Please recommend me EVERYTHING

[NeedAMakeOver4]

Stuck in a rut. Just had fourth baby, all of my clothes are either very old or pregnancy/breastfeeding and I just feel like a total frump. I’m approaching 40. I used to be naturally quite slim but I’ve gained a lot of weight this pregnancy so even though I’m three months post partum I’m nowhere near getting back into anything I owned before. I’m a pear shape and currently a 12/14 on top and a 16/18 on the bottom. All my shoes are old and scruffy except one newish pair of new balance trainers. Feel like I need a whole new wardrobe. However I would like to lose some weight first.

i don’t have a skin care routine at all and most of my make up is years and years old including brushes etc. Most stuff is from No7 or Rimmel as I’m not confident enough to try anything else. I don’t know anything about make up! My skin is dry and quite grey but I don’t really suffer from spots. I do get blackheads though. I am booked in to have my hair cut and I am going to attempt to colour it at home as i can’t afford salon prices for colour. Again though I don’t really know what I’m doing!

I would like a total refresh but of course I’m now on maternity pay. I follow Alexandra Steadman on Instagram and really like her style but can’t afford most of the things she recommends, brands like Sezane etc where T-shirts are £50 and jeans £120+ etc. I’ve looked on Vinted but worried about returns etc and don’t really know where to start. Also I am spending my days running round after four kids and doing school runs etc. So please recommend me anything! I am starting from scratch. Thank you 😊

Hi OP, congratulations on your new baby! I’m in a similar place to you with weight gain (from medication, so very hard to lose it). And lost my way a bit because of big shop closures where I live.

I’m no authority on style but I’ve found Melissa Murrell’s videos on YouTube really interesting and helpful - she focuses on different body shapes and what works for each one. I also read Style and Beauty a lot, and I’m picking up some really good ideas and tips.

Also, I think another poster in another thread said - don’t wait until you’ve lost weight to buy new clothes. Ok, maybe you don’t want to invest your whole budget right now, but treat yourself to one or 2 things. It will give you such a boost to have one or two new outfits and to feel you look nice.

I’ve been looking at Vinted but it can be overwhelming and it looks like most sellers don’t allow returns because you’ve changed your mind.

Alternate a glycolic acid serum with a hyalauronic serum or birch sap nightly before you moisturise to help with the dryness and to get rid of the blackheads.
A concealer, cream blush, mascara and lip gloss can all be thrown on in a minute and will give you some colour and glow.
Buy another pair of shoes/ankle boots/loafers and throw out the scruffy ones.
As a pp said, buy some things for now to cheer yourself up. Get a couple of pairs jeans/pants that are comfortable to wear and some tops that you can throw on but feel good in.

For the meantime buy a few new things from cheapish High Street shops. They’re not necessarily poor quality. A pair of jeans, casual trousers, a lightweight shirt, a couple of t shirts and a warm jumper. These few new things will give you a boost.
You've mentioned Vinted, so do you browse charity shops? If you’ve got time they can be a good source of clothes that you might not need in the long term.

Thank you for the tips, please keep them coming. I do browse charity shops but the ones near me seem to have very few things that would be suitable for me. All the stuff in larger sizes is Stuff for much older ladies it seems!

If you're breastfeeding, this article might be worth a read:

https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/the-health-hub/conditions/womens-health/pregnancy/skincare-safe-use-pregnancy-breastfeeding/

For a mini-makeover, I'd recommend a professional eyebrow shape and a trip to the hairdressers.

Also, it might be worth having a wardrobe declutter (chucking out anything worn out or doesn't suit you). It'll be easier to see what you need going forward.

I feel like I'm just coming out of the other side of the postpartum style crisis and feeling a bit more me. I'm a 14-16 pear/hourglass but more a 16 recently. I had a brutal wardrobe clearout of anything that made me feel crap or 'might fit again one day' and made a nice little pot of cash to start afresh.

I bought a few pairs of M&S jeans on Vinted at a great price. I went for styles I'd had before and just bought a size up. You could even try them on in store and then look up on Vinted though. Most of the styles I have have a nice bit of stretch to them which I think is good postpartum.

I tend to rotate a few basic (mainly striped!) tops, some stretchy slim fit ones from h&m which I wear tucked in to looser jean styles and a more structured one from Cos (£30ish I think) which I tend to wear with a slim fit pair.
Buying a nice looking leather belt (less than £20 from Next so nothing fancy) has also made my outfits feel a bit more 'put together'.

I don't know if this is your thing but on comfy days I've been wearing a lot of gym style leggings with an oversized sweatshirt and trainers. I've picked up some nice branded jumpers on Vinted at a decent discount and I feel nice in those even though it's more of a scruffy day outfit.

Whatever you decide your style is, I think it's good to have a few good basics in terms of tops and bottoms. If you try to choose complementary colours and consider how new items will fit with your current wardrobe, it makes it a bit easier getting dressed each day as you have a bit of a formula for outfits of sorts.

Follow Emily Innes - style me happy. She is great, normal affordable fashion for normal sized women