I have money to spend on myself.

[user1474792594]

I am in a fortunate position of having what is to me a lot of money to spend on myself.

I have 3k set aside.

I need make up and clothes. I am 48 and size 16 and 5ft3. My belly is huge - I am very definitely an apple. My feet are broad and a bit flat.

Can you help?

So far I know I want a down arse covering coat for the winter and a pair of Chelsea boots / ankle boots and a pair of long boots.

Other than that, I have no clue.

Help me!

What shops are recommended? I usually buy online, but realise I need to start trying things on in the shops. We have the usual shops nearby ..

I never buy Vogue ... Thought it was aimed at much younger people with A LOT of money to spend?

Any good ideas for hair styles for frizzy sort of curly hair?

Funny my friend got her colours and style done, and she finds shopping dead easy. I did wonder about that.

Really I want a fabulous pair of jeans. A blazer and a nice warm coat. Anything over that is a bonus

I hate trying stuff on so I buy it and take it home and end up keeping it because I can't be bothered to return it. And I haven't spent real money on clothes for myself since I was a size 10 20 odd years ago.

Love that Gruach!

Agree with other posters about skin and hair. I use Kiehls skincare, I'm lazy but gel face wash, toner, eye cream and either day cream or midnight recovery oil does take long.

Teeth whitening? Can make a big difference. My 50 yo lovely but not glamorous Aunt has them done and it makes her mouth 'pop'.

Take your time, find your style - have your 'colours' done? Where they tell you what colours you suit.

I'm a total advocate of quality products in a classic style that you'll wear again and again - I always go back to camel coat and riding boots btw. Not always together but in general.

*Doesn't take long

I take my make up off with a baby wipe and never use moisturiser

I often order a load of stuff so I can try it at home because I hate traipsing round the shops.

Do you ever look at Rohan? Their outdoor coats are great, my MIL has some of their down stuff and it's not too bulky. I have been trying to justify this to myself (currently, I can't!)

www.rohan.co.uk/womens-travel-and-outdoor-insulated-clothing-Downtown-Coat?ocode=04394030

No ... Vogue is about style - which is a desirable and achievable quality at any age.

It's easy, for anyone not familiar with its format, to pick it up, see a pretty dress for £3,000 and fling it down again forever.

But if you persevere you'll see that what it really does is offer you possibilities. There are regularly editorial pieces or supplements on high street clothes - but the usefulness is more subtle than that, something about mindset. So, after a year you might decide that the best t shirts you can find come from Sainsbury's, say - but you're going to wear them with a particular brand of cashmere scarf and some earrings only available from a single supplier in the whole of Europe. Or, you may stop visiting your local shops having realised that a particular online shop does everything you ever wanted.

Etc ...

But that requires patience and effort Gruach. And when it comes to clothes I have neither. I just want someone to magic me a new wardrobe where I don't have to go to 100 shops rotary anything on 😀 I a lost cause

Or try. No idea why rotary came out there

Get your hair done first.

Mac studio fix foundation applied with a beauty blender looks flawless on everyone! Get a good mascara and keep on top of your brows. With a good bronzer( benefit hoops is good) and you should feel miles better.

I'm sort of apple( maybe hourglass as I have a waist bit I do carry weight on my belly) and I wear skater dresses with tights and boots. I do have big boobs though which balances out my belly.

Ok. Have 3k clothes 5k teeth (want crowns and a superstar smile) and 2k for incidentals.

I know that sounds ridiculous but I have saved very very hard for this.

Boobs are 36e
I'm a size 14 but buy a 16 because that's the size I used to be and I hate anything clingy. Which is silly I know. I am currently wearing size 16 jeans from Marks and Sparks I can take up and down without taking the buttons out / zip down.

You've got 10k saved up for a make over?

Clarifying ...not judging. If you do that is fantastic!

If you've gone to the efort of saving the money, for this purpose, but don't feel you can be bothered to spend it well ...

Yes. I got a big promotion last year and I saved all of the extra every month. Well, the kids and me had a holiday.

I just want a make over. I want to spend the money on stuff that will make a difference. Hence the teeth. My teeth are shite.

I have also come down from size 18/20 to a size 14 and I'm not really sure what to wear. I can't wear what I wore when I was 25.

No one noes in real life. I think I'm being massively selfish at times but I worked hard for this and I want it. I want to look just together.

Work suits are trouser suits, next or Marks and Sparks with low heel court shoes. Very samey but I'm ok with that for work. It's just I want to make myself spend decent money on clothes.

No one starved for me to save this money.

That's brilliant you should be really proud! Enjoy every single penny - you've earned it! Both literally and figuratively

My dentist appointment initial one is next week. Am shitting myself. I haven't been to the dentist in years.

I suppose I should have shared it with the kids? I'm a single parent, my kids are well enough provided for by me, they didn't go short and we had a good holiday this year.

Is it selfish?

Relax! Plenty of MNers could easily spend £3,000 in their lunch hour with no trouble at all. You honestly don't have to justify yourself to anyone.

I'd imagine most of us loitering on your thread want you to have fun finding a new you. And are hoping that will involve more adventure than can be found at M&S ...

I was thinking if I told you all the jeans were per una I'd hear the Shock through the computer 😂

If you can get to Birmingham there is a v good hairdresser there that specialises in curly hair. Will give you a good cut, show you how to dry it properly and advise on which products to use. You need extra help with curly hair prone to frizz!