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

Ah, that makes sense, you had me worried :)

claude coconut oil is so heavy and comedogenic, it sits on surface of skin,and clogs pores, so if you are acne prone it can trigger cysts,the dermatologist recommended adding it to food instead,as it has many benefits,its much better to eat and nurture your body from the inside out,your skin and hair will look healthier/fresher if you eat food rich in good fat,like nuts,avocado and oily fish, its very much like try disguising dark circles with makeup,when you know the answer is a good night rest,

Some creams help because the concentration of certain components are higher than what is found in natural remedies,

If you want a very gentle cleanser I recommend cetaphil,I have sensitive/combination skin,with a tendency to be dehydrated.and its fine

sunbeam

jeans and trainers...well I have worn Ash trainers with skinnies very often over the last few years

I look appalling in Nikes and I know they are fashion but I still look a fright in them

I sometimes wear converse with boyfriend jeans or wide legged jeans

santamaria, I was also surprised to hear about how awful coconut oil is supposed to be. Like claude, I've been doing OCM with it for about 2 years and my skin looks and feels great, much better than when I used olive oil or avocado oil. No spots whatsoever. My skin is dry and dehydrated and seems to love it. I do agree with adding good fats to diet though, that makes a huge difference.

I defo don't look like one of those women as I'm too overweight & too lazy to put in the effort every morning. However, since having my colours & style 'done' at house of colour & working towards an 'autumn' wardrobe, my clothes pretty much always go together without any effort as now everything in my wardrobe tones well together & compliments.

I have also bought a lot of scarves, (so many that dh has had to put a waist height curtain pole in my dressing room to accommodate them!), & think these add to most outfits providing the colours are good.

I think I'd find it hard to have 3 colours max as top, bottoms, shoes, coat, bag, belt & scarf would be difficult to have 3 in same colour, or is e.g. 3 different shades of brown ok & count as one colour?

Need to work on losing weight, dressing for my shape & lazy lifestyle & finding decent flat shoes!

Trust me a few mums I know who look like your friend DON'T think they look great and can't wait to dress up and out of jeans, but it suits their SAHM lifestyle etc.

But I agree - she's working her look the best way re a few edited tops, jeans, scarves and adding the makeup and hair bit. I think the latter things really make all the difference - makeup for me - if I'm feeling down. And a nice bit of jewellery (can be junk). Just gives me an extra edge.

snowdown - I'm kind of laughing at your descriptions of London women.

My SIL is none of those, neither is her SIL. In fact the latter woman (L) always looks stunning and invests in designer pieces or things she knows looks good.

My SIL is tall, slim, and likes classics but modern classics think Comptoir des Cottoniers, Cos etc - she likes the odd bright dress but lots of black blazers, printed dresses etc and she doesn't or won't wear blue or navy.

I tend to have my own style would never dream of showing bright underwear, having zany coloured eyeliner etc.

and I've got a 3rd friend whose an old school (before it got popular) Portobello rd girl who does very mixed style but very stylish, with an edge.

Helloboys it was the observations of the American woman who wrote Madam Le Chic. I think outsiders often see things we don't, we tend to live in such bubbles only seeing what we want to see.

Thanks Ronald! I'll look into Ash trainers now!

oh Snowdown those Americans...

from the American girls I know... well 2 have their own unique styles but they can hardly talk. it just made me laugh that's all.

My tips (though I'm not sure if I count as being 'put together'):

Live in a hot country
Get your hair relaxed
Buy lots of cotton dresses
Pay someone to iron them

:)

I'm a working mummy and everyone always comments on how well put together I look (which is a lovely compliment) and other mummy friends ask me how I do it but I don't really tell them much because I find it embarrassing to talk about myself!
But here are my personal top things:

1. grooming. I keep my eyebrows, tasche etc groomed all the time by doing them at home by myself. I've got into the routine of tweezing every other day and therefore there aren't many hairs growing out all together and takes a maximum of 10 mins. Tidy shaped brows make a huge difference!
2. I invest in good skincare, my fave range is Liz Earle and it's all very quick to use. I put the creamy cleanser on and get into the shower, wash my body then take the cleanser off with a face cloth (leaving the cleanser on for a few mins allows it to act like a mask) then wash and condition my hair. All takes 10 mins. I don't have time to faff about with cotton wool and toner, I just spritz toner all over my face then apply moisturiser, done! I also never go to bed without washing my face and applying a serum.
3. easy, quick makeup. Concealer under the eyes, quick foundation- Laura geller balance and brighten, then eyeliner and mascara with a subtle sweep of blush. Takes 10 mins to do while son is eating, playing or napping.
4. non-iron clothes. My staple outfit: Black tights or leggings with a figure flattering skater or swing dress and calf boots. I pick dresses with fabrics that don't need ironing or only require a quick steam.
5. accessories. I always wear simple studs, a nice Michael kors watch and add a scarf or pendant to my outfit. Scarves dress up a simple outfit and look really stylish and sophisticated.

There's nothing here that's a big secret but I think everyone needs to just find products, clothes, routines, etc that suit them and keep it up. I feel confident when I'm looking good and I think that makes me look more put together. Getting kids into a really good routine helps a lot because you know when you can spend time on yourself and how long you have.

hello I was gonna say that the extract should be taken with a pinch of salt, seeing that the author is an American, I live in London and I've never seen,anyone remotly dressed like what was described by the other,and I'm not British ,so I do pay a lot of attention,in fact the only people who dressed in a similar manner,but with more flare and creativity are the Japanese fashionable tourists,

If I could sum up the some of dominating looks in London that stand out Its something like this, almost everyone near the bluebird cafe was wearing a fedora hat.

this too,

Naz, do you dry and style hair? That's what takes me ages. How long do you all take to get ready in the morning now you have kids? I have real trouble coping with this with an 8-month old who doesn't nap well. I wash my hair every second day and it takes about 50 mins from stepping in the shower to being ready. The other day (no hair wash) takes about 30 mins. I struggle to get it down from this and it causes arguments with DP!

I don't know if I look 'put together ' but I do get compliments on my style and I put that down partly to having my colours done ten years ago. I used to wear black all the time as I thought it was slimming and was horrified to be told I was an Autumn. It took a while to make the transition but I absolutely love my colours now! I never wear anything that isn't in my palet no matter how fashionable it is. Everything matches and it has made it much easier to shop and dress. I'm also quite busty so have often had to ignore fashion and stick to the styles that works for me, long, flowing and elegant. I wish sometimes I was tall an skinny to be able to wear high fashion clothes but that ain't never gonna happen so I've tried to see it as a challenge to look good. I do downs a lot of time hunting for things that look good but I'm pretty pleased with my wardrobe now.

Also love shoes, jewellry and scarves, they can really add something to an outfit.

So I would just say, find out what suits you, don't be a blind follower of fashion if it doesn't suit your shape or colouring and enjoy it!

santa

Has anyone mentioned good taste to go with the good bone structure, good posture and good genes.

Re the London thing, I guess it depends which area of London you are in, Chelsea, Dalston, Islington.....

Also, I imagine the author is focussing on people who embody a certain style - I mean we have an idea what French chic looks like, but most people in France don't walk around looking constantly chic, ditto Italian style and English style. Most people don't dress like that, but there are certain national traits that can be noticed.

I hate accessorising - I wear as few items as possible. So for work - always a dress, a watch and plain black shoes. The dress will be good quality and possibly patterned, but fitted and demure. For casual - you lot are terrifying me with your talk of lots of colour, earrings, belts and so on. Well fitting and simple clothes don't need extras. Minimise the number of clothes you wear! Jeans, top, scarf if you want - done. Simple shoes like ballet flats that don't compete with the rest of your outfit. The minute I have layers or multiple colours or lots of accessories, I feel prematurely middle aged! So many British women wear too many things all at once and don't coordinate them, especially coat / shoes / bag / scarf. Not every item has to shout!

Seriously... I know this will be controversial, but I think being SLIM makes you halfway there.

I used to be slim a few years ago. People thought I always looked well put together. They asked where I got my clothes. But I put on quite a bit of weight since, and it's hard to look good at all. Most clothes simply look better on slim women. The same clothes I wore back then would look frumpy on me now.

I am trying my hardest to lose weight… can you tell???

I totally agree with you snow. I need to lose the winter podge and I know nothing looks as good as when I'm slimmer.

Totally agree Snow