To ask how some people making looking so normal so good?

[Upsetbetty]

I’m genuinely baffled, yesterday at work one of the women came in and I was blown away as I am most days. It was Friday so she was dressed a bit more casual. She only had on a pair of mom jeans, and a plain crewneck jumper, but it was to put togetherness that I couldn’t get over. Underneath her jumper, she had a long white sleeve top and the neck of the top could JUST be seen popping up from her jumper, she rolled up her jumper sleeves so you could see the white sleeves underneath, she had a pair of Adidas sambas on. It just looked so perfectly put together and thought out yet so simple at the same time. If I tried to emulate that I would look scruffy!! Just how does she do it? Anyone have any insight? I asked her and she told me where she got said items but I supppse it’s the fit that worked so well.

A poster mentioned blazers are key to looking stylish. I very much disagree with this. I look dreadful in them and haven't worn a blazer since school. I look far more stylish without one 😂

Stylish and looking put together aren't necessarily the same thing. The was an influencer video linked to earlier on the thread. Yes, she looked put together, but I think she looked boring rather than stylish. Some of her trouser lengths were terrible too). Safe and dull. Not a hint of personality. To my eye, looking stylish is about mixing colour and texture, not wearing tone on tone muted colours.

She’s skinny right?

What. What?! This isn't a new thing, this is something I (and my friends) have been wearing for as long as I can remember. Heck, my mother was doing this in the 70s and 80s 😂

I used to be able to look like this when I was young and very slim. However I had no money and everything was Charity shop, very cheap or make do and mend and I definitely had no "grooming routine" apart from the horses I worked with. But at 56 and fat I look a mess now even when I have tried and spent money, so in my case it's definitely weight, proportions and youth.

You have to have an interest in clothes and an eye for (often very) subtle styling tricks (like not quite matching earrings or quirky trainers) as well as a solid range of decent quality basics, which needn't be expensive. Uniqlo, M&S and supermarket ranges can all turn up trumps. But it definitely helps if you can afford the time to try to vary your "uniform" slightly each time you wear it.

Yes that's something I've learnt for myself too.
I'm really pale skinned, (hate it) and any dark jumpers look absolutely awful unless I wear a white t-shirt underneath.
Often wear it back to front so that it definitely shows above the jumper's neckline.

My friend and I are both late 40's. I always think she looks effortlessly stylish and she always thinks I look effortlessly youthful. Neither of us does anything special she is tall, willowy and blonde, I am somewhat shorter, slim and curvy but not willowy, darker colouring and my skin has always been good. Its just genetics. Clothes are usually designed with the tall and slim in mind and if you are shorter or heavier you need to work much harder to find things that suit you better, sit right on you and so on.

I don’t watch Trinny online. But I remember when she used to present What Not to Wear with Susannah Constantine. They were very brave about being shown in their undies to illustrate how what they wore made a difference.

Not always! I buy 90% second hand, quality classic pieces I couldn’t afford new. I recently saw an Aligne waistcoat with round neck and v at waist, loved it, quite spendy, I was DELIGHTED to find this little gem at Tesco the following week 😁. I wear with a tonal pair of trousers and same tone thin knit merino rollneck, will go with wide drawstring trousers and clumpy sandals in a month or so. Fabulous value!

I had a boyfriend once who could change a motorbike tyre in a pure white t-shirt and jeans, and be pristine at the end of it.

He just always looked like he'd just stepped out of a changing room. When he actually dressed up, it was hard to look at him it was so perfect. Even when he was the worse for wear at the end of the night, it looked intentionally disheveled.

My son on the other hand (TBH, both sons), in a beautiful, fresh pressed suit and tie, washed, brushed, told to stay away from everything, within 10 minutes, looked like he'd been dragged through a hedge backwards.

I think some people just have 'it' and some people don't.

I love clothes and am big on attention to detail. The other day I wore a red v neck top, my wide leg jeans that are just the right length, and my black and red Comme des Garçons Converse. At least 3 people commented on my colour co-ordination! I always wear a nice watch, a necklace and the same silver bracelet/bangle.

Well she’s a size 10-12 but she’s not “skinny” she’s had two kids and she doesn’t really go to the gym or anything but she naturally small.

I think black with pale skin looks amazing 😀

I’m going to try it.

I live in fine knit crew neck jumpers in winter and wear a low vest/cami/thermal top underneath. I am super pale and I love black and dark navy against my skin and never liked how white looks on me. But perhaps a peep is acceptable…

My mother the other day had wide leg jeans, a navy jumper with shocking pink T shirt peeping out and she looked amazing. She is also 80 so I hope I inherited some of her style genes!

Wow! Go mum at 80. I bet she looked fabulous 👌😃

Sorry I haven't read all the PPs but my immediate thought is that the clothes are high end/ upper mid range expensive. It makes such a difference. Even plain high end tshirt will hang better, the jeans will have a great structure. Someone has taken the time to think about the way it folds and moves. It could be that she buys them 2nd hand but buys good brands? That's what I try to do. They also last a lot longer. If you find an expensive brand that suits you, just get on vinted and buy those jeans - usually for cheaper than m&s garb. Also they will last longer due to better quality fabrics.
And the stitching will stay good.
H&M jeans will look nice on the hanger but will be saggy and threadbare on the knees within 3 months!

She wears Next and Levi’s.

Fair enough! She might just be lucky with her figure being the shape and size of the standard fit for next petite. The right Levis for you will be worth purchasing. Finding the number that suits you best. It used to be easier when they had a load of shops on the High Street! X

She bloody did! Bitch 🤣🤣

Just incase you are interested in 2nd hand. This is an example of the kind of price difference I look for in a nice thin designer sweater. £425 vs £20 for a slightly used version of a similar top by the same designer. Often Ive found used designer stuff hardly looks used - perhaps these are just not the sellers size. Or maybe just made better. Sorry it might take the pics a minute to load / be approved.

I have a friend like this. She always looks perfect. White Company knits. Perfect jeans. Loafers. She’s small and blonde. It genuinely just doesn’t work for me at all. I think it’s something to do with energy too. She’s v elegant, more reserved. I’m a bit sillier (!) taller and have messy wavy red hair and actually the boho look suits me much better. Thinking about it- it would probably look weird on her. So maybe it’s more about matching your energy?

I feel like this. I buy a lot of clothes hoping I’ll look put together. I see people out and about and think they look so nice , why didn’t I think of that.

@JohnPrescottsPyjamas. Ha ha me too - my H once bought me a bib ( as a joke) many many years ago - but it’s true, one reason I wear so much black even at 63 is I am supremely messy - no little pastel coloured tops for me

My sister is like this and everyone says we look exactly alike but I absolutely cannot pull off clothes/ outfits like her… maybe a sense of style, the right figure (she’s a bit taller), confidence… I’m not sure what it is! I also waste money on cheap second hand things whereas she carefully considers a few nice pieces that will last. I’ve always (quietly) hated family gatherings because of it, though caring less now (probably too tired to care!)

We are so hard on ourselves but you do have to know what works for your shape and size. I'm slim 5' 10' size 43/9 feet and suit simple clean lines, I would love to be able to wear red nipped waist skirt suits and heels but look like John Cheese in drag if I do, so I don't.