What do you think of my style? Photos on profile now!!

[eviz]

Stylish ladies, help me! I have no style!

None!

I'm 5"8, normally a 10-12 but currently nearly 12 stone. Feel ugly, unstylish and frumpy.

My style pre-children would have been skinny top, push-up bra, big flares and heels, 3/4 length fitted jacket. I am now more muffin top than skinny top, and I can't get my flares over my mahoosive thighs and my fitted jacket no longer fits over my breastfeeding bust

And I've totally given up on my unruly hair. I think I'm beyond help on that score.

I'm off to the shops tomorrow in a quest for a brand new casual wardrobe. I have no clue. Please be brutal. Please be honest. What would you do to me?

Brave girl. I wouldn't buy too much until lo is a ittle older as you will probalby lose more weight. I'd defintely get a good haircut and possibly invest in some straighteners as with your ( and my ) sort of hair they make it look sleek, not flat and the hair is strong enbough to hold the shape for a good few days. I do mine twice a week and it looks amazing. If left to dry naturally I look a zillion times worse than you do. If your hair looks good and up to date, it impacts on everything else.

no, I was after the teal one - but it was far too emeraldy greeen for me in RL

did try on a dress in white stuff, which will buy as is very good, and a skirt

dress - will be great with some brown camper boots from last year, or some crocheted tights and the ludos

skirt very good, and enough detail to be interesting

regularlyoverwhelmed - I was in white stuff yesterday and that skirt and dress are fab!! I also really liked this skirt. It looked very nice in rl.
Also loads of nice stuff in fat face and great knits in gap.

Eviz. Have not read all the thread but empathise entirely with your dilemma. I was feeling very frumpy a while ago and still have frumpy days. A friend of mine at work got me reading fashion mags like look and grazia and theres lote of stuff you can just browse through to see if you llike it. You can then see things more clearly in the shops when you look round. I found I have a lot more confidence buying now.

I would also recommend that you get hair done. Maybe a diff darker colour? It is an instant uplift. I have similar hair to you. It is very thick. If you can afford it some GHDs could be your best friend. You say that you do not have time to straighten your hair every day. I do - I have a 2 and 3 year old. It takes about 15 mins every morn but makes me feel a lot less frumpy. A tele in the bedroom helps. And I've got quicker and better at it as time goes on. Some days I only need a 5 min straighten at teh front. I think the more you do it the straighter your hair gets geenrally.

Hope I'm not too blunt.

OK, photos from today are up..

I'm finding this soo helpful. Half an hour ago I loved the purple cardi, now I've looked at the photos I'm thinking it cuts me in half and brings more attention to my waist!

And I felt so glamarous in the gilet I nicked from my mum this morning.. but when I saw the photos all I could think was
W-I-D-E!

Spoo - not to blunt at all, I wanted people to be honest. I'm not keen on dying my hair (did it for years and it's only just grown out). I've got GHDs but it just takes too long. Do you put on makeup too? Cos that takes another 15 mins for me!

Eviz, if you do straighten your hair, remember to buy some GHD Smoothing Balm or similar.

Regularlyoverwhelmed, shame about the monsoon skirt. You must have a fab figure to wear that white stuff dress but totally agree they have some fab clothes, especially skirts to wear with boots.

Eviz, sorry I am not liking those outfits. Trousers too wide for your frame and too much going on on the top half.

You need simple classic styles, fitted but not tight and with some nice accessories. You are a classic type beauty and need something to complement that. Too much going on in the clothes drowns your small face. You need V necks, nice necklace/scarf and some really well fitting jeans. Or a nice tunic with thick tights and lovely boots.

Where makeup is concerned this is my 5 min make up routine, I do it whilst having breakfast:

Bobbi Brown foundation stick, dot it all over face, rub in.
No 7 Bronzer, all over face.
Bourgois blush, sweep over cheeks.
Maybelline mascara - loads!
Bit of lipgloss or glaze when I am out. Keep it in the baby bag and put it on throughout the day.

I have just had my hair cut from long (pic on my profile of it before, will post a pic of it after when I have it done) to a long bob which is shorter at the back but longer at the front. I can still tie it back but it only takes me 10 mins to blow it and straighten it when I need to wash it. I too have quite a lot of hair but have it thinned out to make it more manageable.

Hmm, think I agree Eviz with you, that tie cardi and the nipped in waist of the top 'frame' your stomach too much.

The cardigan (lovely colour btw) imo to be worn with a wrap type dress or a delicate vest top.

A gillet would look great on you but with a nipped in waist. You have lovely curves but they are lost in the sheepskin.

sp gilet!

pgwithnumber3 you are a babe!

I have maybelline mascara so there's a start..

Thanks for your advice ladies. I keep thinking I've cracked it then the photos tell me otherwise. Sheepskin will be going back to mumsie tomorrow

PS this is my make-up routine:

Hunt around for 5 mins to find make up bag
Get water to wet sponge to apply sponge on foundation (run out of stuff in a bottle - and have shite skin so opt for the 'trowel' look
Apply loose powder with a brush as DD has hidden the sponge puffy bit
Bronzer vanished long ago
Use eyelash curlers, eye liner, eye shadow & mascara (to avoid piss holes in the snow look)
Blusher
No lippy (lips too big for lippy, makes me feel like a prostitute)

I suspect this is all too much information now

I don't think so Eviz, just a photo that doesn't look like me!

I try to make an effort, even when I am pregnant I try to look smart but it does take time and it is something that is inbuilt in me, I have always been the same. I just have a routine and keep to it at all times before I leave the house!

If I were you I would try the likes of French Connection for some jeans like these with a nice jumper like this and a lovely necklace.

You are only 33 aren't you? Same as me?

LOL at your routine. I keep my makeup bag downstairs, as soon as I have 2 mins (ie when kids are eating) I do it. Buy a nice cute makeup bag, depending on budget treat yourself to a good foundation stick (easiest to use) and a good makeup brush to put bronzer or powder on with.

I think the clothes in the pictures, in themselves are not too bad at all. But they do not go together. The gilet should be worn with jeans and a very simple top (definately no scarf unless full on chunky-to-wear-outside-in-freezing-weather kind).

The topshop top- because it has volume and frills - should be worn with skinny jeans (or at least jeans without volume) a pendant necklace if plain and dainty would look nice too

The scarf should only be worn to add detail IE on a very plain outfit.

The cardigan to add shape to a top tha does not have any and because it ties, maybe a chunky bead necklace that does not reach the collor of the cardigan at all. As time goes in, and your tummy goes down, you may find yourself wearing this lot more

The wide legged trousers, again because of volume, should be worn only with very fitted tops and heels (but if the material is thin, I would keep these for next spring summer.If thick, with shoes.)

I think you could also get away with the leggings and dress look, black leggings. And then you can wear flat shoes with this look to dampen it down, heels to dress it up.

But only my opinions eviz - it hard to advise and take advice when we don't know you! (though I am sure of this thread we all feel like we know you a little bit)

Love these suggestions, but makes my brain ache. How do you KNOW all this stuff?

Jewels - I see what you mean re the cardi. BUT my problem is it's flippin' cold and I need something to keep me warm AND look stylish! And I only added the scarf yesterday because I was freezing.

Glad you mentioned the leggings and dress look. I did this last year before getting pg with DD2 - with a mini denim skirt too (for bottom coverage). I had spent a few weekends in London and was all inspired - people down there just dress differently - and much more people seem to make the effort!

Eviz maybe get a gorgeous coat that when slung over anything will make you look instantly fab! And get a really nice bag.

Oh and if you want to know how we know this stuff, just start getting Marie Claire every month to find out what looks you should be looking for on high st and what to wear with what. All the fashion influences untimately come from the catwalk. And even if looks wacky on the catwalk, this is not telling us to wear that look, (so for a random example) if there is a thighlenth puffball red leather dress, and 8 inch platform see through boots, then look out for puffball skirts, ultra shirt skirts, the colour red, leather items, platform shoes/boots, and maybe a see thru heel or front part etc.

marie claire is online too

Eviz, I think having looked at the photos that as another poster said there is too mcuh going on top half wise.
I think scarves are pretty but that you look better with a more open neck line and a long necklace to add some detail.
The gillet s smart but far too chunky for you.
The wide trousers are smart but possibly too wide, maybe a cut with sliimer thighs and wider below the knee woudl suit you better?
Having seen the blue/purple top with trousers I think it might be better with an A line skirt.
Also agree that a lovely haircut would be a great boost. Perhaps a pretty chin lengh bob?
Also think a bit of lipgloss of sheer lipstick would lift your look, M&S AUtograph has a lovely sheer lippie in good, neutral shades which are v flattering.
Persnally I think the FLy shoes are too high esp if you will be pushing a pram around, some lwoer wedges woudl lokk funky but be more practical.
HAve you thought about booking in with a personal shopper at eg House of Fraser/John Lewis? Migh tbe easier to get good advice in person rather than on line?

And agree that a fab coat/mac is a good way to feel pulled together and chic. Hobbs is a good place to look if not too classic for you, or M&S, H&M, Oasis?

no hood and surely too cheap, but better looking than some. And I initally like the look of this but it can't be waterproof can it?