Right - I keep looking in the mirror and Judy Finnegan is looking back at me - it's all hands to the pumps before I hit 40 in TWO MONTHS TIME

[Moomin]

Please help!!!!!!

I need MN help in several areas:

I am having a big party and I am having recurring nightmares about looking like one of those sad old lumps who people are going to look at and think 'oh bless, she's made an effort' because I've got magic pants and orange foundation on.

Have changed my mind about my dress several time but it looks like being this one. Soooo, I need suggestions for shoes & jewellery. Skin is pale but will have light fake tan on. I look best in pointy mule / slingbacks.

Body is a disaster, so will be wearing concrete undergarments (natch) but am also aiming to have lost some more weight by then. I want to look fresh-faced and glowing and fabulous... so shall I get some facials done between now and then - do they work wonders? Professional ones or home-kits?

What else can I do? Am drinking more water... SHall I get a proper make-up do? Which is best? Make-up case at the moment is mix of mac, No.7 and cheaper stuff.

The whole effect needs to be 'WOW! MOOMIN YOU LOOK FABULOUS', not 'Hi Moomin, happy birthday, the band are good arent they'

Do you have one nork out?

Might well have both out by end of the night but I shan't care by then

I'm thinking silver or pewter shoes? Something like these?
Or maybe these?

Great title moomin. you so do NOT look like Judy!

Message withdrawn

Isn't it dark grey? It just says 'pearl', so I thought something metallic would be good.

Deffo go for a facial at a salon couple of days before party.

Oooh I'm just off for a run, but reserving my place here. Back in half an hour.

And we should talk hair too.

I like Cod's idea of pink - have found these which I like, but I suspect something brighter might work better.

More silver
Fuchsia
And another fuchsia (but not slingbacks)

Remove the poster of Judy Finnegan - it's doing you no good.

forget the shoes and go for some sexy boots - high black leather, perhaps with lacing all the way up the front

keep the colour to the accessories if you have to have colour but i would say silver/diamante/diamonds to accessorize!

I would actually wear an opaque pair of black tights with that dress and a pair of high dolly type shoes like thesehere I think your dress is va va voom enough so play down anything else, but do fab smoky eyes and gloss natural lips.

It'll be June so not sure on the opaques or boots. Can't do lacy boots as look like trotters. Can't do round toes as I've got a bit of a cankle going on so my lower legs would look the shape of lolly sticks with roundy toes. Pointies look much better. Have actually got some shiny pewter bar shoes (same shape as Maidamess's link but with toe filled in and 2 bars) which I usually wear with skinny black jeans but I've worn with a black dress once avec opaques so my legs didn't look too cut off by the shoe-straps. Oh decisions decisions.... I'm liking a lot of the links at the top to viva la diva for those pointy shoes.

I am planning on a pampering day the day before the party for me and a few mates - they do treatments, champagne and tapas, which sounded fab so will book at least my fake tan then - if I book a facial will that be a bit close to the party in case all my skin falls off? Should I have a trail run next month or something?

more please

Right, don't go for anything to heavy duty on the facial front just before the day,or you could be left with a mega-shiny face. Sething that involves lymphatic drainage will de-puff and sculpt your face, which makes you feel younger/thinner generally more fabulous.

I would consider getting make-up done at a MAC store if you can. The staff are all proper make-up artists rather than sales girls, and a full make-up session is £20-which you can redeem against any product that you buy. I have done that a couple of times for weddings, and it is the best money you can spend-it stays on all night, and they will do what you ask, not just give you 'Nicola from out of Girl's Aoud', unless that's what you fancy.

Could do nude fishnet tights, and I'd go for a nude patent or metallicy shoe as that will make your legs look longer than chopping the foot of by adding another colour.

Sorry for delay.

What colour is dress? Hard to tell from pic.

slingbacks

with simple necklace

or

lovely slingbacks in silver/aluminium

with something like this or maybe green

make up link

Right back later, dp's getting lonely. [groin]

pmsl @ groin, slur!
Ta for lotsa lovely links. Haven;t looked at them yet - going to persue now...

good tips about mac. Haven't got mac counter nearby enough for the party day though . nearest is 25 miles.

My body is shapeless, so the dress is ideal, Malory. I got no waist so nothing to highlight. Have my eye on underwear from figleaves which has boned waisty bit.

DRess is 'forest' green.

For green you could go gold or pink?
or silver?sob I want these but can't afford them wail

Dress has arrived - it's gorgeous and looks like it's made out of sparkly mermaid's tails (or somesuch). Fits nicely and when the concrete sausage casing from Figleaves arrives twill be even nicer.

My pewter shoes look fine with it as well, so that's trotters dealt with...

so what about jewellery? I'd like dangly earrings and maybe a simpler necklace but not sure.. what do you think? and where from? More ideas please!

Glad it's a success. So do you want bling, and really sparkly, or more subtle, or plain silver, or actual pearls (can't tell if the dress looks pearly, or not). Graphic, bold shapes or flowery?

These have green in them, but may not be the right sort.

Doesn't say how long this is, but it might work? Though not necessarily with those earrings.

ooo I like those earrings (and I have a cheeky Monsoon store card that I could use as currency). The green in the earrings might be a bit pale though... Sorry don't like the necklace, those sort look like shower attachment tubing to me - sorry!

Don't want pearls or subtle - think would like some sparkly bling but afraid it might all be a bit too much twinkle maybe?