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
THREE females in our house and Daisy dog. I am not remotely spiritual but the last few days.. well.. the full moon IS a thing and the mega harvest moon IS too.
Mothers of TEENAGE GIRLS you okay?
Daughters of MENOPAUSAL women are you okay?
Literally nothing to do with me in this pic except I look pretty calm right?! 😂
#40plusnotgivingupyet
I remember being mortified by my Mum wearing birkenstocks and tan pop socks. Surely I'm less embarrassing? Well no...
Family day out yesterday. We rowed before we left and we argued on the train (there and back) and my husband and I argued in the rain. BUT we all enjoyed the show (I took them to see @wickeduk ). To be fair the arguments weren't just teenage we are a fiery crew! But it appears I am THE MOST embarrassing. And VERY loud. OKAY I'll give them that 😂😂😂 #mouthlikeafoghorn
#notlikethewaltons
#40plusnotgivingupyet
Original meme @simoncholland
who cracks me up every day...
I felt it was cool enough for getting out the spanx. It wasn't. Given I sleep with the fan on and window open and moan about sitting near a candle I think either the HRT needs to kick in or I'll be in my summer gear way past first frost...
.
.
Roll on the cooler weather... 😂
Shirt @bershka
@spanx via @amazonfashioneu and @nike bag @poloralphlauren
Via @tkmaxxuk sunglasses @gucci via @brandalleyuk
#40plusnotgivingupyet
Not sure what I'm doing with my arms here but I think it might have been an embarrassed flourish as my pal took the photo in the cloisters. It NEVER gets easier....
Thank you to @janebowenjones_rtt who I spotted in this beautiful dress walking along the beach and I ran across the pebbles to say how much I loved it. It actually SPARKLES and a photo cannot do it justice. And this lovely stranger then found it for me at @southoftheriverlondon It is now out of stock but code HELEN10 gives 10% off of the whole boutique online watch out there are some GORGEOUS pieces 🤩. And Jane sparkled and now I do...
So go on then I'm not really embarrassed I think I might be shimmying..
Dress @southoftheriverlondon gift
Hat holiday purchase
Sunglasses @gucci via @brandalleyuk
Shoes @theshoegirlsuk own brand
#40plusnotgivingupyet #theshoegirlsuk
Yesterday FULL ON @theshoegirlsuk
Today FULL ON pastel de nata. Eeking out our last day.
Both pretty bloody fab thank you. We are staying at a converted Monastery and it is very quiet and calm with the sound of fountains in the cloisters and murmurs around breakfast. Of course me and Becky cackling with the four Lancashire girls means we have really tested the acoustics and the monastic silence is definitely not the same..
Skirt @shedreamsofgucci loan again!
Sandals @theshoegirlsuk own brand with @muddyfrogs
#40plusnotgivingupyet
"Why do people say "grow some balls"? Balls are weak and sensitive. If you wanna be tough, grow a vagina. Those things can take a pounding."
➡️ @theshoegirlsuk Portugal shoe and sandals and boots trip. And NOTHING to do with my main pic but let me shout out this crew. @muddyfrogs Lucy and her crew @joannebreaks @rachelhb81 and @lozi82x and my @ayers4425 The girls who helped support us through @theshoegirlsuk FRICKING LOVE THESE guys! We are having fun while also looking at leathers and boot styles and how flattering they are on all of us in different shapes and sizes and by god it might be a business trip but it feels like the ultimate girls trip too. We needed this. I love my girls. Those women that don't like other women aren't to be trusted cos fricking hell WE ARE AMAZING.
📷 @ayers4425 her first trip away from her 3 kids in years. And one of my support network and complete and utter pisstakers should I ever take myself too seriously.@ukdanielax I'm sorry you couldn't come. The rest of the crew are the Lancashire girls and oh my god I love them. I wish I wasn't a Southern Jessie cos this lot are the best.
Dress borrowed from @shedreamsofgucci it's her favourite summer dress and worth more than most of my wardrobe but she still lent it to me. Thank you Lia love you too.
#40plusnotgivingupyet #theshoegirls #womensupportingwomen
I am looking classic instapose side left and laughing with another woman who is out of shot but getting her son of about 10 years old to take her pic while she looks side left. Both mid 40s.
Will my kids will need therapy???!!!
Off to Portugal today @theshoegirlsuk me and my business partner and now very good friend Lucy @muddyfrogs A long awaited trip to the makers and production and tanneries that should have happened beginning 2020 so to say I'm excited is an understatement... I will take you guys with me 'cos if we are going to bring out more we need you guys in on the decisions too right?!
#40plusnotgivingupyet
If you don't look at dial on a weighing scale then you will be much happier... a lesson I'm still learning and I don't know what possessed me to hop on this yesterday but I did and I wasn't stupid enough to look at what it said. Not that it matters right?!!? Therein lies angst. And to what purpose? You might not have the body you had pre covid let alone pre kids or at 18. But now you got through a pandemic and perhaps kids and hell you aren't 18...
Yesterday a fab meeting @theshoegirlsuk partner Lucy @muddyfrogs we talked SANDALS and possibly boots (only if we can get it spot on in comfort AND look!). A visit coming to Portugal next week to where we get them made so exciting stuff. We are also adding our limited number of reserve pairs online today. It may be September but we had a few we kept back in case of exchanges and I know there were a number of you wanting a pair. Any orders today will be sent out tomorrow first class so you would hopefully get them for the weekend! Link in bio or stories and don't forget code 40PLUS. ➡️ to see just a couple of the reviews we have been soooo thrilled to get such lovely reviews.. Roll on these beautiful warm days so I can keep wearing mine I am NOT ready for Autumn yet!!
#40plusnotgivingupyet #theshoegirls #ad / own brand
#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!
