How to look 'expensive'

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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?

Leather trousers for an indoor Sunday? Are they comfy?

I don't know who this is, just a model, but I love this.

I also think it's noticeable that in all the pics posted, including Mom's gorgeous selfie, there is a distinct lack of pattern. I think it's very difficult to make pattern look classy unless it's just one smallish piece e.g. scarf

I bet you looked fab Blingy, Mom you look great. Expensive looks/women I can think off at the top of my head are: Gwyneth Paltrow in Sliding Doors, Clare Underwood in House of Cards. I think I prefer a stylish look as opposed to an expensive look and like Sofia Coppola's style along with that of Emma Willis.

What do people think of this cheap dress in terms of being expensive looking? I have just bought it for an awards night and now doubting myself :s

Was going to wear it without the brooches, and minimal makeup and jewellery.

Cel982 the stylish mothers round here (Home Counties countryside) all wear really good knee length boots with good jeans/skinnies tucked in and then lots of layered drapes of cashmere with silk tunics underneath. They look very practical and cuddly-for-DC but stylish too. I love that look. I have it to an extent but being short and chunky look more farmer's wife in it than leggy lovely. :)

Slithy if you have the figure for it I'm sure you can carry it off as way more expensive than it was. I bought an el cheapo party dress for my 50th and everyone thought it was a very similar design which was quite in vogue that summer for £££. I'd tried the expensive version but the ultra cheap one fitted better and was more flattering. I still love it.

Slithytove - I think that if the dress fits you well and hangs nicely then it will be lovely. It is a real "look at me" dress and there is nothing wrong with that! Definitely simple jewellery and some nice shoes - the dress speaks for itself.

The dress does fit well, I have about ten pounds to lose to get it looking amazing, plus Spanx, but the event isn't until March. I'm a curvy size 14, 5'5

I hope it doesn't look cheap! I always worry about red but it sets off my skin tone well. I think I want to be looked at as am up for an award so need to feel confident in my appearance.

Thanks, DancingDuck. I'm in the South West and the aesthetic is definitely more 'eco warrior' than 'yummy mummy'.

I definitely need a new pair of good boots - I had a gorgeous brown leather pair that I finally had to throw out last year after wearing them into the ground. And I could do with some smarter tops. Must try to get out of this style rut and up my game a bit.

I try not to think of things as only "for best" or for going out and I always make an effort to look stylish even if I am just at home so the leather skinnies meet both requirements. They are Theory high shine leather skinnies and are unbelievably comfortable! No cooking for me today but I did do a roast yesterday so wore j crew matchstick jeans with white j crew basic painter tee. When I finished, I put on an orange Ralph Lauren cashmere sweater over the top. Jewelry was the same except the watch was a plain black watch from Oasis. We didn't go out yesterday but had friends round. (Btw Thanks Kitty)

The red dress is great for an awards show but yes, keep everything simple especially on the neck/chest area otherwise it trips over into being too much. Good luck with the award!!

I love the sound of orange cashmere Blingy

Slithy I love it when women dress up for awards. It always makes me warm towards them. I get fed up of the 'can't be bothered to dress up' attitude. Was at a Christmas party recently. Hostess had gone to loads of trouble and half the women were standing around in trainers and fleeces as though they were way too busy to change! It's farming land round here, but still...

There are some really nice handbags online on the TK Maxx website, I just had a gander. The Modalu ones seem nice.

Since when did TK Maxx sell Dolce and Gabbana bags?

Anyone else feeling a real scruff bag now?

Yep, I didn't make it out of PJs today

The dress is lovely, slithy, very Kate Winslet.

Anyone else feeling a real scruff bag now? yes.

I wish I was tall enough for leather leggings

tough I put back wine and bombay mix and had an apple and green tea instead

feel a real scruff bag now most definitely.
mom you look fabulous!

Despite my earlier ramblings on about high viz and dog walking in London, I have stepped out of London life for a while and followed DH to Asia.
I still, of course, dress like a farmers wife, but am paying close attention to the fashion around me...

Tory Burch is HUGE here. Bags, brollies, shoes...you name, they wear it.
Longschamp is huge here. It's affordable luxury. The Le Pliage range, anyway.
Fit flop are huge here.... Yes, I know!
Kipling are huge here...can you imagine? That QVC staple?!

Wearing a scarf is huge here... The LV ones I see a lot, but I have 2 long patterned pashmina styles that I wear a lot. They cosy me £5 each in a market. Handy all year round. It is chilly here In The winter and roasting in summer, the air con is Baltic so v handy in a cafe etc.

Wearing trainers is huge here. They take this trainer wearing very seriously. Stan smiths, new balance, Nike...

Most dress conservatively in dark tones. There's always the nutter dressed like Minnie Mouse, but as they are Asian, they are forgiven.

They are practical. We are pounding the concrete streets for most of the time, so trainers work perfectly.

Ok good shoes make an outfit. What ti doing you have size 9 wide feet

I am feeling very inspired by this thread! What I take from it is that quality staples are important esp as you get older. But I have never been good at that. Where would you buy:

A good navy blazer
A good white shirt
A flattering pair of black or other neutral trousers.

All advice gratefully received!