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?

Wow op you have changed your life!!!! Well done!!!

My bf buys all her clothes in Tesco and Sainsbury's and looks amazing. She has a strict pallete of beige taupe khaki navy and cream etc. Don't buy anything bright go for muted always.

Do check Trinny and Susanna guide for dressing to your body shape to give you an idea.

And also check the season colouring charts. They divide people into summer/spring/autumn/winter and gives you the colours that flatter you most. They make you look healthier!!!

Regarding clothes, you can always have basics from a cheaper shop and search for a few nice pieces in second hand market. Check the idea of minimalist wardrobes. Less clothes but well thought of.

I think this lady looks polished and she has pink hair.

Lots of great advice here! I have odd bits from supermarkets in my wardrobe. One of my favourite dresses for a good couple of years was from Tesco. It was simply cut and fitted me well. Always complimented in it.

My only other tip to add would be to look after your shoes. Polish regularly, cover any scuffs (a sharpie can ‘colour in’ the greyish parts of the leather they show though) and then polish over and buff. Get shoes heeled too. Nothing looks worse than worn down heels. Going to an independent cobbler is much cheaper than a big chain and will cost much less than a new pair.

Oh- and make sure you get all sticky labels off the bottoms of your shoes too. A baby wipe gets off a lot of residue!

I do a LOT of online browsing. I have a good idea of what suits my body shape and which colours flatter me and I've become quite choosy about what I buy. I will only keep something I LOVE.

I also plan my wardrobe a lot and have a spreadsheet of things I need/want, and it also helps me keep track of my spending. To be fair my style is quite classic so I wear things for years on end. I don't buy fast fashion.

If I spot something online that I like the look of, I put it in my spreadsheet and watch it a while to see if there's a price reduction or a code. Sales do come around quite regularly.

I also browse out of season, eg I bought a winter coat in July from last winter that was 70% off. I have been known to buy sandals in February. Online shopping really makes this feasible.

Over the course of a year my clothes spending averaged at £80 a month. I don't colour my hair but do get regular cuts. I don't spend a penny on nails, brows etc, I do it all myself. So I don't consider myself to be very extravagant.

I think if you are mindful and avoid impulse buys you can get some great pieces that will last for years.

Oh and iron everything! I really think it makes a difference (it's also when I'm ironing that I spot loose buttons, small holes etc and repair them asap).

@yakj67 I love that look - very simple pieces that are not too tights that's a great guide pic

Can I add my congratulations to those already given. 💐 Well done for taking positive steps towards your goal. Yes, it is perfectly possible to look well put together on a budget and I completely agree with the poster who advised avoiding stripes and patterns which don't match up.
I'm 5-61/2 and 11-7 (gave up sugar/coffee) and now wear 14 bottoms and 16 tops.
I shop at Primark a LOT and H&M too. Invest in good well fitting bras from Bravissimo (older with 5 kids) and packs of white cotton nix at M&S. Prefer plain to patterned clothes, no flounces.
As has been said, M&S trousers/chinos at £19.50 are a good choice and come in different lengths. I bought navy and grey regular in tapered leg ankle grazer which you can fold down or long which you can turn up twice. Good with heels, loafers, ballerinas or trainers...any footwear really.
Look out for their 25% off offers. I paid £14.50 for mine last week.
White shirts are always a good look and I have several from Primark in slightly different styles. George at Asda used to do some good tops.
Pick something with a bit of structure to highlight your good points. I avoid high necks as I feel choked. Like Vs or open neck shirts.
Primark can be good for jeans if you get the right fit. I take their 16 in skinnies, 14 in looser cuts. Nothing ripped, they look awful IMO.
Dark denim can take any colour top.
Glittery diamanté buttons on shirts, cardies and jumpers are the Autum/Winter trend and you can always change buttons when the trend ends.
A capsule wardrobe with pieces which go with all the other pieces is best, not only for those on a budget. You can have fun with neck scarves, quirky jewellery, coloured belts etc.
I hate paying full price for anything so look for sales in fav shops and use Quidco and Topcashback to get a bit extra too.
Well fitting comfy underwear is key to clothes hanging well and you won't be fiddling with straps or VPLs.
Write a list of colours and styles which suit your frame and be fussy about fit, back and front.
Best wishes to the new you. 💐

A good haircut shows. I home colour mine but have flashes and cuts done every 6 weeks alternately at local salon.
Nails and all else I do myself. Brows are fair and I colour with a bit of hair dye on an old clean mascara wand or cotton bud...very carefully.
I certainly don't spend £80 per month.

@captainflash
I agree with your post re shoe care but love to know where to get shoes re-heeled cheaply but well. My charity shop F&F tan suede ankle boots (£4) cost me £11.50 to be done locally.

Lacura at Aldi is great skin care.

@LoisLane66
Look for an independent cobbler rather than a chain such as Timpsons. In my town, we have a couple hidden in weird places. They’ve been there forever. One is in an arcade behind the main shopping street and the other is in our permanent market spot. They’re both much cheaper than a chain.

The other thing I have done in the past is take my boots on holiday to somewhere I know there’s a cheap one! My sister lives in the south west with a really cheap one by her. I’ve taken them with me to be done before!

There's an independent cobbler near me who can fix anything. I discovered him when Timpsons told me they couldn't do anything with some boots with moulded heels but this chap just sliced off the worn bit and replaced it with a new rubbery bit all blended in to match. He has also reheeled my daughter's ugg type boots that she loved but wore through within weeks of buying (no ugg judgement, she's five) and has stretched several pairs of brogues that were half a size small. Next time I'm in town I'm bringing him a leather handbag where the straps have started to tear where they attach to the bag. None of the repairs were more than a tenner (usually less). He is a treasure.

Has anyone mentioned buying a bobble shaver? I love mine. I like natural fibres but they do tend to pill and my bobble shaver keeps them looking new.

That's a really good idea evilharpy. I've got loads of clothes which would look better if I had one of these. Also, those sticky roller things which get cat hair off your t shirts.

Independent cobblers are fantastic. The one we go to has rescued so many things I would otherwise have had to replace. He's saved us hundreds of pounds.

Thank you Oopsadaisydoddle

@captainflash Thanks. It was an independent I went to in Guildford Surrey. I'll have to keep on looking for a cheap repair shop. 😟👍

I think dressing well and looking polished can definitely be done on a budget.

Charity shops are a fantastic way to get great brands at low prices and also check out local car boot sales, especially if you live in a middle class/wealthier area. Look for stalls of people that are having a clear out rather than stalls of traders; usually these sellers just want rid of things so sell it really cheaply. I recently got a leather trimmed shirt by The Kooples and black blouse by & Other Stories for 50p each at a boot sale.

George at Asda is a really good place to buy basics; I wear their skinny jeans which are only £10 a pair and they're brilliant. I also have a couple of premium branded jeans which I got from TK Maxx; one pair is by 7 for all Mankind and the other is by Frame Denim. Oh and I also have an Acne Studios pair of jeans that were £3 in a charity shop.

I've never particularly got into the expensive skincare and make up thing; I currently like Nivea Skincare, and ELF and Revolution make up brands.

The only thing I have splashed out on is a Mulberry Bayswater bag, but I got it for about two thirds of the usual price from a Mulberry outlet. Most of my other stuff is either from charity shops, TK Maxx, Primark, Asda, occasionally New Look or Topshop, or even Shein more recently.

Iron your clothes

Make sure your eyebrows are ‘done’ - changes your entire face (as I found out to my peril during lockdown!)

Totally agree with pp re buying higher end labels second hand on eBay, in charity shops etc. If I buy cheaper brands, I often customize them to fit me better - helps if you have a sewing machine but can be done by hand too, and it takes some practice but can make a real difference.

This is a great thread!

I buy my jeans from Matalan. I might be slim (size 8-10) but at 45 i have a mum tum like many, but the Matalan jeans i buy are high waist and include elastane. Love them! I love floaty floral tops and Wallis have stunning ones. The come between the waist and hips And look classy.

I wear makeup everyday. I like it. Dont buy expensive stuff. Loreal foundation and No7 powder. Other stuff is Primark etc. Superdrug have a great range.

Oh i got a black Principles coat from Debenhams few weeks ago for £27.50. Half price or near enough. Very warm and similar to the North Face one. Looks nice with anything . Have a look, great sale on ATM

When you're out and about have a little kit, hairbrush, nail file, powder/blotting sheets etc. I can quite often leave the house looking fine but half way through the day I've clicked my tights on a snagged nail or I'm a shiny mess.

Don't actually do this but I keep thinking I should.

My tip is to actually wear the clothes you buy! - I buy something - wear it a few times then forget about it and find it a year later......

My other tip is to only use colour safe washing powder - so clothes don't fade and do not tumble dry things with lycra or elastic as they go baggy.