AIBU to ask you how I can look more 'polished' and 'put-together' please?

[HelloPossums]

Hi everyone,

Could I please ask you all for some advice on how I can look 'polished' and 'put together' please? (Inspired by another recent thread in Style and Beauty),

To give some context, I'm blonde with very fair skin (and quite short - around 5 foot?), and in my mid-twenties.

In terms of people whose style I like, I really like things that Kim Murray (Andy Murray's wife) wears, as well as Kate Middleton and, randomly, Brigitte Macron and Queen Letizia of Spain.

I tried going through my wardrobe a couple of months ago to try and see if I could get a 'capsule wardrobe', but I'm just not sure what suits me

Could you all give me a hand please?

Thanks everyone :)

How old are you?

The people you named are all either over 50 or dress over 50? (not Kim Sears/Murray)

Good haircut, polished shoes, good teeth.

Sorry just seem mid 20s- serves me right for not reading.

Do you really want to dress like Kate Middleton (going on 50 in style) , Bridgette Macron (64- dated look- reminds me of barbara windsor) or queen letizia (44 and dresses in lien with her age)

Eyebrow pencil/powder (subtle not TOWIE)

Tailored clothes rather than stretchy/comfy - though this is quite a formal and potentially ageing look

Blow dried long hair - though ditto

These threads always say:

Be skinny
Dress boringly in a classic style
Have swishy, expensively coloured hair
Wear some weird flesh coloured nail polish.

Honestly, I am a zillion times more likely to notice and admire someone who looks comfortable in their own skin and who dresses with a bit of personality than someone trying to look 'polished'.

If you are looking where to go re: stylewise then a lot of MN have raved about Debenhams personal shopper service. You give them an idea of how you want to look and they find outfits that will suit you - you don't have to buy everything but could take pictures on your phone of outfits you like to recreate in your price range. I haven't tried it personally but it's on my to do list once I've lost my excess weight.
Other than that it's the little things that make you look polished like; tidy hair , the right accessories for what you are wearing, none scuffed shoes, subtle make up and manicured nails.

Tan, white, neutrals, palest blue or all navy.

Loafers, chinos, quality fitted linen shirts, discreet jewellery esp. pearls

French mani and pedi

Sleek bob, bun or ponytail

No cardigans or loose, flappy anything

Posture posture posture

For your height - I am the same - I would suggest dresses and some comfortable heels, like espadrilles. All your style choices wear dresses to good effect but they seem a little formal.

Are you looking for casual or formal clothes.

I don't know but if you find out can you tell me pls?!

Gain confidence.

That's the only thing that sets people apart.

You can look fantastic, with a great figure and awesome dress sense, but if you don't love yourself you don't look right or approachable.

Fat/thin/tall/short/man/woman, the only thing that sets people apart is the way they act.

If you don't feel put together, you won't look it. Confidence is a real thing you gotta own it, to have it!

It may be something as simple as make up, eye brows, dress sense, hair done, money, car, tidy house ... anything! The more you feel comfortable the more put together you are. Each person is different.

I hope you can find you! Find who you wanna be and whatever others think, you'll feel more 'polished and put together' honestly, there is no one size fits all for this question.

Honestly? Having tried to achieve "polished" myself when I got my first senior management job, I reckon it's about spending money. You can really tell the difference between designer jeans and Primark. Good quality fabrics and cuts show. I buy designer and top-end high street clothes second hand rather than cheap brands new. Leather shoes and handbags.

Pay attention to hair, makeup and nails: tidy, neat and subtle win over extravagent.

I think always wearing the right outfit for the right weather makes you feel like you're winning at life. Nothing worse than wearing sandals when it rains or tights when it's boiling. So I always check the weather app before I get dressed.

In what ways do you feel you are not polished and put together now?

"Loafers, chinos, linen shirts, pearls".

Christ alive, the OP said she was mid 20's not a lively septuagenarian 😂😂.

Are you genuinely not sure what suits you? Don't you have certain items of clothing, makeup looks, hairstyles, shoes that you put on and you think "YES that is ME!"?

That said, I found my proper self in my forties. In my twenties I was a right hottie in retrospect but at the time I was a big bundle of insecurities.

If you need rules, try getting your colour and style done by House of Colour or similar. It has its flaws but it does give you some sort of basis to work from.

Great haircut. Manicured nails . Well maintained, comfortable clothes and shoes x

If you want to look like a Mitford sister:

Tan, white, neutrals, palest blue or all navy.

Loafers, chinos, quality fitted linen shirts, discreet jewellery esp. pearls

French mani and pedi

Sleek bob, bun or ponytail

No cardigans or loose, flappy anything

Posture posture posture

French mani / pedi is out of fashion and has been for years. Will just look sad and dated if a twenty something has matching French mani / pedi.

Jackets are your friends. A well-cut blazer will make you look smart even if you're only wearing over jeans. Don't dismiss bomber jackets: in dark colours or opulent fabrics they can look very classy.
No cardigans! (Unless a Chanel style boucle number)
Slim fit trousers: dark indigo skinny jeans or cigarette pants. If you are tall then tailored wide leg trousers can look amazing.

French mani is a bit eurotrash tbf.

My suggestion of a naice pinky-fleshy colour is much more old money

Also 'polished' and 'put together' doesn't have to mean frumpy/conservative: a classic leather biker jacket with a white t-shirt skinny jeans and biker/Doc Marten style boots would look banging.

What is this cardigan hating? Three quarter sleeve, fitted, I love little cardis! Not those strange billowy, buttonless ones that reach to your mid thigh. Those are pretty awful on everyone.

Possums there are threads on Style&Beauty (How to Look Polished/ How to Look Expensive)
They can get a tad bunfighty though but worth a look.

My personal ones (as a scruffy 50yo who wears a uniform to work so I don't do "smart clothes" ):

Patterns show their price. Cheap patterns don't line up and look rough.

Hair and nails - clean , well kept. Not neccesarily nail polished - I use a buffer because I can't wear varnish.

Look at yourself in the mirror from behind too.

Leggings are not trousers.

Nude underwear

Minimal labels..(yes I'm looking at you Superdy and Pink ....walking Advert Clothes)

Just because its fashion doesm't mean it will suit you and just because its 'in' doesn't mean you have to wear it.

Would I be ashamed to end up in A&E wearing it? If 'Yes' , then it goes.

Don't judge my shoes and bag. Just because they're not leather doesn't mean I'm a cheapskate. It's because I'm vegetarian.

Seriously, if I wind up in A&E, what I happen to be wearing will be the last thing on my mind!

FFS. There's being fashion conscious and then there's having A&E as fashion arbitrators.