Can You Help a 43 Year Old SAHM Look Groomed

[thefatishistory]

Am coming up for 43 next month and feel old and frumpy. I'm short at only 5 foot tall and so it's difficult to look elegant. Am a size 10, have my hair cut and coloured every 6 weeks and that's it.

What can I do to look more stylish and groomed.

My Babyliss big hair is doing wonders for my groomed look it only takes a minute but has revolutionised my hair care. My other tips would be gels in nice nude colour mine seem to last about 2-3 weeks and having my eyebrows threaded gives them a really good shape. Good Moisturiser, i have yet to find a foundation that stays put longer than 2 hours so i try and keep my skin in reasonable condition, I am after the holy grail that is the Clarisonic for my birthday next week am hoping its the answer to my skincare woes.

What sort of clothes do you usually wear? I am also 5 foot.

sorry to hijack but magic, is the babyliss quick to use? The reviews I've read really vary when they talk about the time it takes - some even saying 30 mins

• eyebrows waxed or threaded so always neat and tidy.

• nails filed & buffed (painted if you have time).

• Keep a tube of handcream handy and apply liberally throughout the day. Ditto foot cream (yes really and then you won't fall victim to crusty cracked heel syndrome)

• toes always polished and filed if on show

• Mama Mio skincare routine is the best I have found. Does everything you need it to do without overloading your skin and causing congestion.

• ensure your shoes and bags are given regular maintenance: polished and re-soled where appropriate.

• only wear clothes which make you feel good rather than just because they fit/are clean. Go through your wardrobe and ditch/re-gift anything which doesn't make you feel wonderful/needs altering and you can't be bothered/is tired and past its best.

I'm the same as you, have a tendancy to feel a bit old and frumpy, but I have to agree with all that tulpe says - attention to my eyebrows, nails, feet and hands always make me feel that much more groomed and polished.

I have also just embarked on a big wardrobe clearout and although I haven't yet ventured out to buy new stuff, I feel so much better having got rid of the stuff that hung there in my wardrobe making me feel miserable!

Good luck!

Thank you, eyebrows are okay but hands and feet are not. Will have to give them some attention. Think I will buy some clothes that I actually like. Also, what should I wear on my feet for the school run ( a 2 mile round trip twice daily)?

Please could someone explain what eyebrow threading is?

Always always always wear:

Smart Jacket/ Gorgeous Leather bag/ Stylish shoes. Simples

I think you need to discover 'your look' and then loosely stick to it when you buy clothes and accessories - otherwise I think you're in danger of looking smart but invisible which is so often the fate of 40+ women. My step-mother is mid-fifties but always looks great, sexy even. She has a boho-ish style which she can dress up or down, it looks effortless but she actually always makes sure she has great nails and hair so never looks at all scruffy.

For me, make-up is an essential part of looking groomed. I rarely go out without it altho I have pretty good skin etc I just feel scruffy without it.

Also, what style is your hair?

re footwear for school run - I'd wear Converse or comfortable ballet pumps in good weather and chunky boots/wellies in bad weather.

green it's a method of shaping eyebrows - a bit like waxing but without the wax!

Nicely manicured fingers and toe nails I really think give an overall impression of grooming even if you have scruffy clothes on.

Also I think flawless skin (not particularly easy to achieve in my case...) realy helps you look good, so I do wear foundation or tinted moisturiser every day.

The other thing I do is try to wear I can afford it have expensive accessories (sunglasses, bags, shoes etc) as if you pair these with high street clothing it can transform how you look.

Sorry just seen this cakesandroses i don't find the babyliss any longer than blow drying but i still do both, i dry it off same as the hairdresser with a the dryer and then use the babyliss. I'd say 15 mins max you'd be insane to try and do the lot with just the babyliss.

I'm 47. My hints for feeling younger - only wear gorgeous shoes or Converse. NEVER look for comfy shoes! I love Bare Escentuals - looks like me but better. Can do a quick job in 2 mins if necessary without looking made up. NEVER go near Per Una or Next. They are only intended for unadventurous people who need help co-ordinating clothes. Next is hell in a shop.

Wear your lovely stuff every day - even vintage if you have ut - because it's no use whatsoever in the wardrobe.

Never leave home without perfume.

Go to festivals and have fun with your friends often. Too many people have grown up and got old.

very well said goingmad, it was kinda what i was getting at above but you've said it better. you don't sound like you'll ever be invisible

goingmad - what shops do you go to? I know what you mean about Next and Per Una so would be interested in which shops you love - thanks :)