Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

I want to be glamorous!

158 replies

northstarry · 26/07/2023 11:25

I have definitely let myself go in the name of comfort but I need to claw this back. Please can anyone suggest a few things that will help without spending a fortune?

I broke my foot so can no longer wear heels which definitely isn't helping.

Can you suggest any glamorous flat shoes?

Thank you!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
25
spuddel · 27/07/2023 11:48

The only glam look in those photos is Claudia Schiffer imo. The rest are tackorama.

spuddel · 27/07/2023 11:51

And that's mainly because of her gorgeous hair and classy knitwear Grin

GarlicGrace · 27/07/2023 12:05

La Redoute has surprisingly good quality leather shoes. I couldn't get the filters to work right but, if you're up to trawling through these, there are some nice loafers and a couple of other things.

Not really 'glamour' as per topic, so I'll leave it here!

https://www.laredoute.co.uk/pplp/100/157878/cat-499.aspx?facets=4000002950000101_99900001|subfamily30000028|subfamily30000033_99900004|subfamily30000035|4000002450000075|4000002450000074

CaveMum · 27/07/2023 12:09

Thanks @GarlicGrace I will take a look at those.

Right now I am down a "silk blouse" rabbit hole on the Lilysilk website - so many beautiful things!

Sixmonthcruise · 27/07/2023 12:20

Many years ago when I was 18, I sat on the bus and an older lady walked on, she was probably in her 70’s. To this day I have never seen someone who looked so g poised and glamorous. She had a thick head of silver hair pulled back off her face and into a bun at the base of her neck, a black polo neck with a large pearl necklace and black trousers. A completely simple outfit but she had such style and sat there on the bus amongst all the other older ladies who had on their beige jackets and with those clear plastic hair covers on their bubble perms, she looked a world away from those women. I’ve never forgotten her.

ididntwanttodoit · 27/07/2023 12:31

Always wear bright lipstick
Always wear dangly earrings
a little silk scarf
sunglasses whenever possible

doesn't really matter what else you wear - you'll always look glam with these accessories!

Zebedee999 · 27/07/2023 12:36

Maintaining a waist is all important imo. Doesn't matter whether you are thin, normal, or getting larger (as we mostly all do with age) if you can maintain a waist you will look womanly or voluptuous or sexy etc. easier said than done, but some clothes help to pull in the middle of your body whilst accentuating the top and bottom.

GarlicGrace · 27/07/2023 12:43

If this thread illustrates anything, it's that 'glamorous' means different things to different people!

LimeCheesecake · 27/07/2023 13:50

If I was going for glamorous flats, I’d aim for something that looked close to the Chanel flats that every influencer were wearing /wearing a good dupe of in spring - the camel flat pump with a dark toe. or loafers, Russel and Bromley do lovely ones that are good for walking a distance in.

im going to join in trying to be a bit more glamorous for autumn (given up on summer), I feel like I’ve let more and more slide.

spuddel · 27/07/2023 14:28

Sixmonthcruise · 27/07/2023 12:20

Many years ago when I was 18, I sat on the bus and an older lady walked on, she was probably in her 70’s. To this day I have never seen someone who looked so g poised and glamorous. She had a thick head of silver hair pulled back off her face and into a bun at the base of her neck, a black polo neck with a large pearl necklace and black trousers. A completely simple outfit but she had such style and sat there on the bus amongst all the other older ladies who had on their beige jackets and with those clear plastic hair covers on their bubble perms, she looked a world away from those women. I’ve never forgotten her.

@Sixmonthcruise you could be describing my grandmother and she is 101! She just has 'it' when it comes to looking pulled together yet glam. I'm a big fan of monochrome dressing and sunnies/scarf for that reason. Lazy way to look good.

Sud · 27/07/2023 14:30

I used to get called glamorous, and it used to piss me off since I wanted to be alt, not glam.

This is how I was (& still am to an extent, apart from the weight).

  1. exceedingly slim, audrey Hepburn dimensions. Unhealthy in my youth. Don’t recommend emulating that.
  2. Thick hair, glossy, long
  3. Makeup (flicked eyeliner when younger, now subtle - but lips or eyes, never both for me at least)
  4. monochromatic clothes but with unusual jewellery/bag etc
  5. Also some excellent quality clothes (bought in sales only when younger), tho sometimes cheap clothes can look expensive if they’re unfussy!
  6. Poise - I did ballet for years

tbh this is more of a chic list than a glamour list. I expect it was actually my thick hair and big white smile against naturally darker skin that led to the glamour label (that I hated!). Ironic eh. Still to this day, I link the word glamour to a page three dolly, which I absolutely never was.

Cello60 · 27/07/2023 14:54

SarahAndQuack · 26/07/2023 22:42

I suspect we all mean different things by 'glamorous' (for me 'big hair' does not suggest glamour!).

But, FWIW, for me glamorous would be: think about what you love to wear for a slightly posh event, and give yourself permission to wear it anyway. Think about the one thing that you secretly hanker after- whether it's a gorgeous fabric or a really lovely, impractical, eye-catching colour or a piece of fabulous jewellery - and try to buy it or remind yourself you can wear it. For example, last winter I had a pair of flats in an emerald green snakeskin print which my would have made my mother make a face. Wearing them on the school run made me feel great - I felt as if I might be en route to a fabulous party rather than, erm, work.

IMO it's a bit like that saying about not keeping your fancy china for best. If you have stuff you love, wear it; if you don't, buy something really gorgeous and wear it even if it's a little bit smarter than was called for. It'll make you feel happy.

I also agree with the poster who said that a great coat will always make you feel glamorous.

Im saving this as a bit of life advice.

Arabels · 27/07/2023 17:31

SocksAndTheCity · 26/07/2023 21:52

As much as I love my many pairs of Adidas Gazelles, they are not in any way 'glamorous'.

Ha, well I suppose it’s relative. I live in a v outdoorsy city, there’s a lot of Patagonia going on, so my go-to of high waisted raw jeans, thrifted silk shirt, trainers and gold hoops plus perfectly un-done hair generally makes me a) the most glamorous person out and b) the most overdressed 🙂 I like to think it’s vaguely Gallic 😂 rip JB, while we’re at it.

I’m all seriousness though I think a plan helps-you need to be working toward something coherent. People compliment my style which must at least mean it’s fairly consistent. I’ve never aimed to be sleek, or fashionable, but I know every version of what works for me depending on the occasion.

Arabels · 27/07/2023 17:33

Zebedee999 · 27/07/2023 12:36

Maintaining a waist is all important imo. Doesn't matter whether you are thin, normal, or getting larger (as we mostly all do with age) if you can maintain a waist you will look womanly or voluptuous or sexy etc. easier said than done, but some clothes help to pull in the middle of your body whilst accentuating the top and bottom.

I don’t know, one of the most glam mums I know is fat. And she has twins. She just puts the effort in. Plus she’s absolutely radiant as a person, which just makes everything seem easy! A frazzled demeanour is the enemy of glam

mewkins · 27/07/2023 17:55

I'm not sure you need to be young, slim etc to be 'glamorous' - in fact it's possibly easier to carry off with age. I also don't equate it with having to be particular tasteful either 😄 - glamorous to me suggests obviously 'done' hair and make up which everyone can see has taken time and effort.

NatashaDancing · 27/07/2023 18:14

Lizzo. Lizzo is glamorous.

NatashaDancing · 27/07/2023 18:20

mewkins · 27/07/2023 17:55

I'm not sure you need to be young, slim etc to be 'glamorous' - in fact it's possibly easier to carry off with age. I also don't equate it with having to be particular tasteful either 😄 - glamorous to me suggests obviously 'done' hair and make up which everyone can see has taken time and effort.

Tasteful and glamorous don't equate. They might- see Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn or, well I just mentioned Lizzo. Glamorous but mostly not tasteful

Or Cher in her Bob Mackie dresses.

And tasteful without being glamorous is pretty easy.

Arabels · 27/07/2023 19:22

Maybe it’s easier to say what glamorous is not? It’s not jolly, is it. Nor quirky or straightforwardly pretty. Definitely not scruffy. It’s feminine but not necessarily hyper-feminine. Elizabeth Taylor is the GOAT glamouress in my opinion, but there are other versions. Nigella is trad glamour. Current fashion is quite anti-glamour which I suppose is throwing people-it would be hard to be both fashionable and glamorous at the moment, although apparently real coats are on their way back in so there’s hope for us!

LadyVictoriaSponge · 27/07/2023 19:40

Liz Hurley, Nigella Lawson, Joan Collins are who I consider glamorous, the old movie stars of the 40’s and 50’s oozed glamour.

NatashaDancing · 27/07/2023 20:03

It can definitely be quirky. Tilda Swinton.

Original poster
northstarry · 27/07/2023 20:07

I'm loving these replies! Sitting down now with a glass of wine going through them all. I actually realise I'm maybe wrong about the heels thing. I realise now I work with someone who IS glamorous and she would look ridiculous in heels. She is though very tall and thin!

OP posts:
Gingerboy22 · 27/07/2023 20:24

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 27/07/2023 10:44

I think glamorous is the opposite of utilitarian. So velvet is glamorous, denim is not. Silk is glamorous , rayon is not. Cashmere versus wool ( or acrylic). Thin suede, glove leather v. Biker leather or imitation. Supple Italian tweed v. Harris.
It’s not just a question of being clean and well ironed, or classically cut, which are what several suggestions seem. That is elegant, but not necessarily glamorous.

It’s also the cut and surface decoration . I have an embroidered fleece from Bob Mackie, the embroidery is shades of pink and ochre on black. I think that is glamorous ( people come up to me in Tesco and tell me how ‘lovely’ it is). Silk shirts with wide sleeves gathered into a tight cuff are glamorous, short sleeved silk shirts with pockets are not .

It’s not a value judgement, utility is better in the right situation. Silk trousers whilst weeding are not glamorous, they are silly. A proper traditional Sussex trug, filled with garden flowers, is probably glamorous , though.

You shop in Tesco? Not glamorous 😂

Arabels · 27/07/2023 20:27

NatashaDancing · 27/07/2023 20:03

It can definitely be quirky. Tilda Swinton.

Well the difference there might be Lanvin vs Original Choice

I don’t know that I’d call her glamorous though. Glamour needs an element of sexiness imho and that’s really not her angle

SarahAndQuack · 27/07/2023 21:35

Cello60 · 27/07/2023 14:54

Im saving this as a bit of life advice.

Show quote history

Aw, what a lovely thing to say! That's made my day, that has.

Swipe left for the next trending thread