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Style and beauty

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Original poster

Personal shopper in London - need help with a total revamp, don't know where to start!

10 replies

MuffinMclay · 04/02/2007 21:28

I am in desperate need of a total revamp. I was a tiny size 8 before getting pg with ds and now, 9 months after the birth, am still a size 12. I've got nothing to wear (kept not buying clothes in the hope I'd fit back into my old ones) and feel fat and frumpy. I hate clothes shopping at the best of times, and haven't a clue what I should be wearing, what would suit me etc.

I was thinking of going to one of the department stores in London and using a personal shopper to help me. Can anyone recommend one? I guess Selfridges or Harvey Nichols are the most obvious places to go? I'd rather buy a few quality items that will last a few years, but don't want to spend an absolute fortune.

Help!

OP posts:

Whoooosh · 04/02/2007 21:30

Selfridges-they are great-and better value I think than Harvey Nicks.
Good luck-know how it feels-though wish I was a size 12....

utterlyconfused · 04/02/2007 21:30

I'm not in London so I really haven't a clue what Im saying, but I've used the personal shopper at John lewis and it was free and brilliant.

PrincessPeaHead · 04/02/2007 21:32

my sister went to topshop for a personal shopping at the same sort of stage as you - a bit after the birth, but still feeling a bit bigger than she'd like to be. she got some great clothes, including some things that she loved but would never have tried on herself, and it didn't cost a fortune.

if you think you might move out of a 12 in due course it might be a good place to start - a confidence boost and a good amount of new things, without spending a fortune

oxford circus is the branch you want

Original poster

MuffinMclay · 04/02/2007 21:41

I know size 12 doesn't sound big, but I'm really short, so now I look round, whereas I used to look petite. I used to be able to eat anything and not put on weight. I eat so much less now but haven't lost more than a few pounds of the baby weight.

I don't feel like a topshop kind of person - way too stylish. I've been in there a few times (even bfore ds) and just felt old.

OP posts:

PrincessPeaHead · 04/02/2007 21:50

my sister is 39 if that helps....

anyway I know how you feel. I think some people's metabolism changes dramatically after pregnancy. It is a huge shock!

fashionsista · 04/02/2007 21:57

i am a personal stylist. perhaps I could help. I am also a slimming club consultant. Have you tried to lose weight sensibly. It is really difficult for people who have never had to diet find themselves in a position where they have got to look at their eating habits. Perhaps you are not eating enough of the right things. Also with regards to the clothes, you really need to ask yourself if you are ready to accept your different shape. That is the main change you have to make.

Original poster

MuffinMclay · 05/02/2007 10:06

Fashionsista - I think I eat very sensibly. I eat lots of fruit and veg, and no processed foods or ready meals. I do regular exercise too - walk the dog in the countryside twice a day for 45 minutes each time. I think that the problem is that I used to do much more exercise - at least 2 hours dog walking a day at a good pace (not slowed down by having a baby on my back), and I used to do an hour or two's digging at the allotment most days. Unfortunately, I don't have time for an allotment now (and there aren't any where we live now).

I will have to get used to the new bigger me. I guess I'm looking for a new wardrobe that makes me look fabulous (or vaguely acceptable anyway). I don't understand what clothes flatter me, in terms of shape, colour etc.

OP posts:

RanToTheHills · 05/02/2007 10:18

oh MM - don't be too hard on yourself. Think loads of women still have weight to lose at this stage. I'm not fat at all but hadn't quite lost all of my post-baby weight at about 14 months then absolutely started shedding pounds all of a sudden, ending up postively gawky. Don't they say it takes the body at least 1 yr to recover postnatally?

Original poster

MuffinMclay · 05/02/2007 10:36

RTTH - my dentist said that the same thing happened to her. I'm holding out hope for that.
At the same time, we're ttc baby no 2, so perhaps I should give up and come back to being thin in a few years time.

OP posts:

fashionsista · 05/02/2007 10:53

You sound like you are doing all the right things so don't beat yourself up. Plus I really think that your body changes so much after having a child, most women don't go back to the size they were. Price some of us have to pay for our beautiful children but I think that they are worth it. Whose style do you admire that is around the same shape/age as you now - who is your celebrity twin?

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