The one thing that helps you feel 'put together' ?

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At the ripe old age of 48 I have recently bought myself my first lip stick.
It's Chanel and am utterly in love with it. When ever I wear it I feel , well, put together and confident, no matter what else I'm wearing. ( that and my ray bans!)
Can't believe I've gone these years thinking a good lippie would be wasted on my thin lips.
I'd be interested to know if anyone else has that one thing that makes all the difference?

A good blow dry (hair a bit mad at the moment)
Neat, not too long painted nails
Good shoes/footwear
Lovely, well-fitting undies - I bought 3 new bras in Triumph today having lost two stone recently and the assistant measured me as a 38DD. I was a 36 before the weight loss and the bras I tried on were dreadful- loose, squashed my boobs, poor shape so I tried a 36- same story. I completely applied the bra intervention theory and ended up with 34 E! The shape the bras give me made my bubles look fab!
Perfume: Paul Smith Rose for day, Jo Malone Peony and suede blush or Ralph Lauren Romance for evening.
Good quality accessories - I've learnt the hard way buying cheap stuff from accessorise only for it to break and it have to be returned

Lipstick.. I have at last count 70ish yes I know that's far too many but I only regularly wear a rotation of 10 .. I like to change it up and I have full lips and can wear all colours. I would never walk out the door with out my lippy on 💋

I've just started being a Avon lady so people are taking note of what I'm looking like nails and face so I'm using the Avon gel nail varnish with the top coat and I have to say my nails look so good, I usually have chipped polish within a day but not with this I'm on day 5 and my nails look fab 💅🏼

Eyebrows - I use Hi definition powder and an angled brush. Pluck them myself religiously.

Nails - shellac every 2-3 weeks

Good bag - this is essential for me. Recently bought a Louis Vuitton clutch and it makes any old jeans and t-shirt outfit feel glam.

Lippie. Shades. Heeled boots. Fitted jacket. Most of the time I don't do this and I feel a right old scruff.

The other thing that makes me feel 'put together' is painted toenails. I know it's a bit weird as no-one sees them for the majority of the year but - like "nice" undies - even though they're hidden, I know they're there!

toothpaste!

I've learned to do false nails and apply a new set every Sunday night. I'm experimenting and am currently sporting a French manicure with neon orange tips. Last week I had a matte red set with shiny tips. I've also taught myself how to pluck and fill my eyebrows. If I ever go anywhere I put on some lippie. I used to be scared of wearing anything but a nude shade. I'm more adventurous now I'm older and have no one to impress but myself. Watch some tutorials on YouTube. I got my nails from EBay. Buy 4 for the price of 3. Nice shoes and a blazer can lift a pair of jeans and plain top. I also got a blazer on EBay from a seller that sells seconds from high street stores. Oh and hair. Mine used to get greasy until I stopped washing everyday. I bought some dry shampoo from Batiste that matches my very dark hair.
I remember watching a video on YouTube presented by an American woman with the most amazing house. Every week she posted things about organising her life. She said keep a little black dress, white shirt, black slacks, blazer, jeans, loafers and heels pressed/polished so in an emergency you have a ready made outfit. If you only have 10 mins to get ready tie your hair into a sleek ponytail, brush your teeth, clean your face, apply a brightening moisturiser, fill in your brows, apply bronzer or blusher, mascara and lippie.

I wear Lipfinity everyday , I reckon it makes me look less tired and gives me a happy face

My husband bought me the Jml mineral foundation and some lovely light lipstick and eyeshadow x

A good bra
Benefit Gimme brow.......amazing and takes 2 secs.......do it!

Also my specs. Firstly because I can't find the door without them but also because they're part of my style now.

Maybelline Brow Drama is a fraction of the cost of Gimme Brow and just as good. It has an odd-shaped brush but if you can't get on with it, you could always use a spoolie.

A nude, beige or mocha colour nail polish

Eye brows coloured in with pen. Recent revelation. I'm blonde but does my hair light brown. Doing this really frames my face.
Watching all my lovely under 24 waitresses line up every week I always thought how 'done' they look then I realised their eyebrows were all very carefully crafted so I started giving it a go. I use soap and glory but having seen above going to look up benefit as they're stuff is usually excellent. For. What I've tried I recommend felt tip style pens not pencils.

Op, I'm late to the thread but just wanted to say I recently bought my first lipstick. 45 and it was also channel! Like you is been magic for me. My whole face looks brighter!

Have just discovered BB cream (I know, I know... A bit late to the party!), so that applied, mascara applied, and a Clinique chubby stick on the lips.

If I had another thing to add it would be pearl or diamond earrings. I used to have a fake pair of diamond ones from Next which people thought were real. Sadly, I lost one!

Right I'll going to hunt on eBay for a blazer.
What is the benefit gimme brow - a pencil?

dudsville enjoy! I have just bought another Chanel . I have all noticed women when I am out and about and realise how many of them are actually wearing bright lipsticks.

I think I might check out the Maybeline brow thing. Still not sure if it will make any difference to my hairy, dark brows, but it might do.

I wish I hadn't waited this long to wear lipstick.

I also followed the 'how to look expensive' thread a while back. It was great as it really made me think about how I felt when I was wearing stuff. Since then I have been on a mission to declutter and refine my wardrobe and my entire house. ( this involved buying Chanel lipsticks and cashmere jumpers ).

LookAtAllThesePhucksIGive do you have a link to the youtube woman? Sounds really interesting.

Is it just me imagining you all as perfectly coiffed, beautiful, stylish women?

I'm very very near 40, and I don't feel "old" or mature enough to wear things like blazers, or artfully arranged scarves, and I only recently started doing stuff to my eyebrows when they fell out, and I had to.

I think the approach of my 40s is (clichè! Clichè!) making me re-evaluate my style (such as it is) which I have always liked. I don't wear jeans or trousers as they don't suit me and tend to wear little dresses with cardies, I suppose 60s secretary type stuff. Losing my hair recently has made me very insecure though about how I look now.

I might actually start a separate thread for advice but it would be interesting to know roughly what age groups people are to see if there are any "trends" that people tend to think about more at certain ages, eg lipstick for 40s.

Miff- I'm 30. I have been wearing blazers and lipstick since teens. They are hardly aging. My sons wear blazers, they are primary age.

Miffle - I'm mid 40s and about as elegant as Donald Duck, sadly.

Art I didn't mean they were ageing - just that I don't feel grown up enough to actually be stylish and wear things like blazers etc - to me it conjures up someone very "pulled together" and a sort of classic look where everything somehow looks like it belongs together.

Maybe it's the word "blazer". It sounds a bit Alan Partridge to me I suppose it's just a jacket after all.

You see this is why I shouldn't post in S and B. I overthink things and when I try to explain, tell people they look like Alan Partridge.

Lolz at 'elegant as Donald Duck' remus - that's not how I see you in my mind's eye

I am far more stylish when thinking about/writing about clothes than I am when wearing them, Amber, unfortunately. If you cross Chrissie Hynde at her scruffiest with Helena Bonham Carter at her craziest and put Moaning Myrtle's head on top, you won't be far wrong!

But thank you for imaging me as a better version of myself!

Eyebrow pencil.

Bright lipstick - and the right shade of red or pink can make your teeth look whiter too.

Leather biker jacket with a nice scarf.

Big sunglasses

I'm late 30s