How to look “polished”

[Turdissimo]

Some folk seem to look good all the time. Why is this? Do you think they always feel good too or would they look good even on a bad day?

Do you have to be thin (or at least not v overweight) for the look (whatever the look is) to work?

Can you wear cheap clothes / accessories if they are classic styles etc?

Can you be casual and polished at the same time?

PS would add I have tried to copy styling gurus etc on YouTube and just ended up buying items which didn’t suit me or feel like me.

Bemused. I want to look more put together..

Does not matter what I wear, I always look like a bag lady or like i'm in drag

Nails need to be neat but don’t need to be covered in polish. If you haven’t got time to maintain polished nails, don’t do it. Natural beats chipped every time.

I agree. I use my hands a lot and don't have the patience to maintain polished nails, but my nails are clean, neat and healthy looking because I don't use gel polish.

This is a random photo, but apparently she spends a lot of time and money on her looks. It's not my idea of polished though. To me, it's not about the time/money, if you haven't got a particular type of face/body no amount of time/money will buy it.

Not so subtle anti-Irishness there.

I'm Irish, I googled polished woman and this is what came up. I hope that's ok with you? If you have a problem, take it up with Google. And yes, as I said in a previous post, in my area this is very much the "classy" look. It is not an Irish thing by any means, in my opinion it's a socio economic thing, I've seen the same look in Liverpool and other English towns.

@normanagfriends this is not a 'classy' look no matter where you are!

This is a tiktok / 'influencer' / Love Island aspirational / Katie Price, certain type of 'trendy' look.

It also does not represent what's considered 'classy' in Ireland. I'm also Irish.

I truly do not believe that you simply typed 'example of classy appearance' into google & it came up with this....

No I didn't Google that, I said what I googled. That's exactly why I said when people start threads asking how to look polished, that they give a rough idea what that means, because it's very subjective! And I made it clear this isn't an Irish thing, it's the "classy look" where I'm working. Ireland is a big place....

I actually just googled 'example of polished style, image' right now & the samples given were nothing like what you've shared!

What kind of place do you work at where that look is considered classy?

The only time I feel polished is when I’ve just had my hair done professionally. Muted/neutral plain colours, minimal makeup and nails is more polished and classy than too much makeup during the day or very long coloured nails.

Sorry I mean the area, it's not my actual place of work 😁

It's certainly clear that polished doesn't mean the same thing for everyone

I think in most areas that would be considered a high maintenance but very trashy look. It's sort of the opposite of classy and polished notwithstanding the fact that a lot of money is probably spent to look that way.

Agreed. I also don’t think she’s in ROI so the bit about ‘you see this in Liverpool too’ is backpedaling.

I'm not sure why I'd need to be throwing anti Irish shade, let alone back pedalling? This look is certainly not unique to towns in Ireland! You don't need to even live in Ireland to know that this isn't a stereotypical Irish style.Of I wanted to be anti Irish Id just come out and say it. This has nothing to do with being Irish 🙄

I was going to say this - she looks bloody knackered!

Yeah. You see, I believe people living in Ireland would know far better than to post a picture of an Irish traveller on this thread, thus inviting comments of how ‘very trashy’ her look is.

It’s a separate ethnic group and as such the style standards are different. A bit of respect please.

Caroline Bissette is always a good example of “polished” imo. Even when casual.

If you live in Ireland you'll know there are loads of girls running around like this, who said it's a Traveller thing? Not exclusive to Ireland, others are saying it's a Love Island/Towie trend. Back to the thread now.

You shouldn’t post an image when you don’t know where it’s from or what it is! That’s a picture of an Irish traveller.
See the image source.

And her t-shirt is surely a very large hint towards her Irishness anyway, most especially if you are Irish yourself. It literally says Ireland (in Irish). Plus there’s the flag.

I’ in my late 50’s, so I that my idea of polished will be different to someone in their late 20’s.

To me it’s nothing obvious, clean not overly styled hair, good skin, light makeup, subtle jewellery, clothes in colour that suits the skin tone. If a tan is involved it is light. Good posture, good manners. The reason people say they don’t notice nails is because they’re not bitten, nor long, brightly coloured just smartly done.

Stand up tall - don't stoop. Never use your mobile when walking along. Smile a lot. Accessories must be co-ordinated. Hair cut well, and if coloured roots or highlights so it doesn't look grown out. Footwear clean and tidy/polished.

(just describing my friend Louise who is always put together)

This is the last thing I'll say on this. This was a picture from Google, I didn't take it from someone's private social media. I don't feel the need to check where it's from either, I didn't say she was trashy (you mentioned this word). Her wearing a top saying Eire (and yes I do know what it means ) does not mean it's anti Irish or Irish Traveller any more than if she was wearing a top with a Union Jack being anti British. The Travellers I know of would call her a right scruff to be honest, they are usually very well dressed with high end designer clothes, even their young children. Even if she is a Traveller, so what? I said this is the look of the day where I am (which is not a Traveller uniform) and is considered polished, money/time spent on herself, but I don't consider it to be. I also said another picture a poster shared was not my idea of polished. The point being that it is very subjective and style/fashion is often dependent on area, so when someone asks what makes you polished, it's a bit like asking how long is a piece of string. Different people have different ideas and that's fine.

That pretty much sums it up for me.

@Dollyfloss I have never heard of Caroline Bissette, but IMO she doesn't look "polished" in the first picture with the red coat.

@RampantIvy Carolyn Bessette was married to JFK Jr and was considered a style icon at that time. I think she worked for Calvin Klein for a period too. She and her husband, along with her sister, were tragically killed in a plane crash in 1999.
People who knew her often say the pictures available don’t do justice to how beautiful and stylish she was.