Appearance Upgrade for Older Mom

I'm an older mom with an aging appearance and exhausted features. Anyone else feel that way? So... I'd like to find someone who might assist me in coming up with a hairstyle, color combo style and whatever else could help accentuate my better features and decentuate (such a word?) the not so good ones. Is there some miracle salon that could assist me in taking this aging corner a bit more elegantly??? Please, please please, any and all ideas sought.

My younger sister is a style maven and she made my parents look pretty darn hip. I was next in line and I didn't resist too much. Once you learn the rules that work for you, you can't go wrong. P.S. Shopping like they suggest in ''What not to Wear'' is exhausting because you are putting energy/effort into your appearance. You'll be oh so thankful for the effort though Beth

Post-partum Style Disaster

I'm a 32 year old SAHM of one active toddler with several style problems to work on. Frankly, I think I look like ''poo-poo'' (as my son would say) most of the time! My hair texture changed significantly post-baby (from curly to some waves but mostly straight) and I don't know how to cut or style my hair now. All of my clothes have the requisite breastmilk/food stains and I am SO TIRED of wearing plain tees/jeans from Target or Old Navy EVERY DAY!!!

So, 1) where can I get my hair cut and STYLED by a talented person with ideas (since I don't know what to do)? 2) where do moms in the 30's age range buy casual clothes with some style? HELP! Frumpy Mom

More Advice

I feel you! I was pretty traumatized style wise after birth and now (1.5 years later) i'm getting myself back together.

On style, here's what i suggest - supplement your wardrobe with a few ''signature'' pieces. Find a cool denim or leather jacket and stick a flower or applique on it, then you can throw it on top of your plain t and jeans or skirt. Also, try different sizes on. If you are like me, i didn't so much change sizes, but redistributed and lost weight in funny places (lost my butt, gained a pot belly? haha)but in the same size range. But since clothes fit different on my now i had to adjust. Take off the tennis shoes and find some stylish flats or something with a bit of a heel. Shoes have evolved these days and there are great, fun styles that are comfortable too. Go for color, add a pretty scarf, or earrings...

Also, watch ''What not to wear'' on Friday nites at 10pm on The Learning Channel. It's a fun show and if you're like me and don't go out anymore, it'll entertain and educate you on easy style tips to help you look more ''pulled together.''

For makeup, try Bare Escentuals (on 4th street in berkeley or from QVC), it's easy - you just brush it all over your face and you're covered (not like liquid foundation) and get a bronzer and dust your cheeks. Final touch is an eyebrow brush and some gloss and you're done. I do this everyday in 5 minutes or less. If you're motivated you can curl your eyelashes and use mascara. It really makes a big difference in how you look and feel. After seeing so many tired washed out faces on TV makeovers, i didn't want to become a statistic! haha

good luck to you ! tired but stylin'

Shopping with kids can be a chore I know - but I've shopped all the above with a kid or two in tow - it isn't as much fun but it can be done. Elements has toys!

For more style ideas, pick up Lucky magazine - they run the gamut but it will give you an idea of what's currently fashionable and where to find it. Lastly, have you watched What Not To Wear?? I like the BBC version better, but the TLC - US version is great too. It will give you ideas. lucky shopper

As far as fashion goes, don't write off Old Navy completely - an excellent place to stock up on wardrobe foundation items such as jeans, fun T-shirts, and thongs. Why not go through your closet/dresser and chuck those things you have A)not worn in a year, B) worn so often that your friends are starting to wonder if you have anything else, and C)can no longer stand to look at or put on. See what you have left, and round out the basics at Old Navy. Amble over to Banana Republic, which ALWAYS has a sale section, and pick up a few seasonal or ''fun'' (read:dressier than a t-shirt) items that can go with your basic stuff. Good to have: capri/mid-calf length pants in denim, khaki, and black, because you can wear virtually ANY top with these! There are lots of cute skirts at Target - one in navy, by Isaac Mizrahi (mine was $21.99) is flattering to all shapes and goes with tons of tops! For a splurge, Anthropologie has great tops and a pretty big sale rack worth pawing through. Ann Taylor Loft has a lot of bright, spring, fun clothes at realy affordable prices right now - and you can even pick up a cool pair of sunglasses for about $24!!!!

Go through your clothes and throw out the bad stuff; make a few shopping trips to see what's out there and what you want to wear (and can afford). Buy things that look good on you and make you feel good! And don't worry, Mommy - we ALL look (and feel) like poo-poo some of the time. Get some spring colors on and rejuvenate your look! Stylish is a state of mind

Tomboy wants to look more feminine

I'm a mom who never figured out how to pluck/shape/de-bush eyebrows, deal with my mustache, or apply make-up (petroleum jelly on the lips is as good as it gets). My husband and I look like a gay couple (which is fine, but people stare more disapprovingly now that we have a baby), and I tend to startle women in public restrooms.

Alas, I need to find a sympathetic salon that will (1) tame my eyebrows, (2) do something with my mustache, (3) cut/style and show me how to fix my short hair so that it looks a little more feminine. I'm not ready to try any make-up, but I recently began using some hair gel, which started a trend of random people calling me ''sir.''

My skin is pretty sensitive, so please recommend people/places that use skin-friendly methods of hair removal and styling. Also, I'm desperate enough to try anywhere in the Bay Area, but San Francisco/Daly City places would be best (especially if the results aren't disastrous and I decide to go back again someday). If possible, please recommend specific people at these places who are especially nice and patient with women who are absolutely clueless about beauty stuff.

Thank you!!! anonymous please

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