Has how to look expensive / polished changed?

[Newpeople]

Inspired by the Chanel bag thread which is a great read.

The many previous threads on here describe (to me) what seems like a very dated look. Even a bouncy blow dry now seems old fashioned.

Anyone fancy discussing what makes someone looked polished / expensive these days? In my experience (people I know and have met) it’s vastly different and much more casual these days.

Likewise, someone ‘slim’ dressed incorrectly will not look elegant either. I’m slim and I always look a mess because I’m a clumsy, messy person whose make up always comes off and hair never goes right and skirts always ride up it’s about dressing for your shape, not being slim.

Thick straight hair, expensively cut and coloured, with a bit of length.

I've got the straight bit, nothing else!

Curly, wavy, afro and short hair can also look elegant and classy.

Curly, wavy, afro and short hair can also look elegant and classy.

I posted a photo to make this point - my post was dismissed as bizarre. I guess it’s hard to appreciated that the balance of socio-political power, and therefore taste, is tipping very far away from Home Counties beige.

when was silver jewellery out and gold in?

I know nothing. I always thought gold was ‘chavvy’. I repeat - I know nothing.

Can also looked elegant?

Fuck me who knew I looked naturally scruffy without straight hair 🙄

Oh no, I think one can look extremely polished at any weight and hair, skintone etc. HOWEVER the one thing that seems to make a difference is height! Average to tall makes it much easier. Shortness is challenging.
I'm not rich at all but i do have an interest and pick my fabrics and jewellery carefully, get clothes tailored to fit. It makes no difference. I just look like a (short)
farmer. Some people just have it innately and I find the innateness of it absolutely fascinating.

I'm podgy thesedays and look like a joke, it is EXTREMELY difficult to look elegant, garments that can do it are rare. Very easy to look frumpy and matronly. The basic grooming of good skin and hair is right. Could do without working but still getting a healthy paycheque for a PT, make up and very regular hairdresser 😅

Not sure I agree that all these looks are polished, but hope it helps the discussion https://www.wardrobeoxygen.com/how-does-one-get-the-polished-look/

You need to understand what I am saying. I am replying to the person who said long straight hair is elegant. I am responding to say other hairstyles look elegant too. I don’t have straight hair, so your anger is directed at the wrong person.

No polyester

Absolutely. Being confident in your own style is the biggest thing, I think. If you feel best in classic clothing, then wear that. If you prefer being 'a bit out there', then do what makes you happy.

I prefer classical styling in terms of clothing, but I do have a wild streak. I have really edgy short haircuts and I fluctuate between them being wild and crazy (I have naturally curly hair), or being sharply styled and not a hair out of place.

I love weird and unusual jewellery (not costume jewellery) that is usually large or chunky - big hoop earrings, unusual rings etc.

I don't wear a lot of makeup these days, but I do love to 'put my face on' when I'm going somewhere special.

And shoes! Oh, lordy, do I love shoes!! The more unusual, the better. This is a disgusting thing to admit, but I have well over a hundred pairs of shoes and boots and I just love them all!

Of course, I go through phases where I can't be bothered. When I first moved to the country, I didn't cut or colour my hair for three years - it was down to my waist when I cut it off very short a couple of months ago. I stopped wearing makeup unless I was going into the office (I was working from home 95% of the time). I wore shorts or jeans and t-shirt pretty much everywhere. Didn't even shave my legs for about a year! It was refreshing, but I inherently love clothes, shoes, hair etc., so I've gone back the other way now and am having heals of fun wearing everything again and dressing up when I go out.

Confidence in yourself and knowing what suits you is key. Everything else naturally follows.

I'm the same. By the standards of this thread I should be wonderfully classy and elegant but I'm not. My general office mode (and I'm fairly senior) is dragged through a hedge backwards then thrown in a pile of leaves. This is due to a combination of there simply aren't clothes in the shops designed for my shape, I don't have time, I have shit skin and I don't really care. I'm ironed, clean and presentable but that's as far as I can stretch to.

I see the thought police have arrived.

Tell that to the numerous high end brands that use it (and viscose).

I see the apologists have arrived.

Is the cliché one f classic, clothes that can be worn for multiple years without ever looking in or out of date. Thicker fabrics generally look better (silk being an exception). The real elephant in the room though is that to look classy you can't be overweight, nor ridiculously skinny. A size 10 is spot on

I don't know if anyone follows the instagrammer Mollie Campsie? She was recommended to me once as a good account to follow as she is the same size as me (size 18). To my untutored eyes she pulls off the boxy, neutrals low key elegance look quite well.

But she's about 6ft I think. So her 18 and my 18 at 5' 3 is a very different thing. She is also very evenly proportioned and is forever posting gym photos so fairly toned.

So I agree with a pp that you can look polished at a bigger size but it's a lot harder if you are shorter unless you are petite.

No, I thought you made a valid point. The rich Nigerian women DH used to do business with looked ultra-polished and insanely wealthy (as they were), but weren’t playing by this set of Thin, Straight-Haired and Beige rules.

You can’t fake it imo, they look different due to their relaxed countenance which the rest of us don’t have & the confident body language being comfortably off gives you.

You're right. The woman in my office spends a merry fortune on designer trainers (high tops) designer bags and designer clothes. When she puts them together it just screams CHAV. But she thinks it looks polished

on youtube is amazing, she teaches not only how to look polished and elegant but how to behave that way too

Hair and fabrics. I disagree about weight, but I wonder if an internal sense of confidence might be at play and sadly many women who are overweight feel lacking in this.

I work with several women who would be described as obese. Half of them look ordinary. The other half look amazing! One in particular has such lovely hair and good choice in clothing. Her weight genuinely does not detract from how great she looks. She sort of glides into a room and has a beautiful smile too (no, I don't fancy her).

I OTOH, who am at the lower end of normal BMI, frequently look a mess because my hair is wild (I have very thick and long hair which looks great when I make the effort but most of the time I can't be bothered) and I am currently constantly red-faced due to menopause.

But fabrics make a huge difference. If I didn't work 60-hour weeks (probably shouldn't be MN-ing ...) I'd seriously go back to making my own clothes. I see so many lovely styles that are let down by horrible, scratchy polyester mixes that do NOT work with my hot flushes and just cheapen the overall look of the item.

Hair in good condition with a good cut / clean nails all same shape and size / outfits in colours and styles that compliments your body shape / minimal accessories / good teeth / natural eyebrows and lashes / invisible makeup and you are always clean and smelling good (including your body, clothes, shoes, handbags)

Also: don’t walk or act in a hurry, don’t be desorganised with your personal belongings in public, smile a lot (smile from the inside when by yourself and that will change your face expression) and always mantain good posture no matter what.

I kind of disagree a little. I have polyester dresses that will not crease at all. I always look smart in them.