up with a wardrobe full of white elephants. I am thinking £500 initially but not sure that's enough? So I suppose budget is flexible...

Thanks!

Oh, and 'things I like' are:

Nautical things
Navy blue (see above!)
Ballet pumps
Black polo necks (tragic I suppose, but I ALWAYS buy one each year!)

Essentially I would like to be very skinny as my dream outfits are for skinnies . Like that Audrey Hepburn capri pants, polo neck and ballet pumps 'look'.

I like statement jewellery and pearls. But I want to still look young.

Oh I love a black polo neck!

Am going to try and bring a few friends from other threads over too.

What bra size are you atm? I have a few Hot Milk bras I am happy to part with. I think underwear is a big part of feeling good. I breastfed for a long time and eventually started wearing non nursing bras and felt so much better.

Am going to have a think about clothes and come back with some suggestions.

I forgot to ask, where do you live? (Only asking for shop recommendations)

Im almost 30.
I have the MN haircut and am complemented on it constantly.

I am a big lardy.

I am normally in either jeans with a slightly smarter casual top, Leggings with very long tunic style top, wide leg trousers with top.

I don't think i am a style icon but i like to think i don't look hideously badly dressed.

Your figure is not disimilar to mine- I too haveTHIGHS! Jeans, well bootcut are back in, and they are def the most flattering for the wide of thigh. Straight leg jeans also ok.If you are looking to spend a little bit, it could be worth going to Selfridges ir Harvey Nicks and doing a session with a personal shopper:

Pair of good jeans
lovely boots or shoes- perhaps wedges so practical with DC
Well cut glamorous top( perhaps silk) that you could wear to lots of places
Lovely dress that you could wear with opagues and boots during the day or with heeks at night.

Net a porter and My wardrobe good for ideas-sometimes prices may be a bit much!

What shops do you usually like?
Any styles that you would really rather stay clear if?
Do you need clothes for work at all?

emsyj: my life has changed since I had my colours done with House of Colour. Also since I cut my hair to necklace clasp length and had a fringe. I love a French Jean Seberg style. I get my flats from m&s and my jeans from jbrand. I am as from today the proud owner of 3 dvf dresses. Jigsaw have upped their game recently and I have a 'go with everything' black blazer from Zara. Look at netaporter and see how stylists have styled their clothes then go forth and purchase lookalikies! Good luck!

Lots of people swear by having their colours done which might be better than getting a personal shopper if you don't know what you're after and are feeling a bit down clothes wise?

While I'm here - this is a breton top in your size and in the sale

I don't find jeans work that well for me. I spend alot of time on the floor, so go for high waisted leggings and dresses. The dresses hide a multitude of sins (and hide food stains too)

My latest dresses is a vintage style tea dress from zara with tiny roses in it, and it is very flattering but my no means tight.

I find this 'uniform' works well for me as a SAHM but when it's time to get out and about, I don't have to get changed or worry.

At 30 there are alot of things you can try, the greys and nudes look can look pretty beautiful really, and is great because you can buy lots of tops (some floaty, some fitted) and just layer them all over each other to create different shades. Very easy.

Hair-wise, I would get some layers in and think you should be able to leave it at that! Shoes-wise, pumps are good and boots for winter. Depends on how fashionable you want to be.

sadly am way too old to be giving you any worthwhile advice but - are you breastfeeding? so that we can factor this into suggestions.

secondly - you had a baby 11 weeks ago. How 'back to normal' is your figure? Not worth huge investment now if you are likely to be a stone lighter in another few weeks so we can factor this into your spend!!

what gigantuar said. i'm newly 30 and also have the mn cut. though it's normally tied back to due life with 8 month old ds.

favourite, and most flattering, clothes are leggings/skinny jeans with tunic tops.

I love a good black polo neck too and buy a new one every year too! Also love navy and all things stripey - have to make myself reign it in a bit when shopping tho!

Have you thought about getting your colours done? Had mine done last week and learnt a lot - I am v pale with ash blonde hair so have also been a bit wary of wearing certain colours. My consultant also offered a styling service to help pin down what shapes suits you - eg collars/jackets/trousers. Not cheap but maybe worth considering? Also heard positive things re personal shoppers in John Lewis but not tried that myself.

Buy a pair of decent jeans - I hate shopping for jeans but luckily had a good assistant in Gap 6 months ago who was v helpful and got me to try various styles. Gave me the confidence to try skinnies/slim fit ones in other shops after that. If you find a style/brand that you like, buy 2 pairs eg a dark indigo for going out and a normal wash/tint for everyday?

Maybe buy a nice tunic dress to wear with tights and chunky boots. I had a couple last year I wore a lot.
Am also liking the cardi with a belt look this Autumn/Winter too bit like this:pics on the right

Thats all I can think of off the top of my head - hope you get some useful advice!

Wow - like that breton top Monkeysmama >

Should've thought of you Ollie. There seem to be loads available for some reason?

Also meant to to say that I wear my black polo neck with a short (ish - I am 38!) denim skirt, thick black tights and long chunky black boots and feel good in it (I know some MN's think black and denim dont go tho!) Always good to try something 'new' with something you have already and like?

Hijack:
what is "getting your colours done?"
&
what is the MN haircut?

I went to JL in Kingston to the personal shopper. It was quite good unfortunately as I am fat, one of the stylists assumed I wanted to look old and frumpy. I did get a few bits and bobs, but I think sometimes they look at you and make an impression of your style what you're currently wearing, which was actually the opposite of what I wanted. There were two shoppers, and the younger one who was training was putting me in the most awful stuff. The older one kept saying, "But she's only 32!! put that back. Go and look in Warehouse". It was quite funny actually.

Watching with interest. Dh told me yesterday that I dress older than I am. And when I thought about it, I think I probably do. With quite a few, not all of my clothes. Which is a shame.

can someone link to the mn haircut please.

Hello emsyj you sounds almost EXACTLY like me - except I'm 5 months PG, due end November.

I'm 5'8", size 12 but thanks to years of horse-riding have less than slender thighs. Despite the latter, I live in skinny jeans (New Look - very comfy) in winter as I find they are very flattering with pull-on boots (not too tight - think feminine side of biker boots/cowboy boots) and below-the-hips tops. I tried leggings and tunics/long jumpers, but I find that the jeans - even skinny - do a better balancing act with the thighs!

I ALWAYS buy two black polo neck jumpers every winter too - Zara basics are great for plain jumpers. Also, I always get complimented on my accessories - colourful silk scarves worn around the neck (think 1950s) instead of a necklace, or over the hips as a kind of a belt, work well.

For underwear, go to Bravissimo if you're big enough (think it's D+) as they are brilliant. Failing that, get fitted somewhere like Debenhams or JL, as they have good fitters, and usually have a lot of choice. Not sure if there's a Victoria's Secret in London, but I shop there in the US and their bras give the most amazing shape.

Also, get the Trinny and Susannah book out the library re. body shapes, may encourage you to look at different shapes to wear. I have broad shoulders and so don't tend to do halternecks, much as I like them, but anything scoop neck or crossover works well. And adding things like a fabric flower corsage is good to dress up plain jumpers.

Have fun and happy shopping! The only rule is: Try whatever you wouldn't usually try on, you may get some nice surprises.

PS Am 29.

A personal shopper in Debenhams is a great starter. I used them just before xmas as had to find a party dress pronto and was the biggest I've ever been. They were fab - dug out some stuff that I would never have picked out by myself, even stuff that was in the sale! Everything that I bought that day I love and still wear loads (even though I'm nearly 2 stone lighter now).
And of course it's free! And soooo lovely to just have someone all to yourself to do the running, have a big changing room to yourself etc etc.

Oh - hair - I've got similar hair - big choppy fringe and you're good to go.