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 !

Also scarves, totally right sometimes but very easy to get badly wrong. I can only wear them with my hair up and contact lenses, combined with my wavy long hair or glasses I look very cluttered.

Get up early, stop hitting the snooze button.

Clean nails, make up, hair, look after yourself and your clothes.

Agree with the good haircut one. And also the photoshop idea

Bags ? Don't see how they help unless it's a confidence thing

Oh and don't wear the same labels as your teens.

Shoulders back, head up. Don't walk along looking at the ground. Look proud.

We had deportment classes as part of PE at school. We certainly learned. The best in class won a Deportment Badge. I never did win but people often comment on how upright I sit and stand.

Don't buy anything to wear from supermarkets or cheap shops like primark, it looks cheap. Rather either save up and buy some quality clothes or try tkmaxx. Avoid patterns, they're very 'english' and not chic (in my opinion). Think what would you wear if you had no inhibitions/fear and work back from there. Think about how colours and textures go together and play to your best features. Then don't eat in the street, swear or smoke and you're best way there.

Always buy a good quality hand bag. It's an important part of your outfit as you wear it nearly every day.
Cheap bags that cost £30 or under always look cheap, no matter how fashionable they are.

(If it's a beachbag then cheaper is ok)

Avoid patterns, they're very 'english' and not chic (in my opinion)

They look awful. Very few people can pull them off.

I think the foundation has to be right, good bra and undies, no dodgy fabrics if you are not toned. Cotton and tailored clothes. Go to charity shops to buy quality than brand new rubbish. Gel manicure lasts at least two weeks or paint nails yourself. Please don't bother with polish if you are going to leave it chipped. Shower twice daily, moisturise . Clean teach with whitening toothpaste. Snapped eyebrows bad never leave the house without mascara. Most of all great posture and smile

good bra

Another important one.
Droopy boobs can completely ruin your look and make you look frumpy (and un-groomed)

I think a lot of it has to do with genes. There are some people I know with naturally fab straight teeth and clear skin, they look good regardless really.

Try not to let your figure go - you will feel more confident and it will make your posture look better!

I forgot a really good one:

Never ever have FLAT HAIR.

I remember reading somewhere that if you're after an upgrade (of anything)- make sure you 'big up'(tease) your hair a bit before asking
Apparently it makes you look like you have more money than you actually have!

Every time I read this sort of thread I am left more confused than ever. I do most of the things suggested but still feel like a scruffy student or, if I dress smartly, like a kid dressing up or - heaven forbid - a bit frumpy. I look such a berk in a statement necklace!

Right, check this out

I have my hair cut every 6 weeks
My eyebrows are always plucked and drawn in - I don't leave the house otherwise
My nails are always done
I have a vast collection of scarves and statement necklaces

I still look a fucking mess. Eternally. It's something more than the stuff you can do to yourself or put on.

Money, lots of money.

I definitely agree with those that have said its a confidence thing; I know one person who always looks great and very groomed, and she always has that air of 'don't I look amazing?!' about her.

She doesn't have a lot of money, and isn't particularly thin, and her outfits are often quite simple. Even in a hoodie and boyfriend jeans she manages to look groomed!

I used to be the queen of always groomed - now I've fallen down the wayside slightly, more like dutchess!

I do have to admit that when dropping DD off at nursery I shove my gym clothes on & put my hair in a pineapple, but in my defence nursery is literally round the corner for me!

Today I am going to get my hair blow dried, my nails infilled - I have so much stuff to do today but I can always make time for a blow dry!

I love this thread!

Don't think I ever will. How do others do it

Eye brows maintained.
Nails always painted to match what I'm wearing
Bag to match what I'm wearing.
Also costume jewellery to match
Hair accseories to match
Make up lip gloss, mascara. Don't always wear foundation sometimes it's nice to let my skin breathe.
Cleanse tone and moisturize twice a day.
I'm one of those people who have to wash their hair everyday or it's greasy.

I think if I had to pick one single thing out of all those listed here it would be posture. Not just how you stand and walk, although those are the main things, but how you sit, how you hold your bag etc.

My mum had an old book from the 60s about "Charm" - amongst all the sexist dross about never picking up something you drop in a restaurant but letting your man come round from his seat to do it for you, there was a great deal about how to get in and out of cars elegantly, how to hold your gloves, how to sit.

For example if you are sitting with one leg crossed over the other above the knee, tip the lower leg inwards till your calves are parallel and touching all the way down, far better than having one leg straight and the other sticking out sideways. Probably horrendous for your back, but does look better. Better still sit upright with both feet on the ground and touching from thigh to ankle.

My 87 year old mother is far more groomed, polished and stylish than I will ever be.....sigh

My most glamorous friend confuses me.
She wears top to toe primark, no makeup, only does her hair every other day and yet still looks great in a vest and jeans.

I can't emulate that - I have to at least straighten my fringe daily, I look ill without tinted moisturiser or BB cream, and I look tubby in a vest and jeans.

I do have a few items which help though - I always feel pulled together when I wear my mac or decent coat, as opposed to the windbreaker with dog treats in the pocket.
If I have mascara and lipgloss/stain on then I feel much better too.

I have also learnt that I look better in dresses than jeans. Annoying, because I love jeans but I always look slightly scruffy, no matter the cut.

• A good quality, correctly fitted, flesh coloured bra. No bright colours under white/light coloured tops. No visible bra straps, they always look tacky. No visible panty lines either.
• Wearing a low heel or heels always looks nicer than flat shoes if you can wear them.
• Buy a good quality foundation and have the makeup staff get the right colour for you. Remember that your skin colour will change between summer and winter to change between the seasons. Make sure you blend well, so you avoid the line under your neck. Simple makeup is better than lots of crap all over your face.
• If you have longer hair, learn how to do a bun and a couple of different hairstyles. If you don't have time in the morning to blowdry/straighten, then put your hair up. Regardless of your hair length, make sure there is nothing hanging in your face. Nothing more scruffy looking that someone with a fringe in their eyes.
• Invest in clothing that doesn't crush. You can iron like crazy, but if your pants are of a crushing fabric, then you'll look messy by the time you get out of the car/off the train.
• Skinny jeans/pants only look good on skinny people. Buy the jeans/pants that suit your figure, not the jeans that are the current fashion.
• A quick teeth clean/touch up makeup/lip stick/tidy up at lunchtime.

I often get people complimenting my outfits, and I tend to wear charity shop clothes. My go-to outfits for work are a slightly patterned blouse tucked into a plain pencil skirt, or untucked over plain skinny jeans. In the winter I add a plain v neck cardigan. I don't wear make up, and I don't have much jewellery. I have a simple gold necklace and pearl earrings, and sometimes I have a belt with a butterfly on, or a headband. I have long wavy hair that I wear either down or in a simple ponytail.

I think that statement necklaces are OVER
also many many look shit and as though they are slung on an outfit after a go in a lucky dip tub on the way out a door