restyle me for 2017 please?

[Konyaa]

I am descended from a long line of absolutely raggedly fashion denying academics! Surprise surprise: I am am absolutely raggedly fashion clueless academic.

But I have decided 2017 is going to be my year to take care of how I look. Especially as I conveniently have a birthday before New Years! Wondering if you can help me?

Age: 31/32
Ethnicity: Indian
Height: 5 foot 6
Size: 12/14 (top 12ish, bottoms 14 ish)
Hair: black, shoulder length and permanently unkempt, tangled, rough, gets into nasty tangles at night
Usual attire: tights, skirt, top
Face shape: round
Glasses
Make up: do not own any and have no clue in hell where to start
Skincare regimen: nothing, occasionally warm water
Skin problems: none, never had any. Normal skin. No fine lines.
Wardrobe: whatever's selling at tesco
Features I don't like: heavy upper arms, bum and thighs, runs in my family.

So. Where do I begin? I want to look together, Dewey skinned, nice brows, hair un frizzy and in place. Some light make up.

I literally want to be told what to buy :( I have no idea what a bb cream does, what a foundation is, and how on earth to stop my bloody hair tangling at night.

Any help appreciated!

Ah right shoulder length, maybe not French plait. Could you try pigtail/bunches types things? Might look a bit mad for bed but if the hairs parted where it normally gets tangled it might keep it apart if you see what I mean. Be gentle with it when washing, drying and combing so you don't damage it. No scrubbing and rubbing! Argan oil is fab, a great suggestion.

Like I said previously I wouldn't bother with make up if you haven't already, unless it's something your really keen to try. My day makeup is blusher (NARS multiple stick - like a big giant crayon - you just draw it on and blend it in and it's quite sheer and blend able so hard to go wrong with) and I fill in my eyebrows in with a pencil - which I wouldn't bother with but I live in Liverpool so it feels essential and I feel reasonably groomed. My skins not great but I feel the glow of blusher is enough of a distraction. Go and ask a makeup counter to do you up but stress that you want it really simply, maybe even limit them to 3/4 products. If it's something you fancy you could play with some bright lippies, I love bright fushcia lips on women with dark skin but loads of colours look very nice on dark skin.

Like PP mentioned getting your eyebrows waxed or threaded can make a big difference- but if you go for it is stress that you just want a bit of a tidy up and not too much shaping.

You say you have a nice figure and your a nice size(very similar to myself I must say), I'd just be aiming for slightly figure hugging, well fitted clothes that you're comfortable in. What do you normally wear? Eg jeans and t shirt, dresses etc

Don't be sad! You're going there for your brains and expertise.

And having no make up is fine, everyone looks fine without it! There's nothing wrong with an un-made-up human face

John Lewis do a similar stylist session where they will go through styles, colours etc that suit your body shape. I would mention that you are after a capsule wardrobe so then they can recommend good quality basics that you can add to later, items like a white shirt, tops, black skinny jeans (which can be dressed up or down), slim leg trousers, dresses and a jacket (for radio/tv/interviews). You don't have to buy everything that they recommend, just take away ideas as a template for future shopping trips.

www.johnlewis.com/our-services/fashion-advice-service

Have a look on pinterest for styles that you like, you sound as if you want a more polished, professional but comfortable look.

I would second a tinted moisturiser, mascara and a tinted lip balm. I also don't wear much makeup, but if I want to look nice that's as much as I can wear without feeling like a clown.

I had my eye brows threaded for my wedding a few years ago and really liked how that looked.

For your shape, I'd find some nice wrap dresses, tights and boots. Versatile and looks nice.

With regards to your skin care just get into a good cleansing and moisturizing regime now to prevent damage from the elements later on. It doesn't have to be fancy or expensive products, I use super drug Vitamin E hot cloth cleanser and moisturiser and then add sunscreen on top factor 30.

I too have Asian skin and spend a lot of my time not wearing make up but do spend a bit of effort on skincare as my face is naked most of the time. I also use a face mask weekly either a clay/mud mask or body shop blue corn scrub and I also get a facial every six weeks.

I try to get a regular hair cut otherwise my hair would resemble a scarecrows! Use a weekly deep conditioning treatment and switch to a silicone free shampoo like Body shop rainforest shampoo. I had to wash my hair a little bit more often initially with this shampoo as it's very gentle and I have greasy roots/dry ends but now my hair is very soft.

I know this blog is aimed at the early 40's woman but it gives you an idea of how to pull an outfit together using a few key pieces

www.midlifechic.com/chic-basics/

Konyaa I am your height and size, and similar face shape to Grainne.

I think the style you are going for is a classic, tailored look for work, and I think it should look really good on you, it should work with your body shape.

The problem is that such style requires a proper, classic cut, and it is harder to find at the cheaper retailers. You need to look for clothes that are more fitted under the boobs and at the waist. I can tell if something will fit me by looking at the construction of a dress or a blouse: usually the clothes must have DARTS, that is seams, on the chest and along the torso to look tailored. If a blouse does not have darts and instead looks like two flat pieces of fabric stitched together, it will not fit well, will be baggy (it could only look well on very thin women with boyish figure). Wrap dresses are also very flattering for your body type.
Classic tailored dresses like this can usually be found in Hobbs and Phase Eight.

When choosing jumpers, also look for something slightly fitted in the waist. Or, if going for a trendy relaxed fit, the sweater must be slightly wider at the bottom than at the top (hard to find but worth it!). A straight jumper will not be as flattering.

For a face to look polished you need only the following:

1. Groomed eye brows (easy to maintain at home, but maybe get professional help first) - a good tutorial here

2. Clear skin (if yours is good a tinted moisturiser is enough)
   No dark circles under the eyes! (achieved by an under-eye concealer).

3. A blush is a must, it creates that polished look (blush can also be used for subte contouring of the face

4. A highligher on your cheek bones also helps to created that polished face even if your don't have any eye makeup on.

5. Non-puffy eyes (zogan massage helps). If eyes are good shape naturally eye makeup if optional for a day look, but there are lots of makeup tutorials on youtube to explore.

6. If you like the shape of your lips, lip gloss in enough.

For makeup, I recommend Clinique as it suits even very sensitive skin.

Hope this helps!

Eat well exercise pick out five of your favourite items of clothing build a wardrobe around those go for multi use garments remember one or two fabulous peices are all you need to work with the rest of your wardrobe. Get measured mostly people don't know their real size.
Shoes and fingernails are always noticed so always make sure they are imaculate...if your short choose long looking clothes to give the illusion of height...make up natural soft match to your tone, your inner beauty comes out more...
Confidence and a sense of fun is much more noticeable than your clothes anyhow! (Never wear black with blue and never wear brown with black just my opinion)

Big zips fake bling are a no no classic elagent lines avoid boob pockets avoid built in elastic waists on dresses and tops remember you want to flow from top to bottom not stop half way over an elastic bunch do layer do have a fierceness
you tube is a fantastic resource for long hair style a braid platts ect try them all most of all be ok with who you are but clothes can maketh the wo man

I go to Blink Brow Bar for eyebrow threading. A lot of John Lewis stores have one inside if you are heading there anyway.
Would also highly recommend hot cloth cleansers. Boots No7 is my favourite.
My hair is very frizzy and about your length. I will put some hair oil in (loreal or argan) and loosely plait in pig tails before bed, otherwise I wake up looking like I have a lion's mane.
Coconut oil is a great natural conditioner to pop in for a few hours then wash out.