What is the secret to looking glam??!

[ja9r]

Lighthearted

So, growing up I've always admired glam old ladies. And thought- I want to be a glam old lady. Now I'm middle aged and, without fail, look like a dishevelled wreck at the end of each work day.

So what's the secret? What are the ingredients? I'd have thought:
Nice shoes and handbag... earrings, beads or scarf.... good haircut.... make up. But it's not working! Need hair tips and make up tips. Is it lippy? Is that the key?!

Who's got it sussed and can shed any light?

No not glamorous to me either.
It just looks like she’s ‘dressed up’-looks fine, but nothing spectacularly glamorous!

I've read this thread and I am a bit confused as to what you all think is being glam. IMO being this is not about being fat or thin, tall or small. It is not about your shoes or your bag. It is not about being beautiful. It is about a certain look.

Ask yourself who you think is glamorous in the media and film. For me it is Catherine ZJ, Charleze Theron in the Dior advert and Liz Hurley. Then you have the people who started glamour; Elizabeth Taylor, Rita Hayworth. Ava Gardner and Grace Kelly.

I just bumped into one of my friends who I think looks glamorous all the time. She was wearing heels, a wrap round long coat, groomed hair and sparkly earrings. Her makeup was minimal, but enough to have immaculate skin. Lots of attention on the lashes to make them as long as possible. Immaculate nails in nude or dark colour. This was down the shops but she wouldn't have looked out of place on a red carpet.

Citychic no to Botox. Every woman I've seen with it looks odd. Even those with a little. Even those that have had it done well. You can tell.

i love Jane Fonda style in Grace and Frankie, she is 80. always groomed ,perfect hair and makeup ,expensive clothes,Amazing figure. not sure about the work she had done, but she looks phenomenal , maybe it proves her old school workout routine works better than all the HIT fitness that is popular nowadays.

Milliy and darlingShelby

Fair enough.

Agree no to Botox. I really do not know why people think it looks good. It really doesn't. I know someone stunningly beautiful who has just completely messed her face up because she panicked at being 40. One of my relatives has had it done on her forehead and I couldn't look her in the face because she now looks like someone has jumped out and startled Spock off Star Trek.

milliy
Yes,I know what you mean and I agree it can look bad and weird.

But some of the ladies I see, who tell me they've had it done, and done properly, do look fabulous.

I do see others around who have had work done and they have a similar look about them. The trout pout look.
That's not good.

I haven't had Botox and I probably never will, but the ladies who have look great. For now at least.

Yyy to Grace and Frankie, though I'm definitely more of a Frankie! Jane Fonda does that American Preppy thing of slacks or dark straight leg jeans, a brown belt, a shirt with a proper collar and a thin navy jumper. Very Hyannisport. Her shoes are probably Tod's (which look super comfy, I've always wanted some).

But it's a look that needs ironing, and who has the time?

I am confused by all the emphasis on nails on here. Surely as long as your nails aren't actually dirty and witchy looking, that's enough?

citychic

Regarding funny Botox, watched Mission Impossible: Fall out (or whatever) it’s called at the weekend. Tom Cruise looked weird. Sort of Botox round the edges and cheeks/forehead full of filler? So he retained some expression b3ing the idea I think.

There's a lady near me, dresses like a glamorous movie star and must be in her 80's. Always accessorised beautifully, hair very well done, well fitting coordinated clothes.

She doesn't stand out as ott, just carries it off beautifully.

No, I don't think Adele looks glamorous. She just looks 'done up for a do.' Not the same thing at all.

I think it's a combination of good grooming, dressing well and being slim but added to that it's a certain confidence and poise - great posture helps too.

When I think of (modern) glamour, I think of Liz Hurley, Elle McPhereson and Christie Brinkley. All over 50 and looking absolutely stunning. They've all had significant work done but its been done so well it enhances rather than detracts from their looks. Then again, they all won the genetic and financial lottery.

Ta Da!

I think the whole being comfortable in your own skin, ebracing who you are yada yada is a very valid point....but,for me at least,a slick of lippy, good handbag [insert materialistic object of choice] really helps :)

I saw liz Hurley in person opening a shop and she was strikingly glamorous- all glowy, great skin and hair.

It's definitely the hair. It's not all down to the hair but it will make or break a 'glam' look. The most glam women I know don't wash their own hair and I count my grandma in that. A weekly hair or twice weekly hair appointment to get your hair washed and styled takes all the effort out.

Poise, posture and a calm demeanour are essential to the projection of glamour. I don't think hair colour matters at all, but the cut and condition do. Makeup -- enough to look healthy and defined, but no cosmetic statements. A healthy, supple body with weight and height in proportion, that exudes innate well-being based on a good diet and regular exercise. Excellent dentition. Anyone can do most of these with self-discipline and regular maintenance. The glamour element demands a very visual outlook.

Hair, nails, lipstick or gloss, accessories, well dressed.

I don't think you have to necessarily be slim, in fact some of the most glamorous women I know are quite overweight.

I too think being skinny is irrelevant. In fact I think some glamorous women look better heavier e.g. Nigella Lawson and Monica Belluci.

MonicaB is like a goddess.

Yy to glowy skin! How do I get that?!

I do think being slim helps most of us but, as others have pointed out, there are plenty of larger women who achieve a groomed, glamourous look.
Hair is key I think, as well as good teeth, good posture and good skin, whether it's natural or helped along with make-up.
There's often an inner confidence with glamourous women too but, as to which came first-the confidence or the glamour-is very much a chicken and egg question!

I think most glamorous women could never be seen dead in a pair of tracksuit bottoms. If they are seen in them it's usually for going to the gym but to be glamorous you'd have to be done up 24/7 (including when going to the gym) which should be quite exhausting.
Also you would have to have more of a classic style so it's not too obvious that you are always wearing the same clothes over and over again.

I get called glam all the time and I actually take it as a bit of an insult -I used to be called pretty but now in my 40s, it's glam. I always feel like it's one step away from drag.
So I try to tone everything down with cool boots rather than stilettos, nude lip and nails but I think it's my crazy corkscrew hair and the fact I have to wear foundation to cover skin redness etc, tbat gets me labelled glam. Be careful wbat you wish for.

That's a good point, JM.
Thinking about older women I would put on my list...Mariella Frostrup, Felicity Kendal and maybe Joan Bakewell but are they elegant rather than glam?

Thinking on this, I would never want to be labelled glamorous. Stylish, pretty, elegant yes but glamorous to me can be cheap and tacky or trying to hard. Smiling, being happy with your life and Comfy in your own skin radiates a look that can't be achieved with makeup, clothes or dieting to be slim. It's just you .