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.

Buggering!

Not buffering.

Bloody autocorrect

Khaki cords sound lovely - I'm too big for Top Shop I think. I would just look at them and think what would I wear with them, what would I wear on my feet...and then I'd end up going for jeans again.

Were they the khaki cord skinnies? I was tempted by those but bought normal khaki skinnies instead. I was v pleased to be able to get a Topshop size 12, despite having put weight on again recently.

How much is your budget for a red handbag, Muddling?

here they are. They have them in burgundy too, I shall wear them with a denim shirt and blue canvas hitops or cream jumper or animal print blazer and Grey ankle boots. I love them so much. Almost as much as my new boots.

Always, pull everything out and experiment.

A tenner? Bargain! Mine were like but not cord and I thought I'd got a bargain at £25! :)

So far I've worn mine with tan heeled ankle boots or with black biker/Cuban-esque boots and a biker jacket.

LIKE THOSE - lost the word, 'those' somehow...

here they are. They have them in burgundy too, I shall wear them with a denim shirt and blue canvas hitops or cream jumper or animal print blazer and Grey ankle boots. I love them so much. Almost as much as my new boots.

Always, pull everything out and experiment.

bloody hell! sorry.

they were a tenner and they are lovely and soft. i love topshop jeans/cords. I am trying to decide whether to get this whaddya think?

Have seen that irl. Not overfond tbh, sorry. But you might be 21 and utterly gorgeous, for all I know - in which case, buy it as you can wear whatever the heck you like! :)

I'm 35 and could try harder I like it but I dont know if I would just get it because its cheap and quirky. I'm v slim (size 6-8) but what boots would I wear with it? what top?

I'd wear it with opaques, heeled ankle boots (slouchy at the top rather than tight) and a fitted black top. It's the fabric I don't like - but am becoming more and more of a fabric snob nowadays.

hi ladies, have been following this thread since it started but first time ive posted. just want to thank you all for your down to earth advice and encouragemnet to take a bit of time for ourselves. i can get so bogged down in what everyone else is doing in my life i often have put me on the back burned. soooo, since i have been following this thread i have starred to use moisturiser twice a day and have mad a vow to wear the clothes in my wardrobe that suit me and clear everything else out, baby steps i know but i feel the better for it. thanks again ladies , this is what mumsnet is about and not about some of the bitching that goes on in other threads. keep up the good work

Trampy.....would you pay £30 for it and absolutely love it at that price? If the answer is no, then your attraction is to the price, not the skirt!

Hello! I have been following this thread for a while too and have finally decided to post.

I have recently lost lots of weight (45lbs so far, aiming for a little bit more) and have gone from a size 20 to a size 12/14. I now have no idea what clothes suit me so shopping is difficult - I'm still looking for baggy cover ups! So I need a shove in the right direction style wise.

I tend to be lazy and just wash my face and moisturise, which worked well as a look when I was 20 but I am almost 35 and so would look much better with a little bit of make up. So I am resolving to wear some every day, even if it is just a bit of tinted moisturiser and mascara.

I got my hair cut and coloured yesterday (bob with a fringe, naturally mid brown but coloured mahogany), plus spent a voucher I got for Christmas on having my eyebrows waxed and my fingernails done with Shellac.

Today I am going to wear straight leg jeans tucked into flat knee high black boots, with a black long sleeved t-shirt and a black cable cape/poncho thingy that I got in the Next sale (and was delighted because a small fitted me for possibly the first time in my life!)

I'm hoping that posting here will keep me motivated to try a little bit harder!

Thanks Trampy but I really have nothing to experiment with.
For work I have a couple of pairs of black trousers and various tops.
For weekends I have a couple of pair of jeans and various tops.
Very boring and really no room for mixing it up.

Remus, see, like that it sounds fab and glam!

Cos and jemima, welcome to our little thread. I'm so glad you have found it helpful, I've found it incredibly supportive as well aspractical. Ps, jemima, we'll done on the weight loss, that's impressive! Show it off!

Whoknows, no I wouldn't. Its nice but not that nice. That's my answer, isn't it?

Always, can you have a browse through the sales? There are some fab things at the moment, reduced even further. Zara has a truly ace sale on, ditto warehouse and topshop. And, of course, ebay. Set yourself a budget and work to it.

Last night I shaved, did my eyebrows and did my feet. Today I'm in my new cords, a denim shirt with a vest under, plaited tan belt and hitops.

Hi all!

I have smothered my feet in Flexitol until I stink this morning (am a weirdo though and rather like the smell). Going to go for a walk soon, but it will involve cake.

Trampy - I think the skirt would work in the way I described it providing the fabric is made less 'cheap' by the other stuff - so really good quality opaques, perhaps a cashmere and silk mix black jumper? I'd stick a biker jacket on top too (real leather - grey or chocolate or tan, rather than black).

Welcome newbies. Jemima - well done on your amazing weight loss. :)

Cos - apologies in advance if I bitch on here btw. I must admit, I like MN BECAUSE of the 'telling it straight' nature of the site.

Remus my budget is probably around £20 but will go over if I must so many things to pay out this month :(
Just spent most of the morning pampering and reading the groomed thread so a few more items going on my wish list.
Today I'm wearing dark blue skinny jeans white vest top and grey shirt and my studded converse style pumps that came from new look sale.

Remus, that's the problem. I don't have any cashmere or real leather... I am the consummate cheapskate... Although, my faux suede bikerjacket would look ace..

Muddling, I shall continue to look.

Hi all, haven't been on here for a week or so mainly becausebi have fallen off the glam wagon. I had a night out felt great, indigo skinnys, black silky top teamed with high heeled shoe boots, blazer and massive clutch. However got up next day chucked hair back and although I have made an effort with makeup I have spent most of my time in work clothes.

So I have a week and a half off work and I sm going all out, starting from the inside out aiming for drinking more water, eatingmore fruit and keeping up with skincare routine.
Think I am going to the next town along gor a rummage through some second hand shops too, they are much better than ours, some nice brands to be found.
Everyone looks to have been having fun and hello to all the new posters.

Wornout, we've all fallen off the Wagon, great thing is, unlike diets etc, it's so easy to get back on. I bet you looked great.
I love charity shops too, I get loads of stuff on ebay/in sales/second hand.

Thanks for the welcome!

Right, I have a plan:

• Lose the last 10lbs by May (which will be a year since I started losing weight)
• Read lots of fashion magazines and blogs to work out a style that will suit me now that I am slimmer, as my old style of bold patterned tunics etc just swamps me now.
• Remember to cleanse, tone and moisturise EVERY morning and night without fail.
• Get into the habit of washing, blow drying and straightening my hair at night so that it just needs a quick tidy up in the morning before work, this seems to work better for me than trying to do it in the morning and running out of time.
• Wear a little bit (light foundation, mascara, lip gloss) of make up and a squirt of perfume every day.
• Get my hair trimmed and coloured and my eyebrows waxed every 8 weeks (pencil the date into my diary) rather than waiting until it looks awful.
• If the Shellac doesn't ruin my nails get into the habit of having that done regularly too.

2013 is going to be the year that I crack being presentable and I'm hoping this thread will help me!

I've only just found this thread but boy do I need it! Marking my place so I can catch up tomorrow

Marking place.

Just been to shops today. I'm a tall 18 and I wear skinnies, but I end up roots looking like Lisa dingle, slouching about in treggings and maternity long sleeved ts. I don't know where I'm going wrong. I'm very lucky I have money for clothes but never seem to buy right.

I have reserved a khaki long slleeved t pleated silk panel at front, planning to get grey straight leg (almost skinny) cords or jeans and some grey suede ankle boots from Clarks what coat for spring.

I like mint velvet some monsoon , m n s I'm too big for river island n top shop.
Oh n fess to having a next directory card addiction but I'm just getting basics from there like jeans.