People who look so polished ... How???

[birthdaymayhem]

Posting for traffic and maybe in the hopes of finding a wizard who can tell me how to achieve this.

So in my immediate circle of friends I know 2 couples who always look so polished and put together they could've jumped out of a Next catalogue!
For me it's like dark magic. They always have clean, ironed and up to date clothes.
Especially the ladies, hair always blow dried or very neat, ridiculously smooth skin even up close, and clothes which must've come out of the brand new next collection (they all dress in a very similar way).
None of them are "would look good in a bin bag and a pair of crocs" type of beautiful but they are just so well put together they always look amazing!

But how can you look so good, fresh and put together all the time with 2 or 3 small DCs in tow, a house and job and all the stuff that comes along with that?

My put together is clothes that passed the sniff test and makeup hastily slapped on whilst DCs are having breakfast before we are out of the door.

Clothes that fit properly

I agree but I think this is a challenge for some of us. I know it’s where I have a lot of difficulty. My proportions are “off” for want of a better word. I have tried everything from high street to high end but nothing ever fits me well in all areas. For example I have a wide back and long arms. So any kind of fitted top/jacket, just looks ridiculous. To fit at the front it’s straining at the back and the arms are too short. So I have to get something that fits my back and arms and then it’s loose and saggy at the front. It’s hard to find good clothes that fit well if you have a weird body like mine!

For tinted moisturizer, I just use Maybelline's BB cream. It works very well (use sparingly, half-pea-sized max per cheek).

That said, it is hard to go wrong with Laura Mercier.

@duckme I do it myself using my seasonal spf moisturiser (I use different products in summer). So whatever foundation you use, mix it with your go to face moisturiser or moisturizing primer. If you're unsure watch kourtney kardashians skincare routine on vogue YouTube channel as she does the same!

@ellanotafella I use the Missbeez app

My feet let me down. They are very short, very wide and have narrow heels, so I can't wear much in the way of high heels and all shoes must be strapped on between my arch and ankle which breaks up the line of my feet adding to their shortness, width and bulkiness. My feet's idea of a fancy, sophisticated shoe is one from Hotter (I'm in my 30s) and for comfort, I spend my life in birkenstocks, boots and trainers. I can't finish outfits with dainty little shoes. I console myself that it has saved ££££s in shoe addiction!

You do need to work with what you've got. My winning points are thick hair (although it can be unruly), strong long nails, and reasonably defined features. My friend dresses well to emphisise her curves. She's big, but she makes the most of her bust to waist ratio and adds height with her shoes, a benefit of larger feet.

Sometimes putting your finger on what isn't right can be tricky to identify. I though tops often slump on me because my bust is small, but actually my busty friend and I share the same problem of a high decolletage so the shoulder to bust is often too long and saggy. Get that right and clothing looks much better.

Confidence is the biggest winner. Pick colours that suit you. Posture.

I can scrub up well, but can't be bothered most of the time. I appreciate the transformation on the few times per year when I bother

It is easier if your wardrobe is organised. hanging dresses next to trousers means you spend a lot of time rummaging I hang, shirts, jumpers, trousers, jackets together.

Shoes. We have an ottoman bed, winter bags and shoes, retreat there in the summer, in the autumn the summer shoes bags get put away. When I hit the spring the summer clothes at the back of the wardrobe are brought out, gone through some go off to the charity shop. In the autumn go through the winter things and charity shop any that you no longer want. I also go through make up, toiletries (gifted) they are either thrown or go to the womens refuge if unused.

Capsule wardrobe of clothes that really fit you, a nice white shirt and blue jeans with some nice boots never go out of style, cardigan or jacket thrown over the top for colder days.
Keep the hairstyle and cut basic and low maintenance, have a decent skincare routine (doesn't have to be expensive, I love the Ordinary at £5 a serum, cleared up the acne I've had since I was 12!) and don't wear much makeup, I just brush through my brows with a natural collection brow gel and a bit of mascara, always use moisturiser and SPF (I use a Glossier one because it also makes my skin look lovely!). Wear colours that suit you.

I have very wavy unruly hair and just go with it, I don't wrangle with straighteners and curlers and avoid brushing it out, just wearing it in a way that avoids tangles.
I also always have my nails done, just a very light pink, almost white, and I take it off and reapply it every night because it's fast drying it takes seconds.
I'm what some may consider chubby and have an ample chest so it can be hard for me to look put together instead of a sweaty mess in ill-fitting clothes, but I really hunt around for flattering clothes and don't buy that many. Lay your clothes out the night before.

It sounds like a lot of work but in a routine, I'm done in about 15 mins at night and 5 in the morning. I used to do a full face of heavy makeup and proper hair every morning, took me an hour, and y'know what I just looked tired and crap by the end of the day!
It also helps you feel like you're doing a bit more for you, as a mum.

It's definitely not the cost, it's the class.
Simple styles, garish Next style summer patterns are never going to look classy on anybody.
A friend of mine is the wife of a local politician and his brother reads the national news (I'm in Italy) these people are seriously rich. She looks amazing- yet what does she almost always wear- jeans, a white t shirt and a navy blazer.
A colleague of mine is always accessorised perfectly- I always think how in the name of feck does she have time to fish out that little scarf and those earrings that go so perfectly with that jumper? I think she probably has them fixed in her mind's eye, the combos that work.

I'm now off to look at Big Hair!

@TowandaForever

I get my basics from h&m, zara and my jeans from river island as they're cheap but fit me well. I do have to replace the black and blue ones almost yearly though!

For everything else I shop online more intentionally rather than sticking to a brand. So for example I've just switched out my winter wardrobe for my spring summer one last week. And I've realised that my stone trench jacket I bought 8 years ago from warehouse is looking tired. So I'll use the shop style to search for "stone/ tan trench" across the shops. Also will search in ASOS as I have yearly delivery.

Currently my spring jackets downstairs consist of trenches from warehouse and Calvin Klein, parka from Primark, blazer from h&m and jacket from banana republic.

This question came up recently on here I think. In her book 'Octavia', Jilly Cooper comments that looking good is largely a question of time and money. For me, that's it.

I have a friend who looks amazing at all times. She is not rich, nor does she spend lots of time on her appearance.

Her secret is posture. Fantastic bloody ballerina posture, she always looks amazing even when her kids have been up at the crack of dawn for months, she is highly stressed etc.

I however look like a bag of spuds and however much time I spend on myself it all goes to pot in about 30 mins.

It's such a sensitive issue. I think some people look amazing, but I don't choose to do that. It never interested me. I'm clean and keep healthy and moderately fit but I live in jeans and a t shirt and never use make up - never really learned and I have things I'd rather do with my time.

The hard thing is I shouldn't judge people who put in the time/effort/money, and they shouldn't judge me.

I would highly recommend this for an extra glow. Add to your normal moisturiser/ night cream and acts like a tinted moisturiser. Lasts ages also.
tan-luxe.com

We have an ottoman bed, winter bags and shoes, retreat there in the summer, in the autumn the summer shoes bags get put away

Same, under the bed too!

Why wold you WANT to look 'polished'? I don't get it.

Agree with posture. Would also say a very good coat in winter and very good jacket in summer.

I know folk saying jeans, white shirt, blazer are right. But if you have a job where this look is not appropriate, you have to work harder to get polished look.

Brazilian/keratin blow dry (whatever you want to call it) with a good hair cut and colour (only needs refreshing every 3 months) regularly refreshed shellac nails, good solid wardrobe of clean on every day clothes and decent easy and quick to do make up. Spray or perfume.

Oh and HD brow session once every few months

Pedicure in the summer months.

Decent bras!!

The people I know like this- answer is money. Expensive and classic looking clothes coupled with expensive shoes/bags/sunglasses etc. Regular beauty treatments like hair, eyelashes, manicure and pedicure. Regular gym visits. All managed with young children as much of the shit work is outsourced so no time spent cleaning or ironing etc. Even little time spent cooking as expensive healthy part prepared meals or take aways. When even this makes them look tired and knackered, botox.

Jeans, white shirt, blazer = 30 years out of date and completely lacking in imagination. Nobody can tell you how to be stylish, you're born with that and it trumps polish all day long.

Well, the money thing I try to solve by buying less but better, looking into sales or charity shops and the time is by investing more time up front choosing and organising clothes, products etc. so that everything works on a day to day basis easily and quickly.

I'm another one who sorts clothes by season. I've recently started separating out into four seasons rather than two, having so many hot and cold weather clothes out at the same time was doing my head in! So, my things are reasonably organised and as part of the changing over stuff gets mended or replaced. It makes life easier in the long run.

I would say most of the time I look neat and tidy and always have. Ok kids are adults now, but I have in recent years tried to relax my look. It's how I have been brought up. My late grandmother,who had a large family and not an easy life always looked immaculate, mum similar. I suppose I base myself on my grandmother.
In my case it would be easy to stay in pjs all day ( I have medical conditions which are not life threatening but are limiting)

So I always first thing put on makeup ( that has a good staying power and not take long. I leave out 2 options of clothes .
I usually have my hair in a manageable style ( though am growing out a cut I was forced to have ( 18 inches off but that's another v sore point)
It doesn't take me long and helps me feel better about myself.
I only wish I had help with housework as it a great struggle.
When I have face on and dressed I look as though nothing wrong with me, whilst it makes me feel good I get abuse for my health which is not always obvious.
For makeup find a good base which suits and has staying power.and spray fixer.
Hair I credit to Function of Beauty shampoo and conditioner and a good cut and manageable style .
I used to use a c.c when the kids were younger and my skin was better.
Oh finish with a quick spritz of perfume .

I hope I don't offend anyone as have no desire to.

I have my base face then my add one ( eyes and lips) . I use a brow liquid that lasts 2- 3 days

I look scarey without my base face .