Best tips for someone starting from scratch.

[Mrsnapkinhead]

Oh wise ones ... some help please 🤞🤞🤞

Would love to hear inspirational accounts of people who’ve managed too get their S&B s*#t together!

12 years of lone parenting, bereavements, stress and personal neglect has taken its toll. I feel so far away from being smart and polished that I think I’d just feel stupid if I tried.

I’m a serial skinny jeans and t-shirt wearer. Have no idea how to dress smart but has to be practical as I walk everywhere. Footwear usually a sticking point as will only wear Merrells or similarly foot-friendly shoes for all the walking I do. All aspects of personal care except basic showering etc have petty much been abandoned. Long hair which gets chucked into a scrunchie. You get the idea 👹

Hopeful thanks in advance 🙏🙏🙏

Love all your purchases @Mrsnapkinhead - they're all multi purpose, can be worn as shirts, jackets or dresses, great start. The bag is lovely too, grey is a good neutral. Did you realise you ordered 2 of the check shirt dress? I just looked and thought that's expensive for NL and saw you'd ordered 2. Have you got black skinnies and a long black vest? All of what you've bought would look great over those 2.

Well spotted Rina! 😂😂😂 no, I didn’t mean to order two - oh dear!

I do have black skinnies and vests thankfully (I know NL is pretty cheap but I’m not good at spending on myself - so that’s two less things I need to buy).

Eeep - I hardly ever buy anything for myself so this is a departure. Happy to spend on the children but feel guilty shopping for myself).

Thanks for the support guys - you’re all fab 😍😍😍

Omg what's a shacket and do I need one?
Any recommendations for easily achieved yet lovely up do's?

Op I find putting on face cream at night a good start. I also like putting foot softener on whilst wearing bed socks a bit of easy self care.

I can't think of anyone whose style I admire.

It's a cross between a shirt and a jacket hence shacket! I got a lovely cream one at Christmas from H & M with a Pearl collar

www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.0923369001.html

Ooh that’s lovely Rina!

Cooda - many years ago I used to use gelucious bootys at night which really sorted my summer hooves out. I’ve recently got better at putting the palmers stick on my heels after showering which stops them getting too out of control (and is quick and easy to use which I like) www.boots.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/palmers-heel-repair-stick-25g-10244457

I’d go for a bit of outside help. Brazilian wax, pedicure, manicure and eyebrows. A bit of grown up grooming helps with confidence.

I think also hairstyle is key. If you gave long hair though it probably won’t make a massive difference unless you go for a restyle ( and they aren’t always a success). I would go for a blow dry though. Wow. What a difference shiny swishy hair makes even with nothing else happening.

I am 5 months into a makeover after being a SAHM for 14 years and just returning to work p/t. 5 months on I am a different person. Before DC I took very good care of myself and made a lot of effort in my appearance. I thought I had gone past the point of no return, but I was pleasantly wrong.

I started off by addressing the foundation. I needed to lose 2 stones and get fit. I have 1/2 stone to go to my goal weight. I have been working out hard and have changed my body shape completely. As my weight came off and I toned up, I started to get a lot of compliments from people and my confidence started to grow. Then, after reading this on here, I started to add things in. So, I put in earrings and left them in all the time. They are beautiful, so I look more put together instantly. Then I decided to do my nails every week by giving myself a mani and pedi. Then I started to put a bit more effort into my makeup. I've always looked after my skin but made more effort with it.

Start off with your foundation, that is your weight and fitness. Then gently add one thing in at a time till you are comfortable with it, then add another thing in.

A cartridge bag might be good in lieu of a handbag, roomy; smart and practical.
What about nice button down blouses/shirts? I love them but they're incompatible with my matronly bosom.
Ecco are good for comfy but smart shoes. I'm also a big fan of loafers.
I found tiny things like wearing a watch and small earrings gave me that bit of extra polish.

Majormakeover - it’s great to hear how you’ve managed to get yourself back to a good place. Sounds like you’ve done really well.

Sadly, the weight side of things reared it’s head today when my order arrived and nothing fit well. To be honest it’s knocked my confidence a bit!

The only thing I kept was the bag. The shoes might’ve been alright but I didn’t even bother trying them on when I could see straight away that the quality was, erm, questionable.

So I’m back to square one except I did book in for a pedi on Thirsday which should transform my hooves at least 😁😁😁