i want to not look like someone's mum....

[woodstock3]

help! have not descended into total frumpdom but have definitely got into a rut of jeans/ballet pumps/top with questionable stain on it. i'm fine with work clothes which have to be quite formal but haven't bought any non-work clothes for ages as a) never seemed to go anywhere and b)all the money was going on either ds/the house and got out of the habit of thinking about me.
now he's a bit older, i feel like recovering my social life but have absolutely nothing to wear! hair's ok i think as i have to be presentable for work but general maintenance (ahem) has collapsed - got out of the habit of shaving my legs/plucking my eyebrows/my nails are always odd lengths.
am still a size 8/10 as before dc but definitely bits of me (stomach, cellulite) have seen better days....and am mid-30s.
where would you start?? bearing in mind have no time and cant justify much money. but need ideas for a couple of things that i could buy to update my wardrobe that would make it look like i have a vague idea that it is no longer 2006? and given that i dont have time for the full monty, what bits of the beauty routine you had pre-dc are definitely worth keeping up with and which have you let slide?

Put one day a week away to groom- legs, nails, feet, etc etc. Take an hour or so to do it all.
I make a habit of doing my nails and feet every week and legs etc at the same time. Haircut every 6-8 weeks.
You are still VERY young!!!
Mid 30s is a child, really.
Do some sit ups for 20 mins a day. I try to get into the habit of exercising just before Ihave a bath at night - or first thin in the day - having a routine def. helps. You could also try dry brushing or loofah-ing your tum and cellulite before you bath/shower each day.

What about a tunic or smock style top over skinny jeans? Knee length skirts with layers- vest top and cardi etc over.

Are you wanting dressy-up clothes for going out?

ps- body lotion, body lotion, body lotion after every shower etc and moisturiser/sun block SPF 25+ all day every day. My top tips!

woodstock3 you could be me....i'm quite happy with my work clothes but at weekends it's a desperate situation. i have lovely jeans but don't find them comfortable (they're either a bit too tight or a bit too loose) and they only suit me with high heels. i just tried on my summer trousers from previous years and they don't suit me any more. i'm a size 10/12 and my body shape has changed a bit since having DS now almost two years old, but i'm very fit so not in bad shape.

I'm feeling the same although a bit (ahem) older than you and sadly no longer an 8-10 (sob).
Have a day wandering around the shops one weekend when you can persuade your other half to babysit and try on lots and lots of stuff-even stuff you think may not suit you.
I think the main fashion change in the last couple of years has been trouser shapes narrow/cropped etc so maybe a couple of pairs of those and some new shoes and a couple of cheap tops should be enough to update.
Tunic/long tops esp in sheer fabric do wonders for hiding mummy tums a lot of mine are actually supposed to be dresses(-yeah right)

Ballet pumps are still v in or you could try some strappy 'gladiator' type sandals. I always find shoes the hardest thing (comfort plus style difficult) and have practically lived in Birkenstocks/UGG type boots for the last 4 years.

Hiya,
Ok my 'uniform' for this weather (sunny where I am) consists of little summer dresses, some short sleeved ones, some strapless and some with thin straps. I wear a nice denim jacket over the top. (I'm a size 10 by the way.)
On my feet I wear either ballet pumps, wedge sandals or those wedge espadrilles that tie round your ankles. Might get some gladiator sandals for Summer though.

Seeing as it's still Spring for the cooler days I wear exactly the same but with a pair of boots and a leather bomber. Sometimes it'll be uggs and skinny jeans too.

As far as a beauty routine goes, this is what I do...
AM: Splash face with warm water.
Apply Estee Lauder Idealist.
Clarins Multi Active Day Lotion SPF15
Chanel Vitalumiere and powder.
Mac concealer
Guerlain Bronzer
Mac blush on the apples of my cheeks
No7 Highlighter on the top of my cheeks and under brow bone
Lancome hypnose mascara
Mac lipliner and lipstick or sometimes gloss.

PM: Take it all off with Liz Earle cleanser and splash with cold water. I then apply some Clarins eye cream, Estee Lauder Idealist again and some Chanel Hydramax cream.

I'm in my early thirties and just started this beauty routine at the start of the year. My skin has improved dramatically and if I could recommend only one item of make up it would be vitalumiere. Totally worth the investment and lasts for ages.

I think the best advice would be to make the most of the bits of your body that you like. In my case it's legs hence all the little dresses. People always think I've got a great figure but actually I'm still podgy round the middle and just dress to hide it.
Hope that helps!

Also there is a couple of make up artists that do a Website called Fashion Face Tv which is basically make-up tutorials like the Youtube girl Lauren Luke does. I find them really helpful and got myself a foolproof make up kit together through watching them.
If you google Fashion Face TV, they are the first link.