Expensive hair & understated clothes. WTF is it?

[follyfeet]

Was just reading an old S&B thread about 'looking well put together,' not flashy or designer, just everyday casual yet decent clothes. Apart from the stereotypical claptrap concerning Barbour jackets and dog hair, it was a fascinating read!

What I can't get my head around is 'expensive' hair. Wtf is it exactly? Most of us can't help the way our hair grows (thickness, texture, porosity) so how can one alter that? I always imagine this is all quite subjective anyway, but for the sake of sticking to the theme, my very own blonde version of Kate Bush or Helena Bonham Carter (a bit mad, kinky and wild) wouldn't make the cut, lol.

It's all fashion isn't it at the end of the day? Today's preferred expensive hair is most likely Kate Middleton's, but that wasn't always the sought after style.

So what is expensive hair, in your opinion?

And then there's the clothes! Where are these 'well put together' peeps MN'ers speak of buying their togs? I like the idea of understated, which is mentioned often, but no one ever mentions the actual shops. Where are these lovely exquisite chunky knits and other understated items hiding? Most of the higher end high street sucks imo.

Some comments mention wealth or class, but having been surrounded with well off arty types throughout my career I only noticed a lack of make up and a lot of frizz. No one seemed to care.

I am in my early 40's, work in art (painter) and science (geologist), and love yoga, theatre, hiking and architecture, and I dress quite boringly, I think. I spend £150 per year on my hair and buy most of my clothes from superdry or white company (i suit their colour scheme). I don't seem to have a clue about style tbh, but I would like to learn more. Clue me in Mumsnet! I can never find shops with nice things that aren't either country casuals or overpriced cheap rubbish.

@ antelopevalley probably for mature women yes. I don't recall her looking out of place at the funeral.

Lady Louise was the late Queen’s favourite grandchild. I’m sure she wouldn’t have minded about her bare arms. She’s only a girl and a girl who did everything well at a difficult time.

It’s so fake. Why is she not proud of her own natural hair?

While I'm on the naughty step Lady Louise's hair is not my idea of expensive, and I don't aspire to look like a teenager so would certainly never recommend her as the ideal.

@Porridgeislife

How mean. She’s lovely and natural and really blossoming.

Lady Louise:

That's not a very funereal expression is it?

It wouldn't be appropriate for me as a grown woman to hold up a gauche teenager as my style icon.

I think an adult should have ensured she was dressed appropriately at the Queen's funeral.

I don't think either sentiment is unkind or even mildly controversial.

She is 18 years old and we have had a lot in the press pushing her as a member of the Royal family and here.
So either she follows protocol and continues to be held up.
Or she does not and is a pretty unknown and low-key member.

She looked perfectly fine, her shoulders were covered and she had a lovely equestrian necklace on which I thought was a nice touch

“That's not a very funereal expression is it?”
That wasn’t mourning wear. It is possible to wear black at other times, you know. 🙄

I posted it because it is a bit more flattering than the one previously shown.

Precisely.

And who is claiming she has their “ style icon”?

…is their “style icon”?

I'm no fan of the Royal Family but come on. They have advisors. If what she was wearing was in anyway unsuitable she would be told not to wear it. Also pretty nasty comments about her hair and her facial expressions. Leave her alone she's not seeking attention is she?

I had no idea about the hair extensions and Kate. Though I don't follow, or have any interest, in the royals.

I believe Louise's hair was deemed similar to some of our hair types. I don't think she's been held up as a style icon, and I don't know anything about that, it's just about the hair.

@antelope I think understated dressing is pretty boring too, although it is also safe dressing - in that people strive not to stick out but blend in.

There’s a new form of understated dressing for casual wear. The ‘hamptons grandma look’ lots of large beige and white knits, pale coloured trousers and skirts, white sneakers, wheat coloured espadrilles, touches of soft grey blue etc.

The point is it’s supposed to look like the clothes a grandma with money would wear for a walk along the beach on a coolish day. All bullsit. And as an older woman I resent that some silly bugger has decided that’s how grandmas dress casually and that’s how ‘classy understated’ younger women should aspire to dress. It’s not real, none of it is real. It’s dress ups - but it’s boring dress ups.

@AuntSalli

the hairdresser was probably away sick from hairdressing school on the day they taught student that their job was to help people feel good about themselves and their hair.

the hairdresser wasn’t terribly bright:

i agree. Great post. 😊

@RosesAndHellebores

I think any negative criticism of a woman’s looks and dress sense is tough/ not on.

Unfairly for Louise she has apparently reached the age when media, and some people on social media, seem to think they’ve got a green light to criticise.

Exactly, it's even worse coming from grown women who have nothing better to do than criticise a young woman grieving.

Remember that always dressing in understated good taste is the same as playing dead. -. Susan Catherine

Ah, this isn’t nice. Lady Louise is just 18, a very protected seeming teenager. Surely she’s not style fodder for grown women who want to be spiteful?

The majority of the comments (a few of us found we had similar hair to her) were positive, but there's always one... I agree that it isn't nice at all.

Lady Louise is being pushed on the public by the Royal Family. Two years ago virtually no one knew who she was. If you seek publicity, some of the reaction will be positive, some will not. That is the nature of the game.
And if she is so protected and young in her ways, the family had no right pushing her to the fore.