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.

Blazers and pearls? Did we time warp to 1982?

Classic cut clothes (whatever suits you) clean and ironed. easy to maintain hair cut, tie it back neatly if no time to style. keep it coloured so no roots. Glycolic acid and a good serum to keep skin clear and plumped. Eyebrows shaped. Lash lift and tint if you have time. Nails short, neat and nude.

I look more like Mo off EastEnders than Anna Wintour so there is no hope for me

Dont run yourself down. Id rather look like Mo any day of the week.

Blazers and pearls? Did we time warp to 1982

I mean seriously, who wears these? Polished isn’t conservative and boring, well it can be but not exclusively and you can be totally polished and much more funky

totally agree @Applesbananaspears! I also think Laila Morse scrubs up just fine in real life!

The blazers and pearls thing just reminds me of Christine Hamilton or Carol Thatcher😕

I think I associate polished with looking quite immaculate and perfect, I would say I go for a more undone look. So hopefully stylish but aiming for artfully dishevelled .

I do actually wear blazers, but with jeans and trainers rather than pearls. My personal style is not really very classic, I need to mix it up a bit.

@fashiondevotee.......are you seriously saying you can't look 'polished/nice/whatever' with short hair??

I don't think there's some dark art to this.

I have a friend who always looks immaculate. I've stayed round her house quite a few times and she takes ages to get ready. She also always has new clothes and spends a lot of money on hair and makeup stuff.

I used to be more bothered and looked a lot more well turned out, but right now I'm very busy other things that are more important.

@Asta19. Get them made. A perfectly fitted jacket covers up many shortcomings. A bit more expensive expensive than Next but you can get a Chanel look alike for a whole lot less and that is made to measure.

My friend has just microbladed her eyebrows and it’s made such a difference to her face. I never thought she could look so different (good different).
She has manicures and pedicures regularly (used to bite her nails).
Regular facials.
She has had individual eyelashes applied and tattooed eyeliner.
She has a brilliant skin care routine. It’s took about 5 months but she looks expensive, groomed and polished.
It’s time and money I think.
She never used to look like this but all the effort pays of.
I asked her what foundation she had on and she said I haven’t got any on at all. She’s in her 40s but looks 35. Skincare routine has made all the difference.

I do however think I’d rather look fun than polished.

Everyone saying a good haircut so it just falls into place, clearly doesn't have a thick curly mop and don't wake up looking like Russell brand after a bender!

I’m not naturally polished
But
At work I am, and what makes the difference over the years is-
Skin- a hint of fake tan- enough to just look healthy
Loads of water
Eyebrows regularly waxed
Neat simple quick make up and importantly lipstick even if nude
Clothes which are increased
Nails done- be it home or shellac and never chipped. This is either me painting at 10pm and not going to bed till midnight or doing hen in the car after kids drop off on way to work so decent drying time!!
Perfume
Single bag not bag lady
Neat / clean shoes not scruffy / bashed and also ones I can walk normally in
Clothes that for well
Simple jewellery

I like to think I look polished but not masses of money and absolutely no time.

My house is a tip - no-one believes this because I look polished.

My nails are always done with gel

My eyebrows are always shaped and tinted.

My clothes are simple and plain - hardly any patterns. I wear a lot of black.

I try to always wear small heels - I feel more confident

I always wear make up - I always use lip liner.

I have a few nice necklaces - always plain stud earrings

@ZippyBungleandGeorge

Haha I feel your pain. I find styling the night before makes all the difference. I style it each night, sleep with a satin scarf and then unwrap & "spritz" it each morning. And I carry a hairband and mini hairspray just in case for those surprise humid or rainy days. Curly hair is high maintenance :( but when it looks good it's amazing.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChxkFSjTE7nLCHsDk8_pRhg
This girl is having great tips.

@7yo7yo

I've never heard of eyeliner tattoo I'll check it out!

I think beauty comes from within, which helps with being polished, making it easier to achieve. But you can be fat, with curly hair and look polished with more effort with makeup, hair grooming and good clothes.
BUT
The saying ‘you can’t polish a turd’ refers to similar people like Mo in eastenders. Sorry Mo

I think the actress who plays Mo looks nice and well-groomed in real life. 🤷‍♀️

I famously look like a movie star ... from a post-apocalyptic action flick!

My hair is done by the same lady that also does the best dos I know. I've nice clothes, discreet but nicely done make-up, an understated but expensive handbag, ...

... when I leave the house at 7am, I look like something out of a corporate ad. By the time I make it to the bus stop 5m later, it's the zombie fighter look all over again.

I need a whole body protective plastic sleeve.

I wish we could give points for posts we like. I enjoyed yours takenforslanted!

Easy. If you are:
Thin, reasonably well groomed, have nice clothes, that’s all it takes.

I think it's one of those things you either have or don't. I have two friends who are much more 'in to' fashion/grooming than I am. One looks polished more often than the other...maybe because she's got more classic dress sense?

I don't think it has to take that much time to look 'smart' though...millions of working women need to be out of the house by 7.30 or whatever. In my case I do it by not buying any clothes you need to iron! I wear a lot of black skinny jeans or stretchy dresses. Only wear lip balm and mascara and leave my hair curly.

The saying ‘you can’t polish a turd’ refers to similar people like Mo in eastenders. Sorry Mo grin

Just because people may never be highly polished doesn't make them akin to the proverbial turd. You might want to reword that slightly.

JosephineHass I love Justine! Audrey Coyne m.youtube.com/channel/UCdF5QXMUx1tT7odhtBdDyEA is great too.

Rach and zippy, another curly hair one here, I put my hair up loosely and sleep on a satin pillowcase (from amazon), great for your face too. I refresh with water, leave in conditioner if it's dry and hair creme, I put it in a loose bun if it's rainy or hot and carry a hair band with me. I go for trying to have moisturised, conditioned hair as my base so it's easier to manage.

I agree it's not dark arts, it's knowing what suits you/works and being organised. I'm not high maintenance, I keep my nails shortish, clean and buffed, have a simple skin routine (I use some retinol and glycolic acid now I'm heading towards 50), use daily spf etc. But all these things are to hand, I have spf and handcream on my chest of drawers next to a small makeup organiser from tiger, manicure kid in a drawer by my bed, my hair products are in a basket next to the shower etc. I do not spend hours getting ready, but I will have put thought into choosing products and clothes so that it's easy to look put together, not really sure I'm "polished".