What makes someone look / seem classy?

[scruffyandlockeddown]

Not rich / expensive (although those threads are a great read).

But that more intangible serene class / grace / elegance?

Good way to remember. I use that too.

@Janegrey333

Good way to remember. I use that too.

@ MedusasBadHairDay

It's actually just dull I think. Safe.
I was just about to say the same thing. I always feel boring when I wear my classic outfits. I think taking a simple, well made outfit and then try adding a bit of drama works better. I wear red framed sunglasses with my camel coat and Bretton top as an example but sometimes I get it so soon wrong, I look far from classy

Height, thinness, willowy . . . I agree that that is how we have been trained to see things.

Also agree it essentially comes down to money: money for childcare so you are not frazzled all the time. Money enough to not have a furried brow with worry. Money so you are less stressed. Money to not have to use public transport, carrying a big rucksack with spare clothes, nappies, toys, water, snacks and umbrellas and rainwear. Everything is in your massive car and you only need carry a smile and the keys as you ethereally stride about in your delicate elegant leather shoes and light down coat. Or you are rich And lucky enough to live locally and only need a few steps or one tube stop to that lovely playground and cafe, not three uncoordinated buses within tour borough.

So we shouldn’t stress about not looking classy, it is one more thing to stress about, and thus look less stressful. Be warm and happy and the inner glow will find you.

Type : So we shouldn’t stress about not looking classy, it is one more thing to stress about, and thus look less “classy” or chic or elegant.

And no great expressions, nonpursing or tensinh when you speak - keep your facial muscles gentle and smooth, nonchalant and either bored or innocently smiling.

I tend to over-emphasise emotions when I speak so I can never look classy, even when Dressed in a nice coat and with shiny hair. Smiling too much and expressing empathy too much ruins the effect I suppose.

I think the way people hold themselves and walk give a good idea of someone. Also the way they speak, not necessarily accents, but just the language they use.

@PamDemic

There's a lot of snobbery on this thread.

I think that classy is pretty dull actually, but it's easy to look classy if you are tall and slim. Not fake boobs, thick beetle eyebrows or loads of makeup. Not talons or fake nails. Not tight skirts/stillettos/clingy tops. Not maxi dresses. Not joggers and trainers. (which rules me out at the moment).

Its just understated elegance. Pearl earrings, good hair, good accessories and reasonably smart. I think spending as much as you can on things you wear all the time - coat, bag, shoes, hair cut, jewellery - helps. It can still be jeans, but would suggest straight jeans, with a good pair of shoes and cashmere. Nice coat or jacket.

It's actually just dull I think. Safe.

So you’re saying there’s a lot of snobbery on the thread - is that because of the comments around particular looks that are deemed not ‘classy’ (eg fake tan)? It seems odd, then, that you’d be critical of people who do dress in the way you describe and say their style is ‘dull’ and ‘safe’. Seems like you’ve just been as judgemental of that style as the posters you’ve criticised for being ‘snobs’ about another style?

Correct me if I’ve misunderstood what you’re saying though.

I can always tell a fake tan Vs real tan. Mainly it's because of the telltale orangery tint, but even for the fake fans which have a green undertone to neutralise the orange, they still look false. It's because the fake tan creates a telltale matte finish to the skin.

Occasionally, people who are naturally very olive skinned can achieve a more natural looking fake tan, but I have never seen it look authentic on fair skinned people.

TBH I don't really notice what people wear unless it is inappropriate for the situation or the weather.

For example:
One woman turned up for an interview at work wearing flip flops. The interviewees had to walk through the office and her footwear was all people could talk about.

A teaching assistant at DD's primary school was always immaculately turned out. On a field trip to a local reservoir with muddy footpaths she wore high heels. That was all the children could remember of her that day.

Camel colour makes me look like a ghost. Doesn’t matter what the garment is, I tend to opt for navy blue instead.

Me too @AdoraBell.

What is it with some "fashionable" people who think that one colour suits all?

TBH camel coats always make me think of the Kray twins and other gangsters.

@PamDemic

No not at all. I just don't see why it's held up as the pinnacle of ambition and style to dress in a classy way as though it's much better than anything else and people are sneering at high heels and fake tan.

My personal view is that anyone can wear what they want and my personal view is that what is seen as classy (camel coats and the like) aren't very interesting. But I'm not going to judge anyone if they wear a camel coat. Or a pair of high heels. Or whatever on the school run.

It seems hypocritical to accuse others of being ‘snobs’ for their personal views on things they think are ‘classy’ or ‘not classy’ and then in the same comment make your own criticism of a certain style (classic clothes are boring/safe/not interesting). Either all criticism of style is game, or none of it is

I've just got your name @AdoraBell.

Always takes me a while.

Manners and cashmere

I'm loving julia Roberts at the moment. Yes, she's got money, but so many with money just don't have the elegance or the poise.

Classy and elegant are different things. They do tend to go together though.

I think classy is in the main being appropriately dressed for activity and weather, seeming comfortable in your own skin and surroundings, holding yourself well, calm. Polite, well mannered, good grasp of social norms and etiquette.

Don't have big boobs

I don't Amrapaali and still don't look classy.

Ach sorry Gin Maybe go the other way and invest in padded bras? Might make a difference!!

I'm only partly kidding- our body and how we inhabit the physical space aroind us determine our grace and elegance I think. So posts highlighting posture and tall willowiness may have a glimmer of truth...

I rock a J cup bra...So although I am Zen-like and deliberate in my movements (partly necessitated by having to reduce the jiggle ) I still feel how I walk or hold myself is dictated by my boobs

Someone who has an athletic build may move or hold themselves differently (softer slower) when they go up bra sizes? It's not far fetched no? I'm probably talking crap this Thursday morning

I am of Caribbean descent so I have a big butt and big boobs for my frame. I never feel classy as even with a fairly reasonably neckline my boobs look massive and my best friend is very straight up and down and slender and looks better in every dress.

She says I look ‘sexy’ but sometimes you don’t want to look sexy you want to look classy and for some reason I never do.

@Babyyodasmacarons I feel your pain as I too have a big chest & hourglass figure basically, whatever I wear I can't hide it.

But who decides who is classy & who isn't anyway?

To be fair though I like pink & I wouldn't be seen dead in a camel wool coat.

@Terralee That’s very true, I was looking at some old school Hollywood actresses after I read the post that said cleavage wasn’t classy. They are all curvy and showing cleavage and look classy (well I think they do anyway!)

I love colour and print too but apparently if you’re not wearing black, white, grey, camel or navy you’re terribly cheap and in classy. Also no prints except maybe stripes. 😂😂😂