to ask how you become poised, groomed and polished ?

[careeristbitchnigel]

Because I am not and I would like to be. How do you make the jump from "having put some makeup on and doing something with your hair and wearing a vaguely coordinating outfit" to "looking groomed and flawless"

I need some tips, people !

I'm sure that half those women Gok 'made over' drowned under a sea of jangly bangles.

Easy to style hair cuts. Don't get something that requires hours of moose and hair spraying to get perfect.

I'm not perfectly groomed, but I'm certainly passable for day to day activities.

On the weekends, I am a slob, but at work several women have told me they admire how groomed I am. Here is what I do:

• I get gel nails done every two weeks. Normal nail polish on my nails chips as soon as I look at it.
• I groom my eyebrows every night, takes just a couple of minutes to pluck the straights.
• I don't have a lot of clothes for work, but they are very good quality. Same for shoes and my handbag.
• I wash my hair every other day. On the day I wash it, I wear it down. The next day it goes in a bun. I colour it every four weeks, but that's because I'm fully grey.
• I have good skin so I only do makeup when I'm looking tired, and then I do a light foundation and some blusher.

I think I am failing at the first hurdles. My hair is always frizzy and tangled, my shoes always look worn after a single wear and I always seem to have dropped toothpaste down myself or laddered my tights. How does one develop the ability to float through life without dipping their hair in their coffee or leaning on the filthy door of the tube while wearing a white coat and so on? Ditto always knowing where their keys are so theyddon't have to turn the house upside down looking for them (getting frazzled and unkempt in the process) and so on?

Love this thread, so much inspiration! Love all the tips esp about the hygienist.
I always think I'm a bit hit and miss, some days super smart, others a bit of a state! I need to find consistency.
I love navy right now, and I'm a bit of an M&S and next girl, can't afford labels really, get a few bits of country chic in the sale at Jules but then feel like a farmers wife! Always in flat ballet pumps. Get my haircut regularly, a lady that comes to me so not pricey. Never do my nails but they are longish, neat and clean.
Realised recently that boot cut jeans are only for 'rough and tumble' days, when I looked around and everyone was in Skinny jeans and ankle grazers! So I'd say I'm always a bit behind the trends :(
I do have good posture and reasonable poise, quite a feminine figure, I think I look more confident than I am.
Trying to overhaul my wardrobe at the moment. It doesn't help when I only work about two days a week so look a mess all week when I'm doing the food shopping and school run, then have to face all the young beautiful city people at work. Trying to fit into both worlds is a struggle.

• Good hairstyle and mastery of a chic top knot for lazy days

• a wardrobe of good-quality and well-cut staples in classic neutrals. For me, this is: dark skinny jeans, black skinny trousers, 1 or two tailored blazers, 2-3 casual dresses, 2-3 blouses (at least one white), 1 pair riding boots, one pair ballet flats, 1 pair ankle boots/heels/court shoes, 1 tailored trench, one tailored winter coat, 1 good handbag to coordinate with all shoes, 2-3 pairs of black tights. Accessorise tastefully, using the Coco rule of always removing one item once you're 'done'. Mix and match to your heart's content, the idea being that you can't go wrong mixing neutrals. I go for colour and/or pattern in dresses that I won't be coordinating with other things.

• a makeup style that is natural and brings out your best features. Good lipstick is an amazing way to easily perk up your look.

• enough sleep, enough water, good nutrition.

Today I have melted cheese down the front of my (black) dress and turquoise pen all up my arm. Yesterday it was tomato down the front of my (white) top. My eyeliner is halfway down my face. And that's just after a day at the office, I have no children. I'm doomed.

Can i just clarify - when i mean groomed and polished, i mean Grace Kelly sort of style, not Cheryl cole style.

Elegant

At all of you who think water, well rested etc makes the grade.

No wonder I'm a blinking mess day in day out

I think it is to do with getting the basics right - so keeping your hair, skin, teeth and nails in good condition, staying reasonably slim (or at least knowing how to dress your shape if you're not). Spending as much as you can afford on big hitting items that dominate your look - so winter coat and boots - and a capsule wardrobe of mix and match items. Only buy into trends if they suit you - have a style that works for you and stick with it and know which colours suit you. No fake tan and no talon like nails.

Learning what suits your body shape is key. it's amazing the number of women who reach their 40s without realising that polo necks look awful on big busts, that double breasted jackets make you look puffy in the middle, that big calves look ridiculous in those stretchy sock boots...

Hugs mice as probable long lost twin. I think it's genetic. F2f is always the child covered in mud/chocolate/paint with tangles in her hair too.

What's f2f? Meant to say dd

Keep it simple and not fussy. You should wear the clothes rather than them wear you. If you are going to wear bold prints, save it for a scarf. Know what shapes and colours suit you. Wear clothes that fit.

Simple accessories with clean lines.

Hair clean and simply styled.

You don't need polished nails, just clean, nicely shaped nails will suffice.

Natural looking make up.

Um..it is possible to want to look nice and still be a kind person Thebodyloves..., the two aren't mutually exclusive.

My top tips are gadgets: Clarisonic exfoliation thing for your face (it's like having new skin!), GHD straighteners for your hair (ditto for hair) and a good epilator for removing hair. All much cheaper and less time cosuming than going to beauty salons in the long wrong.

Effort, time, organisation, routine, and maintenance. And a bit of cash.

Things that don't look polished:

Badly fitted bras which give you visible back fat rolls in tops
Price stickers on shoes
Shoes that need re-heeling
Badly applied self tan
Clumpy mascara
Yellow teeth
Statement necklaces
Statement necklaces worn on top of polo neck sweaters

How did that link get there! Pls ignore

Oh it's gone

Taxi!

• nice nails, preferably polished (and not chipped) or at least clean and well shaped
• healthy looking hair
• clean teeth
• well kept shoes, eg clean, not scuffed, don't need re-heeling
• well groomed eyebrows
• tasteful accessories (handbag, jewellery etc)
• good posture

Just having my eyebrows threaded, my nails manicured and a 'nice' handbag makes me feel more polished even if my hair is scrapped back in a bun and I'm wearing something really casual and comfy

Oh god even the things mentioned seem beyond me!

Think I must start doing eyebrows and nails again, plus get more shoes.

I think the thing about water/sleep/posture/healthiness is that it's not enough on its own, but you can do all the other stuff -hair/nails/non laddered tights etc/spend a fortune but with out the fundamentals you will still look like Waynetta

I too agree with just about everything except the statement dresses, simple real gold or silver every time.

Also, short, squat nails can work well, I keep mine short and polished.

Statement necklaces I mean.

And my teeth need a polish.

I am officially a bag lady.