What is it that makes someone look wealthy / polished?

[goingtothe]

Piggy backing onto the thread a few weeks ago about what looks 'common / tacky'.

It's a mystery to me - for instance I know someone who just looks so elegant and wealthy and it's effortless and interestingly carries a logo'd Louis Vuitton bag which was unanimously voted as tacky on here. But on her, it looks great and chic.

Do you know the vibe I mean, an inner confidence / calmness paired innate style!

On paper I could and should be polished but frankly I look disheveled (at best).

@Someone9

sincerelyjules.com

I think Olivia Palermo used to be a fashion queen but she's not as relevant anymore & I know of Alessandra but think the outfit looks dreadful. Agree though re liking different things

Smartly dressed, attention to quality footwear - no crocs, jellies or sliders.

Nice watch, handbag, short painted nails.

Nice hair and teeth.

Also helps if you have a nice car, but not everyone will see your car. I don't plough all my money into cars so I will never get that "expensive look"

This blogger is good at looking put together & modern. Again though she normally has very expensive bags/shoes/coats.

Going by all the pictures....sunglasses are a must. Though in cloudy Britain they might not achieve the desired effect. They would just look ridiculous.

Sincerely Jules (partcularly @toodlesmoon's pics) is kind of slightly my style then- or at least how I look in my head until look in the mirror and realise I'm much older and fatter

Thank you for the link, I'll enjoy having a good browse. It's like House Beautiful but clothes!

same! 🤣🤣

White Scarfs ? In every TV series the undercover cop just wears a white scarf to look mega rich .
Otherwise as said thin ,blonde and softly spoken wearing their grandpapa's old clothes - oversize suit,fishing hat,dungeress with wellies .etc .
And they pay by cheque in the local greengocers / bakery .

I had an appointment in central London today and my bus took me through Chelsea, Belgravia and Mayfair. So good for people watching.

There was one woman on a lovely looking bike - teeny tiny/ French looking, very dark hair in a bun, loose patterned trousers and big sunglasses. She looked so chic.

And another family walking along - granny, Mother and son, all blonde, can't remember what they were wearing but neither were very slim or had good posture but they still just gave off the wealthy vibe.

I now think there is no secret - it's just that if you are rich, you look it! Perhaps due to wearing very good quality and being confident!

I’m described as such OP. For me, decent jewellery, bags and shoes are part of it but it’s also about staying in shape, looking after my skin and being polished. My wardrobe ranges from GAP kids to Valentino so it’s not necessarily about having plenty of cash though that helps. As a senior woman in the city, it’s important that I look the part and I take it seriously. That said, at weekends and downtime, you’ll be just as likely to find me in cashmere joggers and a hoody!

Cashmere joggers and a hoodie 🤣

Yep me too! 🙈

@GeorgianaD you're probably one of the people whose style I admire when I'm at work as my office is in the city (obviously not there much these days)

I always feel like I look young for my age (not in a good way) so I really like your point about dressing the part.

I theoretically have the basics - slim, good teeth and skin, hair is nothing special so I usually just tie it up. Just lacking in motivation / effort to look nice.

goingtothe Believe me, I am sure I would be as inspired by your youthful style as you might me by mine.

Hair, teeth, shoes, jewellery. And there's something indefinable about not looking hard.

Hair (Well cut, discreetly coloured), good shoes (nothing blingy): Ferragamo v Jimmy Choo, understated jewellery - pearl stud, diamond stud, good rings, no tats.

new use for traditional Hermes scarf

We are presently in a nice part of Cornwall. There is something incredibly unchic about misshapen feet/unions regardless of the price of the flip flops or Chelsea Tractor.

for me, simplicity. Natural fabrics (linen/ silk/ cashmere), neutral colour palette, no garish brand names, well cut and styled hair, groomed nails and eyebrows, not too much make up or fake tan. Sort of well groomed but natural.

For me a couple of things jump out:

Slim limbs - top / jacket / blazer cut at 3/4 length to show slim arms and wrists or trousers / jeans cut to show slim ankles - always looks good. I love this look but in practice it makes me cold and I hate wearing 3/4 length things. I wish I liked it.

People always say good hair cut - this is bollocks if you can’t style it. My hair only looks good after a professional blow dry. So I have turned into one of those ladies who has a ‘weekly blow dry’ and although I can afford it it feels like a big extravagance so I don’t spent much on cut / colour. The blow dry makes more difference than anything for me. I am slim, tall, good skin etc but if my hair looks crap nothing looks good.
I’m also very lazy about clothes but the hair can save me!

Not keen on any of those @toodlesmoon

I don't like anything fussy so plain but stylish eg the shoes in the second pic are a no no for me

I think a beige trenchcoat does look good as does that sort of colour generally or wearing all one colour can look chic

I think tidy hair makes a big difference

I have curly hair and fear I can never look polished unless I straighten it

Oh I have the “ more dash than cash book”! It was my staple in the 80’s”

The ones time I looked like this was about 6 years ago when I lost so much weight I was 6 stone. Honestly I have good skin and hair and teeth and nails etc But I had a huge thigh gap and I looked stunning. Really stunning. But literally a cheap £3 white t shirt -tucked in and belt with jeans and flip flops. I looked amazing. I am trying to get back there. Already lost 1/2 stone and just 4 more to go............ it was a complete circle though, I looked good so I felt good and my confidence was high and round it went.

Six stone? I’m a petite woman myself but six stone sounds positively tiny. I doubt you looked as good as you think. Slim always better than too thin.

Losing four stone, if you are now ten stone (I'm guessing), is a lot!

Confidence in yourself

I agree you don’t want to be trying to get to 6 stone, that’s crazy talk.

I think it tends to come down to:

Being blonde (mostly)
Being slim
Wearing pale or neutral colours (mostly)
Leather, linen and cashmere

I am not saying that any of these are 'better' but that is what I observe.

Slim, with well applied natural looking makeup and good hair that is not over styled but shiny and healthy looking.

Simple but well cut clothes in good quality materials but with a feel of individuality like an interesting piece of jewellery or fabric.

For real chic - go to France! We have been to Biarritz a few times on holiday and I was blown away by the women. It wasn't so much that they look polished - many of them managed to look like they weren't wearing any make up at all - but they still managed to exude simple, natural elegance.

There are loads of threads on MN about French style. Also some good Youtubers (can't remember any names) who talk about French elegance.