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?

Navy is much more glamorous than black.

Babyganoush, I'd like to think I dress how I like, but somehow circumstances take over... I just could not walk the dog in white/ cream trousers and blazer, when we had the dog. Same with cycling to work. Just not going to work.

Has anyone ever managed to make high viz look remotely stylish?!

i do love a lovely scarf though....

I love E Alt's style, for her, really suits who she is. Not many could do it so well.

It is possible to aim for expensive and end up in over-coiffed territory. Good to reassess certain rigid styles as time moves on

I think it is partly to do with confidence and if you feel good. I agree that some cheap clothes don't wash well especially tops. I always feel smarter in my Winter coat as oppose to my parka coat and wearing a skirt with boots.

not sure if I look expensive. I'm fairly understated in my dressing.

Half the mothers at DD's school (100% of the French mothers) dress like Emmanuelle Alt. In fact, hang around any central Paris school at morning drop off and swarms of clones will engulf you!

City I often have running stuff with me as I run home from work. You just have to go with it sometimes.

Bobo that's interesting, she has that influence. I don't see it much over here, probably helps.

Parisian chic is a whole different level of chic, and pretty hard to pull off as a non-Parisian. [sigh]

Blazers are not dated (I hope). I wear my JCrew schoolboy blazer a couple of times a week.

Citychick, yes I live in the country and have to walk my lurcher daily (twice) .... Long muddy walks in welly boots. I cheer myself up by wearing a nice belted barbour (belted is my theme! if I start losing my waist due to middle age bulge I will cry) and love a nice hat too (to keep the rain of my face)

In my next life I will be a trendy city dweller

Debbriana you need to be careful with Karen Millen - some of their stuff is nice, but a lot of it is really WAGgy looking. You need to pick very carefully. Probably only go for their more plain things. Also, their sizes are really tiny, so buy up a size.

Yes, Bobo, you have a point. The three navy things I've bought without much thought - a coat and two dresses - are those I find I'm turning to most often. I feel can get away with more eye makeup with navy too, when I want to.

And yes to the over-coiffured thing Marsha. Ruts are rarely good!

Debbriana you need to be careful with Karen Millen - some of their stuff is nice, but a lot of it is really WAGgy looking

I find KM horrible for this reason. I wouldn't go near it with a barge pole.

TBH I'm not at all sure Emmanuelle Alt invented the rock chic style and is influencing hordes of Parisiennes. I think Vogue reflects the market as much as it dictates it. Rock chic is a very conformist look with lots of brands, at different price points, delivery it pre-packaged. Parisian women wear that look without thinking IMO. Some of them who are not naturally aggressive and sulky wear it and it's really quite incongruous with their personality. But it's the uniform in these parts.

I did think that after posting it. She probably is part of it. Although she does do it well.

On recent travels Parisians looked great, I didn't notice cookie cutter. And the Milanese looked incredibly stylish - all ages. Oh and yes expensive.

Although going for a night of two, it still looks interesting rather than getting too used to it.

Does London have a city-vibe like this, I'm too close to it to notice

It definitely does! When I first moved to London from a certain University town, I definitely felt like a country bumpkin. Took me a good few years to adjust my look (but I'm a slow learner )

Aye am 5'5 size 8. Their cloths are made for me. I don't just pick one of the rack. People always say I have a good eye for nice things so I hope I will not be looking like a wag. To be honest every store has something nice that people can work with As long as you are at good a noticing it and using it in a way that enhances your look.

I always notice the hair in London - all those blondes! [says a blonde]

Milanese women look incredible. They aren't aggressive like Parisian women and they wear more colours and prints.

Momin- JL style is similar to mine

Where sells quality leather bags (without their label) being plastered all over it?

Baby and marsha, yes, just need to embrace it all. I do have a lovely Barbour... I did yoga after the school run and share the class with some incredibly stylish ladies.

I've lived in London for 20 years. Yes I see this vibe all the time, but for the life of me have never been able to emulate it. Possibly because my body shape ( it's that thin/ slim thing again) is totally wrong. I do my own version that suits me.

I do love the androgeny of the emmanuelle alt look. Minus the high heels. And less rock star.

I grew up on a farm and clearly was never meant to do rock star chic .

Where sells quality leather bags (without their label) being plastered all over it?

What's your budget?

If ~300 pounds then Russell and Bromley do lovely, good quality leather bags.

If lower, TK Maxx do some really good ones, but you need to sift out the diamanté, sparkly, tassley shit. I've got some lovely plain Osprey bags in there previously, and rather than being £150-200, they're 50-70.

Yes, TK Maxx...but you really have to hunt. And be lucky.
I have a lovely chocolate leather bag by Picard. It's gorgeous. Cost me a fraction of the original price.

Worth checking there. I did notice that Coach have cleaned up there act recently. They have toned down their blingy bags and have made some of their new designs very close to the original heritage style. Cost a bit more than R&B.

Their act. Ugh. Sorry