How do some women always manage to look so put together and downright gorgeous?

[Beigecurtains]

Is it just 'inbuilt' style that they're born with? If so, I'm incredibly jealous!!

My friend always looks amazing and really stylish but I find it really hard to put my finger on what it is that makes her look special. She's not overly tall, and is slim but not skinny (size 12), and certainly doesn't spend a fortune on beauty treatments/products or clothes, or having her hair done.

Her outfits are usually fairly simple; just jeans with a nice top usually, and she wears accessories such as a necklace or a large scarf. She always wears make up, but again it's fairly simple, nothing garish. And hair in a bun or just down and wavy.

So on paper she doesn't dress particularly differently to probably 90% of other women, but she always manages to stand out.

How do some women do this? I'd love to know the secret so I can stop looking like a bag lady

[FoxyHarlow123]

By contrast, Irregular Choice shoes are NOT a good shoe and neither is anything in New Look. They're badly designed, the material looks cheap and nasty and they look scruffy within 5 minutes if being worn. They are not stylish or sexy, nor do they have any other redeeming qualities.

[BeginnerSAHM]

Totally agree with the Trinny and Susannah advice not to wear colour with black... Makes the colour look quite cheap, I think. Much better with creams, beiges, grey or brown/tan.

[RonaldMcDonald]

I adored Trinny and Susannah but thought they were better on the Beeb. I have all their books ( blush )
They are very wise and no nonsense and made excellent sense in a way that Gok Wan simply never could.

[Snowdown]

Trinny and Susannah were brilliant, first time I realised how to dress my boobs to make them look less matronly, I didn't even know it was possible, I still hear them in my ear when I shop. I see so many woman hide in black....it can be a very cool but I think it's very easy to slide into very drab.

Good question about the shoes, leather usually upper and lined.
Good shape, so many shoes even expensive ones are not cut very well. A good pair of shoes, polished if needed and clean, heels in good condition etc at the very least will not take away from your clothes. Make sure you can walk in them. You can probably get away with a cheap pair a few times but they will wear badly and you need to be ruthless about chucking them out...I also think a good quality bag is important but I don't think it's a given that a designer bag will upgrade your look, if the rest of your outfit doesn't scream money - the bag will scream fake, even if it doesn't scream fake, it looks out of place. I don't believe a designer bag upgrades an outfit.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Just googled that Louboutin shoe, the heel position looks totally wrong to me (admittedly I'm no expert), but the heel looks too far back and as if it would snap off when you put your weight on it.

[Snowdown]

Oh dear, dh just caught me checking out the Louboutins - and was puzzled as to how I needed more shoes - the man knows nothing. However beautiful the Louboutins are, they'd be like wearing razor blades, my skin is too soft for patent, I can just about manage suede. I wouldn't spend money on LK Bennet shoes - from experience they aren't up to much.

[TheBuskersDog]

Foxy, they are beautiful shoes but irrespective of the cost they are not shoes most women would wear on an everyday basis, and I think this thread is about looking good all the time not just on special occasions. I guess some people on here work in an environment where they might wear heels like that everyday but I think they are in the minority.

[Walnut8]

There is no way I would wear trainers anywhere but the gym (however I am quite conservative). I'm not sure they look stylish unless you are under 30, then possibly with the right outfit? Otherwise I agree what everyone says about shoes & always buy leather.
I think British corporate women are among the most stylish in the world. Not sure whether they do "casual" as well though!

[GretaWolfcastle]

that colour with black thing - shit advice.
plus they said no heels with trousers iirc and started that RIDICULOUS wrap dress with tits thing, that, IMHO makes any tits look like two huge pointy zeppelins

[Nocomet]

I think either, you just have confidence, decent skin and hair that looks nice without doing anything. We had a 50 ish Guider who looked elegant in a gortex in a thunderstorm.

Or you care and spend time on your appearance. DD2 may be 12, but she looks more elegant than I ever will.

She's more comfortable in her skin if she makes an effort and I'm sure she knows without being told, that she is seriously pretty.

Me, I will never look elegant and can't be arsed. Being clever gave me confidence as a child and a teen. I scrub up well enough if I have too, but it would feel utterly fake to do it every day.

[thewatchfuleye]

Thank you for the kind reception, ladies. I was a bit nervous as was my first post. I'm glad there are a few more Susannah/Trinny fans out there. Their most useful advice to me was what shapes/cuts/jewellery to wear for my bodyshape. Re good shoes - Kurt Geiger or Clarks (I know). For clothes, I do a lot of browsing and buy stuff from Pepperberry (always sale stuff) and Next with discretion. Also, surprise bargains in Peacocks sometimes (hefty discretion needed) And M and Co (more discretion) Also, wearing good makeup helps and posture. I'm no ballet dancer (!) but people have commented on my posture, which just makes me look more confident and thinner than I really am! Plus, get eyebrows waxed every 3 weeks.
Hope that helps someone out there. MN Style and Beauty is great for tips/hints too. Unfortunately, as has been mentioned, looking as good as you can takes work and research.

[Hopefully]

IME LK Bennett floretes are the most comfy heels ever. It does totally depend on foot shape etc as well I suspect, as my sister loathes them - she has much slimmer feet with a high arch.

I do think good shoes, whether they are heels or flats, makes an enormous difference. Even in biker boots, I feel better about my appearance when they are newer, in good condition, well maintained etc. Even high heels don't look amazing when I am aware that they need resoling and reheeling and look a bit tatty. One of my missions for this year is to own more shoes so I stop wearing them out so quickly! I am not good at buying shoes.

[Sunbeam18]

Colour with black looks dreadful, end of! I think whoever made the point about being stylish being different from being groomed was right. Most of the tips are about being groomed; anyone can do that. The stylish could look amazing with dirty hair and no make up - it's about having an eye.

[BeginnerSAHM]

T&S often put heels with trousers... (Maybe they changed their minds??) The colour and black thing is subjective. Well - suppose it all is . Anyway, I don't think it looks great normally. There are exceptions, obviously.

[Sortyourmakeupout]

Its the make up more than likely. It transforms you and puts a spring in your step and you feel great.

works for me anyway.

just because you have kids it doesnt mean you have to live in your tracky.

get your clothes out the night before when kids are in bed.

[MarshaBrady]

Agree on difference between grooming and style.

It's also hard to copy style. I remember French chic was emulated in Boston but it didn't transfer well. Obviously I mean to my eye, as foreigner, they would have like it I think. But it looked over done.

Style is refreshing so needs your own input.

[mammmamia]

I am good at clothes but not very good at buying shoes. I find it really difficult and a real chore. I have no decent shoes at all so they probably all look cheap although I wouldn't realise. I don't enjoy shoe shopping so resent spending money on them.
So - where do you buy decent shoes? I tend to buy them from Nine West, Clarks.
I bought 2 pairs from Office 3 years ago and they fell apart within 2 years which I don't think is good value for money for what I would consider quite a lot of money.
I find Russell and Bromley hideously expensive and don't like much in there.

[Namechangeforamo]

I think looking put together takes an investment of time. Unless you are unconfined by budget, not many of us. You have to start by looking at what bits in your wardrobe are worth keeping. Then buying only things you completely love, but also making sure it matches something you have. Having a wardrobe full of random things that dont match is a disaster. Don't feel that you have to stay on trend either. More important that you dress for yourself than to look of the minute.
I spend ages shopping, really looking for something thats perfect. When i have it I take it home and spend an evening taking clothes out to make up outfits, seeing what shoes, accessories go with it. No one steps out the door looking stylish by chance.

[GeorginaWorsley]

Am feeling a nostalgic fondness for Trinny and Susannah now.
Perhaps its time they came back with updated show,on BBC. Of course.

[noddyholder]

I think its a natural thing

[FoxyHarlow123]

Mam I'll help! I'm crap at clothes but brilliant with shoes! What do you need them for and what's your budget?

[RonaldMcDonald]

Trinny and Susannah had no problem with heels and trousers
I think that colour and black very often looks like shit...I immediately think black trousers and satin type shirt bleughh...and I think that that was their point. Try to use tonal colour mebbe instead of not thinking - stick it with black.
They showed lots of women that high necked t shirts made their tits look awful and inspired lots of us to get decent bras
At the time wrap dresses were ubiquitous and they were advocates when dressing certain bodies...I thought that they were brilliant- in books and on the BBC

[Apatite1]

I find louboutins the most uncomfortable shoes ever. I tried and failed to wear them on my wedding day. I like chie mihara, she makes shoes that fit my foot well.

[FoxyHarlow123]

Ah but this isn't a thread about comfortable shoes. This is a thread about looking great and there is no denying that the right pair of CBs look great.

[Apatite1]

Completely pointless for me if I can't walk in them. They'd be laughable at work too, I don't have a desk job. But yes, they look great!