How to look polished and refined: ten tips for achieving an elegant look

I have always admired women who manage to look polished and elegant every day. Some women have naturally mastered the art of looking refined, while others still struggle daily just to look vaguely presentable.

In fact, the formula to achieving a polished appearance is quite simple; it doesn’t require you to invest a lot of time or money, but rather to acquire a bit of knowledge, make a little effort, and do some preparation in advance.

In this article I will share the simple (yet effective) ways that will help you look polished, elegant, and classy at all times.

Awareness is key:

One thing that all women who manage to look elegant and refined have in common is self-awareness.

An elegant woman is always aware of her appearance; she tidies up her sleeves and collar, refreshes her perfume, and fixes her hair.

Check yourself occasionally throughout the day and make adjustments when necessary. Tuck your shirt in neatly, tidy up your sleeves, refresh your breath, and fix your makeup. The simplest and smallest adjustments can significantly affect your appearance.

Always be well groomed – simplify your grooming routine:

You might not like to hear this, but in order to look groomed and polished you must invest a bit of effort in hygiene, and in, well… grooming.

As an elegant woman you should always sort out the basic components of grooming. Have a simple and sleek haircut (that you can easily style and maintain), keep your nails filed and clean, and groom your eyebrows (and any other body hair for that matter) regularly.

If you struggle to properly follow your grooming routine, reevaluate it, simplify it, and discard unnecessary tasks; your routine shouldn’t be too complicated, expensive, or time consuming.

Remember that less is more, and opt for easy yet effective steps to help you simplify your grooming routine. For example, keep your nails neat and translucently polished rather than bold and brash; the latter are especially hard to style and maintain.

Maintain a proper fit:

To look as elegant and refined as possible, maintain a proper fit amongst all the items in your wardrobe. Without the correct fit, even the most stylish and expensive outfit will look messy and scruffy.

Sometimes all that’s required for your clothes to suit you is a simple hem or a tiny pinch in the waist. Pay an occasional visit to the tailor; you will be surprised by how quickly and drastically the simplest things can transform your appearance.

Build your wardrobe essentials:

Have you ever sat in front of your bursting closet and thought to yourself “I have absolutely nothing to wear”? The feeling is familiar to us all.

We are taught to update our wardrobe according to latest trends and to the colors and styles of the season. We rush to the stores, spend our money, and often end up with various styles that are hard to combine.

The solution is actually quite simple. To look polished, all you need are a few reliable key pieces to form the foundation of your closet; those pieces should be timeless and easy to mix and match with other, trendier, items in your closet.

Learn more in my article about wardrobe essentials that every classy woman needs.

Steam your clothes:

If you want to achieve a polished appearance, you must purchase an iron and learn how to properly use is.

Creased, or wrinkled clothes will never look polished (and neither will dirty ones). Make a habit of ironing or steaming your clothes before you hang them in your closet.

Wear neutral-colored clothes:

Indeed, you can achieve an elegant look by wearing colorful clothes, but achieving that look becomes much easier through wearing clothes of neutral color. When worn distastefully, colored clothing can appear cheap and messy.

Clothes of neutral colors, especially black and white, tend to look polished, sleek, and elevated, and can be styled year-round.

Choose any of the colors black, white, or beige for your clothes; those versatile hues will always get the job done.

A quick tip: to look refined, wear a monochromatic shade, or different shades of the same color, from head to toe.

Take care of your shoes:

Have you ever heard the old saying “you can tell a gentleman by his shoes”? Well, as much as that aphorism applies to men, I think that it is also applicable to women.

Showing attention detail, by selecting elegant shoes, shows your ability as an elegant woman to take care of the things that you love. Wearing clean and well-polished shoes can create a good impression in all settings and occasions. On the contrary, wearing crumbling and dirty shoes (especially for a business setting) can give the impression that you do not think highly of yourself, or of those around you.

No matter how flawless your hair is and how expensive your dress is – your shoes can instantly change your look from polished to sloppy.

To look refined from head to toe, take care of your shoes and clean them regularly; get them reheeled, resoled, and completely replace them when necessary.

Wear structured outerwear:

The easiest (and fastest) way to look refined in fall and winter is to wear a structured coat; coats are the most visible item that we wear, but, sadly, they are often overlooked.

Acquire a light belted trench coat for fall, and a heavier wool coat for winter. Look for a structured fit and high-quality fabrics that help to instantly create a polished appearance.

Practice good posture:

When you see an elegant woman, you notice not only her outfit, but also the way she carries herself. It is not only the woman’s physical appearance that looks polished and put-together; it is she, as a whole, who is put-together. An elegant woman derives her polished look from her outfit, her hygiene, her grooming, and especially her posture.

To look elegant, make an effort to keep your posture tall and upright. Do not slouch – roll your shoulders backwards and straighten your back.

Put on one item that makes you feel good:

A polished appearance is also affected by your attitude. When you get dressed in the morning, put on one item that makes you feel ethereal, expensive, and elegant. The monetary price of this magical item does not matter; what matters is the way it makes you feel and think.

Pick a simple gold necklace for a day in the office, your favorite pumps for a dinner outside, and your luxurious perfume for a special night inside the house.

My go-to “feel good” item is my Chanel No.5 – a simple spray that can make me feel elevated, proud, and get me ready for a new day.

What is your “feel good” item? Please leave a comment in the section below.