Six Ways to Instantly Look More Polished

Its easy to get into a style rut when you are mostly at home and looking after the kids, but one of my aims this year is to look more polished on a daily basis. Here are six quick and easy ways to instantly look more polished!

This is one of my favourite tricks from autumn through to spring.  Throwing on a fitted blazer or jacket over a pair of dark jeans and a tank or tee will instantly make the outfit look more put together and polished. Check your wardrobe to see if you still have one left over from your working days. Otherwise, invest in a jacket with simple, clean lines, and few details that will date (eg gold buttons). Black is a classic, but I wish I had a navy one instead, and a dark charcoal blazer is a mainstay of my wardrobe. It doesn't even have to be woven fabric. My charcoal blazer is a knit fabric, and is as comfortable as wearing a sweater.

This is my summer version of the above. Even in a casual fabric like jersey, wearing a dress just seems, I don't know, dressier! In summer, I find there is nothing cooler and more comfortable than throwing on a tailored jersey dress. The tailored style, versus, let's say, a t-shirt style, automatically looks more polished just by its design, and yet, it is just as practical as anything else you could choose to wear.

A simple ponytail or an artfully messy chignon can be instantly upgraded with a chic hair accessory. A cute trick is to pin in a jeweled brooch by sliding bobby pins under the brooch closure. For something less dressy, a simple but stylish ponytail holder will upgrade your do to a hair-style instead of a busy mom-style. Note, I am not talking about a scrunchy here! I have the ponytail holder, above, from France Luxe, and I love it because it is very simple and classic. However, you can get a thousand different types to suit all types of fashion styles, from boho to glam.

There is nothing brings down a look more than chipped nail polish.  As a busy mum, a nude or pale pink shade will last the longest as will show the chips a lot less than a bright red lacquer. Make sure you refresh you polish at least weekly, or skip the polish all together and buff your nails instead for a simple and stylish look with minimal maintenance. If you really like the look of brights on your nails, but not the almost daily touch ups, then invest in a Shellac manicure, which will last up to two weeks if done properly at a good salon. My nails above are in CND Shellac in Wildfire, and I had it done just over a week ago. I usually get one more week before the nail growth shows and I need to do it again.  If this was regular polish, it would already have been chipped the day I had it done!

I love this look - a stack of gold or silver bangles on your arm automatically add a glam and polished touch to even the plainest outfit. A simple white tank and skinny jeans look amazing when paired with gleaming bangles stacked high. And the best thing? Bangles like these never go out of style! I have ordered 2 sets of these from Nordstrom; I love that they are just a little bit different to plain gold bangles, but are classic enough that they won't look dated in 6 months.

Even if the rest of your makeup is minimal, make sure you focus on achieving a polished base. Use a brightening primer to even out your skin, and top with a tinted moisturiser or light foundation, and then a brightening concealer over any undereye circles. Lipstick looks more polished than gloss, and look for a nice creamy one in a colour that brightens your face.  If you have another minute, add a swipe of blush, and a slick of mascara for an even more finished look.