Complete overhaul needed

[definatlylosingmysanity]

I've tried to start this 3 times but each time sounded like an idiot so I will just cut to the bare bones of it.

I'm a mum to 6 kids 1 who has special needs and life has been totally hectic. My past 2 pregnancies have completely destroyed my teeth due to bad morning sickness that lasted through most of them. I'm due to go into hospital in the next 3 months to have my teeth removed . I am so glad of this as I have had reaccuring abcesse's during each pregnancy and none can be saved and I won't have anymore pain.

I haven't worn make up in years and when I did it was all black and purple . My hair has been changed to a variety of colours the last being orange and blue. Had tried changing the colour but an accident with hair bleach and forgetting times my hair broke and fell out in clumps so resorted to a number 2 haircut dyed black to cover up what was there.

I tend to wear jeans or leggings with either t shirts or long sleeve tops with hoodies or cardigans over the top and spend most of my time in flat ballet pumps or trainers or my dm style boots when the weather is bad. The colours of my wardrobe is black and purple with the odd pair of blue jeans. I have 2 dresses that I never wear as I hate my legs being full of visable viens. I also have 1 black trouser suit I bought in 1999 and a pair of black velvet trousers.

I am quite pale on my face with a slight tan on my arms prefer to be pale though and I have blue eyes with green flecks. My hair is in 2 lengths as I haven't cut it since the bleach disaster as I had hair half way down my back and want it back . It's a mousy brown colour with dark auburn tints in it naturally, I hate the brown so plan to dye in a more natural auburn colour. I am 5'5" and a size 8 and want to look nice for a change instead of a frumpy mess and at some point in next 6 months I plan on doing an ou course to help me back into work when that becomes a viable option.

Please please help I have no idea how to start making the changes and have no idea on things like make up colours. I'm 34 this year and have been stuck in a 20 year rut and advice at all would be welcomed.

Tia

I'm no style guru, but I had my make up done at a few places in the run up to my wedding and really enjoyed it. I tried Laura Mercier at Space NK and Benefit at House of Fraser and got lots of tips. There was no pressure to buy but I was so pleased with how I looked (and I'm not usually pleased with how I look!) that I spent quite a bit.

You sound like you have quite alternative gothicy style - is that something you want to keep? There's a lot of 90s grungy clothes in the shops at the moment. Do you live near a big city? Lots of bigger branches of top shop offer free personal shopping. All the big dept stores do as well, but their clothes might be more conservative.

Whose style do you admire? Have you been on Pinterest? That's a good way of thinking through what sort of things you'd like to buy, rather than heading for a shop and feeling completely overwhelmed! I'm typing this with Bake Off on in the background and was just thinking how well Mel and Sue do causal 30 something dressing - jeans, blazers, shirts or stripy tops. They're inspiring me to shop.

I'm sure I've cross posted with heaps of more stylish people!

Thank you for the reply. I have been upto the make up counters but have never asked due to being embarrassed about not knowing much. The nearest big city is an hour away on train we have a Debenhams marks and Spencers and 2 small shopping centers.

I haven't really ever looked at any body's style and just tended to go with what I liked look of as long as it was practical and comfy and I haven't ever used pinterest I just tend to stick to fb and mn.

I do love the gothic style but I calmed it down when my oldest was at nursery due to a few comments from other parents which sounds silly now but at the time I was young and worried how I looked would affect my son's chances at making friends.

I will have a look on pinterest though and buy a few magazines and see if I can find anyone who's style catches my eye .

victorian gothic is one of the big new trends , so you'll have lots of choice if you stick with what you like. I get my hair done at a school for hairstylists and they have always done a great job. They ask for advice from their supervisors who are top notch. I love looking at pinterest for ideas. Getting your teeth removed and a good set of replacements is going to boost you so much. Next comes hair and makeup and by that time you'll have several ideas about what clothes to go for=a whole new you! Go for it -you'll look amazing and get a great job !

Thank you have installed pinterest on phone and plan to have a look to get ideas and I have booked an appointment to go see a make up consultant next week after my hair has been dyed .

Love to see the new you-post a pic!

I will once all done will post a before and after not had a pic taken since my teeth got really bad due to how embarrassed I am .

the after pic is what i want to see!

ok I have pick my hair for when it's a bit longer it's a colour style I found on pinterest ( it's been a bit of an addiction tonight ) called tortoise shell saved it and plan on taking it to hairdressers with me to make sure it will suit my skin tone .

tortoiseshell eh? Sounds like an interesting mix. Maybe can work in some of the red you like.

My goodness, sounds like you've had a tough time.
Make up wise I like bobbi brown and laura mercier but if they're over budget try boots no7 as they can colour match your skin. Don't buy anything like foundation though until you've got loads of samples and then you can see how they look in natural light and how your skin reacts. When I was looking for a new tinted moisturiser most of the counters were happy to give me a sample.
Clothes wise, pintetest is great. Just pin loads of looks that you like and then try and see what the common theme is and what sort of look you are drawn too. But use anything as inspiration-people watching, magazines, TV, shop windows etc. Work out what you really neede for your lifestyle eg jeans, boots, jacket. Then it's just a case of going shopping and having a wild try on session and see what works and what doesn't. Try lots of colours on and see what makes your face glow and what makes you look dowdy. If you don't have a big budget just buying a winter scarf in a colour that makes you glow that you will wear every day can brighten up your look.
Finally, stick around on s&b and you'll get loads of ideas/inspiration.

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Hoping the link works this is the tortoise shell style.

I'm slowly going through my wardrobe and trying to decide what I might be happy to try a new style of. I've had a good look at pinterest and looking at clothes it's took me 2 days to figure out how to pin things so im going to try and find what I like look of and I have asked a friend to come shopping with me when I have a list of things together as I thought an extra opinion of how clothes suit me might help.

Love the tortoise shell layering of colors! Maybe get a make up session after you do your hair? So exciting! Have fun shopping with your friend.