HELP! ds said I looked like..........

[ScruffySoAndSo]

Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall!!!!!

WTF am I going to do?

Yes I am a farmers wife but I do wear make up, moisturise and generally try with my clothes.

HOW can I be more polished?

Haircut last week, wear skirts and nice boots with clean tights etc but have an inherently scruffy look I suppose.

at least he doesn't think you look like Gordon Ramsay

Oh love!

I'll have to say I'm waiting for more knowledgable ladies to come along, I'm a jeans and t-shirt girl myself and am a bit scared to glam up.

actually I do have a female friend who I think really does look like Gordon.

OMG!!!Really not funny.

are you curly? i look a bit hfw if do not make effort, have very similar hair (although mine is sort of brownish purple).

am also not at all slick, some of my colleagues wear suits but there is no way i could do this, would look ridiculous. i ended up wearing slouchy boots and a cord skirt with jumper to host a government launch recently.

Me too. Put the skirts on to try and get away from the jeans and long sleeved T shirt look.
I fully understand the latest fashions and want to wear something really classic and stylish but either can't find the right things or then can't afford them.

I kid myself that I can look fine out of Primark but feel at 38 I am getting too old to look really good in jeans and casual tops in T shirt material.

Really really want to look stylish???? Before I am way over the hill.

Nobody can look stylish in Primark. Sorry.

fiahie - just finished a proper job where I had to wear a black suit every day and sort of carried it off but was very much like a uniform.

I hope you felt more confident doing your launch in your own clothes. good on you!

nothing wrong with Primark

the moon - you are, of course, absolutely right!

Where can I shop to get it right?

I am not keen on Next as see it as too recogniseable. Like some of the Monsoon stuff that isn't too contrived...

Really like Jigsaw and really admire all the women I see shopping in there who look fab in tweed mini skirts and effortlessly put together outfits but still a bit too ££ for me at the mo.

DoubeBluff... Primark is only just ok if you are 5ft 2in and size 8. Even then it really is 'only just'.

The rest of use look dire in Primark.

really?

Oh dear.

I don't think I look like him at all. Only possibility of a looky likey is when my hair is really lank and greasy and I am wearing my dark rimmed glasses.
I have that English pale white/red skin that doesn't seem to take make up well.

WANT TO BE GORGEOUS!! More like Nigella? Looks I mean

I rather like Hugh!

But would also like to look a bit more like Nigella.

glasses! i want new glasses, mine are like sarah palin's.

if your skin isn't looking good with clothes then get colours done, best thing i ever did.

also as i am a little fat it is better if clothes are good quality, they are often thicker so skim rather than cling.

fishie - can you tell me where you shop?

boden alas. redoute, although it often turns up wrong or doesn't last. my current nicest dress was something i didn't order at all.

uniqlo and cos (i work near regent st where these shops are). kew sometimes. gap but not this year.

thanks. I have seen Uniqlo knitted dresses that look really good. Are they nice quality, as seem a good price?

I want to do the Boden thing and have a few bits and pieces. Really lovely and perhaps should revisit the sale.

they are fab, i do love uniqlo. i have two from last year which i have worn to death and they look good as new (apart from the moth attack but i did take much trouble over mending).

Try Kew, it's great for building up a capsule wardrobe of classic bits with a twist. They always have nice wearable colours. It's just like Jigsaw but cheaper, they're owned by the same company.

I mainly shop there, plus bits from Boden, Whistles, White Stuff, Fat Face and Great Plains mainly.. M&S Limited Collection or Autograph can also be good. I steer very clear of Per Una though!

I know what you mean about Next being recognisable, I've bought only one thing there this season, a simple cream chunky cardigan. I used to buy the majority of my clothes in there but think it's gone really off recently, bit cheap (or sometimes pricey!) and nasty IMHO. And I don't want 82 emblazoned on everything I wear either..

Agree Kettle,I have a long knitted waistcoat in grey from Autograph this year and have worn it loads.
Scrufy,do you wear makeup?
If not,try tinted moisturiser a,mascara,bronzer/blusher and lipgloss and you will feel better!
Long tees are ok,but I add a short sleeved cardigan/waistcoat and always a chunky necklace.
With skirts and boots,again accessories are good.High street shops such as Wallis,Topshop,Marks all good for jewllery that is reasonably priced.
Or try Ebay,I have had great jewellery off ebay!
Maybe the basics are ok,but you just need to look more 'finished' IFYSWIM?

Oh dear! Then again dd1 told me I looked like Russell Brand a few days ago.

Blusher, a necklace and hair serum can make a lot of difference I think. Clearly I had under-done the hair serum.

Ooh yes. I really like the short sleeved cardigans, waistcoats too!I take it the waistcoat should be a fitted womens version?

I think you are right about the finishing off that I need.

So hair serum?

I do wear make up and have some really good Christian Dior foundation which makes me look quite polished and I always wear some blusher, brown eyeliner and mascara. Trouble is that it doesn't stay on for long before it seemingly rubs off or my skin 'takes' it.

Lip gloss would be nice and relaxed for me though I think.

Just looked at the Kew website. Looks really lovely and just what I am looking for.

I really like the fact that their clothes are quite subtle. I just don't like seeing clothes and knowing where people bought them, seems a bit funny maybe but once another mum said "ooh I've got that New Look top" and I was felt really flat. Also someone once recognised a Tesco t shirt of mine and I never wore it again...

I think I need to re educate myself and stop buying cheap clothes. I have tonnes of T shirt type tops but would now like fewer things in better material and in a better design.

You guys have been really helpful.

I also understand that I need a pair of Duo boots and quite liked these.www.duoboots.com/products/boots/detail/calf_fitted_boots_everyday/brindisior would these be less clompy www.duoboots.com/products/boots/detail/calf_fitted_boots_timeless/avignon/4/colour/2//7/colour/2/ ?

sorry rubbish at links but the first choice of boots is the Brindisi from duo boots....if you are still with me?