My new years resolution this year is to make more effort with my appearance. Who wants to join me?

[TrampyPants]

I've never really worn make up, styled my hair or bothered with how I look. That was fine when I was young and fresh. Now I'm 34 (nearly 35) and I want to look good. I have just tried to curl my hair (and failed) and sorted out my make up, throwing out stuff that doesn't suit me.

Morning everyone! What little snow we had here has gone so back to just being freezing!

Welcome back Karbea! I've been wondering where you went. Sorry you're feeling so poorly

Always and Happy, re getting to grips with mix and match outfits and getting out of a rut, try some of those websites that have a Mix and Match Outfit section. Boden springs to mind, although I know it's not everyone's taste. I'm sure there's more out there. I'm also not very good at putting things together; I tend to see an entire outfit in a shop/magazine/internet and just buy the lot because I don't know what to do with the separates! Perhaps I should take some of my own advice

Happy I've also been guilty of buying tops that are too short or that ride up once they've been washed and it drives me mad. However, I'm a recent convert to Haramaki's (bought a pack of 3 from Nukunuku and they are brilliant. They not only give you a little support round the tummy, they give an extra layer for warmth and also cover up muffin tops/builders bum when your top half doesn't meet your bottom half! Particularly useful when crawling through small spaces at soft play centres with hoards of 3 year olds tugging at your clothes.

Ambassador sorry to hear about the handbag incident! The suit sounded lovely though . The advice from minimum is brilliant. I do something similar (although not nearly so advanced!) and find that Muji have some great non-fussy storage and travel solutions

I second the recommendation for Barbara Daly makeup brushes, they're a viable and much cheaper option than Mac.

So today's outfit is a grey vest top (Joseph, bought in the sale at Bicester Village), navy faux-wrap dress (White Co), navy tights, blue and grey cashmere mix scarf and grey sloucy pixie boots (Blowfish). Feeling OK. I've also managed to lose a few pounds during this fabulizing period which is helping my self esteem.

Always and Trampy, I hope your respective hairdresser appointments go well this week. My hair is something I haven't really tackled much yet.

I have my long-awaited first gymnastics class this Thursday. The thought isn't so appealing now the date is approaching and the temperatures are sub-zero

Morning ladies
Thank you for your advice! The handbag is floating in a bowl of washing up liquid, to try to remove the oil and odour of garlic oil (hmmm, lovely). The red leather (expensive, present from kind friend) gloves are floating in another bowl of shampoo, hoping the oil comes off. I'm going to source some of those plastic pencil cases pronto! Thanks Minimum for the top tip.

I did a 45 min run today, about 7km, and having haircut and colour this afternoon. I have a hairdresser who comes to mine, which is much more relaxed with the kids, and also I generally hate going to salons and having all the chit chat, so this way is quick and painless. I really don't get why some people find going to a hairdressers to be a treat... I find it very boring.

One habit I've managed to sustain is taking care of my nails. A combo of the Mavala Scientifique stuff every few days, then doing my own nails with base and top coat (Sally Hansen), has meant that the colour has stayed on really well. This has helped me stop nibbling and picking around the cuticles (gross habit, I know), so I feel much more confident about my hands. The tip about putting vaseline on the cuticles last thing at night is helping a lot to prevent the dry skin which I can't help picking.

Today I'm reverting back to my new red jumper dress (like a long cardigan with hood), black jeggings and biker / cowboy boots. One thing I've done which helps with the whole 'groomed and together' thing is that I've put co-ordinating scarf / gloves on the same hanger as a coat which goes with it, so I have a ready-to-grab set when leaving the house. That helps with the morning scurry on the school run.

And one more thing: my favourite colour is red, and to make me happy I always put on something red every day. Even if its just red knickers! Wearing your lucky colour might put a spring in your steps too.

Happy Tuesday.

Sorry, Karbea, I forgot to add: sorry to hear you have been feeling rotten and hope you find out what it is and start to feel better soon.

Love the bag organising from minimum, maybe my goal for February!
Today I'm wearing dark grey trousers, black vest top and black fine nit jumper from primark as I had to walk somewhere before work I have my dr martens triumph boots in grey with lovely ribbon laces. Kept me from falling over on the slippery paths

Am starting to compile a list of what clothes I want to buy/have. Some I have already got but most of my stuff doesn't fit or is mumsy, tired and just plain frumpy. Would appreciate some help for the much longed for capsule wardrobe. Will have to get it over time but desperate not to make mistakes yet again.

So far the list is
2 pairs straight or skinny jeans
1 pair bootcuts
1 pair smart trousers
Blazer
Raincoat
Mid length winter coat
2 short casual skirts
2 longer skirts
2 dresses
3 tunics..... And leggings to wear with them
V neck jumper
Chunky, very warm cardi/jacket for days like today!
Couple of t shirts in basic colours for layering -both short and long sleeve
5/6 nicer tops to go with above
Boots or shoes that go with the above-flat and heeled options if poss
Couple of mid weight cardi's
Couple of outfits for very hot days
Thermals for very cold ones!
Gym stuff

What have I missed? TIA

H+M have some great, bargain blazers. Their tops for layering are brilliant too! Best slim jeans are baxters, imho, from topshop. They fit so well and are v flattering. And primark for leggings. The ones I linked to earlier are just fab!

Thought H and M was more of a teenagers shop so have never been there except for DS. Will have to check it out.....thanks. Need to try and get quality stuff if I can afford it, as otherwise the first half of the capsule will wear out before the second half gets bought! Are they ok in that regard?
Slim fitting jeans will be tricky. Muscular thighs and big arse do not mix well with a size 8-10 waist! steeling myself to try Levi curves but a bit daunted by the price as body has annoying habit of changing shape roughly every 3 minutes

Another vote for H&M blazers. A lot of their stuff is poor quality and I bloomin' hate the layout of the shops, but I do rate their blazers. They sometimes do good scarves too, amidst a lot of tat.

Best skinnies imho are the M&S 'jeggings.' I've got some Topshop Jamies and they are lovely but they seem a bit low in the crotch on me, despite having a really high waist. I think their top section is perhaps bigger/longer than my mid-section! :)

Bootleg jeans - I'd say Oasis best for these. Buy the darkest you can find and also make sure that they are long enough, to come to the middle of your foot when wearing heeled boots.

Personally I think a jumper or jersey dress and opaques looks much, much nicer than a tunic and leggings.

Muji great for tiny clear cases. I have one for handcream, lipbalm etc in my work bag. But I think overall I carry far less than Minimum! Minimum - Wendy is lovely isn't she?

So today I wore: silk mini skirt, black top and blazer, black opaques, heeled tan ankle boots - was aiming for smart but a bit 'quirky' I guess.

Hope all poorly/hurty people are starting to feel better.

Oh Karbea hope you feel better soon.

Well today I wore.................work uniform again!!!!! I have been doing a few extra hours so feel like I have been wearing it loads lately. Better hours next week so will try and make a big effort with outfits.

I am going for drinks one night next week with a friend and have already decided to wear my dark blue skinny jeans with my black satin blazer and snakeprint shoe boots, they have like a mink and grey colour going through them more grey I think, But I need help I fancy a new top and I don't really like the top of my arms I was wondering if anyone has seen any nice simple grey silky tops that I can dress up with a long chain.

Whoknowswhocares I like your list, what about maybe adding a few statement pieces of jewellery?

h&m sale blazers in store they have some for £7, and they are just fab! oasis have some lush ones in the sale too I love this one

wornout, do you like this?

Thanks guys some great ideas....... I especially like the oasis green jade blazer. Am really tempted but want to get a blue or poss grey one which will go with everything to start with. bit boring maybe but need a base first i suppose? Sales have run out in my size so I will wait and look for the perfect one.....all this window shopping is taking a LOT of time

Idiot question alert though...... Remus. What do you mean by jumper dress/opaques. What makes them look different to the tunic/legging combo? The length? .

Morning everyone very slippy out there today.
Today I'm wearing black and red print dress from matalan (one of their £10 ones) long cardigan black opaques and my biker boots. I am looking forward to pay day making a list of some basic items I need.

Hi everyone, I'd like to join in please. I've been doing the 5:2 way of eating since the Summer and have lost 18lbs so far, back to hovering around 9stone. I'd thought I'd lost my clothes mojo because I didn't get to go shopping often enough (and that high street clothes are all crappy materials these days, which is still true), but I think a lot of it was that I wasn't happy with how things looked because I wasn't at a weight I was happy with! I've also been going to the gym for a couple of months now and am surprised at the fact that I can cross the threshold of a leisure centre without bursting into flames! Still haven't got up the courage to join any classes though.

Anyway, I need some new clothes which fit properly, I'm going to stop 'saving things for best' and I'm also going to try and make more effort with makeup. I generally don't wear it unless I'm going out (lazy) but as I'm now 36 I think I should start making a bit of an effort. I got the Urban Decay Naked2 eyeshadow palette for Christmas, and am going to have fun experimenting with that. I'm hoping I can make a change in the same way I did with my nails - they were rubbish and I bit them for years, but these days I am polish obsessed and can do a decent manicure. Am going to keep on top of depilation, exfoliating, moisturising and all that boring stuff too.

I have a love/hate relationship with my hair - it's fairly long, and I like the colour, but whilst there's a lot of it the a strands themselves are fine and go frizzy. It's a teeny bit wavy, inclined to go big of its own accord and I cannot style it beyond a ponytail (high, low, side) or twisted up knot on top of my head. I'd love proper waves/curls.

Twll Bach - I only have one Barbara Daly lipstick, but it's a very nice formula and great colour I'd been looking for for a while.

Hey everyone, I would like to join in too - if that's ok? I have been following 'a simply luxurious life' on Pinterest and am feeling quite inspired!
I moved from a fashion-forward city to the back of beyond a few years and have totally let myself go. I guess because I hate being here I have given up - don't really see the point in most things anymore...
Anyway, I am now halfway through my first pregnancy and starting to realise it isn't just about me anymore and I have to make the best of things instead of wallowing in self pity. So, I am starting with me and wardrobe - although the fact I am growing and have no idea what shape I will end up could be a bit of a challenge! Still, onwards and upwards...

Hello everyone, you glamorous lot!

I have been making more of an effort lately.

• making sure I straighten my hair instead on leaving it to dry naturally.
• thinking more about my clothes and generally smartening up a bit
• I decluttered my wardrobe and took 2 bin bags of clothes to the charity shop.
• I have changed from specs to contact lenses and have found that they make me look much younger
• keeping legs and armpits fuzz free
• plucked my eyebrows
• rediscovered my make up bag.
• treated myself to some perfume with my boots advantage points.

These are all small things that have actually made a difference to how I feel.

I have just been to boots and they have a 75% off sale!!!! I just bought £160 worth of stuff for £40!!! I got my sisters birthday present, a ted baker vanity case reduced from £45 to £11. I have bought loads of lovely things including slippers £2.50, make up gift set £4. I am seriously chuffed, my receipt says "total savings today £124" awesome

Oh I forgot to say I LOVE the pencil case organising idea, that is fab and I'm going to do it, thank you

Oops forgot about this thread! You are all doing so well and all sound gorgeously stylish. I am getting in to the habit of doing my make up first thing every morning. I've also bought myself a babylis big hair which does absolutely amazing things to my hair. Not doing quite so well clothes wise as I have very little nice stuff, and even less money to get anything. So basically clean and tidy is the best I can do atm. Today I am wearing grey skinny jeans, a grey longline jumper, and pink sketchers.

Hi Everyone, you're all doing so well. It's really inspiring to see the posts coming and also some newbies!

Just a quick post from me as I've got a few bits of work to finish off before I do the nursery run.

Had an apalling night's sleep last night ahead of a massive big meeting today but thanks to my newfound organisation and dedication to fabulousness I was much better organised than I would have been previously. My outfit for today was laid out last night and I did my new improved beauty routine on autopilot. Also when I went to bed late last night in a massive huff with DH I even remembered to put 8 Hour Cream on my cuticles.....now that's dedication

Outfit today is a light brown tunic (Joseph), dark brown opaques (Benetton), brown calf-length boots (Blowfish) and a leopard-print scarf (Boss Orange).

Happy fabulising

Hi all and welcome, newbies! :)

The difference between a tunic and a jumper dress imo is that a tunic is generally shapeless and not terribly flattering (certainly on my hourglass shape anyway) whilst a jumper dress is more fitted. And a tunic implies thighs and (horror) maybe even bum showing with leggings (never good) but a jumper dress and opaques = certainly nothing above mid-thigh showing. Eg I wore a jumper dress today and it's v bodycon, so there's none of the bagging under the boobs and pregnancy look that the worst of tunics convey. And I honestly think that good quality opaques flatter thighs far more than leggings do.

So today - black short and fitted jumper dress (M&S Autograph), black opaques (M&S Autograph), black cropped short sleeve jacket thing (charity shop), leopard print scarf (ancient H&M), brown knee high boots (even more ancient Principles).

My hair and nails are hideous though- and I broke ANOTHER nail today, despite Sally H. Grrr.

Thanks Remus....... My list meant to say '3 jumper dresses with opaques' in that case!
I have the unhappy combination of large boobs and short-waist. Anything which does not have a lengthening, skimming effect is a complete no go. The idea of a 'tunic' finishing anywhere north of mid thigh would horrify me. So that's one mistake I haven't been making Although I usually use thick leggings not tights..... Recently bought a pair of fleece lined tights though and am converted. Sooooo much warmer!

I have a plain black empire style jersey dress which is perfect actually....apart from feeling a bit drab and funereal. Might try coloured tights and cami? Or would a chunky necklace/long beads work? Scarf? if I can work out how to tie it artfully

:)

I like scarves, although lots of people on MN don't. I wear nearly all black and grey, so a bit of a leopard print or khaki say, can 'lift' it a bit. I rarely do coloured scarves though, as I find they can wear me, rather than me wearing them. I have a very small head/face! :)

Not sure about long beads - they might 'sit' on the bust and draw more attention to it. I prefer shorter necklaces, which sit about level with the collar bone, on me.

M&S have a gorgeous scarf at the mo - beige with a black feather print. It would look lovely with a plain black dress.

Alaska thanks for the Haramaki's tip, I've just been looking at them now wondering if it could help me! I've tried Boden before but again made the mistake of getting too short tops but I'll keep looking!

Some really good ideas going on on here. Interesting to read about jumper dresses and opaques. I didn't really know what a jumper dress was! I have just bought some leggings but no idea what to wear with them, and now I'm wondering if they should be for the house only, and will look into jumper dresses, although my budget is v. limited now.

Anyone offer any guidance on wearing boots with skinny jeans? Have only ever bought fairly 'safe' boots from Clarks... and don't seem to be able to tell the difference between a pair of 'fabulous' boots and a pair that your Granny might wear. Boots are boots to me, but I realise as I try to focus on style that there is more to it than that!!

Who knows, tell me more about fleece-lined tights! I've heard others talk about them but haven't got round to buying Asia. Are they on any way bulky?

Happy, I'm afraid I'm no help on the skinny jeans and boots front, it's something I just can't master. For some reason I can never find long boots that are wide enough on the calf to go over skinny jeans. I must have unfeasibly large calves

Buying ANY not buying Asia! Bloody predictive text!