How to look 'expensive' 2

[IkeaGoddess]

(old thread got to 1000 posts)

It's interesting to read this as I think I look like shit a lot of the time

Mostly I wouldn't care as I was frequenting baby groups etc but now I'm back at work I feel like I want to look a bit more put together.

I tend to wear a lot of black/grey (camel/navy/white isn't good for me, I'm too pale!). and minimal makeup (BB cream, fill in my eyebrows, mascara, blusher). I still just feel like I look a bit scruffy though... Maybe my clothes are a bit cheap looking. I don't know.

I think I have identified two major stumbling blocks in my quest of looking polished.

Further back in the thread someone suggested wearing the same clothes all day, they are easy to wash etc. However I have two small children who have sticky hands, who pull at my clothes etc. I don't think washing clothes constantly does them any favours particularly knitwear etc. I can't afford to replace everything as soon as it looks a bit shabby and overworn. So I tend to dress in clothes I can wash easily enough or clothes I can replace easily enough (Zara) etc. I also tend to wear darker clothes at home. DH wears camel coloured trousers and he runs upstairs to change out of them as soon as he comes home from work as he has had to throw out trousers due to sticky butter stained fingers touching them.

Another problem I have (and maybe other people have two) is that although I have a lot of coats (one of my weaknesses), I tend to wear the most practical one most of the time. At the moment its a green parka. I like it because it has a hood, deep pockets, is a practical colour but stylish it is not and I often wonder if security guards are following me around shops when I 'm wearing it. If it is raining I don't want to wear any of my wool blend coats as they get ruined and feel damp.

*too not two (oh dear why didn't I preview before posting)

I have quite a lot of decent clothes, my main problem is the way I put them together, which is often just s bit 'meh'.

Inspired to go through everything and check everything that is tired.

Can anyone recommend a decent quality fitted black polo neck jumper? My staple one is worn to basically threads now

I find it difficult to look stylish out of doors in this weather as well. I can't do with being cold and wet so practical outerwear is the order of the day.

bunbaker agree it's not easy to look good in UK winter weather. I don't feel the UK shops provide nearly enough stylish weather appropriate clothing.

If you go to a European city, eg Saltzberg, in mid Jan, Feb, people look stylish and weather appropriate. The UK retailers are definitely missing a trick. Very few UK shops sell the good stuff. And, personally, I feel that winter clothes, especially stylish outerwear, needs investment.

I have been following this thread. It's reminded me of a very stylish friend of mine. I used to babysit for the family, over twenty years ago. Kids all grown up now, but the mum hasn't changed in all that time.

All the previous comments of how to look chic/ stylish etc are spot on when I think of this lady.

She is slim, not thin. Not that tall.
She has excellent skin. She's been taking Immedeen for EVER.
She has excellent teeth.
She has no grey hair. Her hair is very glossy. So glossy. And beautifully cut.
She has colour in her skin. But not a "tan"
Clothes tailored to fit.
Mix of high street and designer.
Nails clear polished, NEVER French manicured. Dark colours for going out. And kept short.
Jewellery subtle, but expensive.

A beautifully dressed Caroline of Monaco is what I am channelling here and I wouldn't be surprised if they knew each other

She has created her own silhouette. She is naturally quite beautiful. She is smart ( great job in fine art) and has an emotional intelligence too. She's never " lost her shit in Sainsbury's". It's as if she glides...

Anyhow, it's more than just looking expensive/ chic/ stylish... It's a state of mind too. We can be look fab in all our gear, but that "allure" will be gone the moment you throw a shit fit in the supermarket!

Don't you think?

That's true - I also babysat for a woman as you described and she has always been my inspiration!

I learnt from her not to go places where you wil be tested (without your babysitter at least!) now we have shopping online life's much easier.

Talking about the jacket, I think people generally should spend the money on things that they wear the most and get that complete outfit perfected- if you keep going back to the same jacket (but think it's ugly) what would make it attractive? You'll need layers, waterproof top layer. lululemon had a lovely jacket that was water proof and sooo plain and easy to adapt last year.

Truly, yes, taking the kid/s to sainsbury's is the fast lane to ruining any good woman's "allure"!

I have never heard of Lululemon... Will check it out. Thnx

I liked the definitely raining jacket but I'm not in the UK so can't justify it until it's on sale!

I'm not in the UK either, but always interested to learn something new...

Marking place for a read later....

City - Yes Princess Caroline does always look good, and has always dressed/groomed appropriately for her age/event. Her daughter is too.

Mrsvillers Sorry haven't been on here for a while - What fabric/style is the bridesmaids dress? usually i found lovely flowy bridesmaids dresses generally skim over backfat, esp if they're made of good decent fabric (as many are) and are usually forgiving.
However, if you're still worried, I recommend you invest in a decent bra, and make sure the back bit where the hooks and eyes join (sorry can't remember what its called, but hopefully you know what I mean!) is a decent long one, and can stretch down a bit and smooth out the dreaded back flab! Cheaper bras generally have a shorter one, often with only one or 2 hooks and eyes which can easily sink into skin and cause back fat.

Thought of something last night.

If you don't have one already, get a full length mirror. I went years without one, trying to see my outfit in a dressing table mirror so in sections rather than the whole thing. I now have a huge floor standing mirror and it makes a big difference being able to see everything all at once. I also use a decent sized hand mirror to see my back view in the floor mirror. I do most of my clothes shopping online so it's good to get an all round look at the fit.

I guess it's an obvious thing really but I know lots of people who use a small wall or table mirror to get dressed.

No idea why I'm so addicted to this thread, as I gave up looking 'expensive' some time ago But I missed you all, so here's a placemark!

I'm still catching up and may not be in the spirit, but this: one of the comments on Facebook. Sorry, but even when I had a newborn or when caring for my severely disabled son I never set the bar that low may be a tad unfair. Everyone's circumstances are different, and women have varying levels of post-partum crap to deal with.

I don't see any need to shame women whose capacities and priorities are different from one's own.

I am loving this thread too. Inspired by this thread, over the weekend I have bought a new nude nail varnish, I always paint them but usually in a variety of colours. I have also bought some new understated earrings (cheap but hopefully look good quality). Hair cut and colour is booked for next weekend. I'll be thinking more carefully about colours and fabric in future.

I like the word "elegant" and, tbh, I don't think many of the fashion bloggers are.

Some people look elegant in baggy gardening trousers and a knackered old sweater. Most, though not all, such people are from posh backgrounds so I'm taking this as an indicator of "expensiveness".

Quoting from a PP (sorry, I've forgotten who) on What Not To Do:

bits of feet on show.
massive stilettos making the wearer totter.
flabby bits of body on show or visible under clothes.
bright nail varnish on long nails.
bits of strap/vpl/muffin top visible.
hair in a messy, scraped back bun.
no makeup.

Folks who can make an old sack look elegant can often be seen elegantly sporting messy hair and no makeup, but not the rest. Having said that, the first five items are side-effects of stripper styling () so clearly to be avoided in the quest for quiet self-confidence!

It keeps coming down to: Be clean and eschew tight fits.

I was just perusing the NAP sale to see if I could find any chic buys that would be in keeping with this thread's advice when I came across this.

Seems a perfect example of money not buying style!

(Apologies to anyone who spent £1,400 on this. I am sure you wear it brilliantly)

Regarding glossy hair, does anyone have a go-to product to help achieve this?

something you can just lightly smooth over, suitable for straight, thick but fine hair?

Re. PP who mentioned Ann Fontaine -I second this. I have a wonderful white shirt I bought in a sale in Galeries Lafayette 8 years ago and still wear it.

Well I literally JUST saw a tv ad for this so I think I will give it a try.

Also, having just posted about Anne Fontaine, I've just googled. The shirts (and everything)! are really pricey. I'm certain I only paid around 80 euros for mine - it must have been a clearance sale.

What do we think of this bag?
Too expensive for me but this is the type of thing I like. All bags linked so far seem to be brown, and I am definitely a winter colouring and black is the way forward for me (sorry to be boring)!

Always annoys me when a shop selling great classics only stocks them in black and white - both of which look horrendous on me! And usually the only other option is mark grey, which is also fairly terrible.

Marl grey, obv.

I like the bag but think I could find similar for less in department stores. I love the skirt and blouse though and will investigate further.

Thank you Blair!