What makes a woman glamorous?

[WineInTheSun]

Just that really!!
Inspired after a colleague saw me stuffing my mouth with biscuits and remarked ‘what are you eating?! You always look so glamorous and not the type to walk around with a mouthful!’

Made me think am I glamorous?
Always have a full face of makeup on (primer, concealer, foundation, bronzer, blusher, mascara, lipliner and lip balm), hair clean and tied in a high ponytail. Have to wear a uniform to work but opt for the dress with a waist belt option.

So what to you sets a woman aside as glamorous?
I’m secretly complimented as I have a crush on said colleague but also wondering if it means he just sees me as a Joan Collins impractical Dynasty type so not such a compliment

[PerfidiousAlbion]

I’ve been referred to as glamorous in the past and I like to think it means ‘done’ or ‘polished.’ For instance, short, manicured nails with a neutral polish, light tan on well moisturised smooth skin, well-applied, natural make up, clean, shiny, well cut and coloured hair and timeless, well cut clothes and accessories.

Of course, there is overblown glamour too in the form of hair extensions, nail extensions, lash extensions and attention grabbing clothes.

Hopefully I’m in the former group but i know a lot of people aspire to be in the latter group (hence the popularity of TOWIE/Love Island looks.

[Aderyn19]

I think it's sophistication - an innate sense of how to dress well and how to present yourself in the most flattering way. There are no loose ends - a glamorous woman isn't covered in cat hair or has chipped nails. It's being polished and having an alluring quality that people can't quite put their finger on as being down to one specific thing.

[GeorgianaD]

I absolutely agree that it’s about sophistication. But it’s also about attitude and how you wear what you have. This is something I’ve learned in the past few years after a bit of a spell in a style wilderness.

[MozziesLoveMe]

Hmm I think it usually implies someone who wears a full face/a lot of make up, big hair/hair extentions, nails done, heels, not flats etc. Always looking "done".

Sophisticated, in my eyes, is effortless style, minimal and classy make up.

I think people often confuse glamour for sophisticated. Not anti glamour btw! I just think they're different things.

[Iamthewombat]

In my eyes looking glamorous isn't a compliment, it smacks of a hard edged desperation i.e. red lipstick on the beach or sky high heels in the supermarket. I really dislike that.

Now we come to it, eh?

Hmm I think it usually implies someone who wears a full face/a lot of make up, big hair/hair extentions, nails done, heels, not flats etc. Always looking "done".

And again.

I have noticed that “Oh, you’re very glamorous aren’t you?”, always spoken by a woman with a disapproving facial expression, is a popular insult levelled at anybody making more than a token effort with their appearance. It translates as, “you look better than me so I’m going to bring you down a peg or two by implying that you are vulgar and obsessed with your appearance, unlike classy old me”

[Jillyhilly]

I’ve honestly never noticed anyone using “glamorous” as a put-down. Then again I work in academia where glamour is woefully rare!

I was thinking about other uses of the word eg a “glamorous lifestyle“ or even as my colleague said recently, “this isn’t the most glamorous way to do research” and it made me think that glamorous does imply a degree of showiness. It’s high-profile and catches the eye in a dazzling, not subtle, kind of way. In my mind glamour requires lots of expensive-looking hair, a face that has that “extremely well taken care of” look on which there is always some make-up, clothes and jewellery that fit the body perfectly and just look expensive. It is a look that sets out to get attention. “Clean hair, good skin and neat nails” doesn’t really cut it.

[Floisme]

I have only ever been called 'glamorous' to my face on one occasion, which I have described a couple of pages back. Yes it was most definitely intended as a put down, although I chose to pretend it was a compliment. The sub text was, 'Still getting dressed up at your age?'

[Iamthewombat]

Keep on flying the flag for glamour regardless, Flo!

[Ninkanink]

Well I’ve been called glamorous many times by various people, male and female, and as far as I could tell in each case it was meant to be a genuine compliment or at least a neutral statement. I never wear a full face of make up (well, once or twice a year, maybe, for parties or events), many times I don’t wear make up at all, even to work, I don’t do anything with my hair other than blow dry it or put it up in a pony tail, and although I did wear heels a lot in that job but the other 50% of the time I wore flats or brogues or trainers. I do dress well, but I keep it subtle. So I think a lot of people do use it to mean elegant or sophisticated or just well put together.

[Jillyhilly]

I think a lot of people do use it to mean elegant or sophisticated or just well put together.

Yes, maybe the meaning has slightly changed to mean “really well-presented” rather than “va-va-voom” (which isn’t exactly how I would summarise glamour but close enough). I still think that the look is expensive, though.

[Penguinsmum]

Watching for tips

[Appleblum]

To me glamorous means looking obviously made up, with big hair, red lips, a hint of sexy. It's a louder look that's markedly different from classy or sophisticated.

[mackthepony]

You can be glam and a bit messy... Boho perhaps. Messy hair, friendship bracelet style

You still have to be slim, gorgeous skin and hair. It requires work

[WhereAreWeNow]

@mackthepony

You can be glam and a bit messy... Boho perhaps. Messy hair, friendship bracelet style

You still have to be slim, gorgeous skin and hair. It requires work

I don't think you have to be slim to be glamorous. Not at all. I know lots of super glamorous women who are not slim.

[WhereAreWeNow]

I've been called glamorous a lot (I don't think I am tbh) and I literally think it just means I always wear make up and perfume and I like a nice handbag rather than a more practical rucksack. I wouldn't read too much into it.
I would guess he means you look nice and well turned out.

[MissAtomicBomb1]

OP I see this thread is over 2yrs old...Did you ever get a date with the guy that said you were glam?!
<misses point of thread >

[FindingMeno]

I got called glamorous this week and it made me feel old.

[OceanbreezeSun]

When I think of the word glamorous, I see a woman with wavy shiny hair, lipstick, cinched in waist, feminine, I guess abit old school Hollywood actress. I know that’s quite specific, but it’s just what I see!

Agree with a pp who said Nigella Lawson as someone being glamorous.

[User2145738790]

@sar302

More importantly, note the negging from said colleague! Glamorous women can't eat a biscuit - bugger off!!

I'm only surprised this wasn't the first reply.

[LunaTheCat]

@Sagradafamiliar

I got called glamorous when I'd just given birth to DS2 😂 (and I wasn't best pleased to have my looks commented on)

It's make up, clean shiny hair, and good posture (in usual non-child bearing circumstances).

Actually I know what the person means. When I did my obstetrics training I would look at a women who had just given birth and every single one shone like the sun - it didn’t matter who . Women look glorious at that moment.

[Angelofthenortheast]

Liz Taylor - sunglasses, tailored clothes, silk scarf, shit loads of jewellery

[Maireas]

Overdressed for every occasion
Blingy
Lots of perfume
Big hair
High heels
Obvious jewellery
Calls everyone "darling"

[Maireas]

@LunaTheCat

Actually I know what the person means. When I did my obstetrics training I would look at a women who had just given birth and every single one shone like the sun - it didn’t matter who . Women look glorious at that moment.

That's really lovely!
However, I would probably say "beautiful" rather than "glamorous".

[Maireas]

@Penguinsmum

Watching for tips

Aaaah!
You've resurrected a 2.5 year old zombie!

[Rina66]

I think it's a compliment to be called glamorous. In a work environment it's sometimes difficult for a male colleague to compliment a female colleague for fear of getting it wrong. If you asked most men what their take on glamorous was, I'm sure they'd say it was complimentary - better than nice, not as creepy as gorgeous and definitely said with intent, good luck OP!