What are your tips for feeling polished and confident?

[wtar19]

I know confidence is about more than appearance (and I'm working on that too) but I'd be grateful for any grooming tips that make you feel confident in yourself?

I've recently started a new job in London and I feel so out of my depth. I don't have natural style and don't even really know what my style is!

Any help much appreciated!

Congratulations on the new job.
Re style. It is keeping it simple and then when you feel more confident you can develop your style bit by bit.
A good hair cut and colour. Find a well recommended salon and go there. Take a picture. But choose style that is easy to care for.
Good, clean, bright skin. Much easier said than done! Keep make up minimal. A good cc creme (I use erborian) not cheap but v good and lasts ages. Blusher. A lipstick (Clinique chubby sticks are good and a brighter one really lifts the face). Mascara. That’s it! I find tinted eyebrows and eyelashes really help too. I have mine find st a salon.
Short shaped nails in a soft pink and wear lots of hand cream to keep your hands soft.

And posture. Very important. Stand tall. Imagine there is a hook coming out of your chest and lifting you up. This tends to realign the top of the body rather than the forced shoulders back look. If you do it often, eventually your body will do it on its own accord.

Smile and say hello to everyone.

For me it’s my skin and making sure that looks as good as it can.

And for me, the things that really impact that are drinking a fuck tonne of water, wearing decent retinol and Factor 50 every day. And going to the gym at least 5 times a week.

I do all the other things (I’m into beauty and clothes) like regular facials, good and regular hair cut and colour, eye brows groomed, well chosen subtle make up (and sometimes less subtle if I feel like it), no raggedy hems or heels, I iron everything etc etc but none of that counts for me if I feel out of shape / untoned and if my skin looks sluggish. It’s polishing a turd otherwise!

Disclaimer- I am not stylish!

Go through your clothes and plan outfits, as in, this pair of trousers with either top a, b or c, and then shoes x or y, and then which jewellery/handbag/coat with each combo. Will make dressing for work quicker.

I feel more polished if I've had my nails done, I get a neutral shade gel polish every other week. I also find it easier to look good if I've had my hair cut recently.

I spend the bulk of my "face" budget on face cream and foundation, pretty much everything else can be cheap brands without making a massive difference, but good face cream and good foundation do seem to make a significant difference for the money.

Perhaps look on the "expensive" threads for ideas - its advocating a rather classic upper middle class look, which can be a bit too boring for many on here, but at least can give a good idea for basics.

Being thin. If I'm a 10, I feel great. A 12 and I just don't feel as confident and dress to disguise, rather than dress how I want. Not true for everyone but it is for me.

What Ruggy said. Being thin.

Clothes hang better and look so much more "polished" on me now I'm an 8-10, compared to when I was a 12. Little things, like being able to tuck a crisp white shirt into skinny trousers and not have a belly to worry about, make a huge difference.

On that "thin" theme, I found when a bit squishier, clothes hung better when i wore shapewear to smooth out. Not the super firm shapewear that pulls you in half a dress size, but the light hold shapewear that just smooths the line under clothes, so no lumps or bulges. (Slips under dresses work well for this.) It does make cheap clothes look good on an untoned body.

What Halftermcoming says. Plus get your eyebrows threaded - it's surprising what a difference it makes.

A haircut is the most important thing, though. Watch a few makeovers on YouTube - it's always the haircut that transforms the woman, not the clothes.

Choose your outfit the night before. Always.
Good shoes and bag.
Never leave home without CC cream, mascara, blusher. Lippy in my bag.
Hair cut into a good style or hair you can tie up nicely.
Blazers, several of them. Black, have our cream dresses or separates for underneath them.
Best of luck!

Sorry, that should say black, navy or cream separates

The right shoes is key.

I wear one colour all over to look taller. I’m 5’6” which is ok but to look as confident as I feel I find appearing tall is a confidence booster.

Tailored clothes that fit you perfectly are also a much better look.

You can buy off the peg but put your own darts in to get a better fit.

I’ll fitting and creased clothing looks horrid. I often buy trousers a size larger but put darts in the waist (I have a small waist anyway) but it gives a better look.

Have two bags. A large tote for all your stuff but a small, stylish bag that holds your essentials that can be carried to lunch or meetings so that you’re not lugging masses of stuff everywhere you go.

Hairspray- keep your hair in place. Not a rock solid helmet but a soft hold.

Make sure everting is ironed well.

A few weeks ago a new friend told me that I am a really confident person. I then went for an interview for a job after being a SAHM for 10 years and I was offered it on the spot.

I was a bit shocked by both of these things because I am quite scruffy and too lazy to put massive efforts into how I dress etc. I also do not think I am very confident at all.

I think what people pick up on is that a) I am always myself. I am authentic whether you like that or not. I am never going to be fake. I think people pick up on the fact that I am happy with being myself. b) the way I walk. I walk with my chin up and smile at people all the time because I love it when they smile back. I am also very happy to chat to people anywhere and everywhere.

I've realised that confidence is not about slap, clothes and stuff. You have to get it from within. It is ultimately about accepting yourself and being happy with what you have got.

Psycho has nailed it above. That’s the key.

In terms of actual beauty etc. I’ve found that if I feel polished from treatments then I feel way, way more confident, and I hardly wear makeup now either. I had my eyebrows done (semi-permanent makeup), I get eyelash extensions, I have Botox and lip filler. It sounds high maintenance but I actually save a load of time and don’t think about my appearance that much because of it. I take really good care of my skin and focus on that. A good hair cut is a must too.

Clothes-wise I prefer classic and use accessories for colour or trend instead.

Lots of water, low-carb and a daily run also make me feel amazing (and I care less about what the scale says as a result).