Going from nothing to being groomed, recommend your essentials. Pics included.

[roughtobuff]

Hello, can you offer some advice. I am not a girly girl and haven't bothered with make up or hair cuts for some time.
As part of my new years resolution I am sorting myself out, I have had enough of feeling rough! So far I have had my hair cut off and some balayage done, see pics.
Next on the list is to sort out my make up and clothing, I haven't bought any new clothes or make up for around 6 years!! If I post a picture of my shape can you offer some suggestions to the best kind of clothing for me?
What other things do I need to do? Eyebrows/nails?

If you'd like to wear more make-up but aren't confident about it I would really recommend going for a make-up lesson somewhere like Bobbi Brown or Mac. I've tried them both (once when I got married and wanted to do my own make-up, and once when I wanted to treat myself!), and they both did a great job. At BB you can ask them to teach you to do different faces (i.e. if you want to learn how to wear a strong lip colour, or smokey eyes etc), or they can just do a really nice natural look too. You do have to pay a deposit but then you get the money back to spend on products afterwards.

I am also trying to improve my skincare and haircare routine this year, so I feel like I could go on and on about all this stuff!!

I love your new hair! I would go for eyebrows/eyelash tint next.

Your hair is LUSH. Next, threading the brows and find a daily scent spray you like.

I have hair envy. It looks amazing!

Make up lesson would be really useful, I have quite rosy cheeks and I usually end up super pale, no idea where to start on smokey eyes!! Off to google.......
Going to book in for an eyebrow overhaul now, then make another appointment while I am there. If its in the diary, I will do it. Otherwise I tend to never get round to booking it.
I am 36, 37 this year. Where is a good place to shop for clothes, I feel like I have outgrown the places I used to shop in but I haven't found anywhere else to shop. I don't have a huge budget, would prefer to buy a few good things rather than lots of rubbish though. I have a uniform I wear during the day so I don't really need anything too dressy, more casual but smart.

They have MAC makeup lessons on groupon at the moment, if you did fancy doing that.

Get your eyebrows threaded and tinted- makes your whole face look awake and fresh even without makeup on!

Shops wise I find that a mix of Zara and H&M is affordable but still on trend.

I think groomed includes having clothes that fit you properly (obviously clean, ironed, all the buttons sewn on etc) so when trying on any new clothes see whether you will need to have them altered at all. Maybe shorten trouser or sleeve lengths, or have the waistband fitted properly and make a point to find a tailor/dressmaker who will do this for you.

Also, consider having your colours done if you're about to go off and update your wardrobe, particularly now that you've changed your hair colour (love your hair BTW). It's funny when you suddenly realise the colour you love, and never wear whatever you have in it, doesn't actually suit you and that's probably why you never wear it. Worth doing, in my experience.

Your hair is and was just beautiful.
I remember when mine looked like that.
Good luck with clothes and make up

Your hair looks lovely. Bobbi Brown is good for make up lessons that are still quite natural.

I'm a similar age and shop at Cos, Other Stories, Jigsaw, Whistles (sale) and basics from Uniqlo. I like natural fabrics and generally prefer quality over quantity clothes wise with some cheaper trendier bits and accessories thrown in.

Your hair looks fantastic!!!!

my top tips

Eat good food that contains lots of vitamins, cut down on sugary stuff. Vitamin C is really important for good skin. I drink a litre of water a day.

Understand your body proportions and dress accordingly. Your may be lucky and have a balanced body ie equal torso and legs, but you may discover you have long/short torso or long/short legs.
lostinaspotlessmind.com/2012/11/defining-style-how-to-dress-for-your-shape/

Find out your best colours. This is dependent of your skin tone, eye and hair colour. You can figure this out by googling or get consultion with a professional.

Don't go mad buying new clothes, build up slowly. I have capsule wardrobes for summer winter. My winter wardrobe has 5 bottoms and 9 tops with 2 jumpers. I love everything in there which makes me look and feel great.

Teeth - book scale and polish with dental nurse

Can't advise on makeup as I don't wear it. I don't do cleanse and tone, I just wash with water and use the orginal nivea cream.

this one didn't show in my original post, it's also about understanding body proportions

thriftmepretty.com/tag/body-length-proportions/

Sort out your underwear....go and get properly measured and invest in some decent bras and knickers...all your new clothes will look better then!

Your hair does look beautiful, really rich and sooo shiny!
Good luck in your rough to buff quest! I am on a similar mission and recently had my colours done by HoC. It was really good, but I think that the style day would be more beneficial as it really tells you about the shape of clothes that suit your body shape.
nora thank you so much for the links, there were both really helpful, and I have browsed through more of both blogs. Do you have any more links about dressing for your shape/ how to look good as I have been trying to up my game and any advice is much appreciated!
( sorry to hijack thread, hope you don't mind rough!)

Get eyebrows threaded
And as for make up lessons, 8i tried mac (Cambridge) and was far from impressed - would love to try Bobbi brown instead

fadetoblack, glad you found those helpful. I added a few more you may find interesting or alternatively try googling 'how to dress for your body proportions'

insideoutstyleblog.com/2009/04/body-proportions-explained.html

insideoutstyleblog.com/2011/12/how-to-measure-your-body-proportions.html

www.thechicfashionista.com/body-proportions.html

outfitideas4you.com/style-school-the-golden-ratio-and-the-perfect-hem-line/

anuschkarees.com/revamp/

Thanks for the links Nora, just working my way through them. I have gone and treated myself to some new make up and tonight I attempted a smokey eye!!! Going to practise some more tomorrow. I have also been to have my eye brows shaped today, see before and after!!! I am booked in for an brow and lash tint the next time I have them shaped. I'm getting there, starting to feel more confident :)

Isn't it funny how feeling a bit better about yourself lifts your mood :)

Hi, your new hair looks lovely.
Re make up, if you're scared, just start with some basics! either Garnier or touché éclat brightening concealer for under your eyes (and the inner corners of your eyes) then a bit of mascara would give you a bit more of a polished look for every day. Then you could try a BB cream (again the garnier blur one is great value) if foundation feels a bit too heavy.
As for clothes: H&M, Zara and Uniqlo are great for basics, and every year I buy one jumper or jumper dress from Cos which last for years. Get one good fitting pair of jeans and a good pair of boots from clarks or M&S.

I love your new hair, it's beautiful!

I'm going to have a little online shop later for some clothes, I might get myself one or two new things a month to build up a collection. I'm assuming most places do free returns??

Your hair is gorgeous and I really like the shape of your eyebrows, you are very lucky in that they are naturally dark and give your face great definition, unlike my blond things, which are lost without the tint.

Do not get your brows tinted. It always looks crap!

Shape and hair are fab!

Do any of you follow any everyday fashion bloggers that are good for my kind of age? I like it when it pops up on my facebook page!

I almost need a Zoella for 30somethings :)