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.

Few more:

@SomethingMustBeScaringThemAway, you see I would describe the people in the photos you have linked as fashion forward / stylish rather than expensive and polished which I think of as a far more traditional, staid and, dare I say, boring look!

Polished I think of as good quality blouse and tailored clothes, structured ballet slippers, plain expensive handbag and discreet but expensive jewellery. Silk, cashmere and wool clothes. Leather shoes and bag. Neat hair in good condition.

'Expensive and polished' reminds me too much of the way the wives in 'Handmaid's tail' were styled in the series. That striving for respectability when the whole set up was anything but! Creepy!

Oh “expensive and polished” looking is not the same as “stylish and interesting” - it’s the clues that even if what a woman is wearing isn’t on trend, you just know /just assume she is rich (actual money rich - not “title and crumbling family pile but can’t afford to put the heating on”. ).

I don’t find it’s something I want to emulate. But I live in a town with pockets of extreme wealth, and when on weekends for pick up at rugby or cross country, you can often tell before being told which part of town some parents are from. Even in “scruffs” at weekend, there’s subtle differences. (And I hate for our society that “looks healthy” is one of those, but that’s not something for the S&B board discussions!)

Yes, it's called the "hedge fund vest." I think it looks awful personally.

@SomethingMustBeScaringThemAway, I love that you have Elizabeth Bowen on there. Apparently she dressed appallingly as a young woman (fussy things that didn’t suit her, and loud costume jewellery), but matured into her restrained style (apparently under the tutelage of her husband, though I’m dubious, as he looks as if he may have been born in a tiny tweed babygro)…

Perhaps those seeking ‘polish’ should marry tweedy civil servants who will prune us into elegance while we have a lot of affairs with Canadian diplomats and various writers…?

Have not read the thread but if you're on Insta follow:
Piladearce
Or Milan Street Style

At this time of year I would say predominantly in neutrals, long wool coats, smart leather handbags. Tailoring is in but to keep it causal it’s often paired with something looser eg baggier jumper to balance the tailoring.

No colours, no prints, unless stripes. Cashmere, no bobbly polyester knits. Also no jeans. Jeans are for laid back days only.

I can’t find the first one. Does it have any spaces in?

@SomethingMustBeScaringThemAway i personally don’t think that’s polished. Possibly expensive/wealthy but they’re not automatically the same thing in my eyes.

@D20 sorry there was a typo should be Pilar de Arce.

These threads only ever seem to be about a very specific type of expensive/wealthy - one that's mainly associated with a certain socio-economic group.

I don't dislike it - not my thing but I think it can look good. But I don't think it has monopoly of either 'expensive' or 'wealthy' - there are other looks, some of which have been illustrated here, that are equally deserving of that description and that are also, in my opinion, far more interesting.

@EtiennePalmiere @GoodnightGentlemen - the padded gilet is a trading floor look! They have so many screens on desks for the trading floor the room gets very hot, particularly under and around the desks, so the aircon is cranked up to freezing to stop the screens (and people) overheating - apparently first thing in the mornings and when you are walking round, not next to a desk, it’s v cold. The padded gilet became a practical trend.

you can often tell before being told which part of town some parents are from. Even in “scruffs” at weekend, there’s subtle differences. (And I hate for our society that “looks healthy” is one of those, but that’s not something for the S&B board discussions!)

It's the 'wealthy' glow that comes from living a relaxed, stress free life with large amounts of time and money to enjoy. It's unmistakeable.

The photos posted upthread show very stylish and interesting outfits, but they don’t represent the polished/expensive look, IMO.

As looks I actually much prefer them (I find the expensive/polished look quite boring, to be frank), but they are not what most people think of in this discussion.

Also, as an aside, I can’t believe the Coronation Street actor was described as ‘plus sized’, she’s got a lovely figure and won’t be bigger than a size 12 IRL (the camera adds 10 pounds, bright colours less slimming than dark etc.)!

As being proposed by many posters, it's a very narrow and prescriptive look.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is one of the best dressed woman in the world. She's stylish and polished and her clothes look expensive but she doesn't tick any of the boxes.

Although, tbh, there are millions of equally well dressed, not famous, Nigerian women going about their lives, staggeringly well groomed and wearing expensive clothes. But I’m guessing they also aren’t allowed to be part of the club …

(I know someone mentioned Nigerian women above!)

The OP asks whether the ways to look expensive / polished have changed. I’m not sure from when - but some of the responses on this thread have been … interesting.

Women in parts of the world with expanding economies and populations exploding with talent look expensive and polished because they are. No amount of attempted re-classifying to exclude them makes a blind bit of difference.

Totally agree. It's like that awful trend of 'old money'. What does that even mean. I know what I equate that with.

There are loads of Chinese students in my city and their aesthetic is very polished. I was in a coffee shop this morning and the difference between them and the British students is very marked. They don’t wear anything that isn’t a perfect fit, completely clean and coordinated, definitely no holes or any of that student scruffiness. Everything they are wearing looks brand new.

Yes, Chimamanda does look polished and very beautiful. She's still not what I think of when someone says 'polished', fuck me. I'm thinking wool coat, boots and maybe a dainty hat.

Not a big deal. Nobody is trying to exclude anyone, we're just describing what we think. You can clearly be stunning in traditional dress or even informal clothes, but it might not be what somebody thinks of when you say the word 'polished' because it's different for everyone.

I know someone who always looks put together and classy, and I've realised it's because she:

Has shiny hair (not blonde btw, no greys or roots showing) also not always straight. Very subtle lowlights that give it dimension without really being noticeable unless it's in direct sun.

Wears combinations of black and taupe/beige. So all her clothes go together and look like an 'outfit'. I've never seen her in blue jeans, for instance.

On the rare occasion she does wear something that is not black and/or taupe, it is a single item and colour, like an unpatterned dress.

She's slim and toned. Her clothes fit. Nothing digs in or stretches or looks baggy.

She always has make up, but it's entirely neutral - foundation (excellent shade, matches perfectly), blush, possibly highlight and contour - but I can't tell! - a neutral eyeshadow that's a shade or 2 darker than foundation, mascara, tightlined eyeliner.

She always has a slight tan, so the black clothes don't make her look washed out.

Accessories are plain and gold, simple huggie earrings, fine gold chain, even hair bands and clips are either black or gold.

I must admit, parts of this thread remind me of the way I sometimes moan that if I go to a vintage fair I'm more likely to find Kate Moss for Top Shop than a CC41 worsted jacket.

But when I catch myself doing that, I remind myself not to be such an arse, and that I can still talk about a specific era if I want to, but that it'll be a better discussion if I call it 'early/mid 20th century clothing' or similar.

Probably because they're living off an allowance from very wealthy parents and don't have to live on a shoe string self funded budget

@ReacherRach I might have already mentioned them on this thread, but I have noticed the aesthetic of many of the Hong Kong/Chinese mainland students in my city too, many are very fashion forward, wear designer clothes that are very beautiful but not showy and the fashion for good skin and glossy hair ('glass skin') is strong in that part of the world, though differs between Japan, China and Korea. I agree they are often the very definition of a polished discrete aesthetic. Given the price of international uni fees, this is perhaps not that surprising.

@NameHopper2000 this is true, but the wealthy UK students aren't polished in the same way, they are often sporty, athletic, some are polished but a scruffier vibe is also more in. It's not just money, it's a look that fits their aesthetic/what they value appearance wise.