Total scruffs trying to smarten up. A bit.

[Fraxinus]

Hi, is anyone else a slovenly scruff?
Have you got a 10 yr old painty jumper which is covered in bobbles but you love it so much you still wear it?
Are the soles coming off your shoes, but you can't be bothered to trawl the shops for another pair?

Do you want to join me in alternately revelling in scruffiness and celebrating managing a presentable look?

I do feel lonely. Most of the mums where I live take a lot of effort in their appearance, but I just love my scruffy clothes so much!

Oh, god yes, I am the doyenne of bag lady chic!
I can't get my head round the idea of dressing up for dressing up's sake, so tend to frighten the horses. I have, though, spent a frightening amount of money this month trying to remedy the situation. I have the strange idea that if I replace my "bad" clothes with good ones I will look better more of the time.
I even feel sorry for my poor husband who has to be seen out with me.
Must try harder!

Hi helzapoppin... Great to meet you... Just wish I could spot you in the school yard!

Bizarre, isn't it, doesn't matter how expensive your clothes are... It's the way you wear them...

I took a pair of scissors to my hair yesterday, and it feels soo much better to have got rid of the straggly ends.

Any of your recent purchases that you think will become well loved and become scruffy standbys?

Hiya, my new years resolution was to make more of an effort and, apart from the odd bad day, its been ok. the last month I've been back to my old ways though, it's just been too warm and muggy and I've been dealing with DS

Hi Lizzie loo..... Can you share your strategy? Did you spend a minimum amount of time on dressing? Did you plan your outfit the night before?

And go on, what have you been wearing in the warm weather? I found a lovely sacky dress... Lovely and cool round the legs. Just wore it almost every day did wash it a lot too mind!

Hi Fraxinus!
I have a wardrobe full of presentable clothes, but a bad habit of wearing my gardening gear and then popping to the shops looking awful.
I also keep clothes "for best" by which time they are out of fashion. Ive never got my head round the idea that I could, with a bit of effort, look good every day.
Last year I came back from living abroad. Had to ditch a lot of old favourites before coming back, so telling myself its ok to restock this year.
My dh is good, he likes to see me in new stuff.
I'm of the generation that totally forgot the power of dressing attractively, you know, thinking its shallow to worry too much about appearance. That's a hurdle I have to overcome, plus my own slovenliness!

I've been sticking to a routine, once a week I use a hair and face mask, and I've been using make up with extra benefits, like bb creams. I've also gone through all of my old underwear and clothes and got rid of anything that I hadn't worn in 12 months.

Another thing is, accessories! belts, bracelets, necklaces all make an outfit look more polished and pulled together.

During this weather I've been in shorts, light skirts and vests. Today I'm wearing a cotton skirt and a sleeveless denim shirt with low tan wedges.

Shoes are really important, aren't they.

I read on here that you have to give your shoes a day off every other day at least or they start smelling, too. I have 2 pairs of shoes, a pair of trainers and a pair of sandals. I must put new shoes top of my list now.

Lizzie loo... What is a Bb cream?

I couldn't do that to my wardrobe! I love rediscovering a blouse from 10 years ago that has been hidden for 5!

And I am STILL looking for the black silk blouse that I'm sure I didn't chuck away. I haven't seen it for about 5 years through :-(

Helzapoppin I know what you mean. I was brought up on a budget, and this meant lovin my jeans and hand knitted jumper, and having a handmedown dress for parties (that I hated).

Also it was ok to wear the same clothes all the time. I find it so hard at work to wear different outfits...

I know my kids feel differently about clothes because they have so much choice. We are given a bin liner of handmedowns twice a year, and they pick and choose what they want!