I need help!

[notsoseriousanymore]

I have become a wife and mother and housekeeper.

I buy LivingEtc for my house and my house (IMHO! ) gorgeous

I buy JuniorP&G for my son and he (IMHO! ) is gorgeous too!

My DH dresses extremely well and is always immaculate

But I look like I've been dragged through a hedge backwards. I just don't seem to have time to think of me!!

I need some help quickly!!! I am SO SICK of looking frumpy!

I have no idea what is fashionable this year and the only clothes I buy nowadays are from Tesco or Sainsbury!

ahem! I think you have stolen my identity!!!
Will watch for advise for me too!

How about treating yourself to a few hours with a personal shopper at a department store? Obviously loads of options there if you live in London, but plenty of places outside London have those services too. A good personal shopper will worry less about what's 'fashionable' and more about what suits you, and you will have fun and feel very pampered. Any department store website will have details of the services they offer. If you haven't spent any money on yourself for a while go with a decent budget (even £300 or £400 can actually get you a pretty long way).

And there's nothing wrong with shopping for clothes in supermarkets if you are targeted about what you buy, and if you get your personal shopper to put together a really good capsule wardrobe you can top up with cheap and pretty things without feeling like you're just buying tat.

Don't forget the most important thing, though, which is to weed out the nastiest, most worn out and frumpy things in your wardrobe, including anything that really doesn't fit, before you start. Get a ruthless, cruel-to-be-kind friend to help. Or, if you have the spare cash, a wardrobe consultant will come to your house with loads of clothes and boss you into submission about what suits you and what to get rid of. Google 'wardrobe consultant' - there are loads out there, and you can pick one you like the sound of and who doesn't charge the price of a small mortgage.

Will your DP cooperate and encourage you to take some time out for yourself? If so book two days off - one for a manicure, pedicure, haircut, waxing or whatever, and then next one a few days later for the wardrobe makeover.

Oh god, I sound like a self-help book. Sorry. Hope that's useful, though. And post some before and after pics, so we can see the transformation

Oohh DaisyJ, I am liking!!!

THe time out is a non-starter for me - Am on my own all week with a baby and a dog but I like the idea of a wardrobe consultant.

I know (in my heart of hearts) that I should get rid of 80% of my wardrobe and I will never be the size (or shape) I was before DS, but I suppose I don't dare do it, because if I did, I would have nothing to wear!!!

I should be ruthless, but I am too clueless!!!

I think the wardrobe consultant would be good for me - just need to find one!!

Glad to be of service . I must say that I found it really liberating a few months ago just getting rid of all the things that were a bit too small for me. I felt slimmer, too, as I wasn't always thinking I should lose a few pounds so I could get back into them . Then, ironically, I lost nearly half a stone for no apparent reason, but I put it down to not obsessing about those few pounds anymore...