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.....

Nope not me! I just have the naked in public ones. Now there's an idea!

Tell me about this 'face powder over moisturiser' thing. Doesn't it clog or make you look orange (as seems to be the fashion these days).

Depending what colour hair you have I can recommend the clove shampoo and conditioner from Aveda.
It enhances brunette hair without actually colouring it. Since I started using it on my mousy brown hair it looks much shinier and I have been able to stop having it coloured.
Saves time and money at the hairdresser and don't have to worry about roots either.
I think they do versions for blondes and redheads too.

always plan outfits the night before

No, but I dream someone comes round and does it for me:)

I don't wear face powder, it highlights any wrinkles on me. I wear bb cream instead. And a cream blush, both l'oreal which are lovely. Plus no 7 new lipgloss which is so near my lip shade as to look like Vaseline:)

Just wondering about the BB thing, how does everyone apply it? Fingers, brush, sponge??

My fortunes have changed over the years. When I found myself with less finances I thought I would not be able to maintain my standards in how I look.

I may come across as vain and shallow but looking good is important to me because it helps my self esteem which has taken a complete battering due to being cheated on in past relationships.

I digress. Hairspray. Not so that your hair is stiff and unloveable but a light spray to your finished style before you leave the house keeps those wispy bits of stray hair in check, whether you wear it loose or tied back/up.

Nails. Never dirty or frayed. Even if you have short nails, a clear polish or neutral shade on filed nails looks chic.

A scarf. You don't have to spend a lot of money on pretty scarves to pull your outfit together. When you are old like me, a scarf also serves to protect your neck from UVA rays. There are many different ways to wear a scarf and different scarves can add or detract from parts of your body you wish to enhance or disguise.

Footwear. Never dirty or scuffed. Only wear trainers if you are partaking in a sporting activity. Likewise all other sportswear, only wear for sport!

If you don't wear make up, make sure you don't have flaky skin, especially on your lips.

A dab of vaseline lip therapy on your lips looks make up free but your lips only better. Likewise, put a small amount on your eyelashes if you don't wear mascara.

If you wear make up, play up your eyes or your lips, not both or you will look garish.

Deportment. Sometimes it's not what you wear but how you carry yourself. If you are one of those dreadful people who scrape their feet when uh walk, learn to pick up your feet. One day someone will punch me in the face as I cavort help but tut and mutter when I am walking behind so one who drags their feet out of sheer laziness to walk properly.

Carrier bags. Ditch them. Don't look like you cannot afford a cab, and overload yourself with supermarket bags. Buy yourself some pretty and inexpensive foldaway bags to carry your goods home.

Don't wear anything too tight. The biggest clothing and footwear fail. The squeezed in look with flesh bulging over shoe straps or flab pushed up over trouser tops or back fat displayed through your top by a too tight bra just am especially you look cheap.

Wear good fitting underwear that supports you and streamlines your figure. Unless you have a perfect figure save your thongs and balconette bras for the bedroom.

Buy clothes that fit. If it cuts or digs in, rubs or chafes then you will be uncomfortable and it will show. Biggest fails are jeans and trousers cut too low.

Likewise don't wear anything that needs hoiking up every ten seconds.

Do not ever eat food in the street.

Keep some dental floss in your handbag so if you lunch you can discreetly floss your teeth in the ladies. Dirty teeth is a no no.

Wear a fragrance. A subtle fragrance gives you an air of sophistication that the great unwashed simply do not have.

lol at food in the street
MANY a time I have thought " if only she werent eating an ice cream she would look perfect"

ffs

In no way do I think that I always look perfectly groomed, but I have been trying to make an effort for a little while, and I have found that what works best for me is to think in terms of outfits.

So whenever I buy something, I will either buy something straightaway to go with it, or I will ahve thought through, before buying it, what i ahve already that would go with it. So when I bought a few Boden dresses a month ro so back, I was thinking whetehr I would need to buy shoes/boots, tights, scarf etc, or whether I already had those items to make a complete outfit. I realised that all I needed was tights (I like coloured and textured opaques), so I decided to buy the dresses as they would make ready sorted outfits. I buy only at the start of each season, when all the sizes are in stock.

I think this is because I always used to buy separates, and then felt that I had nothing to wear as I either didn't have or didn't realise that I had things to go with them.

I always wear make up as I look pale and half dead without it. I buy much less make up than I used to, and just buy what I know works for me.

I also keep last minute things like blusher, lipstick, hairbrush in a chest by the front door. And hand cream in the car (as I am usually the passenger on a journey which isnt the school run).

I have also started only keeping what can be worn that season in my wardrobe. So everything I can see, I can wear now iyswim.

I decide the night before what I am wearing the next day, and put it out, including undies and tights. I do this primarily to save time in the mornings though.

I also iron everything.

I am after tips too, as I have a long way to go towards being groomed!

Eating in the street - well a kebab dripping grease down your front does give you a little 'je ne sais pas' I suppose!

I try to only buy clothes from shop that will give cash refunds. I do this because I buy separates, not outfits...I haven't bought an outfit in years! I don't have the patience.

I get home and have a trying on session, using my mirror and my lighting....sometimes mirrors and lighting in shops can be a little too flattering. I try the new item on with lots of different shoes, scarfs, tops etc and test whether it's really me and if it fits in my wardrobe....don't take the tags off for a week, if I still live it after that, I keep it.

You know what I mean about eating in the street! It looks awful. You may be busy and on the run but noshing on a Gregg's sausage roll really isn't the look you want to be aiming for!

It always surprises me when I see people who are wearing clothing that is faded, has a small stain or even a small hole or tear. Unless you tore it or spilt something on it whilst you were out, why on earth would you get dressed in something that looks old and worn out?

Bobbly t shirts and sweaters look awful. If it has a pull in it, don't wear it out age wear it for gardening or indoors only.

Sunday Why does it surprise you? Have you not seen poor people before?

FFS

I am not the most fashionable person more classic dresser but I always look well presented on leaving the house. It gives me confidence.

I always wear make up, powder and mascara at the very least.

I pay attention to my hair.

My clothes are clean and ironed. I choose my outfit, bag, shoes & jewellery the night before.

Finger picker, my point is that there is NO excuse for wearing stained, ripped or faded clothing whether you are rich or poor. My fortunes have changed so I cannot afford to spend the same amount of money on clothes that I used to but I always look well turned out, because you can wear cheaper clothes or look for good clothing in sales or even second hand and look nice.

sunday what is wrong with eating in the streets?we all do it,it has nothing to do with being groomed!
and im wearing ripped faded jeans ATM,

I don't mean an ice cream, obviously! I cringe when I see anyone eating food in the street, it looks awful. Sit down on a park bench or outside a cafe but walking down the street stuffing your face, just looks awful.

You'd have seen me yesterday tucking into some Indian Street Food bought from a lovely food market in South West London....not a care did I give to the impression it created....it was v bloody tasty though.

snow quelle horreur

in all fairness,if you are eating in the streets,then you are in a hurry!, so i dont think its nice to judge people who eat in the streets,

travel you are so right about healthy food,enough water and sleep, you wont need any makeup if your skin looks healthy and rested, but that is easier said than done for most of us,as i think most mums just stop sleeping uninterruptedly ,even when babies are older.

You are either in a hurry or have uncovered a fantastic food market or a some great street food. Would hate to be out with someone who was so uptight that they insisted on finding a suitable place to eat after queuing for 2 hours for the best kebab in the world ever, tuck in, just like everyone else!!!

I bought some raaaaather nice boots today. All nice and brown and smart! I am notoriously hard on my footwear, so what's the best way to keep them nice (apart from not wear them)?

I even painted my nail today. Ok so they are very short but still...

My mother would be so proud of me!

Happy please could you advise what coloured tights look good ? I struggle in this area ! Thanks

I have kids, work full time and am on a tight budget. Here's what I do:

Regular hair cuts. I now colour myself every month.
Babyliss big hair is great.
Keep eyebrows groomed.
Keep nails short, clean and painted.
Learn what styles of clothes suit and stick to it.
Iron clothes.
Buy quality as opposed to quantity.
Keep shoes heeled and polished.
Wear scarves.
Keep make up simple.
Red lipstick.

I eat in the street when I am in a hurry. I am super crazy busy and don't get a break - I can't waltz into a hospital etc with food so I have to eat it beforehand, time is a luxury sometimes. Unless I stop eating which is the alternative.

good tips though - sometimes I look great sometimes I look awful. On my awful days it's because I haven't done anything with my hair, at all, except wash it and then run out the door with it wet. I spend the entire day feeling shocking and looking half dead.