
I am a SHOPPING ADDICT who craves the opportunity to help women get back their mojo and feel the very best they can.
I love sharing my high street finds (and fails!) on my Insta feed and you can tune into my honest try-on sessions anytime, anywhere via my daily Instagram Stories @40plusnotgivingupyet.
I’ll share stuff I love, bargains and discounts and answer your burning fashion questions such as;
- Which SIZE should I buy? (size 12 in one store? size 16 in another? or can I size down)
- What does the material FEEL like? (itchy? cheap? silky? Do I need to iron?)
- Will it show my BULGY bits? (we’ve all got them just what to wear to make you feel as confident as you can)
- What kind of UNDERWEAR will I need? (I love a bit of control underwear but also let’s talk practicality if it’s see through you need to know)
- How can I DRESS IT UP or down? (insta style with heels don’t always transfer well to the real world where you’re probably just going to Lidl)
- And of course….does it have POCKETS?!
We’ve all ordered online and been bitterly disappointed when the garment arrives, usually in the wrong size or fabric. Don’t think it’s you. My mantra is if it makes you feel rubbish, or it’s all wrong then IT’S NOT YOU IT’S THE DRESS!
I’m also a hungry bargain hunter and definitely not into designer clobber (I don’t have the cash and even if we did, I think a trip to Mauritius would be more my bag!). I’ll share the deals and discount codes and if I can I’ll try and wrangle a code for you! I share the beauty products and fake tan secrets that I can’t live without too, anything that helps my mid 40s!
I’m also pretty random and share lots of the stuff I love; family life, VERY simple foolproof recipes, and travel and just life as a Mum of three – my two girls Lola and Poppy, and George my nephew. I’ve been hit hard by loss in the past having lost my sister, and my Mum and Dad and I will talk about grief sporadically as it’s a huge part of my life and I’m happy to normalise it and share. Oh and there is also a very tolerant husband in the wings but he NEVER appears on insta.
Helen
Let ME try before YOU buy!
It’s a lottery buying online. Let me road-test your purchases – before you click buy! I take the best of the current high street fashion and feed back to you about it’s cut, sizing, quality and how best to style it. Time saving reviews delivered straight to your phone!








My Instagram @40plusnotgivingupyet
Rebellious hope tee by @bowelbabe for @bowelbabefund x @inthestyle JUST BUY IT - IT IS FABULOUS 🙌.
Ordered last night and it doesn’t disappoint. I’m in size 14-16 which is oversized on me but it’s so soft you can wear easily with jeans or a skirt or soft enough you’ll wanna wear to bed. I’m ordering myself another.
Plus and most importantly it’s for an amazing cause, set up by a frankly incredible woman @bowelbabe you blow us all away… Words can’t really express the love that so many feel for you but I’m certain that in the past few weeks the incredible amount raised does show it. Now we’ve got the tee too to show it too😍
#40plusnotgivingupyet #bowelbabe #bowelbabefund #charitytee
Ukraine then Uk I mean Eurovision got it right this time huh??? Nothing will ever beat Bucks Fizz though. That skirt maxi to mini was a thing of legend. And it was ONLY 41 years ago HOW IS THAT TO RUIN YOUR DAY??!!
Zero to do with this outfit though. Dress is a static length. Nice though 😂
Dress @peacocks_fashion #ad in stories code 40PLUS expires today will link it’s absolutely fab /
Sandals own brand @theshoegirlsuk send an email info@theshoegirls.co.uk to be added to waitlist / hat @velvethove must visit if in Brighton /bag @marksandspencer
#40plusnotgivingupyet #summerdress #summerstylr
AD GIVEAWAY The gift of sleep!!! You guys know I love love love our @emmasleepuk mattress and I am thrilled to say that Emma have kindly agreed to gift one of their award winning Original Mattress PLUS a bed frame of your choice to one lucky follower! A WHOPPER of a prize!
Details on how to enter below and If you don’t win, you can still enjoy their delicious treat - a Bed Flash Sale on the website now. Huge offers and when it stacks with my code 40PLUSEMMA you can expect an even better discount! Emma also offer a 200-night guarantee so if you don’t love it, just send it back!
Here's how to enter:
😴 Like this post
😴 Follow @emmasleepuk and me
😴 Tag a friend who could use a good night’s sleep. One tag is one entry and you can enter as many times as you like!
That’s it and GOOD LUCK! Giveaway will close on Monday 16th May at 8am and the winner will be announced on stories shortly after. Open to my followers in the UK. This giveaway is not affiliated with instagram.
Please note that this is my only account and you will only be contacted directly from this account. Please do not share any personal details or click on any links sent by fake accounts.
Good luck and get tagging!
I quite liked the trousers until my husband said ‘want a flower that squirts water with those???’ He’s not wrong IRL 😂
Recent try on all fails. The dresses were beyond appalling; indeed I don’t know why I am bringing them on to my main feed these aren’t aesthetic but a Monday reminder IT’S NOT YOU IT’S THE DRESS (or Krusty the Clowns trousers right???). Will load up in stories still though ‘cos if you had a weekend of excesses these will make you feel better seeing them on me 🙌.
#40plusnotgivingupyet #realtryon #reality
I have no idea what to say about this pic. It’s a woman sitting on a step. That’s it. That woman is me. Stupid app would definitely prefer me to run up and down it or apparate on it; to a beat with perhaps a close up of me putting on the dress / doing up the dress / fancying around in the dress so that I can show you all how I do up this dress??!!
But I fancied a sit down so that’s it. You’ll all have to wonder how I got this dress on yourselves without the tutorial. Ps the bra hack though 🙌🙌🙌🙌 so happy you guys loved that ! If I can think of another useful one I will share 😂 Happy weekend.
Dress @asos
Hat @boutiquebonitaglobal given to me by @regattaoutdoors it’s perfect!
Sandals @theshoegirlsuk ad own brand
Bag @marksandspencer
Sunglasses @gucci via @brandalleyuk
#40plusnotgivingupyet
For every photo I do share for a post there’s at least a dozen more like ➡️😂 what a dick.. I STILL DONT KNOW HOW TO STRIKE A POSE HELP MEEEEEEEE.
📷 @stealmystyle40
#40plusnotgivingupyet
Truth of the day.
Happy Wednesday already!!! Off for a long overdue catch up with @stealmystyle40 today expect #smallmumtallmum in all it’s unedited messiness 😂. Can’t wait.
#40plusnotgivingupyet
Me: act natural standing in fetching doorway shot … also me ➡️➡️ and every other flipping shot in my camera roll. Why do I still find this so cringe???
Great tee though eh @fwp_by_rae back in stock this week. Sold out a few times and I managed to get one I LOVE the colour and softness it’s a winner .
Jeans @mandco_fashion pr
Bag @coach Earrings my own collab with @stealmystyle40 @ashianalondon code 40PLUSNOTGIVINGUPYET for discount sitewide
#40plusnotgivingupyet
#smallmumtallmum
You can see our #smallmumtallmum reel on our Instagram highlights so check it out!
A hashtag born from an Instafriendship with Abi @stealmystyle40!
We shopped, we storied, we shared our try-ons and laughed at the differences in sizes. Our followers told us they LOVED it and asked for more. #smallmumtallmum was born!

