This may seem obvious, but I cannot stress enough the importance of good hygiene in a stellar personal appearance. Why is it that so many people who spend little on their personal appearance often look like they haven’t brushed their hair or showered? I think it is because those are the ones that catch my eye; the people that take good care of themselves don’t stand out negatively as being cheap when it comes to personal appearance. As obvious as it may seem, here are a few tips on looking like you’ve spent money when you haven’t:

• Keep your nails pretty. Manicures and pedicures are expensive, but a pair of nail clippers with a built-in file is cheap. In all probability, you already own several. Pick one that you like, give the rest away, and use it on a regular basis. Chances are, you will get compliments on your pretty nails even if you don’t spend any money on regular manicures. You don’t even have to buy polish– just keep your cuticles pushed back and your nails rounded or trimmed, depending on preference.
• Shower regularly. The smell of a clean soap is more refreshing for everyday use than expensive perfumes. Cheap soap is fresh-smelling and expensive body washes are not needed. However, if you like floofy body washes, go right ahead. The point is to be clean.
• Brush your hair. Do you ever notice how movie characters have pretty hair halfway through the movie, even though they’ve been running around like crazy for an hour? It’s because they have a hair stylist in the studio that runs in and brushes their hair between scenes. Keeping a hairbrush in your purse or at your desk costs nothing (you can bring your brush from home if you don’t want to bother with two) and just run it through your hair once or twice. I admit that I don’t actually do this, but my friends have told me that sometimes I look more “wilted” at the end of the day and I think my flat hair has something to do with it.

Practice good posture

It’s like the instant-supermodel technique– stand in front of the mirror and say “Before”, then slouch. Let your shoulders sag and your gut hang out. Then say “After”, and straighten your back, straighten your shoulders, and keep your chin up. You can get a friend and make a game out of it, maybe even taking digital pictures of the “Before” you and the “After” you. I guarantee you, it’s the cheapest instant makeover in the world.

Take Good Care of your Things

This includes ironing your clothes properly. Yet another one that I avoid (I buy knit sweater-shirts and no-iron tailored blouses for work to avoid this step) but it will make your clothes look new longer and more regularly than the alternative. Even getting anal about it and ironing your Tshirts (or at least folding themwhen they come out of the dryer) will make them look newer when you wear them on the weekends.

Accessorize

• Wear Jewelry. Even cheap jewelry will help you look more “put-together” when you leave the house in the mornings. If you are a jewelry person, then arranging your current jewelry with different outfits could help you feel updated without spending more on additional items. If you are not a jewelry person, picking one or two pieces that go with all your clothes can add polish to your overall look. I have a few pieces of cheap jewelry that I am mostly too lazy to wear. Just adding that extra touch can update your look without spending any additional cash.
• Understand What you Like and what Works for You. If you think you look best with your hair done a certain way, you can do it that way consistently without spending a lot of money on unique hair accessories that you rarely wear. If you know exactly what items of makeup work best for you, you don’t need to buy a lot to change up your look. The same is true for any accessories– find what works and what you enjoy.

Smile More

As cheesy as it sounds, smiles complete any outfit. Some people are natural smilers, others are not; if you aren’t, there’s no shame in practicing in front of a mirror. Everyone I knew in college theatre freely admitted to practicing raising either eyebrow in front of a mirror; this surprised me because I thought I was the only one who did such things. I wasn’t. Smile more often. If people are looking at your face, they aren’t paying attention to whether or not you are wearing this season’s shoes or last.

Don’t Put Yourself Down Again

This may seem obvious, but many of us complain about our looks, which calls attention to what we see as our shortcomings. If you spill on yourself, complaining about it just helps people to notice. If your pants are too short (a perennial problem for anyone who is tall) or your clothes are too tight (we all gain weight from time to time, or have clothes shrink in the wash), then telling people will only accentuate any problems that you feel exist. If you feel like someone else truly has a better fashion sense (or a bigger budget), then by all means, feel free to compliment them, but don’t add “Gee, I wish I could look that good.” Believe it, and you will.

Of course, there may still be little ways that you like to indulge yourself in your personal appearance– just don’t feel that you have to overextend yourself financially just to look good.

Image: Girl at the Mirror by Norman Rockwell