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
Maybe you hated the sambas like me cos they tore your feet to shreds or they made you look like a 🤡 .. these 😍 the SL72s I wore them all day yesterday not one blister. In fact so much cushioning and the tongue isn’t so long it digs in.
FRICKING love them. I’ve already played around with them with jeans / trousers / dresses and skirts and they go with soooo much I’m in love.
What do you think???
Will link in stories I got mine at @asos
Disclaimer: I have friends who LOVE their sambas. Swear by them. Just like every other article of clothing one size doesn’t fit all it’s not you it’s the shoe / dress / bra / trainer. These ☝️ work for me!
#40plusnotgivingupyet #adidas
This ☝️ my very first Pinterest vs Me and I still love it so doable. Accessories rule 😍😍😍 & blazers over everything not just jeans 🙌
Whaddya reckon?
Everything I’m wearing is past season. Think the only thing still available is the tummy control vest which I swear by again and again! I’ll link in stories but let me know if you want the link 👇
#40plusnotgivingupyet
I’m nicer when I like my outfit which I did on this one but I’m still downright awkward at getting pics in the street. Master of the funny walks; that awkwardness. Thanks @stealmystyle40 for trying for me & for a fabulous day just what the old girl needed😂🥰
Jacket @oxfamwesternroadfashion last year 😍
Shirt 6 / 7 years old @hm
Jeans @levis I love via @amazonfashioneu
Shoes @asos ouch ouch ouch 🚩 so far do not recommend!!!
Glasses @zadigvoltaire old via @tkmaxxuk lenses put in at @hurstiwear
Bag new in @newlook
Will link anything still around in stories.
#40plusnotgivingupyet #tansuedejacket #charityshopfind #leopard #autumn #highstreetfashion
Ad this suit ☝️ new in @marksandspencer and these women making my day; how lovely is the sisterhood ??! In the less than 10 mins I tried it on I had half a dozen lovely women pass me and tell me they loved it too. Those women made me feel brilliant l, not gonna lie I’d quite happily have stayed in the changing rooms longer and lapped it all up 😂
So yes I did ABSOLUTELY get the suit. The fabric the colour the cut everything is gorgeous! Linked in stories with a full try on, it really is a gem.
Ps my teen girls find it embarrassing how many people I tell that I love their skirt / top / hair / eyes whatever. I carry on regardless. These women in the changing rooms obviously got the same pass it on memo 🥰.
#40plusnotgivingupyet #velvetsuit #myMarks #midsize
If in doubt right now it’s shirts all the way for me. ☝️ Pink or blue ??!! 😍
I DID end up swapping out sandals for Birkenstock style clogs yesterday. Autumn has come in like a sledgehammer. I think we’ve said about half a dozen times at home how dark it’s getting at night too and yesterday I bought pumpkin decorations. Happy to talk Halloween although the shops seemed to have moved on to the C word already 🙈
Shirts & jeans & bag @peacocks_fashion previous ad
The jeans are relaxed comfy fit and good weight to them while still soft AND they’re good on tum and bum! Will link in stories
Belt old @wardrobe44_shop
Sandals @amazonfashioneu I’m not putting them away yet
Sunglasses @anahickmanneyewear via @hurstiwear
#40plusnotgivingupyet
I know I need to try my jeans on post summer but I’m not ready! ☝️ anyone else???! Sign of a good summer guys 😍
#40plusnotgivingupyet #reality #midsize
Ad someone asked which bit has been my favourite??!! 4 nights cruise with @virginvoyages @trendingtravel to Amsterdam don’t make me pick ☝️ I honestly can’t believe how much we packed in such a short amount of time and it does feel like we’ve really had a break 😍
All the amazing food is obviously a first love for me there has been so much more. But if you want to just see the food that’s in stories / highlights do prepare to feel just that little bit peckish after seeing them 😂
Home now and back with my own crew but this was the magic of our long weekend ☝️☝️☝️
#40plusnotgivingupyet #Resilientlady #VvTT
Ad Day 2/3 on our 4 night cruise with @virginvoyages @trendingtravel and these are the pics of 24 hours in Amsterdam I LOVE THIS CITY!
We walked and walked and did a couple of tours; LOVED the @hitthebricks tour the most thank you @the.thistle.edit for the recommendation (she is the Amsterdam expert 🥰).
I have so much to share but the beauty of this cruise is that I absolutely haven’t had much time on my phone to share; I’m either lapping it all up or I’m completely relaxing. It honestly amazes us we’ve only been gone a couple of nights it feels already like we have packed in so much (not just food 😂). We have just left Amsterdam and it was AMAZING. Stories to follow but for now dinner awaits and we know my priorities 🙌
#40plusnotgivingupyet #ResilientLady #VvTT
#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!
