What makes someone look groomed/put together?

[Crosstraineraddict]

I've got a friend who always look very groomed and together, she always looks really great, and I'm very jealous! She hasn't got a lot of money but seems to wear classic clothes really well, just things like well-fitting skinny jeans with a coloured vest top, then a nice necklace or scarf (which she says are always from Primark). She also has really naturally good skin, which means she doesn't need to wear much, if any make up, and she's good at doing her hair in elaborate up-do's.

I'm thinking it's probably good quality classics plus the use of accessories that make a difference.

Good haircut, well maintained and regularly trimmed.
Good skin, well looked after.
Healthy looking nails and cuticles, not too long, but well cared for.
Well groomed and shaped eyebrows can really make a difference to faces and often mean you need less make-up.
Well applied and subtle make-up.

Classic clothes in quality fabrics and well chosen accessories, again well maintained and looked after. Taking care over ironing helps clothes to look better, and it is important to make friends with your local cobbler as tatty looking shoes completely ruin any attempt to look groomed IMO.

I think it's worth buying less and spending more. So rather than buying 5 cheap tops with your £200.00, you're better off just buying a couple of really good things. Outfits are better kept simple IMO. You can make them special with accessories. One of my favourite things to wear (not that I'm particularly well groomed or stylish but anyway...) is slim fit cropped black trousers and a grey cashmere poloneck. Sounds dead boring, but with a really beautiful pair of heels, some gorgeous sunglasses, some pearl earrings and an eye-catching handbag, I always feel really well dressed and confident.

Lots of time, lots of money.
Going to give myself a

Hair, cut / colored / maintained regularly.
Ironed clothes.
Good materials.
Knowing your colors and style.
Wearing clothes that fit (having them altered if they don't).

Thousands of threads on this.

5 cheap tops for £200? and unless that was a typo and you put in a zero too many!

I have nothing to add that hasn't been said, sorry. I would like to stress "Wearing clothes that fit" though. I've recently had to buy a few new bits as I've lost a bit of weight, and bought a dress that actually fits really well, rather than just covers everything and is comfy. I feel great in it, and I've had lots of compliments in it.

i have never noticed the state of anyones cuticles

Are you sure about that hydrangeas?

We look at peoples hands a lot, as they give us a lot of clues about what a person is trying to communicate. If we are in an environment where someone is using their hands for a task that involves us, such as in a shop, at the bank, e.t.c. e.t.c. then we automatically look at their hands.

If someone has dry, raggedy, bitten cuticles with hangnails all over the place then we do notice on some level, just as we would if their fingernails were filthy. It looks unhealthy, unkempt, and is off putting.

First impressions are important, particularly at work, but also socially. People can't see our warm hearts and sparkling wit in the first few seconds of looking at us. And I just think it's worth making an effort to look as though we care about looking after ourselves.

yes I am quite sure

I only notice men's hands for some reason.

As for the original question: Hair, outerwear, shoes, skin, inner attitude definitely. And yeh, ironing, I'm another of those strange peeps who can't quite tolelate wrinkled togs. It makes even the most expensive, beautiful items look cheap.
That said, I never care how other people dress, for the most part.

I look at other women's hands as I am a bit obsessed with nail varnish. Today while out shopping a woman handed me a flyer for a local nail bar, as she handed it over I noticed that her nail varnish was very badly chipped and looked dirty. I probably won't be rushing to get my nails done at her nail bar.

Posture
Silky looking skin not dry on arms, legs, cleavage
Tasteful earrings
A bit of lipstick/lipgloss

Fuckitthatldo, I notice when someone has long clickety clackity nails with nail varnish on and all manicured like... first impressions? They are probably thick and have a job in a shop :)

Framey, hang on a minute. I used to work in a shop. I'm NOT thick!!

I still want to know whether "5 cheap tops for £200" was a typo!

I like cheapo tops, ie ones that cost £2.50 each in primark (their neutral vest tops are ace), as they go with my investment piece jeans well!

Sorry Eliza, I didn't mean it like that at all... just that looking overly groomed can have the opposite effect when it comes to first impressions.

I think when nails start to impair the function of your hands you have to draw the line.

s'ok.

Yes Framey I personally feel that very long painted nails look tacky. Shortish but well cared for nails with a clear/natural polish look more tasteful IMO. Mind you short dark nails can look good too, but long red talons... no.

No the £200.00 thing wasn't a typo, but I was thinking about dressy tops rather than basics. I buy cotton long sleeved t-shirts from places like H+M and Zara cheaply and then just replace as I need to. I certainly don't spend a fortune on everything, but I do believe in buying the best you can afford when it comes to key pieces.

Accessories really can make any outfit look good.

Nice belt
Scarf
Necklace
Hair accessories/or nice up-do