Frugal Frump to Fab - 2015

Justamum

I'll be reading this with interest. I haven't really bothered about myself since I had children - mummy is always pushed down the list when money is tight and growing children need clothes. I hate all my clothes - they've all been given to me second hand and I've had them for years, so they are all pretty tatty, and weren't really 'me' even when I got them.

However, it's been so long since I've properly shopped for myself that I don't have a style. I'm 51, so don't want to look like mutton, but I also don't want to look old. It doesn't help that I don't like clothes shopping, and I've always been disappointed with the quality of catalogue clothes, so I don't have a catalogue any more.

silvasava

Justamum - agree with you on the quality of catalogue clothes - usually poor and expensive! I buy quite a lot of my everyday clothes in Asda, Sainsbury's and Tesco 'cos they are near me & their styles arn't 'over the top'. I've found the quality in the main to be very good and they often have sales on. If you don't like clothes shopping why not just go for the 'basics' first & then add gradually.
I've had a lovely 'fabby' morning - face scrub & then moisture mask. Leisurely bath with bubbles. De fuzzed all areas (including thos stray eyebrows that migrate to my chin!) basic manicure & pedicure and moisturised all over. Hair washed, conditioned & blow dried and I'm now ready to battle the week

Ellsbel

Had a bit of a slump yesterday but made time for body moisturiser this morning, even if only arms and legs!, and put some make up on - and perfume of course!
Have a good day everyone.

Justamum

silvasava wrote: »

Justamum - agree with you on the quality of catalogue clothes - usually poor and expensive! I buy quite a lot of my everyday clothes in Asda, Sainsbury's and Tesco 'cos they are near me & their styles arn't 'over the top'. I've found the quality in the main to be very good and they often have sales on. If you don't like clothes shopping why not just go for the 'basics' first & then add gradually.

Unfortunately we don't have Asda or Sainsbugs over here, and our Tesco doesn't stock clothes (except for a small stand with socks and gloves. I've found myself looking at how other people dress to give me some ideas. I don't like 'fussy' clothes or patterns, so I think more of a 'classic' style would be best for me. Now I just need to find out where to buy it (I hate looking in TKMaxx as it's just like a giant jumble sale)

silvasava wrote: »

(including thos stray eyebrows that migrate to my chin!)

I've got those too :rotfl::rotfl:Pesky things

Rose_Wood

Afternoon Everyone

I'm sitting here with wet hair and in my dressing gown after a nice long bath. Don't worry, I'm not lazy but went out for a run earlier so stayed in my jogging clothes till after lunch. We had a cooked lunch as I start work at 4.45 today. I haven't decided what outfit to wear for work yet but shall go sort myself out first - foot file, hair dried and styled etc.

I sorted out 3 drawers yesterday evening and rolled everything and stacked it vertically (as in the Kon Marie thread) and it did make more space. More importantly, I can see everything at a glance instead of the things at the bottom of a pile being forgotten. Top drawer is underwear and socks, middle drawer t-shirts and camisoles and bottom drawer leggings, jogging bottoms and tights. I found lots of black tights I hadn't realized I'd got that will now get worn.

Welcome to the thread Justamum. I'm 56 and gradually evolving a style I feel comfortable in. One of the things I do is analyse what people are wearing when I notice how good they look. Good grooming is one of the things that really make people look great too - not necessarily make up but immaculate, clean clothes with no stray hairs etc, well styled hair and matching accessories. All the things we are all trying to emulate on this thread. Another thing I do is shop at charity shops. I sometimes pull down anything that catches my eye and go and have a good trying on session. I often pick up things I wouldn't have normally tried and often it's the ones I wasn't sure about on the rail that look really good on. It's cheap enough to be a bit adventurous too and you can pick up some really good makes for not much money.

I had a 3 and a half mile run this morning so am back into routine. My running friend got a Fitbit for Christmas which was quite interesting. We did 8,707 steps on our run - and I will have done more as its a quarter mile walk extra for me to her house and the same back plus I shall be walking to work later which is another 3/4 mile. I am very tempted by one so may put in on my birthday list for all the family to chip in for. Last year I did that for my new laptop (though I had to add quite a bit too) and the year before my Kindle. My birthday isn't till May so I have time to think about it and see if the novelty wears off for her.

Right, I had better go and sort myself out and start a bit of extra fabbing. Have a good day everyone

Rose

cw18

If you want to rely on a FitBit for step count be careful which model you get. I'm a member on a diet and fitness website, where there are a number of members who own these - and there are regular reports (latest in the last fes days) of the Flex and Charge (wristband models) counting arm waving as steps, while the Zip or One (clip to bra or clothing?) don't.

I use a Heart Rate Monitor to get accurate calorie burn. I used to have one with a GPS unit, but it wasn't good at keeping a signal to track me in many of the areas I went to. I then used a MapMy??? app on a phone, but that was reliant on a mobile internet signal (so didn't work in places like the Lakes and still dropped out elsewhere). I now use a GPS unit which was a hefty investment, but by far the best thing I've used for tracking distance covered.

maman

Justamum wrote: »

Unfortunately we don't have Asda or Sainsbugs over here, and our Tesco doesn't stock clothes (except for a small stand with socks and gloves. I've found myself looking at how other people dress to give me some ideas. I don't like 'fussy' clothes or patterns, so I think more of a 'classic' style would be best for me. Now I just need to find out where to buy it (I hate looking in TKMaxx as it's just like a giant jumble sale)

:wave: Oh dear your username says it all!! When I joined the thread I felt like some sort of anonymous bag lady. It's amazing the progress I've made.:) TKMaxx does vary hugely from one store to another. Our old one used to be like a jumble sale too. I find they can be good (in the sense that it's worth looking when you're passing) for bras (but get measured first somewhere else), shoes, handbags and household things like towels, bedding and some crockery. I did buy two Puffa jackets there last year but you have to be lucky.


What about doing mail order to some stores rather than using a catalogue? You'd have to be careful with postage costs but it may be worth looking into.

Ellsbel wrote: »

Had a bit of a slump yesterday but made time for body moisturiser this morning, even if only arms and legs!, and put some make up on - and perfume of course!
Have a good day everyone.

I've just sneaked off and put perfume on!! Thanks for the reminder.:) I've done all the basics this morning too and will get properly dressed and made up before I go out later.


I actually had to open a bottle of body lotion this morning. It's only a cheap M&S one but it suits me and has a good dispenser. The only other one left is my Clarins which I keep for high day and holidays (literally). I still have a load of body wash/shower gels to use up. One day I'll be able to go out and buy brands of my choice but not before I've used stuff up.:money:
When I posted the link to my dress yesterday, it's the spring equivalent of the one they did in the winter which I bought in the sale. Price is identical and looks virtually the same until you read the details. The new one is a pull on dress whereas mine has a back zip that comes to top of camisole lining, then a keyhole bit and a covered button and fabric loop at the neck. So basically they've found a way of saving (cost of zip and extra work) but kept the price the same! My £18 bargain is getting better and better. Incidentally my purple suede Dune heels came form TKMaxx but were just a lucky find.


Hope everyone's OK. Glorious, bright day here but cold.:)

Wantobeasaver

Will have to investigate the Kon Marie thread, seems popular.

Not much fabbing over the weekend as I came down with a cold. Did wash and blow dry my hair though & put on the Dove moisturiser with a hint of fake tan, was looking a bit too washed out.

Bought another bottle of Urban Decay primer potion, did try cheaper ones but they just didn't make my eye shadow last. Did buy it off fleabay so wasn't too expensive. :T

newthrift

Hello All!!

Welcome to all newbies :wave: , well done to those on weight loss, diet, fitness and fabbing :T
Fab friday for me last week was having my nails sorted. I had them filed down so the just peek about my fingers and have had a light pink and then pink sparkles on my ring fingers. They look really pretty and I love the length. Booked in again for 3 weeks times Xbikes tonight and i'm all ready to work hard for 45mins!!
I turned 24 yesterday and my OH took me out for a lovely meal and our favorite Indian restaurant and as usual it was fab!!! Yesterday I also went with my Mum and maid of honour wedding dress shopping and I found my dress :j:D I tried every fit, type, sleeves, strapless, different necklines, backs EVERYTHING!!! And I picked my dress which is a beautiful princess dress and I have a cathedral veil which sits beautifully on the train. I will be going back in a couple of weeks to have another fitting and pick my tiara and things!!!!

Dodgy looking hugs all round :grouphug:

Justamum

Rose_Wood wrote: »

Good grooming is one of the things that really make people look great too - not necessarily make up but immaculate, clean clothes with no stray hairs etc, well styled hair and matching accessories. All the things we are all trying to emulate on this thread.

Oh dear, I feel there's a lot of work to be done with me then I don't even own a hairbrush I'm of the 'wash it and leave it' school of hairstyling (I have it cut short so it's easy). However sometimes it's stuck up all over the place in the mornings so I just go through it with my fingers :rotfl: Am I a lost cause?

Wantobeasaver wrote: »

Will have to investigate the Kon Marie thread, seems popular.

Funnily enough I found this thread over on that thread. I haven't read the book, but I have taken on board some of the methods of drawer tidying - and have kondoed the knicker drawers of everyone in the house

When I went on to Youtube to find out how to fold t-shirts I found links to other videos showing how to sort out kitchens, freezers, etc, and I'm hooked.