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How to look more polished

Jean Gray

I tore out an article recently from InStyle magazine (Sept. 09) and am curious what everyone's thoughts are. Would you add or do you disagree with any of it?
I could not find a link so here are the highlights:

10 Ways to Look More Polished:

1. Manage your manicure (I translate this as just paying attention to your hands and nails)

2.Wear a signature scent

3.Practice your posture.("The goal is to be poised yet natural")

4.Skip the scrunchie (Use more sophisticated hair accessories. They suggest a tortoise barrette)

5.Lose the shine (Makeup that gives your skin a finish that is "neither dewy nor overly powdered")

6. Plan ahead. Set aside regular time to schedule professional services.

7.Find your beauty uniform "a go-to eye and lip combo is key to looking pulled together." I believe Angie posted something similar before Christmas.

8. Stock up on hairspray. "This versatile and underappreciated product guarantees great hair everyday" (I use a lotion instead to smooth out any frizzies)

9. Leave a flat iron at work..."for a quick office touch-up"

10. Wake up in time to get ready. So many YLF members are also good at preparing their outfits in advance which I think goes hand in hand with waking up in time.

I don't expect you to comment on every one of these ofcourse. Just interested to hear your feedback, as looking more polished/pulled together is what I am striving for most of all right now.

General

24 replies

Latest reply was from Jean Gray

taylor

Veteran

Those all sound like good solid ideas. Thanks...I try to follow most...hair is too short for a scunchie anyway:)

AJ

Veteran

I agree with everything except the signature scent and hairspray.

Now do I follow most of these...no. I would like to though. Having kids hinders me from doing my nails because I know they'll chip the next day. Although Sally Hansen makes a clear polish with a bit of pink that adds just a hint of shine as if you had buffed your nails. I've tried it and like it's barely there aspect.
http://www.sallyhansen.com/product.cfm?product=44

I don't wear make-up unless I'm going somewhere fancy. I really should try to make an effort in this department though.

I also need to strenghthen my core so that I have better posture.

One goal this year is to wake up in time to get ready. I love sleeping in too much!!

Maya

Veteran

I disagree or partially disagree with the following:

Hairspray: I like to have soft hair that has actual movement. Hairspray--any brand, any degree of hold--makes my hair feel sticky and/or crunchy, which I can't stand. It doesn't even make my hair look nice.

Flat iron at work: Bone straight hair isn't the only stylish option (and I say this as someone who has bone straight hair). I also would find this bizarre unless you work in a salon. Seeing a woman run between her desk and the bathroom with a flat iron in hand would not leave me with a positive impression. It just seems like a very extreme thing to do. Probably bad for your hair too. If you don't have an outlet in the bathroom, which is very likely, you'd have to do it at your desk which is akin to cutting your nails or other personal grooming to me. Just weird and unprofessional.

Signature scent: I just found my scent but I'm careful about this one. I accept that not everyone is going to love my choice of scent, and unlike clothes, a scent can be intrusive and offensive. I find it very unpleasant to be around someone who is wearing a scent I don't like, or someone who is wearing a very heavy scent. It just shows a lack of consideration to me. I don't believe in the whole your-scent-should-enter-the-room-before-you-do thing. That's too heavy IMO. I prefer a scent to be detected only to those who come close to you...within 2 feet tops. So, now that I have offended all of you...

Beauty uniform: I don't need eye makeup and don't particularly love it on others during the day. A little mascara if you really need it, but that's all I can take. Even then, I find black eyelashes on blonde heads a little odd looking. But that is obviously just me...

fathenry

Veteran

I like the idea of looking polished - would love to pull it off someday!

#1 just seems impossible on natural nails - nail polish chips after one day!
#2 Yes - easy and everyone can do it. Agree with this one
#3 Yes- everyone can do it an it's important!
#4 Hmm, I think most hair accessories that show are too much. Agree
#5 not sure I understand, I like some shine to my makeup, but not glitter!
#6 disagree - I do a lot of my "services" myself and only occasionally go to professional when I need to. It's not something I schedule.
#7 agree - having a routine that you know looks good saves a lot of time on weekday mornings. Experiement with new colors on the weekends.
#8 agree - this is my go to hair product. spray it on a brush and run it through my hair and it stays nicer.
#9 rediculous - what about just a brush? Run a brush through your hair after you walk in from out side maybe?
#10 agree - but do this the night before. So much easier if you're not a morning person.

marianna

Veteran

In general I think these "tips" are all pretty ridiculous. I think looking polished just requires a bit of common sense...

I also have to question why women are given sooo many beauty rules? I'd love to find a list like this for men.

Mac

Veteran

Hear, hear, Marianna! I find these rules for women troubling.

And the notion that somehow a "signature scent" helps make one polished is just weird. So... if you experiment with different perfumes, you're not polished? If you choose to just be clean and fresh but not use any scent, you're not polished? I know people in many fields - from wine merchants to nurses - aren't supposed to wear any scent on the job; this makes them unpolished?

RoseandJoan

Veteran

For me those pointers refer to a Park Avenue type of polish, which is a fabulous look but one of many that I consider to be polished.

I like to keep my nails short and polish free, I wear my hair curly, I do not use hair products, I do wear scent and follow Angie's 30 second makeup routine. I guess I aspire to a sort of natural polish, is that a contradiction in terms?

Louise

Veteran

#1 Great idea and one i really must pay more attention to,
#2 I think smelling clean is more important, this translates to no BO, hair that doesn't smell of chip fat or ciggies, ditto clothes,
#3 humm i guess this makes sense,
#4 Agree, scrunchies are more suited to the gym IMO,
#5 I'm a no make up girl and i think good skin is more important again i need to follow my own advice and cut down on the coke (the drink not drugs!!) as i'm going spotty!
#6 Disagree i think this can be done yourself so should translate to set aside time for your self,
#7 Another one i really should follow but a pared down version like Angie's basic one,
#8 No way!
#9 I've got more important things to do than straighten my hair!
#10 Very good suggestion x

londonkiwi (now back in NZ)

Veteran

I agree with Maya, straight hair isn't the only way to look groomed. If I flat ironed my hair every day I would ruin it!

I have seen someone straightening their hair on the esculators coming out of a tube (subway) station once...

stringy

Veteran

I agree: there's more than one way to look polished. It depends very much on where you are and what you're doing.

I know a girl who even manages to look polished when we're all sweating in the heat and drinking beer at large music festivals. We all dress for comfort, but somehow her little hat and sunnies and shorts look so much more *together* than ours. I don't know how she manages it.

Her wedding is coming up soon and I'm excited to see what she wears, because if she can look elegant in 40 degree heat with a beer in her hand, I reckon she'll be drop-dead gorgeous in a wedding dress.

Ele

(website)

Yeesh. I agree, it's a bit ridiculous that all these "polish" tips are more about beauty, really. And as a curly-haired girl, I find the flat-iron tip somewhat offensive! (Though unfortunately, this isn't the first time in my life that I've been told straight hair is smart while curly is wild/unkempt/whathaveyou.)

I think stringy has touched on something: how much of "polish" is external and how much is just innate?

My best friend is almost ridiculously glamorous and polished, and she just can't help it. I've known her for almost 8 years and believe me, she looks like a film star even with in bed with the flu with a mountain of tissues around her, or in her pj's, crying her eyes out over a silly sad movie. I'm not even talking about physical beauty- just a weird sense of elegance and refinement that seems to emanate from her.

In contrast, my Mum has very little polish (don't worry, she wouldn't be offended by this!). She loves fashion, has great taste and many beautiful, flattering clothes. But she's just too scatterbrained to really have that sense of "polish"- she'd be the first person to spill something down the front of her expensive suit (a trait I've unfortunately inherited), or is likely to come home from work/church in a great outfit, see some weeds on the front lawn and begin to absentmindedly do the yard work! For her, "polish" is just too much effort, while to my friend it comes automatically.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

To me, all of these tips just boil down to the same things- take care of yourself every day. That means not waiting until things are looking bad to take care of them (be it the fit of your clothes, or your overgrown cuticles/hair), and check in throughout the day. It's smart advice when you put it that way.

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

A note on hairspray...I live in a climate that can be VERY humid. If I don't use a hairspray, my hair gets limp and lifeless too fast. I use a CHI product that is designed to leave movement to the hair and ward off effects from humidity. A must.
But a flat iron at work? Not neccessary.
Love the tips on keeping up with a manicure. My nails are horrible right now.
I love makeup, and I keep my work makeup pretty basic. But I like to have fun on nights and weekends. Maybe that isn't polished, but it's fun.

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

I actually thought there was a certain amount of overlap between this list and Angie's general tips, though as many of you point out, these pointers can be interpreted in less rigid ways. I'm with Maya on both the hair spray and flat iron question...completely absurd. I despise hair spray and will only wear it grudgingly on very dressy occasions. Similarly I think flat-ironing hair at work is excessive. The fact that the rule flat out rejects a huge percentage of most women's natural look isn't very cool either (whatever happened to natural beauty)? I have a signature scent and feel it contributes to my overall style quotient, and I know Angie advocates for this point too... But once again, Maya, I agree that it shouldn't dominate you and shouldn't precede you into a room. Sensitivity to others is more stylish than anything, and the fact that some people have a hard time with fragrance should absolutely be considered, imo.

The rest of it is basic common sense, to me. Take care of yourself and the results will show.

Queen Mum

Veteran

I have to agree that taking a flat iron to work is a bit over the top-- but I also want to defend the flat iron here-- using a flat iron doesn't necessarily mean stick straight hair. My hair has quite a personality of it's own (kindof like one of my children :-/ and when there is a piece that is not wanting to cooperate, my stylist will take the straight iron and tame it into submission. She even uses it to curl my hair sometimes. I'm not nearly as talented with the straight iron, but I just wanted to throw that out there for those of you who were taking offense. And Ele-- I ADORE curly hair. Don't let anyone tell you it's not fab!

And as far as hairspray-- I'll stick up for it too like Sarah did. My fave hairspray is Redkin 23. Not harsh and sticky at all.

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

I use a flat iron to curl my hair, too. Much more natural looking curls, in my opinion.

Jean Gray

Maybe I should have phrased this differently....What do you think gives a woman a polished look?

I didn't think at all about the flat iron bit as the office is not my scene right now. I certainly don't think curly hair = unpolished. I just read that as a tip for women who already use a straight iron to begin with. But yes taking it to work is excessive.

I've been trying to "upgrade" to better looking nails as I've never been good about this. I've been focusing now on just keeping them neat and the same length...short. Thank you AJ for the Sally Hansen tip. I will definitely check that out.
Anyway, formulas and top ten type lists are my thing for whatever reason...I think they are kind of fun. But I also agree looking polished isn't limited to this list. Thank you for your input. I look forward to more comments!

Kristine

Veteran

Well, I can defend the flat iron, or curling iron, at work. If it's very cold I wear a hat and I ride a bike or motorcycle in the summer. Helmet or hat head isn't very nice looking! I bought one of those small butane curling irons for emergencies. I have a private locking bathroom and get to work long before anyone else. It only takes a minute or two.

Maya

Veteran

I don't have anything against flat irons or hair spray. I do have a bone to pick with a list that says both of these things are a "must have" in order to look polished. YOU need to find your own solutions, not go by some stupid list. I use a flat iron on the ends of my hair while growing it out, but bringing it to work is ridiculous.

I'm with Ele to a certain extent. I'm not a polished person and probably never will be. It's ok though, I like being a goofball.

cciele

Veteran

I agree with polish being, in part, an innate thing. I don't think I could pull off polished if I tried!

I think there is a stereotype of "polished" that the list is going for (not that there's anything wrong with lists -- I like them, too): well-groomed, sleek hair, natural make-up, poised.

I do like the common-sense advice given in the list, which equates to being well-rested, not stressed, and neat in appearance.

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

I'm late to the party again, but I agree with Ele, it is strange that all of these relate to beauty and makeup tips, not clothing or style.

To me, looking polished means making sure everything goes together. Not "matchy", but that it goes. A work outfit gets a work-appropriate bag and shoe, there is always a necklace or a finishing piece of jewelry, my tights always go with my shoes, etc. Everything fits, everything is in good shape, and the colors coordinate with each other.

Anonymous

Clothing fit and appropriateness for the occasion and footwear in good shape, clean, polished and without rundown heels need to be added to the list.

Maya

Veteran

I am not a high maintenance girl, and all of this stuff just sounds like a lot of work to me. While I appreciate people putting time and effort into their appearance, there is a tipping point where it becomes vain and obsessive to me, particularly when you start to hold others to the same standards. I acknowledge the importance of presentation, otherwise I wouldn't be here, but frankly...there are more important things in life than whether or not my hair is pin straight or my nail is chipped. I'm not going to run to the salon every week for touchups. This sort of advice seems geared towards Park Avenue housewives, not real people.

I am fully aware and accepting of the fact that I am never going to be polished. I don't have the personality or the willpower for it. I'm hairy as a goat and have no intention of getting a full body wax every six weeks, and some days I care more about makeup than others. I like my new fragrance but I will wear it when I feel like it, and not wear it when I don't (why waste it?). As long as I maintain basic hygiene, all of this other stuff seems very non-essential.

Jean Gray

I just want to apologize. I think that this thread seemed to really irk quite a few people and that was not my intention. Please just see it as an effort on my part to learn your thoughts on how you personally put together a more polished appearance...as I said I'm trying to bring more polish to my wardrobe/look because it certainly doesn't come naturally to me! (Much like the example Ele gave of her mom.) The article was just something I saw as a jumping off point for discussion not gospel by any stretch. I certainly don't mind your honesty or passion though. So I guess this is just my little disclaimer!