https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-someone-appear-unpolished Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sun, 03 May 2026 20:39:48 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-someone-appear-unpolished/page/2#post-255836 Wed, 24 Nov 2010 19:08:15 +0000 RoseandJoan 255836@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I was on duty at Nursery today, I had been setting up and playing with the children on the floor, I was wearing a black and cream polo (turtle) neck, a denim dress and black opaque tights. A little girl who was wearing a dress and leggings walked over and said 'I like your dress but why are you all dusty', now that is very unpolished. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-someone-appear-unpolished/page/2#post-255828 Wed, 24 Nov 2010 18:53:56 +0000 Evie 255828@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Kari - me too! I guess I (over?)compensate by doing bold colors on my toenails. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-someone-appear-unpolished/page/2#post-255825 Wed, 24 Nov 2010 18:42:20 +0000 Kari 255825@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Chipped nail polish is the reason why I never paint my nails or get manicures - I am clumsy and wind up with chips almost immediately. It's easier and much cheaper just to leave my nails "naked" and keep them buffed and trimmed. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-someone-appear-unpolished/page/2#post-255810 Wed, 24 Nov 2010 18:22:37 +0000 kellygirl 255810@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I haven't read through all of the responses but I find chipped nail polish, dirty shoes, greasy hair and shredded hems very unpolished. There are more, I'm afraid, but these are probably the worst offenders in my book. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-someone-appear-unpolished#post-255804 Wed, 24 Nov 2010 18:17:36 +0000 biscuitsmom 255804@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sloppy clothing, dirty or greasy looking hair (especially with dark roots showing) unflossed teeth and dirty fingernails just kill any good qualities about the person's total look to me... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-someone-appear-unpolished#post-255783 Wed, 24 Nov 2010 17:42:33 +0000 Evie 255783@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Showing underwear... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-someone-appear-unpolished#post-255745 Wed, 24 Nov 2010 16:26:00 +0000 Sally 255745@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I never brush my hair. I have really straight hair that just falls and doesn't knot. Well you guys have seen photos.<br /> Anyway when I read Tim Gunn's book (I'm sure it was his) or it could have been another style book, he described unbrushed /untidy hair as part of a stylised look....obviously the one I'm going for:) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-someone-appear-unpolished#post-255735 Wed, 24 Nov 2010 16:20:21 +0000 Beth 255735@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Worn and/or ill fitting clothes, unkempt hair, chipped nailpolish, and excessive makeup say "unpolished" to me.</p> <p>I agree with Maya that for me, accessories don't factor in. When I think of polish, I think of many people, but Jennifer Aniston and Carolyn Bessette come to mind. Both of them are (were) very understated with minimal accessories. Their polish came from cleanly styled, beautifully cut clothing, sleek hair and underplayed makeup. Lovely. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-someone-appear-unpolished#post-255696 Wed, 24 Nov 2010 15:30:21 +0000 Maya 255696@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>An, I don't think a lack of accessories is unpolished. When I think of unpolished, I think of egregious errors in grooming like scraggly hair, unkempt nails, missing a patch when shaving, etc (unfortunately I can be accused of all of this and more). </p> <p>For me the biggest offender is hair that is not maintained. I don't mean messy hair (some of us honestly can't help it--no matter how much time we put into styling, it all goes to waste with one gust of wind). I mean getting a relaxer or a dye job and not keeping up the maintenance as new hair grows in. Nothing looks weirder to my eye than than black roots and blonde ends, or straight ends and kinky roots. I understand some of these people are probably growing the dye job or relaxer out, but it definitely doesn't look right.</p> <p>A complete lack of accessories might make an outfit look incomplete or bare to me, but not unpolished. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-someone-appear-unpolished#post-255578 Wed, 24 Nov 2010 05:52:38 +0000 An 255578@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Unstyled or unkempt hair rates very highly followed by ratty shoes, poor posture, foul language,dirty/unironed clothes and unkempt nails. </p> <p>Probably no real surprized there although it's a reminder to me to pay attention to the upkeep of my shoes. </p> <p>MaryK made an interesting point about lack of accessories. I'm a bit of a minimalist and will often have no or minimal accessories. Do you think that would neccessarily make me look unpolished or would there have to be other factors as well. Today I wore a white denim pencil skirt, mid blue and white striped cowl neck top with pewter gladiators. I passed all the other polished criteria except I didn't wear any accessories apart from a large two-tone BF watch and my wedding ring and sunnies. I didn't feel unpolished. I should post a WIW pic and get some feedback :-)</p> <p>Thanks again for all your comments. Interesting discussion. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-someone-appear-unpolished#post-255574 Wed, 24 Nov 2010 05:38:49 +0000 Sihaya 255574@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Dirty or smelley. Someone who treats others unkindly. Jeans that drag beneath their shoes and the hem gets totally ratty. on guys, pants that hang near the crotch. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-someone-appear-unpolished#post-255512 Wed, 24 Nov 2010 03:14:55 +0000 Lisa 255512@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Taylor you are too funny!</p> <p>I find greasy hair, bad breath, poor fitting clothes (too tight, too short, too baggy) fit into unkempt for me. And if you don't brush your hair before you leave the house, yes others do notice. (I have a co worker who rolls out of bed most days and there's not a brush to be seen) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-someone-appear-unpolished#post-255450 Wed, 24 Nov 2010 01:39:03 +0000 taylor 255450@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Dirty hair, dirty body, dirty clothes.</p> <p>I am particularly sensitive to dirty unwashed hair...even when other people can't smell it...I can :(</p> <p>I was going to say dirty(words) mouth...but since that includes me from time to time ...I will conveniently omit that </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-someone-appear-unpolished#post-255446 Wed, 24 Nov 2010 01:30:50 +0000 Maya 255446@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You guys would think I'm the least polished, scruffiest, nastiest person on earth judging by the criteria laid out here... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-someone-appear-unpolished#post-255363 Tue, 23 Nov 2010 22:49:19 +0000 Katiepea 255363@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I must say that I agree with R&amp;J. The way that someone carries themself can really affect my perception of him/her. </p> <p>Where I live, a lot of people suffer from frizzy hair when the summer heat and humidity hits despite their best efforts to try and tame it (ahem). So, to me, a small degree of frizziness in the hair department is not always an indicator of polish or amount of effort taken in my book. (There is of course, a difference between uncontrollable frizz and "I couldn't be bothered to brush it!" though. )</p> <p>I would add faded and stretched out t-shirts, tracksuit pants and thongs (flip-flops) that are discoloured or perishing. Yuck! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-someone-appear-unpolished#post-255356 Tue, 23 Nov 2010 22:45:25 +0000 Angie 255356@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Nice one, Julie. I was going to suggest manners. Someone can look killer fabulous - but when they appear badly mannered, are rough around the edges, or have potty mouth - it absolutely kills it for me. Grace and elegance is natural polish - almost above everything else. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-someone-appear-unpolished#post-255313 Tue, 23 Nov 2010 20:19:54 +0000 RoseandJoan 255313@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is not aimed at people with sore backs but beautiful clothing, hair and make-up can be totally ruined by bad posture, hunched shoulders and slouching in a seat is very UNpolished. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-someone-appear-unpolished#post-255308 Tue, 23 Nov 2010 19:59:22 +0000 Anonymous 255308@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is a really hard question since it seems like every person on earth could do SOMETHING to mess up an outfit. But in general, even the most casual of dresser can still look polished if they do the following: Keep their roots groomed, keep their shoes in good condition and wear good fitting, PPL jeans. And if you are going to polish your nails, please keep them chip-free. Those are the big ones for me. Everything else could follow under the general guideline of if you are going to put it on your body, make sure its in good condition. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-someone-appear-unpolished#post-255298 Tue, 23 Nov 2010 19:42:05 +0000 Barbara 255298@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Jonesy, I totally get you. I too live in a University town and am visually bombarded every day by some of the sloppiest dressed girls I've ever seen. Uggs - yikes! Cowboy boots with skirts that barely cover the bum. Scary. The raggedy hem jeans are the worst. Ick.</p> <p>I can understand the penniliess college student effect, but couldn't a girl wear jeans and a cute top without breaking the bank? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-someone-appear-unpolished#post-255294 Tue, 23 Nov 2010 19:35:31 +0000 Evie 255294@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The way I see it, besides what everybody else said, cloth handbags and "washed-out" clothes (you can tell they've been through the washer/dryer cycle too many times, esp. with cotton items I think, or the quality of the fabric is poor) make someone appear unpolished. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-someone-appear-unpolished#post-255280 Tue, 23 Nov 2010 19:08:14 +0000 Ljubica 255280@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Scruffy clothes, too many details, unruly hair, lack of a spritz or two of a nice perfume... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-someone-appear-unpolished#post-255274 Tue, 23 Nov 2010 19:01:32 +0000 lynne 255274@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ratty shoes, dirty nails, rubber flip flops instead of shoes. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-someone-appear-unpolished#post-255204 Tue, 23 Nov 2010 16:16:20 +0000 Anonymous 255204@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It is all in the details for me. My personal deal breakers: Unkept hair, ratty shoes, wrinkly clothes, chipped nail polish. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-someone-appear-unpolished#post-255201 Tue, 23 Nov 2010 15:54:46 +0000 LeahJanes 255201@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Chipped nail varnish is a pet bugbear of mine. Always makes anyone look unpolished even if the rest of them is perfectly put together. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-someone-appear-unpolished#post-255200 Tue, 23 Nov 2010 15:48:52 +0000 Jonesy 255200@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am really grossed out by long bootcut jeans, left really long so that several inches drag underfoot and get all mangy, shredded, and disgusting. Sometimes they are so long that the wearer has split up the side, at the seam, to allow the leg opening to open up (if that makes sense). They usually look like they haven't ever seen the inside of a washing machine. I see this look a lot at the grocery store, usually with flip flops or Ugg-like boots, on young women and men (I live in a university town). </p> <p>More generally, I think bad hair contributes to someone looking less than polished (I realize that bad hair is somewhat subjective!), and wearing really ill-fitting or dated clothes/shoes. Also, too much make-up and over-tweezed eyebrows, for women.</p> <p>I feel like I should add that I have lots of work colleagues who really don't care about fashion or style; it's just not what they focus on. But when I look at them I don't think "She is so unpolished"; instead I see a fab colleague who is just herself, if that makes sense. People prioritize different things, and I totally respect that. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-someone-appear-unpolished#post-255186 Tue, 23 Nov 2010 15:29:16 +0000 MsMary 255186@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>And a total lack of accessories makes someone look "unpolished." I work with somebody who is perfectly well groomed and wears perfectly decent clothes that fit her just fine. But you'd never call her "polished" because there's never an accessory to be seen. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-someone-appear-unpolished#post-255174 Tue, 23 Nov 2010 15:19:51 +0000 Barbara 255174@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Poor grooming, improper fit/style of clothing and lack of attention to detail. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-someone-appear-unpolished#post-255162 Tue, 23 Nov 2010 15:07:32 +0000 Queen Mum 255162@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>un-styled hair, ill fitting clothing (either too tight or too baggy) , wrinkled clothing, ratty shoes </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-someone-appear-unpolished#post-255159 Tue, 23 Nov 2010 15:04:00 +0000 PalmFronds 255159@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Using repeated foul language in public. I know this may not be par of "appearance" but for me it is a serious detractor from someone who otherwise appears put together. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-makes-someone-appear-unpolished#post-255156 Tue, 23 Nov 2010 15:00:53 +0000 Kate 255156@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>In addition to ratty shoes, unkempt hair, and ill fitting clothes, I would like to add:</p> <p>unkempt nails (dirty, long with different lengths, otherwise damaged)<br /> poorly applied makeup<br /> forgot to shave a patch of their leg(s)<br /> bad posture<br /> dated clothes (that they don't realize are dated) </p>