I often look scruffy. What easy steps can I take to look neater?

[Ferrisbuellersdayoff]

I'm often at the school gate with unkempt hair, a down-filled walking jacket, old, bobbled top, jeans that don't fit, amusing socks from accessorize and scuffed shoes. I work from home most of the time. When I have to go to see clients, I wear dresses and try to look tidy (but still end up with ladders in my tights and looking a state) but when I'm running errands and on the school run, I feel really awkward and messy. It doesn't help that I'm about a stone heavier than I like, and my hair is greying because I can't dye it at the moment. What can I do to smarten myself up and feel less dowdy? I'm 5ft 6 and a size 12, pear shaped with a massive mummy tummy that makes me want to cry, so I have to try to hide it.

Hello! Here are some attempts from today. I did the school run in the fuschia jacket and the other photo is without the jacket.

Here are the wide leg jeans I ordered, with some ankle boots I bought yesterday. I haven't decided if I'm keeping them. The jeans are a little too tight (think I'm a size 13 on my tummy and hips!), so I'd have to lose a couple of inches to make them fit well. I want to do this anyway. Sometimes. When there's no chocolate near me.

Other photo is jeggings with the Chelsea boots. Belt is a random one from a drawer - I know it doesn't go.

@PrettyPurpleFeather

Department stores such as John Lewis do complimentary stylist sessions. It's worth booking to get an external opinion on what suits your needs

Thanks - I'll keep this in mind as a treat for dropping a dress size, if I actually manage it.

@RuffleCrow I have tried not brushing my hair, but it always gets into a mess.

@Futureplanning

I think you'll probably feel a whole lot better when you're able to dye your hair again, hope you can work out your allergy soon.

Thanks - I'm going to try dyeing it in two weeks to see how it affects my face. Sadly, the rash is still there, despite all my efforts to rid the world of allergens!

@jiltedjohnsjulie - love the user name!

I think your hair might be the main thing that’s bothering you at the moment, especially if you are used to having it coloured regularly. Has your hairdresser said how long it will take to grow the colour out?

It's definitely making me feel worse, but I was scruffy before I stopped the dye. My roots are totally white, which I horrified by, as I've never let them get long enough for it to be obvious. I have a chin-length bob, haven't dyed it since early November. and there's about an inch and a half of white, which, scientifically, means it will take a flipping long time. I'm very fair, and think white hair will make me look exhausted.

@JiltedJohnsJulie

Oh and there is an extract here on allergens in shampoo. This tread from a couple of years ago might help too smile

@homemadecommunistrussia

When I developed a rash on my scalp and around my hairline and eyebrows when pregnant I used this allergenics shampoo and it worked a treat.

Thanks - I've just ordered a shampoo bar that promises not to have any common allergens in it. The GP suggested conditioning with oil overnight and washing it out with shampoo in the morning, which I'm not really sure about.

@BigusBumus

Top tip - dont wear your jeans for more than 2 days as they go terribly out of shape and will make you look scruffy.

Good advice, thank you - I usually have one pair of jeans which I wear until they disintegrate. I also do everything in them, including bleaching the toilet and wandering/crawling around the house collecting nerf bullets and lego. I think I need scruffy house clothes and nice public facing clothes!

@gavalaaaaaa

And there is no denying it a UK size 12 is large, we have just been forced into accepting it a 'normal' , its not.

I'm definitely larger than I want to be.

@Annasgirl

Hi OP, try La Roche Posay shampoo for the scalp reaction and tolerations for the red skin. I have similar at the moment.

Thanks - the Toleriane creams seemed to make it worse. I'll check out the shampoo. I hope your problem clears up soon.

@TheITCloud

I hope you work out what you're allergic to. I'm thinking of getting patch testing done.

@3littlerabbits

Love the black and white shirt! Where is that from, if you don’t mind me asking?

Thanks - it's actually navy but the lighting is weird. It's from Mint Velvet.

op I think you have a gorgeous figure!! I much prefer the slim fit jeans on you as apposed the wide legged ones. The slim fit ones really insinuate your legs and in my opinion really do suit you. To me The wide leg ones kind of seem like you're just trying to hide what you're blessed with and that is a nice curvy womanly body. What about one of those jumper style tops that have the shirt collar and cuffs attached to it? My legs are a similar shape to yours only mine are about 10 times fatter but even when I was a size 6-8 many moons ago I still had very prominent curve to the tops of them and huge hips. Now I just embrace it. Not really sure what I can blame my tummy on though cos I only carried my Babies between 4 and 9 weeks so it's definitely not that although my last pregnancy I was hugely bloated by around 6 weeks and at 9 weeks had a very prominent bump. However I do enjoy too much crap and have a serious liking for pork pies at the moment!! Oh and I'm far too lazy and definitely not arsed enough to get up 2 hours early to exercise

I think I need scruffy house clothes and nice public facing clothes!

That's roughly what I do. But I'll nip to the shop or do school run in the scruffies sometimes - depends on how busy I am and how scruffy the scruffies are. I take off nice jumpers, tops or trousers before doing housework or cooking though.

That being said I know two women who always manage to look elegant even in their scruffies.

Love the wide leg jeans but not with the jumper tucked in, way nicer when it's over them. Ankle boots are lovely too, with the slim jeans and the wide leg ones.

I like the jumper, jeans and boots from today too.

I like the ankle boots and the school run look is in no way scruffy!
I'm personally not so much a fan of the jumpers.

I need to convince myself to eat well. Otherwise the jeans have to go back!

You look fine but you'd look better if you lost a stone. Sorry to be blunt but that would do a lot more for your confidence than the comments on this thread about your clothes if you slimmed down a bit. It wouldn't take long, you aren't fat but you could be stunning.
I'll go and hide in the bunker now.

Too right @MadameF go and hide. How bitchy. OP looks fab

I'm honest. OP looks ok. She could look better. I've been there, I'm not being bitchy.

@MadameF please post a photo of yourself right now.

Agreed ... I’m a size 12, it’s not a bloody 12 at all, I weigh a stone more than I did at 18 when I was wearing a size 14 so god knows what I actually am in 1990’s money. I think fat probably sums it up though

I agree, amazing figure if you were just a stone lighter, great legs!

Ps the skinny style trousers look much better than the baggier ones

Ignore MadamF.

I like the wide legged jeans.

If there's one thing I'd do though to smarten things up is get the iron out! It's tedious but I save things up and iron once a week with the radio on, it would make a huge difference to your 'scruffiness levels'.

I really liked the button-down skirt you had on earlier, I know this may sound a bit mad because you're quite busty, but you're quite hight waisted too, and lower necklines are shortening your torso, have you tried crew or polo-necks? You've got a nice shapely waist so I think it could work with a higher waisted bottom-half.

Anyway, am loving your work!