How do you look "polished"?

[happytobemrsg]

I was at a toddler playgroup this morning & saw a couple of mums looking so polished & put together. They looked so classy yet they were just wearing jeans, a plain T & sandals, minimal jewellery. Tbf they both had lovely tans as if they had just returned from holiday.

What is the trick to looking so polished? Do you have to spend a fortune? Do you spend money on certain items? What's the secret????

I felt polished yesterday because my hair and skin were behaving and I was wearing a simple dark dress in a colour that suits me and just my watch and stud earrings. Someone said I looked elegant.
Today I look like a sack of crap tied in the middle.

I've lost a bit of weight (the love handles) over the past year through Pilates/running and the one thing that never ceases to thrill me now is that I can tuck my shirts in. This makes me feel instantly well-assembled.

I think good posture helps a lot. It hides a multitude of sins, including cheap clothes and moderate weight gain.

A good line in jackets/coats is helpful. I am never without one or the other, they pull together the most boring of outfits.

Knowing that shapes work for you is really important. No matter how thin I am (or not) I will never wear bodycon because it hides my best points. Also important is accepting the clothes size that looks best on you rather than wearing the one you want to be.

Unfortunately clear skin is another ‘looking polished’ factor. I say unfortunately as someone who developed hormonal adult acne in my 20’s. Finally having treatment though so fingers crossed I’ll be able to tick the clear skin box one day soon.

With makeup I think a ‘you but better’ approach is better than a ‘you with a different face’ one. However I find the skill that goes into doing the latter amazing.

No showing masses of flesh even if you are a size 8.
Avoid the whole flowery/pattern thing much beloved of the High Street in summer.

Wear the right size. If you're a 14, wear a 14, don't squash into a 12 and have a roll hanging over your waistband.

This has been interesting, and I have read most of it. For me, and I'm probably 30 years older than many here, it's all true and none of it is a fixed rule.

Scrupulously clean hair, nails, teeth are rudimentary; we all do that. It helps enormously to have naturally good, moisturised, exfoliated skin, but aiming for a great natural complexion should be rule one. Posture really alters how you view yourself, and how people see you. The dancer's rule; think about the thread pulling you upward from the top of your skull and let the rest of your body follow the natural alignment that follows it.

After that, in my mind, it comes down to personal aesthetic preference. Personally it's a line midway between boho and classic. So I wear sheer blouses, but as I'm over 60, not over naked skin. I will pile on textures in winter, with a colour theme.

I buy basics, spend decent chips on them (great jeans as I wear them six days out of seven; a beautifully fitting down jacket (neutral or contrasty to please yourself, but a colour that works with most of your wardrobe. Current version is navy, but the alternative would probably be orange or olive. Occasion wear is always bought in sales: I always spend more on the things I wear every day. T shirts and jumpers come from Uniqlo and are replaced when they look tired.

The fashion bit comes in the accessories and styling. If your taste is fairly classic, spend the money on shoes and bags,maybe jewellery; if it's not, then buy the most outrageously high fashion things you love and be prepared not to fall in love with anything to recycle your less successful purchases for more than a season. I decided a long time ago that accessories were to be lent to friends (the ones who would return them, dry-cleaned) because those things would be versatile and fit for much longer than a dress. One is never too fat for the right scarf, but having it or being able to borrow it, often salvages a cheap frock for a posh event. But real every day life, that is where to spend the money. If you are going to wear it, or similar, for 300/365, why would you not put most of your clothes budget there? Most of the rest is putting in the grooming time, which is not to be under-estimated.

Bit o' spit on a hanky.

ChristinaMarlowe, there should be a one-liner award of the year for that.

Hi mums, hoping to get some advice. My son is cow milk protein intolerant. He is 7 mo 2 weeks old and is on neocate.i give him fruit and baby rice for breakfast, a snack in the aftermoon and for dinner he has lentils, spinach with vegetables etc. He is on the 0.4 percentile and is a very small baby, the dietician asked me to give him high calorie puddings et to help gain weightl. I yried soy yogury and hes terribly constipated ceying in pain. I will stip2the soy now..anyone has any suggestionsom high calorie puddings i can make or even better buy for a cmpa baby

Good hair, definitely. I had a great cut two years ago and it made me look more chic than I had done in years. My hair is very thick and not naturally sleek, so it’s harder to look polished. I veer between very wavy natural and then making a huge effort and getting a sleek blow dry and colour.

Good skin. I see polished women and their overall maintenance stands out. There are facials and expensive creams there!

The nicest polished looks for me are when the woman looks like she is utterly comfortable with herself. Some polished looks are very controlled, safe and rigid. It’s nice if there is some softness, and personal touches, even if these are minimal.

Shoes and bag too! Unfortunately I love comfortable shoes, and practical bags, as I walk a lot even shopping and cycle etc. These really don’t pass off the polished look. Searching for the perfect comfy/chic shoe and bag!

Slim with well fitting clothes really helps.

I think it’s about habits too. I work with a woman who always looks incredibly elegant. It’s a business environment and she has a uniform, always in knee length column dresses and black or neutral heels. Always in discreet and relatively soft make up. Her hair is always done, but she has mentioned that she’s had the same hairdresser since she was 21. Always smells nice and wears lovely perfume.

She isn’t skinny, probably about 5”2 and a size 16, so it isn’t the tall /thin thing. I think she just knows what looks good, has the self control to stick to it and carries herself with confidence.

To be polished you have to look and be pristinely clean - no one can achieve any semblance of polish if they shower/bathe every other day. Hair must be brilliantly cut very regularly and in impeccable condition - flyaways and frazzled ends are not permitted. Skincare must be an absolute priority - wrinkles are totally allowed but must be supple and well-moisturised. Faux tan can take the edge off any blue in the summer but should be undetectable as false.
I do think polish requires some make up but it must enhance and look natural although a statement lip can look very polished if the rest is minimal.
Fragrance is important too - a light waft up of something grown-up is lovely - a hefty dose of sugary gourmand is far from it.
Clothes need to be tailored/altered to make sure fit is perfect - if jeans are 1cm too long or short all polish is immediately negated.
Looking modern but not too edgy or mega-fashiony is polished.
Great posture
Enough money to maintain high level of grooming.
Time and inclination to do grooming religiously.

@Honeycake50 what were they wearing instead of skinnies?

I'm intrigued about the painted nails not being polished. I always have my short nails painted. I think they look great on me and other people so long as the nails are short and the varnish isn't chipped.

To the posters who don't like painted nails, what is it that you don't like?

BrennieGirl I agree with you - short painted nails look very polished. I use Dior Nail Glow as polish chips immediately on me and Shellac wrecks my nails.

I know nothing of polished, it has no appeal at all.

In my view the only nail polish which fits with this look is clear or neutral

I dispute that it's all about the hair. I get more positive comments about my hair if I let it dry naturally and thus keeping the kinks, than if I blow dry it / straighten it.

I think nice eyebrows and nails also play a factor.

And weight. I rarely feel polished since becoming fat. Controversial I know, but to many people, overweight equals laziness equals unorganised / messy / untidy

I really think a tall, slim body and good posture goes most of the way with the polished look.

I have none of these so I don't even bother. I wear what interests me and I like fashionable stuff, but I'm much more of a glittery converse and heart print/polka dot everywhere kind of girl than anywhere near 'polished'.

I do think nice moisturised sheeny skin and a tan helps as well actually.

I dispute that it's all about the hair. I get more positive comments about my hair if I let it dry naturally and thus keeping the kinks, than if I blow dry it / straighten it.

There are lots of 'looks' that people can try to achieve. 'Polished' isn't the only one - you can look fantastic, and not necessarily be polished.

I prefer bare or nude painted nails over other nail colours. I do think claret coloured nails can look good (assuming no chipping) but when I see women with coloured finger nails it nearly always seems to be a garish blue or coral or lime green which usually doesn't go with the outfit they are wearing and, unless you're on a beach, rarely feels situation-appropriate to me.

Having said that, I've not given enough of a f**k about what other women wear on their nails to really notice, but is thread has made me examine and think through why I prefer bare nails :)

I have Shellac and keep my nails short. I only wear dark grey, navy or claret in the winter. In summer I switch to nudes.

It doesn't have to be expensive, there are moisturisers in Gordon's Chemist that are brilliant and they're £1. Tinted moisturiser is good if you can't go all out with makeup given the timeframe you have to get ready, I agree with the post about the hair colour that suits, again, products don't need to be expensive. You can by Tigi Head shampoo and conditioner on Groupon for something like £5 (don't quote me on that, but I know it's not expensive). Primark has lovely clothes and costume jewellery, actually so does your local Cancer Focus charity shop or Barnardo's. The bargains you will find in there! I've only recently gotten into it, but I shit you not I got a gorgeous Ted Baker jacket that had never been worn, £5! £5!! I nearly keeled over and made her take £20 for it as I just couldn't accept it so cheap, especially given that the money was going to charity.

The most polished woman in my work has an office along from mine.
She's over 60, has natural grey hair which is curly and worn short (bob or shorter) which suits her texture. She sails so she has that light tan, wears little/no make-up and is very slim, but short.

Yes, she's (half) Italian.

She has short coloured nails (shellac in red tones, nether blue etc), worn with a huge vintage man's Rolex with bangles, rolled up shirt sleeves, chinos. Her colour combinations are really inspiring (especially that sage green trouser and light steel blue shirt combo, I've copied that outside work).

And she cycles into work keeping her good shoes in the cupboard.
So groomed doesn't mean dull.