To ask - If you are well off would you say that helps how you look?

[evergreen7]

Sorry if it's a bit random but I'm just quite curious wether it's a factor of having money or just finding out a bit more about what works.

I have 2 distant friends who have both recently crossed into what I would consider quite wealthy category. - think buying houses over 500k driving brand new expensive cars etc

I've also noticed how different they both look their skin is lovely, the hair always falls great, their clothes look brilliant on them. They were both good looking women and could afford regular hair cuts and getting their nails done etc beforehand anyway but now they look put together and flawless 24/7.
None of them are particularly girly and usually wear minimal makeup but it looks perfect.

I know it's nosy but AIBU to ask you if you consider yourself well off financially would you say it's a large contributing factor to how you look or do you think it can be done on a low budget once you know what you're looking for?

God yes! I'd look much better with botox, fixed teeth, regular blow dries, mani-pedis and facials... lots of my friend can afford all these things and look great. I look ok but very unpolished in comparison.

It’s about money and time. A lot of the rich female executives I know (think CEOs of financial institutions) often just aim for the bare minimum of a no fuss clean, groomed look with minimal to no make up (unless it’s for special occasions).

Rich people look better by the simple fact that they can afford to spend money on their appearance. Nice clothes, shoes, handbags, jewellery, expensive face cream and makeup, manicures, hairdressers, teeth whitening, gym membership... not to mention good quality healthy food. They probably live in nicer areas and experience less stress and more fresh air and holidays. And they can relax more because they can afford to pay people to do chores.

There is a direct correlation between how much I can sirens off beauty products and my clothes and how good I look.

When people are very young, they can look gorgeous without much money. I teach teenagers, and all of my sixth formers are stunning with their young skin and fast metabolisms. Early twenties seems to be the same - looking back at old photos, my friends and I were all attractive. When we age though, the gap begins to widen as people need more help to stay looking good and some can afford the help and some can't. I'm a middle earner, and I have aged better than my worse-off friends as I can afford well-cut clothes and good make-up, but I have aged worse than my better-off friends as they can afford salon treatments and some surgical help.

I don't think you need to be rich (according to above benchmark) to look polished. My friend was a single mum with 2 children and every penny accounted for and she always looked amazing. Fast forward a few years, she is now a mum of 3, remarried and thanks to a shrewd investment is much better off. She still looks amazing but no better amazing that she did in the past. Her wardrobe is a mixture of very high end and Primark. She could wear a bin bag and look good. She is extremely attractive to start with though

Agree that beautiful people can wear almost anything and look good, but I do think that normally attartctive people have to work a lot harder and it does cost more money. The weight and cut of nice clothes and little details make a big difference. And especially with shoes and bags and jewellery. And having a good hair cut regularly adds up.

Also, I think being well off usually lifts a big weight off the shoulders which can carry over into the way people walk and carry themselves. Just a sense of carefreeness and/or confidence that comes with feeling financially secure. Also the time saving of being able to just buy something without thinking or worrying about it too much.

It isn't impossible to look well turned out on a budget (not that I can manage it myself!) but it is harder work and takes time that many don't have.

I think that the well off people who look better do so because in their circles they don’t tend to wear the fake eyelashes and orange tan combo and go for a more sophisticated look. In terms of looks, it’s mostly genetics plus knowing how to look after yourself (no sun, exercising etc.) which can be done on a budget.

of course it does, more fresh vegetables and good quality food improves your health and therefore the look of your skin and hair. Less stress due to no money worries and then of course paying for haircuts and good skin creams.

Not in my case, I'm well off but look like shit. I wouldn't look out of place on a council estate. I want a boob reduction, teeth whitening and Botox but hubby says no. So I continue to look like shit

Think better off people tend to be healthier, they don't smoke, they have better diets so tend to be slimmer. Those are the things that make the biggest difference to appearance.

Actually the people I know with the least income spend more on hair highlights or extensions, eyelash extensions, gel nails, spray tan etc.

I don't think it's income, I think it is priorities.

To quote Jilly Cooper in ‘Octavia’, looking good is largely a matter of time and money.

I shop in Primark and pick out stuff you 'can't tell' is from there,also boohoo.com which is cheap but I get botox every 4 months which is worth every penny.I suppose I'm somewhere inbetween

I think you can look good on a budget, and it's mostly about knowing what suits you and flatters your figure clothing wise, and being able to pull off a particular sense of style. Our receptionist at work always looks good and her clothes never look cheap or poor fabric - but I'll often compliment her on e.g. her dress which could be a quite basic cotton shirt dress pulled in with a quirky belt and she'll respond "Primark - £13!" You'd not guess.

Money does definitely help because often cheap clothes do look cheap, and a good haircut can change the way you look hugely; but I also think that there's a ceiling. People who are very wealthy and spend a fortune on their appearance do not, generally, look proportionately better than people who have (or are willing to invest) about enough money to get decent haircuts, upper-end high street clothes and shoes and procedures like teeth whitening.

If i had lots of money at my disposal.. Not skint now but wouldn't say I have loads and loads left... am I the only one who still wouldn't fork out that much on stuff like that?? Plenty of water and vitamins make your skin look nice. I get my hair cut and coloured for 60 every 6-8 weeks and certainly woukdnt have bloody time to doll myself up to the nines every day. Clothes from boohoo misguided etc to me are just as good as any....maybe it's just me ?

My last rare night out I wore a plum jumpsuit which was tailored and satin...... literally everyone I bumped into said I looked amazing
It was £6 in a sale from boohoo....point proven really

Not in my case. We have a house worth £1m and two six figure incomes but I'm a working mum with two small children... I barely have time to brush my teeth some days.

Yes. It's really down to working out (Pilates, etc) and getting your hair professionally coloured IME, both are which require money and/or time.

You can get away with fairly inexpensive clothes if you are a size 8 and have great arms/legs.

When you are young I agree it makes less of a difference.

I certainly look better when I have the time and money to have my hair cut, eye brows and nails done etc, buy decent skin care. also if I can buy more expensive clothes. Money also allows you to eat a range of healthy food. Time to get sufficient rest makes a big difference imo.

If I could afford a cleaner and a holiday every now and then, I probably would be a lot less stressed, exhausted and burnt out. I think that would do wonders for my complexion and hair. Dammit I need a get rich quick scheme that works

Not in my case either. We have a high combined income, but it's just not something I'm interested in so I can't be bothered to spend time and effort on it (which you need to do, as well as money).

I rarely wear make up, I very rarely get my nails done, I don't buy designer clothes. I do get my hair coloured every 12 weeks but that's it.

However, I like the way I look and I am comfortable in my own skin. That can't be bought with money!

Well. I'm poor and only own one pair of jeans. Seriously. I do own 4 tops though. So every day it's the same pair of jeans. I obviously don't look great. Christ, even the DD's build a bear owns more clothes than me!

As it currently stands, they are the only clothes I have so that's what will be going on my UK holiday with me. I need sandals, beach stuff etc but genuinely can't afford any - need to buy the kids things first (been given the week away as a gift)

@mammasmitten I'm in what you thinking :)