https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fellow-newbies-polished-or-rough-around-the-edges Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Fri, 10 Apr 2026 03:53:46 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fellow-newbies-polished-or-rough-around-the-edges/page/2#post-1075604 Tue, 05 Nov 2013 19:08:02 +0000 Elizabeth P 1075604@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Much as I like to think that inside I'm more RATE, I think that my clothes seem to default to polished.&nbsp; Somebody described a recent WIW that I posted as elegantly RATE.&nbsp; Does that make any sense at all?&nbsp; :)</p> <p>I do not iron.&nbsp; <br />I cannot not brush my hair.</p> <p>I am confused.</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fellow-newbies-polished-or-rough-around-the-edges/page/2#post-1075589 Tue, 05 Nov 2013 18:57:35 +0000 Gracie 1075589@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I like to think I'm polished 90% of the time (I iron my clothes, I don't wear linen, no scuffed shoes). I'm RATE when being active outdoors in winter - lots of raggy layers and stompy boots. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fellow-newbies-polished-or-rough-around-the-edges#post-1075545 Tue, 05 Nov 2013 18:25:17 +0000 AnnieMouse 1075545@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'd say I'm probably more RATE than Polish, because I tend to go for something that throws it off - I like my boots scuffy, worn-in Keds,&nbsp;a leather motorcycle jacket over my office wear, and most of my jeans have some sort of broken-ness to them :)&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fellow-newbies-polished-or-rough-around-the-edges#post-1075406 Tue, 05 Nov 2013 16:57:48 +0000 catgirl 1075406@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Bella, too funny.&nbsp; In my head it's pronounced to rhyme with "great", but the French version should apply to the more polished RATE end of the scale!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fellow-newbies-polished-or-rough-around-the-edges#post-1075357 Tue, 05 Nov 2013 16:22:24 +0000 peacechick 1075357@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I like both but confess I'm probably neither. I don't have enough distressed pieces for RATE but i don't put in enough effort to be polished. Sigh! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fellow-newbies-polished-or-rough-around-the-edges#post-1075349 Tue, 05 Nov 2013 16:16:02 +0000 orangefish 1075349@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Even when I try to look polished, it just comes out more RATE haha. Somehow I can't get the wrinkles out of my shirt or keep my stray hairs slicked back even though it's straight.<br /> I prefer to be able to run for the bus and climb things too. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fellow-newbies-polished-or-rough-around-the-edges#post-1075235 Tue, 05 Nov 2013 14:17:28 +0000 amiable 1075235@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>RATE for me - if I try for polished, I look disheveled.&nbsp;</p> <p>That said, in my past year here at YLF, I've learned to notice a lot more details, and I can say that my RATE now is a lot more intentional, and yes, even polished, than my RATE of a year ago was. &nbsp;And my attempts at Polished are are lot more polished too. &nbsp;I doubt that I'll actually cross the line and become more polished than RATE ever, but I'm happy being close to the line most times :)</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fellow-newbies-polished-or-rough-around-the-edges#post-1075231 Tue, 05 Nov 2013 14:12:55 +0000 This is water. 1075231@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Team RATE, for sure: <ol> <li>I have a toddler, and an active one - if I try for polished the look doesn't last long!</li> <li>Even on a broader life scale outside of my role as a mother, I prefer to feel carefree in my clothing. (I work as an attorney in a business casual environment.)&nbsp;I especially need freedom of movement - to be able to walk as fast as I'd like in whatever shoes I choose, or to bend or crouch as needed in my clothing. I think part of this need is temperament, and part because I spent my very active&nbsp;childhood in a very outdoorsy area where we all had a "dress fleece." I also prefer, like Amy, to have a great haircut that requires minimal daily fussing.</li> </ol> Also, I must confess that I am a true newbie. First post! Thank you for leading me to that discussion. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fellow-newbies-polished-or-rough-around-the-edges#post-1075230 Tue, 05 Nov 2013 14:12:10 +0000 HiggsMistress 1075230@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>90%&nbsp;RATE here. &nbsp;Especially living on 14 acres in a very laid back part of the country.&nbsp;10% polished when I am out of town traveling.</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fellow-newbies-polished-or-rough-around-the-edges#post-1075203 Tue, 05 Nov 2013 13:39:16 +0000 Janet 1075203@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>These days I fall a bit more into the polished camp, but I definitely like an element of RATE. I experimented a bit more RATE for a while but don't feel quite as comfortable if I go there too deeply -- I am usually aiming for a fairly streamlined look. I look best in tailored, structured pieces (since I have been dubbed Team Captain of Leather Jacket, I guess that's no surprise), but I also like things with fluid fit and some degree of drape. Too much drapey-ness makes me feel saggy and unfab. </p> <p>I also find that lately I'm more attracted to bags and footwear with fewer embellishments and details. I like a touch of hardware, but there is a sweet spot for me, and beyond that it goes quickly into overkill. </p> <p>My hair is naturally RATE (wavy and unruly by nature) but I usually subdue it with blowdrying. I guess I really like walking the line in between polished and RATE, which makes sense when I think of my usually guiding style rubric, which is sophisticated rock'n'roll. A rock'n'roll girl needs a little RATE, right? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fellow-newbies-polished-or-rough-around-the-edges#post-1075187 Tue, 05 Nov 2013 13:18:57 +0000 Anonymous 1075187@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Polished, but I think I' m a relaxed, sporty polished. Does that make sense? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fellow-newbies-polished-or-rough-around-the-edges#post-1075186 Tue, 05 Nov 2013 13:18:43 +0000 Aquamarine 1075186@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I naturally lean towards Polished. I have a compulsion to iron EVERYTHING. But I like a little bit of RATE too in every daily outfit, maybe in my shoes or hair. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fellow-newbies-polished-or-rough-around-the-edges#post-1075179 Tue, 05 Nov 2013 13:14:11 +0000 Alassë 1075179@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Polished. It finally made sense to me why my messy curly hair can annoy me - I'm not a member of Team RATE. Bobby pins to the rescue, and live with the rest is all I can do! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fellow-newbies-polished-or-rough-around-the-edges#post-1075077 Tue, 05 Nov 2013 08:56:47 +0000 Lucy 1075077@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love RATE on others - especially stompalicious boots! But I'm more polished myself I think. I like to be reasonably well groomed, and with clothes tending towards classic, I think polish is my comfort point... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fellow-newbies-polished-or-rough-around-the-edges#post-1075069 Tue, 05 Nov 2013 08:41:40 +0000 Deborah 1075069@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>As much as I love rate looks my default is definitley polished. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fellow-newbies-polished-or-rough-around-the-edges#post-1075067 Tue, 05 Nov 2013 08:38:32 +0000 bella 1075067@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Here is the big question: How do you pronounce RATE? I realized that I've only seen this word written and never actually heard it. FWIW, in my head it's rather french: RATÉ (rhymes with culinary french words like&nbsp;<i><b>Pâté)</b></i> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fellow-newbies-polished-or-rough-around-the-edges#post-1075062 Tue, 05 Nov 2013 08:06:59 +0000 KeepTheKey 1075062@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Definitely RATE. I prefer my clothes to be a bit worn, distressed, wrinkled, and (sometimes) coming apart at the seams. I feel most "myself" when I wear clothes with a bit of wear and tear. I'm also not a big fan of hairbrushes, and prefer the way my hair looks when I've just rolled out of bed :-)</p> <p>Oh boy, I sound like a mess! I'll have to post a few photos of myself so you don't all think I'm emulating a hobo </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fellow-newbies-polished-or-rough-around-the-edges#post-1075059 Tue, 05 Nov 2013 07:30:39 +0000 ramya 1075059@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Curly hair and hardly time for mani pedi makes me ratish:) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fellow-newbies-polished-or-rough-around-the-edges#post-1075052 Tue, 05 Nov 2013 07:01:06 +0000 Petite Marj 1075052@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Polished for sure, except for very short nails. I love a very soft classic look.One of the great things about being semi-retired is that I now have the time to play with it all! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fellow-newbies-polished-or-rough-around-the-edges#post-1075047 Tue, 05 Nov 2013 06:45:49 +0000 RunswithDolphins 1075047@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Polished - regular mani-pedi and neat freak too.&nbsp; I really admire people who can pull off the RATE look but on me it just doesn't seem to work. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fellow-newbies-polished-or-rough-around-the-edges#post-1075041 Tue, 05 Nov 2013 06:39:12 +0000 Gigi 1075041@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I try to be polished, but it's so much work. I think I am probably more RATE. "Neat as a pin" does not describe me, but "slob" doesn't either (thank goodness!). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fellow-newbies-polished-or-rough-around-the-edges#post-1074975 Tue, 05 Nov 2013 04:43:35 +0000 MsLuna 1074975@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I used to be one or the other. I've experimented with both styles, but in the end, I've always been the hard/soft girl. I'm likely 60% RATE 40% polished. I need that combination. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fellow-newbies-polished-or-rough-around-the-edges#post-1074969 Tue, 05 Nov 2013 04:36:39 +0000 claire 1074969@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Team RATE all the way. I like stompy boots and distressed jeans. I get itchy if I'm too polished. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fellow-newbies-polished-or-rough-around-the-edges#post-1074967 Tue, 05 Nov 2013 04:35:48 +0000 Carla 1074967@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Polished...except for the hair, and it's not RATE, just wild and crazy! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fellow-newbies-polished-or-rough-around-the-edges#post-1074959 Tue, 05 Nov 2013 04:30:27 +0000 catgirl 1074959@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hey, I need to thank Angie for giving me credit for coining this term!&nbsp; I now think of it as an actual word, as in "that's a perfect RATE look"!</p> <p>You know where I stand!&nbsp; At least one element of my outfit has to be RATE or I feel like I'm going to panic.<br /> A lot of times, it's my choppy hair or my boot these day.&nbsp; </p> <p>And there is also UWP (Urban Warrior Princess) which plays well with RATE but is not interchangeable...</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fellow-newbies-polished-or-rough-around-the-edges#post-1074955 Tue, 05 Nov 2013 04:27:34 +0000 minimalist 1074955@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Aubergine, I have no idea. Probably I won't know for sure where I fall on this question until I've put together some outfits and posted pictures for forum feedback. (These days, my wardrobe is thingarexic, and I'm just beginning to shop and figure out my current style.)</p> <p>Catnip, I'm with you on comfort! Both polished and RATE can be very comfortable, if I understand correctly. Angie says polished/RATE is an either/or thing.</p> <p>Ceit, I've been wanting to get your RATE take on boots.</p> <p>Suz, thanks! I'm guessing my overall look is RATE, despite preference for the sleek. My lifestyle right now isn't suit-friendly, but that doesn't stop me from trying on Armani at NR when I'm supposed to be just picking up socks ... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fellow-newbies-polished-or-rough-around-the-edges#post-1074910 Tue, 05 Nov 2013 03:27:06 +0000 Catnip 1074910@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Definitely polished, but not too polished.&nbsp; I'd say somewhat polished, but also casual and comfortable... especially comfortable. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fellow-newbies-polished-or-rough-around-the-edges#post-1074895 Tue, 05 Nov 2013 03:11:17 +0000 carter 1074895@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>More Team Polished but wouldn't mind a bit more RATE to keep things interesting. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fellow-newbies-polished-or-rough-around-the-edges#post-1074893 Tue, 05 Nov 2013 03:08:28 +0000 Suz 1074893@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Amy (minimalist) -- your "RATE" sounds quite polished. I mean the mani-pedi/ suits, superb haircuts parts.&nbsp;</p> <p>I'm not a newbie, but my natural default is polish. I do like some distressed and textural items but tend to go for the refined versions, always. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fellow-newbies-polished-or-rough-around-the-edges#post-1074880 Tue, 05 Nov 2013 02:57:29 +0000 Anonymous 1074880@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Probably RATE, but not on the extreme end of it. Can you be RATE without being edgy? </p> <p>I end up looking wrinkled and disheveled when trying to wear anything too crisp or tailored, and I like softer and more textured materials better anyway. I hate tucking shirts in.&nbsp;My hair is naturally thick and&nbsp;frizzy, and I can tame it enough to look presentable, but don't have the energy for the involved straightening/styling to make it look actually&nbsp;neat. I wear lots of warm, low-contrast colors and am drawn to things that are&nbsp;slightly weathered rather than smooth and shiny (e.g., bronze more than gold, suede more than patent).</p> <p>On the other hand, I wear lots of ladylike things like&nbsp;delicate jewelry, ballet flats, and floral prints,&nbsp;and almost always wear subtle makeup. </p> <p>I always have my toenails painted if I'm wearing open-toed shoes, but I can also happily&nbsp;go a few days without getting around to fix it if it's chipped, which probably makes me RATE there too. </p>