Top tips for always looking put together

[kiana2015]

No matter what I do, I always seem to look a mess. I can spend hours getting ready and I still look awful, from my hair to my make up to my outfit. I do be quality make up and I am really trying to find more stylish clothes. Please can everyone give me their top tips x

Personally I forget about fashion and dress to a style that suits me - today Im wearing a top that is at least 30 years old and Ive had compliments

Put me in todays fashions and id look like a girl wearing dress up

With cosmetics, well being "older" less is definitely more. I look grand with a bit of foundation, a bit of blush and bronzer, add lip colour and eyes - nope - so a bit of tinted lip balm and a brush of mascara

TBH ive only really started caring about how I look this past year or so and the best things Ive spent money on are a good hair cut, one that suits my face and body shape, as well as one I can actually style myself,and getting the eyebrows shaped - and maintaining myself best I can. I also add jewellery now - just junk jewellery - but earrings and a neckless can make a huge difference

Oh and I keep my nails looking good. Even now where Ive smashed three and they arent done, the nail file is never far away and they are filled and buffed

On the clothes front, I would set up a Pinterest board and start adding images of.your current clothes to it. It's easier to fill the holes in your wardrobe when you know what you already have.

Also pin images of new items before you buy them to check.they.work with other items.

I think it also helps to focus on a few colours e.g. if you like navy as a base sort of neutral, look for.colours that complement navy e.g. burgundy or beige. I would also concentrate on plain rather than patterned and natural fabrics rather than polyester etc.

Plan your outfit in advance and have back up options planned too. Have season appropriate makeup in terms of blusher and eye shadow. Consider bronzer in the summer. Have some go to hair styles that fit with your outfit choices for example hair down with a casual jeans outfit and hair up with a dressed up jeans look if you see what I mean. Accessories can be a big help too.

Avoid pattern. - can end up looking bag ladyish
Avoid too many different colours - max three. So yesterday I wore cream trousers and sandals, a black top and black handbag with an olive green trench coat left open. That would be the most amount of different colours I would ever wear.

Make sure at least one of your clothes items is fitted. So either fitted top and looser tailored trousers/jeans/skirt or a looser top with skinny trousers or a tight pencil skirt.

Hair - I can’t help! Mine is always a little chaotic as curly but I quite like that it tones the rest of my clothes down. I do like a gloss spray that adds shine and cuts down frizz. Got a great one called Glosse - think it’s a dupe for the Wow one.

Make up. Always put it on in natural light if you can - you always need less than you think. I focus on my eyes and lips and try to keep skin clean - I just add translucent powder to reduce shine. Sometimes put a rosy bronzer on if I’m looking very pale.

Discrete earrings, a hint of lip colour and a squirt of perfume go a long way (realising perfume doesn't change how you look!)

Iron your clothes

I must admit I never iron anything! As soon as the washing machine finishes, I hang up all of the clothes (I have a long hanging rail in my utility room) so that the creases drop out as they dry. Lazy but it works 😂

I think it is to do with intention, it is possible to look as good in a sweatshirt co-ord as a dress and heels. I wouldn't say avoid pattern - just make sure it is a pattern that suits you. I'm reasonably small so I need small patterns to look good on me. I get swamped by large patterns with strong contrast, then I look as if my clothes are wearing me

As the owner of wavy to unruly hair, it doesn't have to be brushed smooth to look good. I get a cut that works with my wave and I get compliments on it. This is what I mean by intention - the cut works for my hair and I don't look like I'm constantly batting m hair.

Your clothes should work for you and your environment. If you look like you've thought about dressing yourself you'll look good.

We will have to agree to disagree about this one!

I stand by ironing. Out of all the things I have learnt from almost a lifetime of working with clothes, is that ironing will make any piece of clothing look a million times better.

I agree with you!! I’m just too lazy to iron. I find it sooooo boring.

Make sure at least one of your clothes items is fitted. So either fitted top and looser tailored trousers/jeans/skirt or a looser top with skinny trousers or a tight pencil skirt.

This is very good advice

This person sounds like they know what they are talking about. I can just picture that outfit of cream trousers and olive trench. It's the sort of look I always admire and cannot for the life of me put together!

If you're having a bad hair day have an assortment of go-to hair accessories - clips, bands etc that you can pit it back with.

Make sure all your clothes are clean and I echo - ironed. Hang your clothes when not being worn and always store them clean.

Choose shoes that match outfits.

But above all make sure you clothes fit you and are comfortable. It doesn't matter how much you've spent or how beautiful clothes are in themselves, if they don't fit they'll always look amiss on.

It would help to know why you think you look awful? What are you spending hours on?
Most of the comments on this thread have advice that doesn't take long at all, but you might be doing all these things already and it's not working.

Read the Curated Closet by Anuschka Rees. There's a great chapter on colour.

I agree with ironing.

I don't think it is about wearing stylish clothes - wear what you want!
I think neat and tidy hair and nails. Jewellery and accessories make an outfit look better - even if it is the same simple earrings and necklace every day makes. Clean shoes in good condition.
When it comes to clothes, tonal dressing always looks good whether it is neutrals or brights. Colour and pattern clashing does work but you have to know what you're doing!

My friends always tell me I look put together. I love clothes and enjoy the process of getting ready for the day.
I agree with most of the posters here.
I rarely wear patterns now as I think neutral clothes look more classy.
I always iron my clothes.
Agree no more than 3 colours. I often dress in tones of just 1 colour (tonal) and find that looks great.
Neutral accessories.
I do my hair every day-for me that's washing, blow drying and I use straighteners to do loose waves but appreciate that doesn't suit everyone.

Thankyou everyone. All great tips! It sure where I go wrong but I feel like I do look not too bad before I leave the house it's 30 mins after, my previously hair straightened hair will go wavy and my clothes, I feel like I can never find clothes that look good on me, I do admit I am on the larger side having had a baby not long ago but I see some people and they wear it so well I do not

OP, I bet you look absolutely fine and are being quite hard on yourself!