Hop on, the train is about to leave frumpsville

[DULLDull]

I posted on chat a few days ago about this but thought this might be am even better place.

I am frumpy and I hate it.

I am 45, 3 stone overweight and a SAHM who feels has lost her mojo since motherhood descended 12 years ago.

I want to change so I am hoping to start a thread for any like minded fellow frumps.

I am thinking clothes, hair, make up, diet and style tips in one place to help release our inner goddess.

Anyone care to join?

Can I jump on the train 😳😊🏄

So I ve 2 stone to lose. Very unfit due to previous & present health issues. Turned 45 last week.
I spent last few weeks clearing out old clothes, toiletries & makeup.

I am watching you tube for makeup tips. Bought new stuff. Building up a skincare routine.
Struggling with clothes for new shape. Think it's cohesiveness I lack with my look/style.
Over the last year I ve been getting hair blow dry (unruly hair here). Try to do my nails but they are weak, so taking vitamins.
Also spending money on clothes & yoga.

Also bought new underwear & sports bra 😳😁

Hi all , I use to be a personal shopper oohforfox its not the actual closing I'm struggling with it's just I don't feel comfortable in my own skin xx love the description people saying they feel like a egg on legs !! Lol that's exactly how I feel !! Is it an age thing do we think ??? Hospital was ok just long and feeling tired ! Just made a mess of my face anyone else get those lovely coarse hairs deciding to suddenly sprout out of chin ! Well I found one that I couldn't quite grab so went digging !! I'm my own worst enemy sometimes I swear !! Any ladies still with dark hair I totally say if you can treat yourself to a lumea from boots ! Expensive but worth it if you're part ape like I use to be !! Also the lady who posted about cropping your hair short and leaving it grey I'm with you 100% I did the same and with it naturally being black hadn't the energy to keep up with colouring it . I've also had more compliments since it's been grey which I wasn't expecting . X keep up the good work ladies we will get there x

New underwear is essential Bootygirl. I always buy several pairs of brightly coloured silk knickers in the M&S sale because they cheer me up.
coffee I’m glad your meeting went ok. I think exercise helps me feel more comfortable in my skin. Wine definitely doesn’t. It seems to make me feel acutely anxious these days. In a effort to feel ‘zen’ I took the dog for a really long walk this evening.Only I started off hobbling along because my heel was hurting.Towards the end the dog was hobbling but I was feeling better😉.

My joggers arrived. I think I'll save them for home wear as they are very pyjama like but really comfy. Also got a faux biker jacket which I really like.

I've just downloaded 'staging your comeback'. Thank you for getting me started. Great thread.

I've got that book marl, you've just reminded me! The makeover photos at the end are amazing. The author is on FB and does YouTube videos, I stopped following him because he seemed to have a few issues recently but his makeovers when he was in the ReVamp Salon (no longer there) are fab.

I need to get my act together for a (family) weekend away. Will plan outfits, makeup, etc so I don't overpack.

Can anyone recommend a couple of fashion blogs for a 42 year old mum?

Is staging your come back date? It's just it's expensive & was published in 2008?
Would like recs for books blogs or you tube for fashion in your 40's

Thanks

I think I bought it second hand off Amazon, it was cheap even with postage from the USA - have a look online at the UK site and then click the secondhand/used option to see what comes up if you are interested.

I'm tackling a wardrobe sort out today.

I also think the bbc should get their act together and bring bag "what not to wear"

Totally agree with you cat !! Good luck with the wardrobe sort !

I came across this blog www.howtobechic.com. I like what she says here:

"I started journaling on the new me – what it would look like, how it would feel, what actions I would take and what emotions I wanted to invoke, and what came out is that I am feeling called to upgrade my entire closet.
I don’t mean upgrade the actual closet or buy new clothes, but upgrade by removing everything that isn’t ‘the new me’ and where I see myself heading"

Been lurking and buying all the beauty recommendations in preparation for turning 40! Came across this article on plus size 40+ bloggers, not all the style to my taste but proof that you don't have to be frumpy at any size or age!
thecurvyfashionista.com/40-plus-size-bloggers/

40 something hair question; I currently have short hair (somewhere between a short bob length and pixie) the inspiration was Michelle Williams but my hairdresser has left it too long and its unmanageable as I have a ton of hair and it grows back at an alarming rate.

I'm not growing it so I want a nice up to date style thats not a) judi dench like b) butch c) can survive over 4 weeks without a hair cut d) isn't so short it just accentuates the 20 extra lbs I'm carrying

Any suggestions???

For the first time I have over £100 in my paypal account.Its been a lot of work listing and selling on eBay and it’s really putting me off buying so much ‘stuff’. I seem to have multiples of everything . Multiples of sizes and lots of clothes I’ve never worn. Basically because I put on so much weight and was in denial of what size I actually was . Its all just such a waste of money and resources.At the moment I’m listing three things a day and I will carry on doing this for the foreseeable future.
I’m going to try and put together a capsule wardrobe. Firstly by working out which tops go with which bottoms and hang them together and maybe take pictures. At the moment I pretty much wear a white linen t shirt with everything. I know a good Tailor so I can get things altered to fit that don’t sell. I don’t need to buy anything new now. I’ve returned everything to Hush and Monsoon. I have boots, jumpers and coats aplenty and will try and ‘shop’ my wardrobe.Jane I can definitely identify with that blog.
littleme I’m really not sure how to advise you without considering face shape and your personality. Could you investigate hairstyles on Pinterest?
My kids registered me on Instagram and I’m following certain bloggers. But it’s really not real life is it. They’re invariably all really skinny, tanned, glamorous, in the latest clothes and on holiday. And they all seem to spend there time telling each other how wonderful they look.

Their!

The trouble with "what not to wear" is that it was very of its time.
I remember advice they gave, such as "never wear tapered trousers, they look good on nobody" which, while true for me isn't for others.

Also I remember them saying how navy suited no one.

When Trinny does the fashion bit I think how she's contradicting herself

@teta I have 3 suitcases of multiple clothes that need ebaying for the same reasons - many still with labels on. You have inspired me to pull my finger out and get on with it.

whatimeislove yes, I remember when Trinny & Susannah said bright colours worn with black was cheap and tacky or words to that effect. Colours should only be worn with other colours.
Even Susannah has had a crisis of confidence and self-belief in recent years. Hasn’t she recently lost a lot of weight?

Yoga today. Part of my more ‘holistic’ approach.

Today I put on my usual Mum uniform (crappy black top, jeans) added a nice kimono top. It still looked shit. Swapped the black vest top for a teal long sleeved top, tucked it into my high waist jeans for a better shape, put the kimono top back on and turned the bottom of my jeans up. Looked 10 times better.

Suddenly, there I am! Thinking about how I look - and I surprised myself.

(Some people put this amount of effort in every day apparently.)

Lol @ teta ! Yes I found that too with Instagram bloggers !! Ohhh I so need to put stuff on eBay it's just getting round to it ! You've done so well though . My problem is I've got loads of clothes but mainly live in pj's !!! On a positive I've fake tanned tonight ... woopeee ! I usually can't be bothered but I got some vita liberta I think that's how it's spelt and it's amazing . No streaky mistakes and doesn't smell . BUT that ingrown hair I was digging at on my chin is now a full blown SPOT ! Tut x

Oh and fox yup I always turn my jeans up lol xx

I think I kind of agree with that old Trinny and Susannah advice of not wearing black and a colour. Not because I think it looks cheap and tacky, but because it reminds me of what I and most of my colleagues tend to wear for work - black trousers and coloured top. It's not that it looks terrible, just...dull? I tend to wear black with white, or animal print or some sort of neutral colour instead.

Don't agree with them on the navy though, navy definitely suits me, a lot better than black does.

On the beauty front, I'd like to recommend an eyelash tint and lift. I got it done recently and I swear it has taken years off me. It's very subtle but my eyes just look brighter and awake, and I don't even need to bother with eye makeup yet still look 'done'.

Wow, it’s been a long night!
But a success this morning 😁.
And I wasn’t even tempted by a de/stressing wine but had cocoa instead.
Treaclesoda my default winter outfit is all black jeans and jumper, black coat and brightly coloured scarf or leopard print scarf/shoes. Or repeat as above with navy. I have large collection of cashmere Tk specials that I used to disguise my tummy.
I was googling Capsule Wardrobes last night. Do people really have that few clothes? What do I do with all the odds and sods I’ve collected over the years🙄