What is the key to looking half decent?!

[theweecharmbean]

I don't mean being a 5ft 11 size 6 supermodel but just looking nice and tidy and having that look of being put together. We went out with friends yesterday for a hike. I left the house feeling that I looked half decent. My friend always seems to have this effortless put together look even though she may just be wearing leggings and a jumper. Any way I've just seen the photos and I just want to cry. I just look a bit scruffy mess.

•I wash my hair everyday but sometimes, maybe an age thing, it gets quite dry looking and this I think makes me look a mess.
• I have skinny ankles but as you look up my hips seem a lot wider creating a 'V' shape on my bottom half
• I don't have a very good hairline so when the wind blows or the rain makes my hair fkat it shows my cone shape head/ high hairline
• I'm about a size 14 at 5ft 5 so probably look quite frumpy.

What can I do?

Are you me lol?!
Joking, I'm 5ft 1 and super frumpy. The challenge I have is I can't lose weight and nothing fits so it always makes me look worse but it feels wasteful to not use the clothes I have. In the summer I colour my hair well at home, put sunglasses on and do my nails and always feel these make me look more put together. As I age I can't be bothered with most things so don't do nails as often but feel better when I do. I don't have anything done professionally as don't have the time or inclination but even with a diy manicure I think it helps. Lots of good advice above but I would say don't get caught up on buying lots of new stuff to achieve this, baby steps in one direction. I started by getting a nail kit for home. Then settling on a hair color and maintaining it as well as a style I could manage easily myself (curly hair so a layered bob with the right products and washing twice weeklu) and now I only buy things that fit into my clothing theme so I will eventually have a wardrobe where lots of things are mix and match. That's mostly greens and blues with some bright colours thrown in so I feel it all reflects my personality. It's a work in progress though and I still spent most of my time in casual stuff I'm trying to use up

Plenty of sleep, little stress, clothing that fits and isn’t cheap and also being not too overweight. Also some people stomp about and just look ungainly, I tend to almost march and look very purposeful so doubt that’s flattering.

I am an avid hiker, belonging to two groups. Just went for a short one today of a couple of hours with DH. I always wear a hat, warm for winter and a baseball cap for summer. I have a lovely turquoise cashmere snood that I wear round my neck in winter, grey walking trousers with pockets and a blue lambs wool jumper. Your hair is going to blow about so a hat is a must, stops it going in your face for starters and in summer keeps the sun off your face. I also always wear sunglasses if there is sun even if freezing.

Don't judge yourself by photos, looking in the mirror is better! Some folk just don't take good pics.

I think happiness, confidence and good posture are the secret to looking and more importantly feeling good.

Hair matters imo, so get regular cuts in a style that's easy to maintain and works with your natural hair type.

I don't bother to colour my hair anymore or wear make up. I do find it easy to "throw on" clothes and look good even though I'm a size 14-16 so not exactly a super model type. This is because my wardrobe only has in it the shapes and colours of clothes that suit me and my lifestyle.

Maybe sign up for a Pilates class, get on a regular sleep and rest schedule, cut down on UPFs and screen time, and do more of what makes you happy.

Some of us just don’t get to be perfect! I’m bright red as soon as the wind hits me, my hair escapes my hats and knots itself into a tangle. Makeup slides off in the wind.

I feel like this all the time but I've found a few things that help...I second the colour wow dream coat for hair. Also olaplex treatment at hairdressers. For nails Dior nail glow is fab - it's expensive but if you're rubbish at doing coloured nail varnish like me then it's great at making them look lovely, shiny and polished but easy to put on! This year I treated myself to a lovely handbag (honey & toast), chunky boots (Dune), nicely fitted Barbour coat and bright orange jumper (french connection). I feel really nice and put together with those on because they're all lovely quality but when it comes to Summer I'll be back to square one ha! Hope that helps!

My hair isn't the best either. For the hairline, fill it in with hair powder and/or fibres and consider a side swept fringe.

For outdoor activities, a flattering baseball cap (Barbour makes a nice waxed one, other places have linen or tweed ones). Add sunglasses for the photos, and do your best at posing.

If you don't like your ankles, get some nice leather boots, I have outdoor lace up ones from dubarry.

Remember too a lot of people who seem effortless actually put in an enormous amount of effort behind the scenes.

Btw you could ask this to be moved to Style and Beauty for more responses.

most people I see look fabulous even when just 'thrown together'

As others have remarked, people who look fabulous really aren’t just thrown together. They’re made a hundred tiny decisions over the past several months or years that enable them to look good with apparently little effort on any given day.

Food for thought, thank you.

I look better, (and by that I mean younger), whenI have meditated. I know you don’t always have the time, but it is worth it.