If you always look perfectly groomed and put together, come here a minute...

[Vix1980]

How do you do it? seriously i mean i'll do my hair then forget about the rest of me so look like a tramp, or ill make an effort with clothes then just throw my hair back, no makeup as i dont always have time with a toddler. Its an actual effort to find something in my wardrobe that actually goes together and then i have to iron it so getting ready takes forever.

I see these people with kids who look perfect, clothes pressed to within an inch of their lives, skin is glowing, hair immaculate (and coloured with no roots ), and they can look super stylish in a pair of leggings! I just dont know how they do it.....

I agree with a couple of posters who have said that it easier if you are slim, rich and have lots of time. Looking groomed takes effort and time. Most people over say 30, with children, don't look fabulous without making some effort.
In general, the wealthy SAHMs with school aged children tend to look much better than those who juggle babies and toddlers or those who work and run to the school to pick up.
However, it's mot impossible if you are none of those things.

1.From what you have said, you need to massively prune your wardrobe.
If it is so full that previously ironed things look messy by the time you take them out, it must be stuffed.
It will also make it much easier to choose an outfits as will know that everything.
a) fits b) suits you

2.If you are busty, a good bra is even more important. Saggy boobs will ruin any attempt to look chic!
If you are a little overweight, figure out what style of clothes are most flattering at the moment. You may find that dresses are flattering or perhaps slightly higher waisted jeans with a loose fitting shirt/ blouse or a slouchy jumper and knee high boots. You need to try on clothes and experiment. I appreciate this is easier said than done with small children. I often order on the internet and try on in the evening because small children and lots of hanging around in shops doesn't work well!

1. Get into a routine of making a effort- organise outfit the night before with accessories, as others have said, keep all make up in a little make up bag so that it only needs take 5 minutes to apply, get into a habit of lucking eyebrows/ filing nails when children in the bath. The Sunday night beauty routine is a good idea. Maintenance of boots, coats, clothes in general is important too.

1. If you can't afford regular trims, long hair is much easier. Find a couple of up dos that work and practice them.

Re hair roots- can you not touch up colour at home? I do a diy and only get a salon colour every 3-4 months to make it affordable.

vix
having everything organized,and sorted really saves time,
i put all my summer stuff away,and now i have my autumn clothes with a few tops and tees in my wardrobe. everything is within easy reach,and you can actually workout what goes with what when everything is neatly displayed.
i would like to say that good looking hair and skin is more important than makeup, so i would buy good hair treatments and and skincare and have facials rather than spending loads on makeup,

Yes, I used to put all my summer clothes away, get rid of all tatty stuff, have cleaned the good stuff, shoes repaired, cleaned and put away, then out with the winter things:) swap over in summer. Saves space too.

I am abroad at the moment so its just summer things all the way, mist unforgiving:)

In the spirit of this thread I put on some lip gloss today and I did look better somehow:) just need to wean myself off my Birkenstocks..

I agree with having a routine, do little but often eg face mask on Monday, toenails on Tuesday etc.

Cheat where you can eg I can't be bothered with moisturising my body, but I put a few drops on baby oil in my bath.

Find products that do more than one thing eg body brushing deals with cellulite and exfoliates at the same time.

A (childless) work colleague always looks put together. She never wears anything tatty. She looks after her clothes and treats them well. Her ugg boots are immaculate - she she's a protector spray on them and doesn't wear them when it's raining.

Watching with interest, I usually look like I've just fallen out of bed!

I do think eyebrows make a big difference, if they're nicely shaped they can make you look more groomed even when you don't have time for make up. I've just bought a tinted lip balm for winter which I'm hoping will help!

So my list for tonight when ds goes to bed is to:

1.Sort out summer stuff pack it all away.

1. Try on the remaining clothes, make a pile of what doesnt suit and what needs mending.
2. Im going to try and do a french polish on my nails (used to be part of my sunday night ritual - im bringing it back )
3. Organise my jewellery, i live in a tiffanys heart necklace and matching bracelet. I have 3 jewellery boxes and the rest hardly sees the light of day. I will clean any jewellery that needs it.
4. Im going to make a list to see which bits i need to add to my wardrobe to "bring everything together".

This list may run into next week also

Regarding makeup... I had eyelash extensions and they made a massive difference, so didn't have to bother with eye make up/ mascara. I had them done late July and most of them are still in place today.

I am no where near groomed and have been fed up lately with my 'non style'. So I've invested in a couple of knee length skirts, wooly tights and plain turtle neck sweaters that all inter match. It's an easy look and I feel so much better.

I am a FT working mum with two kids under three. My tips:

1. Buy tights in bulk. Nothing ruins an outfit more than a ladder. Ditto throw them out when they sag. Autograph good.
2. Have a basic make-up routine, and have the bare essentials at home and at work. Lipstick great. Ditto hairbrushes.
3. Throw out the crap clothes.
4. Keep accessories simple. Easier to throw everything with everything.
5. Walk WHENEVER you can. Stairs not lifts.

I hate the girls in my work who always look slim, tanned and well groomed (and they know it). I want them to hurry up and have kids so I can feel rather smug when their appearances change

I too wish I had more time to make myself look glam. Right now I'm full of flu and look awful!

Its clear from this thread that I need to spend a bit of time THINKING about what I'm going to wear. I tend to just grab whatever is to hand and shove it on, so its no wonder I generally look a mess!

Make-up is clearly key too. I usually shove on some mascara, but BB cream does make a difference. I'll go and see if I can find it!

I could probably do with getting up a bit earlier in the morning too ...

Keep a tidy wardrobe -easy to find things -regular pruning of wardrobe also.
Invest in a Babyliss BH
Touch up your own roots with a root touch up between salon visits.
Invest in magnifying mirror groom eye brows wax tasche as needed
Clear nail polish if you can't grow your nails always polish toe nails
Good base then mascara and a little lip shine takes seconds
Selection of scarves- try TK maxx
Have a set of basics for me it's Boden cord tunic dresses with a long sleeved layered top thick tights and boots just now for work.
Just need accessorised with scarf or beads,
Weekends it's skinny dark tint jeans layered top coloured cardi or V neck .
No uggs please or unironed or stained clothes
Good bags.
Floss and make a friend of the dental hygienist
Just an extra five minutes can make all the difference.

Blow dried or "big haired" hair
Never let roots show
Manicure
Eyebrows waxed (properly) and tinted
Botox (stops me looking weary)
Bronzer, blusher and mascara as a minimum
Absolutely everything ironed
Good quality clothes

I thoroughly recommend getting your colours done. One of the best bits about it is that if you stick to your palette, you will always have something to go with any new purchases you make. This has proved to be a real eye opener for me as I had plenty of clothes but many unworn items.

I'm still learning, but getting there,

I have just decluttered my wardrobe, i have 2 massive bags of items with tags still on that im waiting to slim into.

I give up with them, theyre off to the charity shop in the morning so i can make space for things that i can just grab easily, although i will try and plan the night before. I suspect it will be sooooo much easier if i do it that way and ill get into a habit of doing it.

I iron absolutely everything anyway, yet still look like ive been dragged through a hedge. I also need to sort out my bras as someone up thread said, since having ds i know ive changed size i just havent had a chance to go and get measured again.

I usually do my hair at home too, when i get a chance that is, i have roots right now but will aim to touch up every 4 weeks as i think thats how long it takes for the roots to show through, Saw lots of people in the park today who literally looked liked theyd climbed into their wardrobe and wore whatever stuck, yet they all looked fab!

Starting small but aiming for big things, fed up of feeling this way, thankyou all for your tips and help!

sigh

Some people make Primark look expensive

and some people make designer look cheap...

Sadly I am the latter. I hardly ever go anywhere and feel that I look nice. :-(

I have my roots done every 4 weeks
Shellac every 2 weeks
Pedi once a month
Threading, just in the local shopping centre once a month and top up with tweezers at home.

I have a few core clothes: skinnies in blue, black, grey and black sparkle
Plain H&M vests and long sleeve tops in black, grey & white
Black leather jacket
Tan leather jacket
Leather bags in tan, cream, black
Long black boots, black biker boots, neutral colour ballet pumps

These are the core of my wardrobe and I then add a selection of blouses and knits. I always take out my outfit the night before right down to socks and jewellery so I just have to get dressed.

Simple make up: BB cream, blusher, mascara, neutral lipstick: no variation and it's easy to look groomed.

What is BB cream ?

I put fake tan on my face as it stops me looking so tired.

I quite often feel groomed in the morning when I go to work (office job) but by 11am I look tired and scruffy again. Where am I going wrong?!

BB cream stands for blemish balm - see www.vogue.co.uk/beauty/2012/06/29/10-best-uk-bb-creams---beauty-benefit-balms-with-spf

The Botanics one is fab.

Been through my wardrobe and I was ruthless took about 10 minutes. There is a huge pile of clothes waiting to go to te charity shop and I feel immense relief I no longer have to wear or keep any of them!

Hardly anything left, but it all goes together so instead of replacing anything Im going to wear what I have.

This makes getting dressed very easy indeed:)

I need to learn to dry my long hair straight. If I leave it or do it myself it frizzes and goes wavy, or is so covered in product it looks ok but has to be washed again.

I found that having a collection of necklaces always bring together any outfit! I've got quite a big collection now of mainly chunky beaded ones of all colours so I have something that goes with everything and they all came from charity shops so cost next to nothing!

Anyone else have a recurring daydream where they learn to sew and adapt patterns and them make themselves a wardrobe of smart, well-fitting comfy dresses in different colours and never again have to think about what they're wearing?

Or is it just me?