style overhaul required............please help

[angelfire]

I am overweight, unfit, busy with work and family. Life is so busy and I do not have time/inclination to sort out my hair, wardrobe, nails etc etc etc

However I was at a little girl's birthday party yesterday and it was the first time in a long time that I have been out with enough time to watch other people

And I realised that the person I had let myself become is not the person I want to be/actually am

The other mums were well dressed, thoughtfully accessorised, well shoed. We are not talking anything fancy but they had clearly thought about what they were wearing and I felt a total wreck in comparison

So can you help me with this

a. Those personal shoppers/stylists at John Lewis etc - are they any good?

b. My "style" is fairly simple and classic. I like Phase Eight but at a loss to know any other good shops/mail order. Any suggestions?

c. I cannot afford loads of products etc but if there is one thing that you would do to make yourself look but more importantly feel good what would it be?

Thanks

Phase Eight is quite dressy; if you want similar style, but more day-to-day, try Jigsaw, Kew, and Comptoir des cotonniers.

But, before buying anything, why don't you flick through a few magazines to see if there are any styles that you like, and think would suit you. Then you can go shopping with an idea in your mind of what you want.

The one thing you could address right away might be your hair. Are you happy with your current style and its condition? I always find that if someone has a nice hairstyle in glossy condition, I don't notice much else about their appearance - I'm too busy admiring their beautiful hair!

And sshhhh : if you are in a rush in the morning (and have normal, not sensitive skin), I have discovered that for £6.50 you can buy some 'Quick Thinking' 4 in 1 skins wipes from Boots No.7 (30 in a pack). IMVHO, these are pretty good, and leave your skin feeling nice, despite the convenience of them. I use them a few times a week when I'm running late, and don't have time for the whole cleanse/tone/moisturise caboodle, and I honestly can't tell the difference. You can buy them with the £5 off voucher you sometimes get. I haven't ever paid full price for mine!

angelfire - Try wraponline - they have some lovely, simple things which are good quality in very lovely fabrics. Their customer service is excellent (free no quibble returns) and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them here

Accessorize - interesting necklaces and scarves in flattering colours will pep up a dull top. Pin a crocheted corsage to your coat. Make sure your bag and shoes are always clean and well polished.

Get a very good haircut and make sure your hair is always clean and shiny.

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm then Astral cream, then No. 7 Intelligent Colour Foundation with some plum or brownblack kohl eyeliner, a small amount of eyeshadow, Lancome mascara some cream blush and some barely there lip gloss and you will look high maintenance. And if you can be bothered eyebrow make up makes you look much more alive and wide awake. (I use a solid little block with a little folding brush from the Body Shop)

angelfire join us on High Maintence low buget. Sorry not very IT person and we will do it together.

Swedes, I feel stylish from just reading that - excellent advice!

P.S going to a kids party this afternoon. I will try and make an effort. Not for anyone else but me. All the other mum are lovely so I don't feel the odd one out but they do make more of an effort than me. Time to change. P.S How do you link one thread to another?

I found a lovely crocheted corsage here

Personal shoppers can be brilliant. Last year I went to Jigsaw in Bluewater and the girl who worked in the changing rooms used to be a stylist at Selfridges. I was in there for 2 hours and left with loads of things that all worked together.

If you have time, go through your wardrobe and take out 2 of each of your fave trousers, skirts, tops, dresses - decide what goes with what and what you could buy to add to them.

You probably won't need to buy much in the way of clothes but a few great belts, scarves, necklaces will change the look.

Is this the thread you mean Starbear?

That sounds fab sniffyhock.
Do you find Jigsaw is not as good now as, say, 3 years ago though?

Make time to get your brows professionally shaped. It's one of those things that nobody can quite pin down but you always look groomed.

Penthesileia is right - your hair is definitely the biggest factor in how you look overall. Never leave it too long between trims or you'll start looking feral very quickly.

MrsSeanBean. yes, thank you how do you do that?

Starbear - I just found the thread, copied & pasted the address, and did a link in the normal way. HTH.

No emotion for confused. What is the address?
What is the normal way?

Starbear - by 'address' I mean the bit at the top of the screen - the bit that starts ....

Then I just followed the instructions for doing a link (see to the right of the 'message' box, just underneath the emoticons).

Ohhhhh! I see, I'll give it a go one day. Ta!

No probs