How to look 'expensive'

[INeedSomeHelp]

I'm not sure if that's the right word but I was in Sainsbury's today and the woman in the queue in front of me just looked 'expensive'.
She wasn't wearing anything remarkable - a leather jacket with a fur collar, skinny jeans and brown knee length boots but somehow she looked 'done' whereas I looked like a sack of spuds.
How to achieve that expensive look without the budget?

Posture matters a great deal. My exercise teacher is 67 and generally not well-to-d0, but wears very ordinary clothes (with a few outrageously expensive presents) incredibly well. She's not skinny but she stands elegantly and moves fluently whatever she is doing. She stands out like a thoroughbred among carthorses, and most of the cart horses probably spend three times what she does on clothes and grooming. One reason that Pilates is so popular with "expensive" people is that it puts such emphasis on posture. However, it is impossible (so I have been told) to teach in groups of more than eight, or to learn from a DVD, and that alone makes classes quite expensive.

Good thread! One of the few I have read all through.

I was thinking about this thread when talking about books earlier (stay with me, there is a point in this!) and i remembered a bit in an Agatha Christie book "The Body in the Library" - she's talking about the difference between upper class 'gals' and the lower types. She talks about why the murder victim has changed her dress, supposidly to meet a man, and not changed into her best dress, or into something appropriate for the occasion, like a tweed skirt and jumper (she was going for a car ride at night). Miss Marple goes back to talk about a picnic for her whole village and the lower classes (although that's not how she words it) all put on their best clothes, not the most appropriate ones for a social occasion.

It struck me on this thread about the comment about people without a lot of money suddenly having a big chunk to spend and thinking they wanted something showy they'd get lots of attention for, and Victoria Beckham often looking over dressed. The truely 'posh' wear what's right for that occasion, not always dressed up. So value good quality basics as well as good quality 'going out' clothes, because you won't always just get dressed up, but wear what's right for the occasion.

Bit like some designer bags with casual/cheap clothes, if they are formal/work bags, it's not just that they look fake with the cheaper clothes, they look like the wrong choice of bag. A structrured black Prada galleria bag with casual jeans and jumper will look a bit wrong, and a Chloe Marcie with a suit can look a bit out of place as it's a more casual bag, more suited to a casual outfit. The truely rich and posh will have several expensive and good quality bags (note, not automatically 'designer') and can use the right one for an outfit.

I am permanently overdressed traitor trash. I remember reading that in the same book dinosaurs and thinking - that is me

Trailer trash,

Philoslothy - yep, me too! I realised that was where I was going wrong, it is worth spending money on a casual clothes as I'd look better in good quality basics for a relaxed lunch than overdressing because my casual stuff is all a bit crap!

Also, knowing what the right clothes are for the occasion, not really feeling comfortable that you'll get it right and so over compensating with a fancier dress than is necessary to avoid being 'underdressed' is a clear marker of my "riff raff but trying" status.

I agree with most of what has been said here. Don't forget to iron and polish your shoes.

I am still baffled.A lot of the pictures, links etc pretty much describe my style/how I dress but as MrsCB said I don't think I would want to be regarded as looking expensive. I try and look stylish and dress with care whether I am just staying in, or just popping to the supermarket. I do think it's a mindset thing.

Two things I have disagreed with a lot on this thread is that you can only achieve style (can't use the word expensive!!) by looking tall and slim, and, also there is just one look, the classic look.

I am slim but petite okay a short arse and it means that I dress for my frame. Equally earlier someone said Dawn French doesn't look expensive. Again not sure what expensive is but in many of the pictures I see, she looks bloody stylish, especially when she has that stunning blunt haircut. Again, she dresses for her frame.

Also, there are many ways to be stylish, and yes, the classic look is the easiest but it's certainly not the only way. It suits my personality (no, doesn't mean I am full!) so I carry it off with confidence but it certainly isn't for everyone.

Dinosaurs you are so spot on about bags. Especially the two examples you used. I have a Chloe Marcie, bought it for work and realised after a fashion fail that it is more a white shirt, tan jacket, jeans kind of bag than a use with a suit or dress, because it's too heavy looking.

Blingy - yep, it's not a 'work bag', it's a 'weekend bag' - and then having the right one can make your whole outfit look more expensive and 'put together', but having an expensive bag with the wrong style of clothes can make the overall look cheaper and wrong. There are a few 'cross over' bags that are smart enough to look good with office wear and unstructured enough to look good with casual clothes, but they are few and far between.

oh yes Deb - ironing! I hate ironing, but have concluded cheap clothes always look more expensive if ironed, even if you can 'get away' with not ironing them. I think I'll settle for looking cheap and crumpled

You don't need to be tall. I've noticed very petite Asian / SE Asian women who look very expensive. Tiny, light and clean cut clothes.

Tall and slim yes that too.

But mostly it's a style factor.

Actually I just saw a pin with navy pants, slightly lighter navy cashmere jumper and a skinny belt. All the same palette. Skinny belts help.

And although it might feel easier when slim, you don't have to be - some dress well for their frame and can still look expensive.

You seem to know your stuff about bags dinosaurs. I have an expensive bag and I can only imagine using it for an interview. It would be perfect for that. Can you give examples please?

I love this thread ! I buy a lot of eBay, choose a designer or a picture and look for a match bit time consuming but I cannot stand spending too much on clothes but want to look expensive. I always think there is always someone who has what I want in their wardrobe lol X

I don't think we can really compare Victoria Beckham to regular people - even posh regular people. She's an entertainer, model, fashion designer and celebrity. If she even does pop into a Tesco, the normal rules don't apply for her. She lives in her own world.

I do find the word "expensive" sort of funny. It works for what we're discussing but the idea of someone saying "You look expensive" puzzles me. Does it mean, "You look the opposite of a cheap date?" "You look high maintenance?" "You look like a lot of money has been spent on the the things smeared and draped over your body?"

I do think there are different ways to interpret it. The OP could have said, "I want to look rich" but that may have pushed us into entirely different directions (old money vs new money, etc.) with people talking about the really, really rich people they know who go about covered in manure and animal hair.

I do think most of us are talking about the same things, though. The sort of people who just look really good, as if they have wealthy, easy lives. The ones with the slim legs and glossy hair and high-quality, well-fitting clothes.

It's decades out of date, now, but it is still worth reading (although American): Dress for Success for Women. The guy who wrote it was an image consultant who did a great deal of research into how people should dress for their careers. And I mean proper research: showing panels of people photos of women in various outfits and saying "Who is the boss? Who is the secretary? Who would you hire?" He learned a LOT about how people perceive intelligence, authority, trustworthiness based on clothes and grooming. He discusses the pitfalls of such things as "casual Fridays" (undermines women executives' authority), how to command respect in various fields and regions, how to dress for the job you want to be promoted to. Even how to attract a rich mate. It's absolutely fascinating.

I remember his discussing taking ambitious women from humble backgrounds and schooling them in class and quality. He'd literally send them to the most expensive stores to touch and try on clothes until they could see the difference. Then, with that knowledge under their belts, they could seek out versions they could afford, with careful attention to fit and colour. It's from the late 80's, I think, but the main principles still apply.

Also agree about bags, that is why I need so many

I'm a but worried now! I've just bought this bag and now worry that I'll look crap. I normally wear greys, navy, taupe a bit of black and would probably use with cigarette pants, white shirt and blazer. Does that sound like the 'right' look for the bag?

Mutton do you remember the author's name - that sounds interesting.

This thread immediately makes me think of a friend of mine. She's tall, very slim, great bone structure, great hair, eyebrows and nails always done and she wears lots of beautifully cut muted tones. Have never seen her wear anything bright at all

Too many bright colours, especially in cheap fabrics, make you look cheap.

I do! I just looked it up. John T. Malloy. The last edition of Dress For Success for Women was published in 1996, I think. It's out of print but available used on Amazon. Like I said, the specifics are out of date and for American culture but he does make some very interesting points about how people perceive us based on our dress and particularly regarding how women convey or undermine professional authority with their clothes.

Speaking of the difference between American and UK cultural perceptions of dress: I think American women tend to go for a much more "groomed" look. This was startling to me when I moved here - and it's particularly noticeable in news readers. American female newsreaders have perfectly coiffed "helmet hair" and conservative (but slightly sexy) clothes in bright monochromes. I've sometimes joked that a newsreader in the UK, "Looks like she got drunk last night trying on clothes at H&M and then woke up in what she was wearing and crawled into work without combing her hair." I've gotten used to it by now but it was strange at first!

I am intrigued by the bag science. Can you please elaborate further. I have evening, day and gym bags, I am not a bag hoarder.

You don't need to be tall. I've noticed very petite Asian / SE Asian women who look very expensive. Tiny, light and clean cut clothes

I agree.
I've seen loads of short women who look well put together. But even they are usually slim.
Slim does help when you want to look really well put together, or 'expensive' as people say.

Looks Expensive = The sort of people who just look really good, as if they have wealthy, easy lives. The ones with the slim legs and glossy hair and high-quality, well-fitting clothes.

I think another one who fits this look is Kendall Jenner.
She looks expensive, and yet her sisters very often don't.

Could it be the extra height? Or that she is just that bit slimmer?
They all have fabulous hair and looks, but Kendal always looks effortlessly 'expensive/stylish'.

There must be a formula!