How to look expensive/polished

[SunshineOverStress]

Can we have another one of these threads please? I know there’s not much need what with lock down right now but I want to completely overhaul my style to look classy and will be starting from complete scratch!

What are the key items I would need to get me started?

@Starfish83 so it's not necessarily going to suit you to switch to basic shapes in neutral colours.

I would stick with what you like but refine it where possible so is the tea dress in colours that suit you? is it the best shape on you? etc

Splurge as much as you can on coats, handbags, shoes, sunglasses, a suit, knitwear and one or two classic white shirts and a quality pair of jeans.

Nails, hair, teeth, skin looking good.

If you wear a colour that suits you it’ll look more expensive, whereas wearing the opposite can look cheap. If you’re not sure then ask an honest friend to come shopping with you. Or hold up colours to your face and see if they wash you out or bring colour to it.

White teeth and natural looking makeup. No panda eyes or smudged eyeliners

A good haircut and keep up with colour maintenance. I don’t think there are any rules on length or colour.
Classy handbag.
Eyebrows shaped and coloured but not over the top colour.

Clothes that fit correctly.
If in doubt go up a size.
A healthy diet to give your skin a nice glow.
Plan a few good outfits suitable for your lifestyle and the weather and take photos. Try on different accessories and mix and match what you have in your wardrobe. The photo will remind you of the accessories to wear as it’s easy to just grab a couple of go to items without bothering with your whole ‘look’.

I'm joining too. Was on the very first one and loved it.

Nothing too short or too low.
I think being tall helps.
Good teeth - getting mine straightened.
A decent haircut
Clean nails- ideally nothing too bright nail polish wise.

Ooh love these

My big tip to start is you HAVE to incorporate your personal lifestyle/climate/commute/comfort levels when working out where to focus on.

Otherwise you end up with a wardrobe full of what I’ve heard a stylist call “orphans” - great pieces and look great on but never get taken out the wardrobe?

So you reach for your more “comfortable/practical” stuff but that’s actually where you should be putting money and time to look chic?

Eg loafers and white shirts. They look awesome BUT I commute by foot and public transport in a wet and cold part of the country and don’t want to pay out to clean white shirts (plus I’m a clumsy person and walking obviously makes you sweat )

I got some perfect loafers last summer - they just went on eBay as I’ve not worn them out once! They were comfortable but tbh I prefer the feel of an enclosed shoe.

what actually works for me has been investing in perfect fit plain black jeans, taupe ankle boots, perfect neutral casual trainers, knee length boots ?

I look awesome in blazers and little cardigans but for WFH or library days they’re just too cold. So I get wool fair isle style jumpers off eBay but make sure they’re very flattering in fit and colour.

I’ve heard cashmere recommended on these threads but I’m not a high earner and don’t want the hassle of washing so any time I’ve got a cashmere jumper it’s been too much trouble?

So it’s more of an expensive/classic casual style as that fits my lifestyle and means I can feel great just being out and about (in the days when we were allowed out )

Even the dreaded puffer jacket. A wool coat looks a lot smarter I agree.

However, for cold northern winters you do need a puffer. So I’ve got them in the most flattering cut and colour available and in terms of cost per wear they’ve been a godsend.

Obviously it’s different if you work in a formal posh office role and drive places!

@WardrobeTeddy style orphans is an excellent term! Agree that clothes have to fit your lifestyle - there’s no way I would wear a suit more than a handful of times in 5 years, so I’m not going to invest in one. I do, however, have an excellent line in thermal vests

Also learn how to spot poorly/well made clothes.

I bought a wool burberry coat in camel colour. Expensive but a one off and it ALWAYS gets positive comments, every single year I wear it from both men and women. My Best Buy for last 10 years. I’d rather buy one well cut expensive tailored purchase than lots of H&M

Expensive haircut and colour.

Nails always manicured.

Classy designer sunglasses and bag.

Diamond studs.

Boring clothes.

I am the total opposite of the MN 'expensive/groomed' look!

CaroleFuckinBaskin I’m the opposite too, big hoop earings, bright nails, red lipstick.

I don't know @Lippy1234 I think big hoops, red lips, bright nails (as long as they aren't chipped!) can still look "polished"

I think the absolute biggest thing is clothes that fit (not too tight, not too baggy - no matter what your style is), good haircut, manicured hands.

Leckford As someone sporting just under £30k worth of tattoos I can guarantee I look and am a fuck tonne more expensive than you.

Hair, tits teeth and keep it simple works I think. Nails well looked after. One of the best tips I have is having clothes altered to fit. Really does make a massive difference and gives you confidence which is priceless.

@Ambridgedweller oh dear I'm pretty flat chested so I don't stand a chance then lol

No. It means a good bra to make the most of what you're blessed with.

How about getting a good pair of white trainers. There was a thread a while back about trainers. I think it's important to have some nice comfortable outfits that you feel good in - as comfy clothes are often a bit scruffy (well mine are!).
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/3847710-find-me-lovely-trainers-please
Then you could get some really simple, neutral base clothes - black trousers, some good jeans. Some well-cut tops. Then a few more colourful items that will add colour to your neutral base clothes.
I agree about nails being fairly short and pale pink or clear nail varnish.
I need to do all this too!

• Get your colours done. Makes a huge to your look and saves loads of money. Took me years of wasteful spending to realise grey, burgundy, black and pastels don’t suit me.

• avoid buying prints, go for neutrals in whichever neutrals suit you (eg navy blue, camel, white). Much easier to put coherent looks together and you need fewer clothes if they all go together.

• always accessorise, but not too much at once. Save up for a silk scarf in colours that really suit you, as expensive as you can afford. Same with a bag - as expensive as you can afford.

• work out whether gold or silver suits you more and stick to just one when you wear jewellery.

• statement necklaces are very useful: to make neutral outfits interesting and distract the eye from any bits of you you don’t want attention brought to. They don’t have to be gold or silver - they can be semi precious stones eg turquoise or jade, or beads, resin, wood or glass - but it must be substantial and bold.

Shoes - worth spending money on good leather as long as you look after it. You can buy very good value leather shoes (and bags) in Spain and Morocco. Don’t buy plastic shoes, no matter how tempting.

Clean/tidy nails
Hair styled every day
Nice shoes and handbag make a big difference
Keeping outfits simple and co-ordinated - even just an ironed white T-shirt and blue jeans can look great with some nice boots and hand bag.
Simple jewellery
Spritz of perfume
No heavy makeup

Minimal make up that accentuates rather than hides your natural features.
Clean,manicured nails, short rather than long.
A leather or good quality handbag in a neutral color
A linen jacket for spring/summer
A nice leather jacket
Blazers (think smart casual style, fitted)
A little black dress
Fitted white shirts (get the non-iron type) to wear with , trousers etc
Good quality jeans (straight leg and boot leg cut)
Wedge sandals heels for summer
Chinos in several colours - not baggy
Silk shirts in neutral colours and a couple in a colour that pops
Black heels, ideally leather
A breton shirt
Ballet flats
Neutral lipstick/gloss
A statement necklace
A tennis bracelet
Diamond studs

Try putting together a capsule wardrobe that allows you to mix and match what you buy and get the most out of your wardrobe. Invest in a few solid pieces (handbag, linen jacket, leather jacket, shoes) and buy the rest from high street.

If designer/high end goods are not in the budget right now, take a trip to a fancy area (Kensington, Virginia Waters, Richmond) and visit some charity shops. I have found amazing designer goods there for next to nothing and almost new!

Also, get a good haircut, one that is easy to maintain so you always feel great. And invest in teeth whitening if you are a big coffee/red wine drinker.

Have fun with your new wardrobe!

When I was younger I used to see women I wanted to emulate because in my eyes at least they had something, the X factor. Now that I'm older I don't see many other women like this anymore but I'm not sure what it is, maybe it's me who has changed though.

There is one lady at work though who I think of as expensive and polished. She is older than me, around mid 40s. I'd love to be like her. She's never grumpy, always has a smile on her face and is good at conversations and making other people feel special. She's so nice and confident and she inspires trust. She always comes off as someone who knows exactly what she's doing, never flustered, always calm, good posture.

She has blonde hair with highlights cut into a sleek bob. She wears small stud earrings, a Pandora bracelet with charms in a select range of colours that she always dresses in (I don't think Pandora is necessarily expensive and polished, other colleagues wear them and somehow make them look cheap due to the style of charms and colours chosen, but this lady makes it look super posh), a smart watch, wedding and engagement rings. Her clothes are always professional at work, they look clean, ironed, not worn out, not needing a bit of sewing. She is slim and petite in size and her clothes are never too big or small, they fit well on her. She has a few coats which are structured and have belts. She has a silvery scoop style handbag. Her teeth are straight enough and not white but not yellow either. Her eyebrows are groomed and for make up it looks like she only wears mascara, blusher, lipstick and maybe foundation. She always smells nice.

@Starfish83 I love light grey. All the nice tops I find tend to be in light grey. But after learning about what colours suit me I realised how much grey drained me. That doesn’t mean I chucked away all my gorgeous grey clothes. I kept my favourites & wore them on days when I wasn’t wearing my new bits. Gradually I reached for them less & less. I don't wear light grey or pastels anymore & have found that orange is surprisingly versatile!

I love fashion & clothes & I just want to feel good in everything I wear. I have maybe 8 T-shirt’s, I love all of them. I have 5 thin knit jumpers which are IMO the perfect style & colours to go with my trousers AND over my dresses. I don’t have “basic” things just to fill up my wardrobe. I only wear what I love. Some days I wear dungarees & a lovely T-shirt- not polished by any stretch, but the dungarees make me smile & suit me. They are also the right colour denim to go with all of my T-shirt’s or thin knits. That’s very important when I buy something new - they have to work with everything else I have.

I still like pattern, like you, but again pick colours which suit me. As I’m autumn, I wear lots of leopard print. I also like floral but prefer darker florals which oranges & browns. LOVE polka dots!

Eyebrows really frame the face x