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.

This is the holy grail from Cos https://www.cos.com/en-gb/women/womenswear/tshirts/roundnecktshirts/product/the-clean-cut-t-shirt-white-0960679001

Asket - www.asket.com/gb/womens/t-shirts/t-shirt-white?utm_source=google

Cheaper option here https://www.plainandsimple.com/products/women-heavyweight-boxy-organic-t-shirt?variant=41220299882555&country=GB&currency=GBP

The idea is that you pay a bit more for quality that lasts you a long time

I thought about this thread earlier when I ordered four new t shirts! I don’t think thinness is it. I think it’s clothes that actually fit the shape of the wearer, no muffin tops in jeans, clean ironed good quality plain t shirts or shirts, fine knit sweaters. I have a casual ‘uniform’, includes all of the above, a wool, cord and linen blazer and a bomber jacket, shoes that are always clean and polished if appropriate. A silk, cashmere or wool scarf depending on the time of year.

Agree with good skin and hair.

@Howmanyroses that has been my go to t shirt for years. I ordered four new ones today after needing to size down.

Always have freshly washed hair and clothes…wash your whites separately. Buy expensive basics and you will genuinely enjoy wearing them every time and you’ll give off the same vibe! I swear by all the above.

I think having a good eye helps - style is a form of artistry and some people can see the difference that small tweaks (like the base layer showing) can make.

Apart from that, the best thing I have ever done it terms of looking put together is to find a good tailor. I take everything to her pretty much now. It's expensive and time consuming but my god it makes a world of difference to the most basic items. I would rather have a capsule wardrobe of tailored things than dozens that don't fit quite right.

So what I’m taking from this thread is that it’s worth paying more for basic items. Do they really look better/wash that much better than their cheap counterparts?

This Boden top works super well as a layering T-shirt, as the frill peaks out the top of your jumper. It’s also super comfy.

Yes. But if you have a massive wardrobe like me and have about 50 t shirts which you call "basics" then it doesn't matter as much. If you buy a couple of black and a couple of white t shirts to layer all season then it definitely matters. You get thicker fabric, less underarm bobbling and no stained thinning armpits.

@Wisenotboring i posted it up thread, but the main things that helped with frizz specifically was drying my hair in an old t shirt (you can buy a microfiber towel if you want but I didn’t want to splash out) and sleeping in a silk bonnet. Kids make fun of me for the bonnet but worth it.

Basically, people who look effortless aren't. I pay attention to every part of my appearance, and I plan what I'm wearing each day. When I get home I get changed into my comfy clothes and I take my jewellery off and polish it, I give my bag a polish and shine the hardware and I clean/polish the shoes or trainers I've been wearing. I take clothes and shoes to the charity shop after a single season of wear, I like everything I wear to look new.

I disagree but I guess everyone has a different definition of effortless. To me it isn't super groomed.

This will probably offend a few folk. What I find odd is the number of women who have blonde hair round their face with dark roots or even more than just dark roots - a whole dark section at the top (and I don’t mean balayage). Why not just keep your dark hair ? Surely that would look better than the randomness ? I know it’s super expensive to maintain but surely given the speed hair grows at it’s obvious you’ll basically never be able to keep up. The light blonde hair doesn’t even usually look that great and often is mismatched to the person’s natural skin tone. Just don’t really understand why they bother bleaching it at all. The natural hair looks much better.

I think it’s about how you “carry off” what you’re wearing
if you are comfortable and confident you can wear rags and look good clothes are really like a shell
Ive had people compliment me on many of my charity shop combos if you are comfortable on the inside it will permeate through and other peoples options become irrelevant !

Sorry, OP, I haven’t read all the responses to your original post so sorry if this is repeating what someone has already said.

What struck me about your description of your colleague is that she seems to be wearing classic items in classic colours. I’ve recently had a wardrobe overhaul and attempted to make myself look more ‘put together’, so had gone for similar things; plain (cheap!) T-shirts/vests, plain (cheap!) jumpers/hoodies/cardies, plain (you guessed it… cheap!) bottoms…but all in quite neutral colours.

I’ve stopped wearing lots of random colours and prints which actually, in hindsight, looked quite garish. The result has been astounding! I’ve had lots of compliments, feel great and it’s so simple to get dressed and look good.

Not sure if it’s the way forward for you, but for me something has just clicked, clothes-wise. You colleague sounds like she does similar; simple, almost like a uniform, but because she feels great she is confident too.

I’m sure you will look great in whatever you choose to wear.

Still looking. I am currently wearing a mango t shirt that I got in a sale or to maxx, can’t remember. I might go back and see what mangos current t shirts look like. Wish me luck!

I feel like when I go out tomorrow, I will see lots of smart women with plain crewneck jumpers and a crescent of white T-shirt popping out!

I agree with the comments - slim, nice hair, tidy appearance and confidence can look put together.

I thought I found a great dress to wear to work and this morning it looked awful. Spent a frantic few minutes to find something else. I think I also would like to properly plan for outfits in advance.

Melissa Murrell on You Tube teaches all these tricks.
I love the sandwich one, when you wear two items of clothing of the same colour which brings your look together. Can just be eg., hint of a vest layer matching trainers etc.

Loving this post!
OP your work colleague is like an influencer you follow in real life rather than on Instagram which is great.
I have similar with a work colleague forever asking her where she buys stuff (she is lovely and doesn't mind) only problem is I can't then wear it to work but I have got some great fashion advice/tips from her.
The thing I have realised is all my life I have been buying clothes I like in colours I like, which I have realised is not what I should be doing.
The colour I like the least is the one colour which looks good on me so I am now rethinking my whole wardrobe.
Also considering actually having my 'colours' done professionally but would like to know if anyone has had this done and what they thought, might start a separate thread.

My DD is like this. She’s very stylish, often getting compliments from people. She definitely gets it from her father’s side of the family, they all dress well. Little tweaks make such a difference.

if your bras show through t-shirts, are you wearing nude t-shirt bras? White bras will indeed show through everything.

I often get complimented on my outfits and appearance. I think it's a combination of knowing what suits me, spending money on good quality stuff, taking most things to my seamstress.

My skin isn't naturally the best but years of seeing a top dermatologist mean I get strangers saying lovely things about it. My hair is naturally pretty good - curly, fine, lots of it but well-behaved. 5ft 7, size 8-10 hourglass, but needing to work harder to maintain it now I am in my 40s. Good wrists and long slim neck but no ankle definition. Long legs and arms, short torso.

Apart from the dermatologist, I get my eyebrows threaded and that is it. No gel, no false eyelashes, filler etc. I keep my nails short (I am a keen amateur pianist so have to) and buffed.

Obviously there are days I get it wrong, but getting dressed is a daily source of joy for me - I always feel good in what I wear.

Fortunate proportions.

Boobs, waist, hips and shoulder all in proportion. Torso not too long or too short, same for legs.

You can be pretty much any size, you don’t need to be slim; but having the right proportions for clothes helps massively. I know this because my sister is slim and has a smaller chest and narrower hips than me and we were the same outfit sometimes. I have a much bigger bust (she’s a C, I’m a J) and I have wide hips but a small waist. I look frumpy in the same outfit she looks chic in.

Someone's linked Trinny's Match2me colour analysis tool in this thread. I've done it and thought it was pretty accurate, given some of the colour advice I received in the past.

I feel your pain! I was 5ft 3/4 in. However at 68 years this year ( I really should be on Nanasnet!) I am now measuring 4ft 11 ins. The incredible shrinking woman has nothing on me!!! I often find it hard to look casually 'put together' I need settle for ' fresh and tidy' 😆

But if you don’t like the colour, what’s the bloody point?
I had my colours done and got directed to wear 50 shades of shit. I don’t care how much it lifts my tone or makes my eyes pop. I am not spending the rest of my life walking around looking like a turd.
Colours are meant to lift your mood and make you happy where what you want to wear, what you like

This is spades. Also style is very subjective. I know of someone who describes herself as always put together. She would be laughed at on mumsnet. The mumsnet style/polished look is usually a very specific look that isn't about the clothing per se, it's only for the tall, slim, angular faced model type look.