Tired of feeling/looking not put together - Page 2

[Learning_Mum]

My top tips:

I like to get my eyelashes tinted every month then it's just a matter of a little bit of concealer to hide my dark circles and some powder. It costs about $10 to get them tinted.

I shave my legs and armpits every morning and moisturise all over. Sounds like it takes a long time, but really when you do it every day it takes about two minutes literally.

I never wear trackpants or sweatshirts. All my clothes are nice and fit well but are mostly cotton so are really comfortable to wear.

Jewellery goes a long way to making you feel put together. Some dangly earrings, a nice ring and a bracelet are all it takes. Alot of my jewellery is cheap stuff that costs about $5. It lasts well and if I get bored of it I don't have to feel guilty.

My hair right now is a shoulder length bob with some layers through. I cut it myself. Heaps of videos on You Tube for cutting your own layers etc. I cut it off mainly because it was looking nasty but I have to admit I feel sexier with long hair than a short bob.

I think it's all about how YOU feel. I dare say that no one at school drop off thinks I'm particularly put together looking but knowing that my legs are smooth etc really makes ME feel better and then that is reflected in how I interact with people.

I also give myself regular pedicures and manicures.

Right, kids are going nuts, so I better go, but I think that's my complete list!!

[AtYourCervices]

My daughter goes to preschool. Last week I went to pick her up and one of the other very chic looking moms complimented me. "You always look so put together! What do you do for a living? Do you work in an office?"

I laughed and told her I'm a stay at home mom. She acted really surprised ("Man, on my days off I just lounge around in sweats!") and I thought it was funny because my entire outfit was from the thrift store & incredibly comfy. Black capris, black and white batik mini dress, black bolero and black ballerina flats with a big red designer purse (it was a gift), black earrings & a black choker, with dark sunglasses on.

At the end of each month my friend and I go to the thrift store together. Clothes are only $3 for a bag stuffed with clothes. There are some specially marked items, but they never cost much. My girlfriend wears the same size as me, but cool colors look best on her while warm colors look good on me. We'll help each other pick clothes that look good. Last week we hit up the thrift store together and I found a tan pea coat in brand new condition for only $3! It fits me perfectly and I've already received several compliments on it.

My girlfriends and I have also been guilty of raiding each others' closets. Sometimes we hang out, watch chick flicks and paint our nails together. Gah, I'm going to miss them when I move.

I take a shower or bath every morning. I make sure to shave at least every other day. I keep a bottle of coconut oil in the bathroom, and before I get out of the tub I put the coconut oil on my face. I normally have extremely dry skin, but the coconut oil has done wonders! I also put on some scented body lotion. Sometimes I blow dry my hair, sometimes I don't. My hair is long, thick and naturally red-brown. I really do need a trim and new hair products, though. Recently, I've just been brushing my hair, flipping my hair, running my fingers through it, and donning a black crocheted beret ($1 at a thrift store). I wear just a little makeup (to even out my skin tone & some eye shadow). The makeup isn't expensive at all. I buy the cheap stuff but it still does the trick. I go with very neutral eyeshadow colors (tan, brown & dusty rose colors). I use multiple eye shadow colors per application but it's very subtle.

When I buy clothes I make sure they're simple pieces. Nothing with writing on it. It's very rare that I purchase a T-shirt. One thing I keep in mind when buying clothes is what would they say on one of those shows like "What Not to Wear".

The one thing I do splurge on for myself is undergarments. What you wear under your clothes can make or break an outfit. I wear thongs so there aren't panty lines. I prefer skin toned undergarments so there's minimal risk of it showing through my clothes. I'm totally guilty of wearing shapers. I wear camisoles for extra coverage.

I don't usually wear sneakers. My favorite shoes are the ballerina flats ($1) and some knee high boots ($20). In the summer, my favorite shoes are some tan strappy wedges ($10).



In summation, I'd recommend you shop around at the thrift stores. Ask around about bag sales. Find some females who have excellent fashion sense to take along and ask advice. Do girly things for yourself. Accessorize. Spend a little more time in front of the mirror. I'm not talking about a long time. It takes me 5 minutes max to pretty myself up.

[carmel23]

I'm so going to go thrifting I haven't done that (for me, and not kiddos) in awhile. I could use some accessories.

[Red Willow]

I cut my hair short, which is really flattering on me and takes no styling time other than a squirt of creme out of the shower. It is such an improvement over my ratty shoulder length hair that I kept in a frumpalicious bun all the time.

I wear a bit of make-up every day. Mineral powder foundation, a little lip gloss and mascara makes such a difference.

I also second exercise and diet, because when you're not packing extra lbs. it's so much easier to dress.

A good bra does miracles.

You can never go wrong with sparkles--cheap bangles from Cost-Plus and some dangly earrings from a thrift store can make a monochromatic outfit. I wear tons of black, grey and khaki but I zhuzh it with fun jewelry.

Also, I can't get behind the ballet flat craze, for me they make me feel like an oompa-loompa (I am rawther top-heavy). So I do heels!! Block heals and wedges are more convenient, clearly, when you are chasing and carrying children.

I money is tight, can you sew? The world does abound with free and nearly free clothes that could be awesome if you could just bring in the legs to show off your rockin' thighs, for example.

[shotmama]

thank you thank you THANK YOU miss peainthepod for the shopruche site. i finally have something new to do while the LO is asleep! haha

[miss_nikki]

Originally Posted by maciascl

I am really feeling frumpy and unkept lately. I mean I guess I have been for a long time, but it is bothering me lately. None of my clothes fit well, my hair never looks right, I can't remember the last time put makeup on since it never looks right anyway. I want to feel pretty and to not look like I just rolled out of bed once in a while but I have zero dollars to spend on new clothes, makeup or even a hair cut. I've lost my baby weight, but I still can't button my pants yet so I am dieting at least to get them to fit again.

What do you do to help yourself feel put together? I have no fashion sense and have never been super trendy but I'd like to look like I atleast belong in the year 2010 I am still fairly young and I feel like I look so old and frumpy.

I haven't read any of the replies, but I feel the same way you do. Although, I haven't lost the baby weight, which has me a little down. I can't fit into my regular clothes. I don't have any make up and not very much in the way of nice clothes, but also don't really have the money to go get any. I have to keep reminding myself that it usually takes me 6 months or so to lose all the pregnancy weight, but it's frustrating. Yesterday I decided to go and get a hair cut. I only get one, maybe 2, a year. My hair is like Princess Mia's before hair in the original Princess Diaries. I asked for a pixie cut. I hate it... I thought it would be cute, but not with my hair. I partially did it because all I ever do is throw my hair in a pony tail. When it's down it's a frizzy poofy mess. I was hoping if I cut my hair really short that as it grew longer again, it would curl better since it wouldn't be "trained" to be in a pony tail. That was one plus. My hair does seem curlier, which I do love.

[happyhats]

We're usually pretty low income too but we've had a bit more wiggle room recently so I've been trying to buy some more quality basic pieces to build my wardrobe. Of course I still shop sales and the outlet section, but I'm so done with cheaply made clothes that get pilly or washed out after just a few washes, etc. Even when I dress up I still feel frumpy, ya know? Now I'm on to doing the same with shoes, and eventually I'd love a few key pieces of jewelry but that's totally not in my budget right now.

I am lucky in that my sister is a hairstylist so I can get my hair cut for free, and I get my eyebrows for free as well. I don't bother to color my hair, I don't use a lot of products, etc. I will use a flat iron on it during "bad hair days" but since my hair is always short it can be done very quickly.

Defenitely getting dressed, doing basic hygeine stuff, and putting on some perfume perks me up. I don't really have any interest in makeup so there is no point buying it and wasting it, but I have gotten more interested in general skin care. I'm going to try to find an inexpensive toner. I make a facial scrub with baby cereal and a touch of olive oil and use it at least a couple times a week. I also need to remember to use some moisturizer-I tell myself that I don't need it since I don't have dry skin but it really is better in general.

I do my toenails too. I bite my nails but the toenails give me a pick me up even though they are rarely seen.

Another thing, I like to have nice "lounge" clothes. Get rid of all those ratty stained shirts and at least wear something cute for relaxing evenings. It doesn't have to be risque, but just cuter pjs or nightshirts, etc.

[tjjazzy]

this is a great thread so far! can i recommend AnywearGirl.com? it's a site i write for. women all over write about what they're wearing according to where they live and the season
i think jeans that fit well go a long way. you can pair a pair of dark jeans with a nice top and a jacket and look put together as soon as you finish it off with a bracelet (i have more expensive bracelets and cheap $1 bracelets that i've received tons of compliments on.) scarves make a big difference too. i love scarves on women; such a polished look. i'm still perfecting my wardrobe and i have a long way to go but i love Old Navy and thrift stores. i get a few pieces at Wal-mart too. i love cotton summer dresses; they seem to suit my body type and they're comfy too.
my problem is shoes. my feet are SO messed up since i had my boys. i wear orthotics and deal with a lot of foot pain. pretty shoes seem to be a thing of the past b/c they're not supportive enough it breaks my heart to wear ugly NB running shoes (i could NOT find a pair i thought were nice and HAD to get some so i could, you know, walk again LOL); i just feel like it ruins all my outfits. my winter boots are an improvement (i have 2 nice pairs) and i wear Nike flip flops in the summer. i wear heels if i go out to a wedding or something like that.

[Juvysen]

re: the Gwyneth look... I love that look... but I wouldn't be caught dead in leggings unless I lost 20 lbs. So maybe not. if I lose 20 lbs, though? I'm so going with that.

I get dressed every day (usually nice looking jeans and a t-shirt material shirt that has something interesting). I just tossed out all my clothes that didn't look good/make me feel good, so I've got some slim pickin's right now.

Make up... I've considered it. I just recently realized all my makeup is at least 10 years old. Probably should update, but I want to get something that isn't toxic. Suggestions?

my hair is wavy/curly, so it pretty much always looks like a mop, but Dh says he likes it, so that's gotta be worth something.

[peainthepod]

Originally Posted by shotmama

thank you thank you THANK YOU miss peainthepod for the shopruche site. i finally have something new to do while the LO is asleep! haha

Happy to share, mama!

[EdnaMarie]

Originally Posted by Juvysen

re: the Gwyneth look... I love that look... but I wouldn't be caught dead in leggings unless I lost 20 lbs. So maybe not. if I lose 20 lbs, though? I'm so going with that.

I get dressed every day (usually nice looking jeans and a t-shirt material shirt that has something interesting). I just tossed out all my clothes that didn't look good/make me feel good, so I've got some slim pickin's right now.

Make up... I've considered it. I just recently realized all my makeup is at least 10 years old. Probably should update, but I want to get something that isn't toxic. Suggestions?

my hair is wavy/curly, so it pretty much always looks like a mop, but Dh says he likes it, so that's gotta be worth something.

I just like her "uniform" idea and the color schemes. I don't have any leggings, either LOL! I don't have the muscle tone... doesn't matter how thin you are, if you don't work out, there is too much jiggle in the calf when you walk.

[tjjazzy]

Originally Posted by Juvysen

Make up... I've considered it. I just recently realized all my makeup is at least 10 years old. Probably should update, but I want to get something that isn't toxic. Suggestions?

i just interviewed the owner of the company that makes Earth's Beauty. she's really nice and is ALL about synthetic free, non-toxic makeup! she had me look at some studies about all the effects of makeup and hair products and whatnot on us and it is pretty intense. you can find her products (also the eco-cosmetic line for teens, meisha) at AllNaturalCosmetics.com!