I have a project for you lot!

[namechangeahoy]

Right, it's my birthday and I just turned 30. On the "how old do I look thread" there was a unanimous verdict that I look feckin' ancient.

I have been given about £150 to spend - not much given the dire state of my wardrobe, but it's a start. Don't want to look younger (can't iron out wrinkles) but a decent choice of clothes would be good.

I'm 5' 2", size 18 on top, 16 on the bottom, 38/40 D/DD boobs, have a horrendous apple belly/overhang thing going on (deeply unattractive) and chunky legs and live in a small town whereby everyone will notice and comment if I stray far from jeans and long sleeve t-shirts, thereby making me even more selfconscious than usual.

Suggestions on a postcard please, I'm up for some hardcore internet shopping tomorrow, and the further my meagre funds can go the better!

I'm beyond help, aren't I? Please help or i'll end up spending it all in Matalan and looking like a womble for another bloody decade.

Get thee to Gap and sort yourself out with a pair of really dark straight-leg jeans, first of all.

How are your legs? If okay - buy a denim skirt whilst you're at it - either pencil skirt shape or traditional mini style but just over the knee. Or look at the one in M&S Autograph range.

Then buy yourself either a blazer or a nice Spring coat and a lightweight scarf.

Oh and do you use a decent SPF moisturiser? Olay Regenerist is good and on special offer at Sainsbo's and Superdrug at the mo.

Deffo deffo invest in a good hair-do ... take yourself to a good salon, take advice and take the plunge. On all these looking younger programmes, I always think it's the hair that makes it.

As for clothes, my answer would be to accesorise what you have - lightweight scarf / beads... a wee bit of colour co-irdination...

Buy yourself a set of hand weights and the shred DVD and save the money until you are happier about your appearance.

Sorry a bit blunt but I think it pointless to spend money on clothes when you feel crappy about your body as clothes are not going to fix things.

Don't be so hard on yourself you look lovely to me! I don't know what you already have but if you are starting from scratch I would go for:

wide leg indigo jeans £30
navy cropped trousers £27
cream vest £7
breton vest £10
bright pink cardi £32.50
paisley tunic in blues or pinks £16
leopard ballet pumps £20
converse-a-like trainers £15
striped scarf £8

That's about £160 and then also think about getting...

pretty bag £7
single breasted mac - I like the mint green but they have navy/stone if you prefer £40
tan wedge sandals £25

MadamCastafiore is right - you're turning 30 so use this milestone birthday as a kick up the bum to improve on what nature gave you.

Oh bless you! I've had a look at your photo and I think it's partly your hairstyle and the scarf which are making you look a bit mumsy.

Your skin is lovely, and I agree with ja9 that a good haircut would do wonders - HTH!

I think an illuminating moisturiser and a semi sheer lipstick or gloss and cream blusher in a more pinky or coral shade would really give you a lift. Beige lipstick can be a bit draining on most people so a bit of colour would really make a difference.

By pink, I mean a sort of rose colour a bit like natural lip colour but slightly deeper.

Wow thanks! :)

Right, lots of good pointers, thank you. Poor excuse but the picture was taken at an altitude of nearly 2000 feet so it was a bit windy ... and I don't wear make up, I promise I don't even own beige lipstick (is there such a thing?!).

I currently wear my hair in a sort of long graduated bob thing bit like this but much less groomed-looking obviously! and straighten it most days (although with a bit of mousse and effort it will curl). I can't really pull off fringes - it goes too flyaway, I have a cow's lick and it also tends to sit on the frame of my specs and flick out. But I will talk to my hairdresser about it :)

I think Madame has a point. I struggle to find anything flattering - I really need to wear fitted clothes to make me look less like a sack of tatties but nothing in this world can 'skim over' everything I need it to 'skim over'! So I've emailed a personal trainer to ask what she could do for me within my budget. I'm already a member of the council sports centre which has a fab gym. I just need a physical boot up the arse.

Thank you all - and FauxFox thank you especially for your efforts. I really love that tunic - could I wear it with straight leg jeans or does it have to be something more fitted? And I already have the converse-a-likes good start!

Tunic would look lovely with straight leg jeans - good luck at the gym!

Thanks - and thanks again for all your pointers, they've given me loads of ideas :)

I took the plunge and booked a consultation with a personal trainer for this Friday so there's no escaping now, I have to do it. I've ordered a couple of things (including a skirt - eek!) to gee myself along with but the rest of my budget will pay for some physical grind - thanks for the bluntness, it was justified!

get your hair done - instant boost (well should be!)

go to a Bobbi Brown counter for a natural make up lesson

get your nails done

you WILL feel better

good luck with the gym

Work out what colours suit you, hold a item of clothing to your face and see how you look in the mirror. I can't wear beige and orange for example, as I look positively ill but indigo makes my eyes look bluer and my skin glow, don't know why, it just does.

Also, when buying clothes, ask, 'do feel great?', not 'will this do'.
Only buy what you feel great in.
Happy shopping!

Emo I have done my nails and bought some night cream - my skin's better today than it has been for ages so that was a good start.

Waiting for some clothes to arrive then I just need to lose about 4 stone a little bit of weight and I'll be a new woman

Sort out your underwear BEFORE you go shopping.

A proper fitted bra and good tummyflattening knickers are fab!

Thanks for asking :)

It was good, she seems really nice and positive. Quite amusing that when she read my date of birth she said "Oh so you've just turned, uh, twenty? Oh no, thirty, goodness you don't look it!". Felt like telling her I didn't need her services after all!