I'd love to get that polished look like the Duchess of Cambridge, Kim Sears et al

[CambridgeBlue]

I hate the fake nails/hair/tan look that a lot of celebs go for but I'd love to pull off the sleek swishy look that these ladies do so well. I know they have the best hairdressers and make-up artists at their disposal plus generous budgets, and clearly that's not an option for most of us, but there must be other things I could do to make myself look a bit more polished and classy.

I don't suit dresses and heels (nor does my lifestyle) but I don't live in jeans either. I buy quite nice stuff but seem to either look too 'done' and a bit frumpy or casual and slightly scruffy. When I was reading up on colour and style analysis I worked out that I might be a 'natural' type - could that be why I am destined to look like a student or my mother-in-law instead of a classy bird? :)

[yummymumtobe]

It's a great look but hard to pull off. I know a few people like it and some ideas are this - blow dry hair so it looks groomed. Wear quite classic clothes and avoid loads of accessories. Keep nails clean and filed with clear polish. You don't need a big wardrobe - invest in some classic staples and avoid big fashion statements.

[MadAboutHotChoc]

Try googling pics of Jennifer Anniston - she does the natural style very well.

[ZolaBuddleia]

A huge swishy barnet is a must, no curls or short hair allowed.

[crypes]

So many celebs have fake hair and fake tan because they can't pull off the Duchess of Cambridge look. She is naturally pretty.

[Keztrel]

I think it's all about maintenance - which takes a lot of time! You need to keep your eyebrows tidy and in a good shape, flawless skin, very regular haircuts and hair treatments to keep your hair shiny, good nails with no dry ragged cuticles... I can't even remember to put concealer under my eyes in the morning! And you need to perfect the art of dressing casually whilst still looking smart and pulled together.

[CambridgeBlue]

I'm on a loser straight away then Zola - I've got very short cropped hair! I have grown the top longer recently though, as I don't think i can pull it off as short as I used to, so it does swish a bit! I also had tawny highlights put in to try and look a bit more classy and invested in a new hairdryer to give what hair I have got a bit more oomph.

MadAboutHotChoc I love Jennifer Aniston's style actually, she's quite casual but always looks immaculate.

Do you think it's a size and shape thing too? I've lost weight recently and am about a size 12 but at 5'2 I am never going to be a leggy beauty - I don't mind being short but I do think a bit of height helps.

[101handbags]

And waxing. I really want to know how people like the Duchess of Cambridge never have that 'need a wax' hair regrowth - how do they keep their legs smooth and bronzed day in day out?

[higgle]

Ironing - well ironed clothes always look better.

[CambridgeBlue]

Travelin - I'm not sure if I'd want my colours done (I'm in 2 minds - sometimes I think it'd be great) but I would like the style analysis part. Is it possible to do one without the other?

[yegodsandlittlefishes]

As well as being naturally beautiful, the duchess of Cambridge is fit. You don't get that shape, and that tone without doing some physical work/exercise, surely?

[Keztrel]

Hmm...I think the reason the Duchess of Cambridge looks so polished is all to do with maintenance - hairdressers for the long chocolatey hair, great and rather heavy makeup, smart smart clothes all the time. Take away all that and she'd look average IMO. Her long legs are great though I will concede!

[RonaldMcDonald]

Kate Wales looks really overdone to me and very frumpy

[Keztrel]

I didn't know who Kim Sears was but just googled - I think to get that look you need to 1) Have masses of long, thick, well cared for hair and 2) be 21 years old!

[valiumredhead]

I looked that polished ONCE! On my wedding day, when I had a hairdresser, make up artist, professional photographer and the whole thing took about 5 hours. Not doable everyday on your own without shed loads of money and assistants.

[squoosh]

I think KM looks great these days although it's certainly not a look I personally aspire to. But I still wouldn't call her naturally beautiful. If you look at pictures of her from a few years ago she looked like your average girl next door, pretty but by no means jaw dropping.

Her glossy look is all down to grooming, grooming, grooming. That hair takes a lot of maintenance and I'm not convinced it's all hers either.

She does have great legs though.

[valiumredhead]

If she had to do her own hair she definitely wouldn't look as groomed.

[missbopeep]

Having lots of access to good hairdressers, dentists and any clothes you want makes a difference.
But don't forget Kim is very young- there are zillions of 25 -31 yr olds out there who look good and would look as good or better if they had access to all of the money she has for grooming.

And it does come down to effort- not least exercise, diet, etc.

[BadSkiingMum]

Duchess of Cambridge always looks good, but I do notice that she is quite heavily made-up.

I think that colour has a lot to do with looking well-groomed. Lots of harmonising, well-coordinated colours. Plus good bag/shoes etc.
Regular hair, eyebrow and beauty treatments.

[DontmindifIdo]

Actually, not sure it's all a natural beauty with Katy Cambridge, photos from her uni days show a relatively pretty but not stunning, very ordinary girl. If anything, back then her hair looked pretty dull and not as thick or well conditioned.

so good conditioning treatment and blow drying your hair daily. Make up that's not OTT but also done with care daily, and dress like you're off to a wedding daily... She also has good posture, something I'm working on, it does make a difference.

[PostBellumBugsy]

I have friends that manage to pull off that polished look and I would say the following about them:

1. They have thickish, straightish long hair in good condition
   
2. They are slim (either naturally or because they work hard at it)
   
3. They wear classic items of clothing with a nod to current trends
   
4. They don't wear much make up but what they do wear is well applied
   
5. They are good at layering, so always seem appropriately dressed
   
6. They are all Mums and none of them spend hours on their appearance.
   

I think you have to be slimish for the Kate Middleton / Jennifer look to work well.

I am hour glass & I just cannot pull off this look - I end up looking frumpy. I am groomed, hopefully not overtly, but always end up looking more glam than I intended because of the shape I am.

[CharlotteBronteSaurus]

they both look VERY high maintenance - TBH i think more work goes into creating a "natural look" rather than a made-up look.
I reckon they must, as a minimum, have haircuts every 4 weeks, and blow-dries twice weekly. natural nails need lots of maintenance and no washing up by hand!

[valiumredhead]

She is also incredibly thin which always helps to make you look good in photos.

Remember the engagement photos? She went from girl next door to sleek stunner who had lost a lot of weight.