
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
👉🏼👉🏼👉🏼Every time I get a DM in summer asking for jeans shorts a bit of me dies inside but I’ll share anyway. Wayyyyyy harder than jeans shopping. But think I’ve now found them in blue denim pic 1 & my absolute faves pic 2. And for your delectation pic 3 why I hate shorts try ons 😂.
Shorts 1 @peacocks_fashion #ad in stories now 20% off this weekend and some other lovely bits too inc some fab jeans and this lovely soft breathable tencel shirt
Shorts 2 @dorothyperkins will also link in stories previous #ad
Let’s not talk about all the others I’ve tried but name every high street I’ve tried them. If you have favourites hit us up in comments 👇👇👇!!!!
#40plusnotgivingupyet
Happy day in Porto. @theshoegirlsuk business done and today involved Pastel Nata and TukTuks and sightseeing at speed and Garlic Prawns and lots of laughter with my @theshoegirlsuk partner Lucy who I ADORE.
It’s already over and I’m on my way back but what utter joy. This place won my heart very very quickly 😍😍😍
#40plusnotgivingupyet
Marriage is like a walk in the park…. Jurassic Park.
16 years ago today. My card to him today said the above 👆 He doesn’t look at me like this anymore but all in all I’m glad we’ve done Jurassic Park (and the sequels) together..
Also.. I can see my knicker line in this pic. They’re control pants. I wish I was as fat as I thought I was then but I guess a girdle has always been my thing 🙈😂. He’s a lucky guy huh 😅!
#40plusnotgivingupyet
I know I got lucky with my Dad. Who then became George’s surrogate Dad. And then four years ago my husband stepped in for George and today got his first Fathers Day card from him🥰. Neither of them will wax lyrical and we know I’m the one high in emotion and neuroticism as George would say… but.. it definitely made today a much easier day for me to think how far we have come and how bloody happy about it my Dad would be too.
No pics of them (of course!) but here’s me and my Dad and my favourite drawing Lola did 4 years ago 👉🏼 always summing up exactly how my fabulous Dad made me feel.. I’ll never not miss that. But how lucky I got it.
To all those *other Dads*; the Grandads and the Uncle Dads and the Step Dads and those that step in… you’re amazing….
#40plusnotgivingupyet
Looks what’s back in… available now on pre-order for delivery in next 2 weeks. This is the run we said we couldn’t do but the waitlist was so long we also couldn’t not! Thank you to our makers in Portugal who pulled out all the stops to get more of our stunning leather most comfortable wedge sandals in all colours back. Same buttery soft leather, same comfort, same go with everything 😍.
Available on pre-order delivery in next 2 weeks maybe before. Code 40PLUS for free UK shipping and discount elsewhere. I get sooooo many messages about these every day and Lucy @muddyfrogs and I are so proud you love them like we do!!!
They’ve sold out in every run we have done so far 🙈. Available now at www.theshoegirls.co.uk link in bio or in stories.
And thank you for supporting this my own brand @theshoegirlsuk We put a lot of love in to these so it means the world you guys love them too!!!! Ad own brand 🥰🥰🥰
#40plusnotgivingupyet #theshoegirlsuk
Beach weather incoming 🤞
And a heads up those on waitlist we have more @theshoegirlsuk incoming in next couple of weeks ! I shall keep you posted but we managed to get more made and so coming soon.
Have a fabulous weekend you lovely lot I hope you get to enjoy the sunshine ☀️
ps hammock beckons it’s on offer again I’ve linked in stories if you’re looking for my fave deal of the week it’s right there!
#40plusnotgivingupyet #theshoegirlsuk
It looks like a pink explosion on my feed so here’s this instead. Stuff I took on holiday and actually wore but didn’t ask my family to take pics cos it was their holiday too from all that stuff 😂 #theyneededthebreak
Note lots of items here are old so I’ve tagged anything that is current
#40plusnotgivingupyet
Truth be told I wear a hat not ‘cos I’m cool (although I think we know that) but because my hormones are now at proper pre menopause stage and if i get the sun on my forehead I break out in blotchy patchy melasma or pigmentation. So slapping on the spf and covering in a hat and it seems to work! Nice innit getting older??? As my Mum always used to say ‘It beats the alternative!’
Also lots of spf. In bucket loads. @larocheposay for the win (and no breakouts cos also that’s another lovely pre menopausal thing!) and always on offer @lookfantastic using my discount code 40PLUS (say #ad as I work with LF but I buy the @larocheposay myself and swear by it!!!)
Actually go on then say your pre menopausal without saying your pre menopausal please give your solutions to pigmentation below???!! I know I’ve asked before in stories but I think 👇👇👇 we can all see here this way!
Also.. nice hat innit ? @boutiquebonitaglobal recent gift from @regattaoutdoors / earrings #collab with @stealmystyle40 at @ashianalondon code 40PLUS for discount (ear cuffs coming soon!) / dress @pimkie / sunshine Abu Dhabi def not here eh
#40plusnotgivingupyet #menopause #menopausalskin #pigmentation
#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!

