Looking polished on a low income. How?

[ghostmous3]

I read with interest the thread on looking wealthy and polished and i dont think it's something I'll ever be able to achieve on minimum wage 🤣

Is it however something you can achieve on a much lower wage. I dont particularly want to look wealthy so much just polished and as I can only afford to shop high street and I'm really thinking primark, TU, Asda sainsbos new look and the like.

I'm 43 now and after all my life being obese and in horrible relationships I'm finally down to my target weight of 11.5 stone and I'm five foot 7 and I also look after my eyebrows these days, something i never did. You could see my eyebrows coming round the corner first they were that bushy 😄

My hair is home dyed, it's very dark purple and its boob length and I love it but it does need a cut I think.

So is it possible to look half decent and polished on a low income and wearing stuff from the high street?

I have to look polished for work but don't have the budget, it's very image focussed.

I do home gel nails and buy lots on eBay (Cos, Reiss, Other Stories, Arket). I also look for leather jackets and wool coats on there and in charity shops.

I always do my hair and make up and try and look neat and tidy. I think I fake it quite well. Hope so anyway!!

I tend to keep my colours neutral, so everything tones ok.

Well done on your incredible weight loss!

For the love of God, never buy anything cos you think it makes you look posh. Buy stuff you like, it's the only way to feel good, and thus look stylish.

Don't be too neat - it's very easy to look air stewardess rather than K-Mid. You have a good figure so you can do casually undone, which is the key to looking claaaaassy these days.

Thing is, a lot of people think the smart rich middle class look - adorably tousled - is messy. That one's up to you, but whatever you want to look like, it remains true is that 100 per cent effort tanks and 95 per cent effort works.

If you can afford supermarket clothes, you can afford Stories, Cos, Hush and John Lewis in the sale. Same price if not cheaper. Ditto shoes - plastic is ok now, but cheap white gym shoes are better than almost all 'court shoes' which are wildly dated.

When in doubt, leave it out - take one thing off before you leave the house if you've jewelled up.

Hair - you never take it off and so forking out tends to be more worth it.

No one looks good carrying a crumply Sainsbos bag. I should know, I'm always forgetting the sodding tote that really does make one look better.

Work out what shape and colour suit you ( mine is dresses that show my waist (Fit and flare) and blues/turquoise’s). This should make it so much easier to buy new clothes when you need to - wherever they come from.

I aim for one Item coloured with the rest Neutral in an outfit e.g. a blue jumper with a black skirt, tights and bag. This way you still get to be bright but without looking like you fell in a toddlers wardrobe.

Match bag and shoes e.g. tan, navy or black. Get a good, wool coat. eBay is a great place to look.

Make sure that the clothes you do buy fit. You’re not going to feel comfortable in a pair of trousers that are a bit big or small, or a skirt that keeps riding up or falling down.

If you like the colour of your hair - keep it! Just make sure that it’s well looked after. If it’s straggly, have it cut into a style you can easily look after. If you don’t have the time/energy to blow dry/straighten/curl it then find a way of putting it up that works for you.

Keep your nails short and clean. Don’t paint them unless you’re prepared to redo them as soon as they start chipping. If you wear make up find a foundation that matches your skin tone - And a lipstick/tinted lip balm that suits you. Foundation, mascara and lip colour make a big difference and are quick to apply.

My fashion rule (for myself) is never buy clothes to cheer myself up.
If I'm feeling shit/unhappy/angry or treating myself if I'm skint then that item only reminds me how down I was when I bought it .

If I really like it , walk away 24 hours then go back . (Actually the 24 hours is good anyway to prevent impulse buying )

I honestly think being squeaky clean, smelling lovely and fresh and having your hair and make-up immaculate are the main things. Yes, clothes are important too but beautifully applied make-up and well-groomed hair (think sleek ponytail) do so much. Lipstick alone is a game changer.

I’ve had mornings when I’ve woken up feeling like crap and by the time I’m showered, perfumed, coiffed and made up, I feel like a million bucks.

Covid has really destroyed my routine & I can’t fit in to half my clothes any more from all the over-eating !!

No visible bra straps either. You cannot be elegant with a polyamide strap peeking out.

Posture is very important, very rarely see elegant women head down to the pavement as they walk.

I saw the retired serviceman at the raf museum near Telford, them and their wives stand out with the upright posture & determined walk.

I agree about bra straps & modesty in general. I know skin looks great & sexy but in my opinion, a really polished look has lower hemlines, sleeves etc. Less is definitely more when it comes to looking classy. If only my teenage self with her belly tops & micro minis knew that

@70isaLimitNotaTarget.
That reminds me of when I treated myself to a lovely handbag in the sale, when I was skint and shouldn't have done. I'd been eyeing it up for ages at full price and bought it half price to cheer myself up.
I never used it.
Every time I thought of using it, it reminded me of being skint and it was a luxurious one.
Sold it unused on ebay years later for £25.
What a waste.

There is a wonderful book, written in the 50’s, called An Guide to Elegance’. It’s very old fashioned and hilarious in parts but does have some tips that stand the test of time and don’t necessarily need to cost you a fortune. It’s a gem if you can pick up a reasonably priced second hand copy

Thanks @WhataCant

Some hairdressers will do a wet cut and then blow dry your hair so that it isn't styled but not dripping wet. You can save about £20 by not having it blow dried.

As for clothes have a look at the sales and buy some key pieces. For example I got some jeans from Marks and Spencer for £12.50.

@WhataCant, who wrote it?

@MikeUniformMike Geneviève Antoine-Dariaux

Sorry, I mean't to say not a PROPERLY blow dried

Oh bugger. I've ordered a different one.

French author, published in the 1950s, same title...
Oh well, I'll know what colour stays and gloves to wear.

Coats and jackets are a short cut to looking put together.

Given you sound slightly alternative a traditional blazer may not work for you, but biker style linen or cotton jackets should.

The Tu biker jackets are all faux leather which could look dodgy or could look fine, hard to tell from a photo.

Or this could be thrown over anything:-

tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk/p/Black-Revere-Collar-Longline-Jacket/137081850-Black?searchTerm=:newArrivals&searchProduct=

Or Zara has some great inexpensive coat options, I’ve got a few from there :-

m.zara.com/uk/en/lapel-collar-coat-p05070626.html?v1=51727960&v2=1549217

Good skincare. Lots of people swear by Aldi's products (called something like Lacuna or Lacura?)

Sorry OP but I would get rid of the purple dyed hair, I think red and purple dyes look very cheap.
Clothes wise - stick to plain block colours & neutral palette. you can get these things at H&M/ Primark/ supermarket. black boots or plain white sneakers.
Clean neat fingernails and keep your hair brushed and styled.

Yes, H&M are way better than Primark,shop there,M&S jeans and jeggings are great,i always buy mine there.Ive a cream faux suede coat from H& M which i paid £35.99 for washable, looks way more expensive.

You can dye your hair at home,i use nice and easy mahogany,truly people think i have it done professionally.i persuaded a friend to try doing hers blonde during lockdown and
her hairdresser complimented her on the colour.

Skincare i admit i do spend more on,Elimis being a fav,but you get it cheaper on QVC, and i do find the Revolution super strength 0.5% retinol rose hip serum only 9.99 is fab.

I think avoiding acrylic is key.

I agree with so much of what has already been said. I must say, though, that dark purple hair doesn't shout polished to me - and that's obviously a DIY job is the opposite of polished. Maybe go back to your natural color and get some lowlights for a bit of depth?

Congratulations on how far you've come! I haven't read all the posts so sorry if it's been mentioned but I think dressing for your shape is important, before getting pregnant I've always been a pear shaped size 10 and I know what suits and flatters my figure, highlight your best features, e.g my waist is mine, not so much my thighs. Clothes that fit well are important, ignore the size on the label, in some shops I'm an 8, others a 14.
I think clothes in dark colours always look more expensive, find colours that suit you're colouring. eBay is great for bargains but I've had some great buys from cheaper shops like Primark and I always get complimented on what I wear!