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.

That's just students though and it's ever been thus.

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.

You’re certain she’s never been seen in a wool coat and boots?

Hayley Beiber looks expensive: gym honed bod, yr round glow, flawless, smooth skin, manicure, shiny, clean hair, etc. You kinda need to be rich to look expensive! It’s a lot of beauty treatments!

Oh “expensive and polished” looking is not the same as “stylish and interesting”

yep

You clearly don’t watch the show, she is not a size 12.

From experience the Chinese students come from very wealthy families and generally don't do Western casual. Arab students are the same. Most of the time what they wear is actually brand new and expensive.

Where as Western students have a bit more character about them and more freedom to be who they want to be.

A lot of wealthy people work very hard to acquire their wealth, they’re not all spending their days riding round their estate in the Range Rover!

A lot of wealthy people work very hard to acquire their wealth, they’re not all spending their days riding round their estate in the Range Rover!

In our social circle, more of us tend to fall into the latter category than the former.

Those healthy, wealthy people are probably riding horses or walking around their estates, not driving!

I suspect wealthy landowners are possibly in the minority?!

@cuthbertthecat agree about Mollie Campsie. She looks polished and wears a 16/18 but she's like 5ft 10 so well proportioned but I like her style

more freedom to be who they want to be.

Has it ever struck you that "non Western" students might not want to dress in the way their Western counterparts are dressing, as opposed to having less freedom to do so?
I was in the university area recently and was very surprised that the dress code seemed to be 'let's raid the lost property bin'. I'm not into style at all, and I don't normally notice people's clothes, but it just all looked so untidy.

Never heard of Mollie Campsey and just looked her up, there's no way she's an 18! I wouldn't think she's a 16 either. She must heavily edit some of her images.

Agree, am sure she’s very attractive but it’s a different look and vibe than what is being described here.

@feralunderclass she's just really tall but wears an XL in most things and also an 18

So I'm not fat, I'm just not "really tall" 😬😭

@feralunderclass I'm a tallish 18 though but nothing like her. I get good ideas though

Derail but I have a friend who is what I think is a similar build to Mollie Campsie. She's 5ft 9/10 and a fairly toned size 14/16, pear shape with a reasonably flat tummy.

Definitely a 16 most of the time as I shop with her. Me and her can technically wear the same top. Whilst she's not slim/skinny she's definitely not what most people would say is overweight. I think statuesque is what my grandma would say. She's also the only one of friends, fat, skinny or in between, who can pull off the same look being described. She also has good hair.

I'm unclear what "vibe" is being proposed.

Chimamanda always looks immaculate. Expensive, interesting clothes, make up done to perfection, whatever style her hair is in, it's always beautifully styled too. And glowingly healthy. To my eyes, she looks expensively dressed and polished.

However I would also say that dressing in some of the styles currently being mocked on the "laugh out loud" thread are also polished and expensive. Raey, Egg and Roksanda don't fit the "simple neutral vibe" but they are obviously expensive clothes in beautiful materials, and worn with confidence.

There's something a bit apologetic about the very narrow interpretation - buy expensive clothes, spend time and money keeping yourself thin, toned and healthy but heaven forfend you should actually be noticed or take up space.

I completely agree. What's being touted as polished and expensive on here might as well be called "Royal wife".

To me, it seems like a stressful way to present yourself - always worrying about being thin enough, shiny enough, neat enough, without being in any way interesting. All to fit in with a bunch of other people who are concerned with being thin, shiny and neat enough.

What's the point? Where's the joy? Fashion is so exciting at the moment.

@Sunnysideup999 - I guess the vibe is the new version of “Sloane ranger”. It’s not just “wearing expensive clothes”.

(and it’s often a rather dull look, most woman who wear it would probably say they aren’t interested in fashion and just like well made, classic clothes that suit them.)

@SukeDamson who cares if it's a narrow interpretation, it's people's opinion.

Imo, she is polished but not what I'd think of when someone says 'polished'.

You can be polished and look bland and uptight. It's not a value judgement.

You can be polished and look bland and uptight. It's not a value judgement.

Completely.

On the topic of university students, I am not sure it’s about Western students having more freedom to dress casually, it could be that Eastern students just prefer the super put-together glassy-skin look. I think it’s a good thing they’re not hung up about fitting in and have their own style going on.

Well as to who cares, some posters have a narrow idea of what constitutes "polished and expensive"

You say it's "people's opinion" - it's not it's some posters' opinion. I think looking "polished and expensive" has a much wider bandwidth.

Polished, elegant is a wide definitition in a global world. One of the most elegant people I have ever seen was a man wearing west African tailoring in electric pink in Dubai. At 9.30 on a Tuesday morning. Posture, impeccable. Tailoring, exquisite. Conventional, definitely not but perfectly groomed and very polished.