Is ironing essential to look polished?

I made no accusations of any kind as anyone can clearly see. and couldn't possibly know what you meant if you didn't type it here. nor did I agree with you .

I don’t iron and look perfectly polished. I don’t wear shirts really, I am mainly in jeans, t shirts and blazers/jackets or knitwear. I steam things with creases but none of my clothes need actual ironing and I actively avoid buying things like cotton shirts or linen items for that reason (plus I hate how creases they look just from being worn)

It depends on the fabrics you wear.

My friend only wears synthetic fabric, never irons or tumble dries and always looks great. Professional office job.

I can't stand synthetic fabrics, wear cottons etc and have to iron.

Whoever invented irons was a fool.

Yes.

I agree, crunched up clothes don't look as flat as ironed clothes. That’s irrelevant to how non-ironed but properly dried and stored clothes look. Plus I would dispute ‘better’ as regards non- ironed but not crunched clothes. They look different, but whether you find flat clothes more aesthetically pleasing - or even notice them - is a personal thing.

It is an example of how crunched up clothes look against ironed. I like clothes, I have lots, I have "non iron" shirts, I spend ages laundering correctly my clothes...and I iron...it always makes them look better.

I think it depends on the clothing. With many/most items, ironing is essential to look polished. Some items of clothing just don’t need ironing. I have a skirt that it made of a fabric (don’t know what it’s called) that doesn’t need ironing and I think would be ruined if I ironed it.

I don’t iron much anymore, but I think that tailored shirts look better ironed and certain material really needs it. Anyone in a professional job must have to iron , but luckily it doesn’t matter with my job as long as the clothes are clean and presentable and I look smart ( ish)
I do think you can tell who irons and who doesn’t though. It makes clothes look better

I think you know I meant ‘accusation’ to mean ‘critical thing you said about unironed clothes’. Unironed clothes aren’t automatically rumpled, as you agree, therefore it is entirely possible to not iron but also not go out in rumpled clothes.

I said I don't go out in rumpled clothes & neither do my family. That is not accusation.

Perhaps a better question would be: is it essential to look ‘polished’?

I find some winter clothes you can get away without ironing - jumpers, some types of jeans, etc. But most clothes do need ironing if you want to look polished and put together . I rarely bother myself though!

I iron because I like the look of ironed clothes. I buy clothes in natural fabrics and spend quite a bit on them and expect them to last and I care for them. I wash/dry clean my clothes appropriately. When/if necessary I replace buttons/fix a hem, etc. I also iron my clothes. Not because it makes me fulfilled. I just like to be well groomed/presented. To me, it’s the same as wearing make-up or blow-drying my hair. A step.

I garden, volunteer, cook, work, relax on the sofa, spend time with family, friends, etc, etc the same as everyone else. Ironing doesn’t take up a lot of my time. I don’t iron my DH’s clothes, he sends his shirts out to be ironed and irons other clothes himself. I have a steam generator iron, ironing takes less time with than a standard steam iron. 15/20 a week minutes is the most I spend ironing. There may be a week where I don’t iron and I catch up the next week. There are weeks when DH irons our children’s clothes.

The OP’s original question was whether it’s essential to iron to look well polished and the answer definitely is, yes.

You only have to look at Vinted or anywhere that re-sells clothes, you can straight away spot what was ironed or what was not ironed.

I have spent years avoiding ironing but nobody cares what I look like! I do hate creased t shirts though so I only buy really good quality ones. John Smedley Sea Island cotton creases if you hang it to dry, but if you tumble dry it the creases disappear. Spirit of the Andes pima cotton t shirts are also good, although not as fine.
I do have an old fashioned ironing press gathering dust so once in a blue moon get that out and press a load of linen pillowcases, tea towels hankies etc. It is really satisfying but not essential!

I have a lot of nice clothes and I enjoy the feeling of taking care of them. I don’t particularly enjoy ironing per se but I like the result with an immaculately folded pile of clothes to wear. I don’t iron everything and it doesn’t prevent me from going to the gym, cooking a meal or any of the other things that posters are claiming ironers must be sacrificing.

Yeah those who reckon you can’t tell
the difference, you absolutely can! It’s what people say who think they need a reason not to spend time doing it. (Newsflash: you don’t need a reason)

I’m in the only ironing for job interviews, weddings, funerals camp because I feel life is too short to make clothes flat… but I’d be kidding myself if I thought my clothes looked as tidy as someone wearing an identical outfit to me that was ironed.

Is this just about aspirations for life and what makes people feel a sense of mastery and therefore fulfilled? For some people that's crisp creases and life organisation, for others it's time with friends and family or volunteering or sports and for others it's creative endeavours. If you have kids and work a lot it's unlikely you can have it all, so isn't this just about what is most personally valued? if you don't prioritise ironing you are unlikely to attach much significance to it and vice versa?

In my case because I disagree it makes any noticeable difference, I’m not focused on appearance anyway (mine or anyone else’s) and I hate ironing.

Why do people NOT iron?

It looks better, hangs in the wardrobe better, lays down in drawers more easily...

Natural fibres usually need ironing to look good

But I don’t crunch up my clothes when drying them or storing them, so how is that relevant?

The thing is, the fabrics that drape well and look polished eg linen, cotton will need ironing. There’s quiet luxury about good cloth that’s cut well, and pressing seams and pockets etc will contribute to how fabric sits and fits.

so yes. you need to iron, or get someone to do it.

In answer to your question op. Crunch up a nice cotton top...then put it on. Then iron it...guess which looks better