Frumpy and ugly and fat! Help

[loopyloou]

We have just had a photo taken at work which will appear in the local paper and I can't believe how fat and frumpy I look

I'm only just under a stone overweight, but didn't hold my stomach in. My hair is a frizzy mess and my teeth also look awful.

I need a complete makeover, but have no money really.

Probably a haircut would be the place to start, but I always think it suits me better when it's long, so it's a matter Of letting it grow. At the moment it's shoulder length. It doesn't suit me straightened either.

Clothes wise I have few work clothes as I'm only meant to work very part time but seem to constantly provide holiday/sickness cover at the moment.

Teeth - again I can't afford the work I need, but also have a bit of a dentist phobia. I have several gaps, one quite near the front where the bridge fell out 4 years ago and I haven't been back to have it refitted. I have an appointment booked in September, but can't afford the work tight now.

What does everyone do to make themselves feel better/smarter?

T-shirt top You'd have to make sure you got one big enough not to stretch across your chest.

I'm off to bed now. Thanks for the fantasy shopping expedition! With some like / don't like feedback from you, I'm sure S&B's finest will have you all polished up in no time :)

I keep thinking that chiffon top in peach would look really nice with the rust pencil skirt. Am desperately reminding myself I'm broke

Thanks Garlic, lots of ideas there. Not keen on long sleeves too much. I do like wrap tops, but struggle to find ones that aren't too low. Or pleated ... Have you seen some?

Prefer capped or short sleeves.

Glad it's not just me with trousers. I have a pair from M&S that are great in the morning, but by lunchtime too tight and uncomfortable.

I've been looking at slightly frilly/ruffled short sleeve blouses on eBay. They need to be at least slightly fitted to give me some shape.

Where do you get tie waisted trousers?

I bought some elasticated ones, but then they are really baggy on the waist.

Exercise in the fresh air,smile a lot,and accept that sometimes photographs can catch you at a really unflattering angle.

I doubt any of us look anything like we think we do tbh.You are focusing on the parts you don't like when you look at that photo.

Go and get some professional pictures done and tell the photographer the bits you are not so keen on. You will then see how completely different you can look just by different light and angles.

It all needs to be in context.

Thanks VerySmallSqueak, you are probably right. I hated the fact that the only time I'm in the local paper, the photo is awful, but I guess people who know me will just see, well, me!

However, I will try to smarten up a bit at work, as my job is customer facing all the time.

By the way, I try not to smile because of my teeth, I think I'm going to have to do something about a bridge.