How to achieve the middle class / posh girl look and lifestyle?

[stuckonchapterone]

Hello everyone.

I was seen, and read some threads similar to this, however I was wondering whether anyone could give me some advice, it would be much appreciated

I have long been a 'fan' of the posh / middle class fashion look e.g. long hair, joules, white stuff ect. I was wondering what staples you would suggest purchasing in order to achieve this look and lifestyle e.g. I am looking into buying a barbour coat, once I can get to the shops (currently recovering from an illness at the moment, and part of this post is get some advice before I update my wardrobe to make myself feel a bit better) Advice on where to shop / eat and act would be great too

Any tips / advice to help me achieve this look / lifestyle would be greatly appreciated. No negative comments please.

Thanks all!

GatoNaranja Just curious... what is your strict skin care routine?

Are you going for Scruffy Money or Manicure money? The latter is easier to pull off!

Scruffy money - tweed, jeans, boots ( expensive, brown leather), Gilet, white shirts but unironed,battered brown leather belt, pearl earrings, chunky heavy silver jewellry. No tats on show.
Hair- long, expensively highlighted, never " done" - loose and glossy or messy top knot.
Make up - good base, blusher, mascars, eyeliner, lip gloss. Nothing else.

Learn to make lemon drizzle cake (in MN house joke).
Look, something like this could be worn anywhere, dressed up or down, put a jumper over and pop into supermarket or heels and heavier make up for a party. Hides tummy if you got one.
If you haven't got the time for a paper try The Week :)

Some people do seem to have the gift of looking nice even though they don't buy the most expensive clothes. The secret seems to be grooming. Perfect hair, immaculate make-up and manicured nails. Also don't look scruffy and thrown together. Don't wear shabby clothes. I think careful planning is more important than having the money to buy the dearest clothes.

Hi! Personal shoppers at decent places don't make you buy things- make an appointment. Only buy what you love and be specific. Good luck. A great idea is to get a load of magazines and cut out what you like. Or do it on Pinterest.

I have friends who dress as you describe.

I would suggest blazers in various colours, scarves again in many colours, nice jeans, 'in' trainers such as Superga. Brogues too. Quilted jackets, gilets. Plain tops, not many patterned or floral things.

Where to eat? Strange one really! Coffee and cake at cafes. Or rather, eggs benedict as my 'posh' friends like! Wherever people recommend really.

Activities... Get a dog and walk lots. Tennis, facials, manicures, light jogging!

Rather random but hth!

Probably go for a wander around John Lewis, they have a lot of middle class styles to get some ideas

Isn't there a proverb about life being a journey. Its not about reaching the destination its about enjoying the journey.

Why not just set yourself a few challenges to take you just outside your current comfort zone and broaden your experiences.

Are there things you admire that you haven't tried and would like to? Think theater, ballet, point to point, golf, tennis, polo, sailing. A random selection of the top of my head but until you've tried a few you don't know which will spark an interest.

What would you need to do to achieve these things?

And be tall and skinny. {joke}

KiaOraOAotearoa I had a teacher who always made lemon drizzle cake haha! Can you explain the joke, I'm new to mums net, and don't know the joke... (feeling like a newbie ) Oooh, I like that jumpsuit, but I think it would drown me out, I'm a short ass small

Viviennemary Thank you for your advice I need to sort my nails out, I bite them too much!

namechange2468 Thank you for the suggestions, I don't think I can eat the coffee and cake though, I put on weight easily Eggs benedict I will try!

MisForMumNotMaid Alas, there are many things I would love to try. Mainly dancing, running and gym, although I need to get my confidence up, budget better, and ask DC father to take a more active role at home first haha

Good Lord, we really do live in a shallow old world don't we?

Stuck... Go to the s&b boards, I'm in a skincare quiche. Google 'mumsnet Caroline Hirons' thread started last month and you'll find it somehow

Read Kate Fox's 'Watching the English' if you haven't already! In amongst all the social class info (which is truly fascinating), she does some pithy summaries of the 'looks' for different groups which might be a good pointer?

parsnipbob I want to try a new look and new lifestyle, to make me happier and healthier after recovering from illness. If that makes me shallow, so be it!

Fair enough! Good luck with it.

The lemon drizzle cake saga is in classics I think. It was about a PTA mum who did an unthinkable faux pas but it was very funny, look it up.

I definitely can't help with lifestyle tips (!) but I agree with people who say a lot of it is grooming. It's actually a sort of Americanized, polished outdoorsy look. You need great hair, a manicure, immaculate skin, and so forth. I can sympathize because I'm also recuperating from a serious illness and I look ... not so great, and it's at the point where it's demoralizing. So, if you associate a "middle class" look with a sort of security in health and vigor and activity I completely get the attraction. Despite the somewhat obnoxious title I recommend this book.

NightLark Thank you for the book suggestion, I've heard of it a fair bit. I will try grab a copy online

parsnipbob Thank you

Really not sure about the manicure and lipgloss advice here... Faaaar too fussy

IMO a

Running is free? If you're well enough? Have you read up on couch to 5k. I've been meaning to try it. If your DC are very young I believe it can be done with pushchair, if older would they join you? My nine year old is interested in starting with me.

Some gyms have childcare attached which isn't prohibitive.

I eBay stuff (old toys, clothes that don't fit, anything that hasn't been touched for 12 months) for a bit of extra cash and it funds our extra activities. Not glamorous but needs must.

For life to move forward you need to decide on that challenge and then set about making things happen to achieve it. Those most sucessful in life have bounce back from adversity. There are hurdles in life. Somtimes these mean we head of in directions we'd never have considered and have the most interesting diversions.

I think you're brave and its admirable to have dreams of positive change especially when you're in recovery from ill health.

Parsnip - I'm with you, shallow, pretentious and hilarious.

Stuckonchapterone - I think you will end up far happier if you stop worrying about what others think of you or trying to fit in with a certain group of people. Find interests you enjoy, eat the food you like and dress in a way that is comfortable and flattering, forget how anyone else is dressing. Buy things you really love, otherwise you are wasting your money.