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?

I wash all my cashmere in the washing machine in the woollens cycle - I even throw in my Hermes silks and cashmere/silks without any disasters yet.

Washing your jumpers often will prevent moths from being attracted to them - it is your oils which lure them, so laundering frequently will prevent holes.

Brora sale starts Wednesday if anyone's interested.
they do say on their website though that Brora "classics" aren't usually in the sale.

There is a website called [www.turtle-doves.co.uk] that recycles your old cashmere into something else e.g. scarves etc. if it has got old and holey! I haven't used them for that, but I have bought some wrist warmers for presents in the past.

No holes

I don't wear holey jumpers (tsk )

Quick return to apologise for anything that was misinterpreted and deleted. I wasn't aiming to be confrontational, so a big sorry if anyone took it that way. The point I wanted to make, as a quotation, is "Pink is the navy blue of India" (Diana Vreeland). I wanted to point out that what Europeans consider neutral colours seem drab under bright skies, in clear light and on non-Caucasians.

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

For what it's worth I think that the nice thing about this thread is that people haven't been at all prescriptive about what shops / labels make you look "expensive". If anything, it has been the opposite with the general consensus being that merely spending money without having style is the quickest route to looking a bit try-hard and cheap!

Personally I have been wearing some designer clothes and nice fabrics (eg cashmere) for the last fifteen years, and I have sometimes done it on an incredibly tight student / waitressing budget! You can often find cashmere and great coats etc in charity shops, which I think are a brilliant way to find nice clothes if you go to the right area (eg nice parts of London / the Home Counties / Harrogate etc), although you probably need to be a size 14 max for the best options. My best purchase ever was a cream vintage Dior coat for £30 from a charity shop 10 years ago! I still wear it (though it is slightly tighter on me now..)

When I started in my first low paid job in the charitable sector, I progressed from charity shops to eBay. You can find some lovely clothes and shoes on there, particularly if you look for good quality but not necessarily the most trendy designers and top high street shops. I still often do searches for Jaeger, Russell & Bromley etc. You're not going to pick up a Chanel bargain, but it is surprising how affordable some other items can be. There are amazing coats in good condition that would cost ten times that new. It's also a good place to go for scarves.

Of course there are people here without any spare cash at all, but I think there have also been great suggestions about how to make an outfit look nice with one great accessory (eg a good quality scarf).

If I'm on a tight budget then I never compromise on quality - it is just a matter of shopping in slightly different places or in a different way (for example buying great items on sale rather than wasting money by waiting until I need something and then panic buying)!

cresset, I bought a pair of classic 501s this Autumn, with the same sentiment of being a bit tired of skinny jeans. While the weather has been mild, I've worn them with low top Converses and no socks but now that it's getting colder, none of my winter boots seem to go with them confused.

I also get fed up with skinny jeans.
But say what you like about them, they look fantastic with ankle and other style boots.
Other style jeans you have to wear over the boot, then you're talking the old dreaded boot-cut jean.
Love em or hate em, skinnies are just right for winter with bulky tops and boots.

I've been to my local shopping centre today. In House of Fraser there were some crackingly stylish handbags in a line calls Linea? Really nice grab bag in grey that looked very stylish and very classy. More so for the fact it had no embellishments. £45 I think and great style and value.

I'm wearing a silver grey panelled thi gh length cardigan today. No buttons and it swishes and flows. It goes in the washing machine and checking the label it's 81% acrylic, 14% nylon and 5% wool. It's easy and comfy to wear and has been complimented numerous times.

Bought it in 2010 from the House of George - £16. A bit like my faux linen wide leg navy and stone "linen" trousers last summer. £18 and bloody brilliant. Hang better, fit better and wash better than last year's Johnnie Boden offering for perhaps £59 or £79. Can't remember . They look swish and feel swish.

I'd rather wear a jegging with boots than skinny jeans. So much more comfy.

Anyone else thinking that the people posting "I look expensive and I wear..." should put their money where their mouth is and post a photo of them wearing a typical outfit?

No need to include your face!

Anyone else thinking that the people posting "I look expensive and I wear..." should put their money where their mouth is and post a photo of them wearing a typical outfit?

No need to include your face!

I like jeggins, there's more stretch.

Anyone else thinking that the people posting "I look expensive and I wear..." should put their money where their mouth is and post a photo of them wearing a typical outfit?
Yes.

81% acrylic - lordy, you must have been static city. I can't bear the feel of acrylic and loathe how many shops are selling it at crazy prices.

Skinny jeans are great, and very practical. Always my choice for tucking into my wellies (first shoe of the day, everyday, for walking dog). But I have hefty calves and so can't tuck them inside knee boots. I wear 501s with a (pearl grey) winkle-picker 2cm heel ankle boot otherwise. Found in TK Maxx clearance shelf for £15. I did once buy a really skinny jegging type jeans (in poster red though) and have only worn them once for an exercise class . In summer, I like wider and looser trousers and (look away fashionistas) Fitflops.

But naicely painted toenails!

That's it cresset - you'll have killed the thread now with talk of fitflops

I like skinnies but wear them outside my ankle boots which I think is more flattering when you are short.

I agree with the challenge, but can't do pictures without a camera. Not saying I look expensive, but today I am wearing a four year old grey dress with an elasticated hem to just above the knee, opaque grey tights, grey socks and grey suede wedge heeled (2011) boots, warmed up by a Lands End cobalt blue gilet... nothing cost more than £50.

Sorry MrsCB! I forgot fitflops were the kiss of death. Hanging my head in shame!

Cashmere deep v neck jumpers, longish, in Tesco F&F for about £20 now. I have just had the purple one ( actually a deep cornflower blue) for Christmas. It's lovely.

These are some different but nice looks I like. I'll post a few more.

Re cashmere knitwear - I have 3 or 4 sweaters/cardigans but they always pil. It takes ages to get all the bobbles off-any tips for this? Or is the only way the bobble shaver?

Meh, actually I can't find that many celebs wearing outfits I'd wear as they're all summer outfits/they're not wearing much!

For those who said that looking expensive often times means looking old or middle-aged: these are 3 of my favourite casual/ everyday outfits I use for personal inspiration (I am 26).

I think they look "expensive" and classy as hell and yet young and fresh!

Aye LOVE those looks!

Think Oliva P and Emma W look expensive but Thandie looks more "rock chick" than expensive-although the clothes are probably £££.

Olivia Palermo always looks divine-would love to have her style and her husband

Couple more.