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?

This has been my favourite thread ever ! Love all the advice and the different interpretations of "the expensive look" . I am definitely going to follow some of this advice

I've enjoyed lurking on this thread. But can someone please tell me why that Jenna Lyons stands with her toes pointing inwards? It's a ridiculous pose.

rhysomia
I read once one should accessorise based on all the countries and beautiful places one has visited or would like to visit.

What a lovely idea. Oddly enough, the piece of clothing I've had most compliments about this season is one I bought abroad.

BabyGanoush I share your love of cashmre. I decided a couple of years ago never to buy knitwear that wasn't cashmere. It lasts forever, it washes brilliantly, it's so soft and warm, and goes with everything. And it always looks expensive. people stop me in the street sometimes to comment on one of the pieces I have (only jaeger, nothing too eye wateringly expensive.) It can be preppy but when I feel a bit middle aged in it I just add a massive arty scarf or hat. The look you describe is quite easy to make arty with a couple of accessories, don't you think?

But can someone please tell me why that Jenna Lyons stands with her toes pointing inwards?

I believe she is signaling that she is quirky.

I love cashmere and have no idea why anyone would ever buy wool.

This will sound bonkers but I was in Hotter with my mother a few weeks ago and their bags were very nice. Very simple, no logos, no bits of gold, reasonable quality leather, reasonably well made, easy to blend in, practical sizes, had a simplicity about them with some nice details. Not high end obviously but worth a look.

I love cashmere and have no idea why anyone would ever buy wool.

£££ and availability

Apple I love cashmere as well, but if worn next to the skin it needs to be frequently washed or dry-cleaned and this puts me off buying it.
No matter how much care I take its never the same after I wash it, and I'm not organised enough to get jumpers dry cleaned after every wear.
What do you do to keep it looking nice?
.

At the other end of the spectrum a few years ago I walked passed Aspreys and saw the most beautiful handbags on display I have ever seen. Much nicer than anything else I've seen for decades. I convinced myself that I would buy one even for about £500-£600. And then I looked them up on line and they were ...................£8,000. I would never ever pay that for a handbag even though I could. It's absurd. The only thing it proved was that I have expensive and good taste

I never dry clean mine, I put them in the gentle wash with Johnson's Baby soap. I give them several gentle tugs to prevent shrinkage while they're on my drying rack, and they are in the short and medium term in far better shape after a wash than before.

I have never had a cashmere sweater last longer than say, 6 years only because the moths get to them, but I wear them very heavily and get hundreds of wears out of them before they're done.

£££ and availability

Wool is, in my experience, as expensive as cashmere. I tend to stock up on cashmere jumpers when I go to the US because they have a bigger selection.

Not everyone has your lifestyle there are people on this thread who are cleaners.

Thank you aye and city I have a tk max not too far from where I live so will take a look there. Wouldn't want to spend more than £300 but up to is fine as it is my birthday next month (any excuse)

Not everyone has your lifestyle there are people on this thread who are cleaners.

Get a grip. You can buy cashmere at Primark.

Not everyone has your lifestyle

But we are talking about how to look EXPENSIVE.

Chances are that some of the things that make you look expensive will cost money.

Nobody is saying "you must buy this or else your life will be ruined".

Just that it is easier to achieve this look (or any look, really) if you have money to spend.

I should have quoted. I was responding to the flying abroad to buy cashmere. No need to get all "get a grip".

I agree with tk Maxx too regarding hand bags. Try Aldo too but make sure it's leather.

I was thinking about my shopping habit and I do have a rule to shopping.

1- I don't shop because I feel like spending. I save up and then spend the money on something worth it. Something I will value and In return I will look after it.
2- try to never buy shoes and cloths from the same store unless it's has lots of different designers like John Lewis or Selfridges.
For example I love Karen Milan dresses but I would never wear their shoes or hand bags.
3- i would have to earn millions to carry Chanel bags with the big logos of cc or the brown Louis Vuitton bags with the LV splattered All over it. These two brand of bags devalues your look if the cloths are not of similar value.
4- try to have three pairs of good shoes and boots. One every day shoe wear, one pair of boots and a good pair of either flat shoes or something you feel comfortable in to alternate with your everyday shoes.
5- one lovely go to coat, jeans, skirt and trouser.

I'm a cleaner and i'm loving this thread. Its something to aspire to if nothing else. These are all suggestions and tips, for people to pick and use as they like. no-one is saying you must have cashmere.

Just another vote for R and B for good quality but not outrageously priced shoes and bags.
Also agree with PPs about the stylishness of Milanese women.

Dancingduck, I have a lemon yellow cashmere jumper (Jaeger, £30 in sale at outlet) and some Brora (sale, can't afford it now!) and Pure (sale)

I wash them myself (handwash in non-bio derergent, rinse, squeeze water out, roll in a towel, then hang up to dry. Bit of a performance, but fine really.

My cashmere jumpers last years, some decades!

Love this thread, thank you everyone.

Expensive looking has always meant middle aged to me.
I'm now 42 and hoping to achieve expensive sophistication without the middle aged look. Helps or hints anyone?

I was responding to the flying abroad to buy cashmere.

Good grief, I did not say that I 'fly abroad to buy cashmere'. I'm American, I fly home to visit family, I stock up on things that are cheaper there when I do.

Great thread . I find I'm people-watching in the supermarket and analysing outfits.
It's really made me think about my clothes choices in the past, I've wasted so much money buying stuff that doesn't suit me, or such poor quality that it looks scruffy after a few washes.
Also decided that patterns and bright colours are out from now on, even though I may like the look of the clothes, they just don't look good on me.

My cashmere jumpers last years, some decades!

Do they get pretty holey?

I've got a cashmere tank top from Burberry that's just celebrated its fifteenth birthday. Still looks fab.