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?

I like these threads. I want to look 'expensive'

70isalimit you did not just say that , giovanna battagalia, never fails, ever, she makes you wonder is she classic?rock? Chic? New grunge? And then you realise she is all that, but then maybe not,she makes you guess, and you just give up and admire how she dresses herself, Its completely different to my taste, but I admire her, a true sign of someone who is doing it right,is admiring them even though it not your way,

kitty years ago I picked up a vogue book from a usedbook store, similar,maybe its the same? Think there was a picture of andie McDowell in a suit?? I remember looking at it all the time, beautiful photography , lost it when I moved, was gutted!

a big % of the outfits linked on here can't t be translated easily into RL for many people, for various reasons, plus these are mostly taken during fashion week people tend to be over the top at that time, then the take it down a notch ,

Ive found this thread fascinating. What I tend to notice about someone looking 'expensive' is jewellery, shoes and bags. That and well fitting clothes. To me that doesn't necessarily mean tailored stuff like Blazers but can also be boho/hippy stuff (in luxe fabrics for the expensive look) but it will be relaxed rather than shapeless iyswim. It's about wearing the clothes and being true to your style rather than the clothes wearing you.

I'm not sure that I agree with only a neutral palette looking 'expensive'. Think of kate Middleton or the Queen who both wear a lot of bright colours but never looks cheap. The queen especially, owns her look and never looks out of place. And she's not tall and stick thin. I guess they both have clothes ready made and tailored to fit them perfectly.

The h&b article is interesting but I disagree with the jewellery. Gold looks cheap on me as does big costume jewellery.

kitty you can get that Vogue book secondhand on Amazon for £0.01! Both editions, actually. I have ordered it

Saw a girl in town today who looked expensive and stared at her so much she noticed she was tall, slim with blonde-brown shoulder length very silky hair, neutral make-up, wearing black skinny jeans, black tee, grey chunky but flat cardigan and a very expensive looking leather jacket, grey suede boots and a nice bag. So simple.

I also worked with a girl who defined this look for me. She was tall and slim (but not at all skinny, she ran marathons and skied a lot) with black hair to her shoulders, again it was always very well cut and blow-dried. She appeared to wear no make up but I think it was just a very subtle "everyday face" as no-one is (surely!) that perfect. She wore simple, subtle jewellery (diamond studs or pearl studs, simple watch, small unobtrusive pendants. Her work clothes were all really simple too - lots of pencil skirts (not the really tight kind, more of a straight cut) and simple blouses in colours like oyster, camel, navy, black. I can't remember a single outfit but was green with envy over her every day haha!

I think my mother looks expensive.

Pushing 70, short silver hair (cut every six weeks, religiously). Slim and good posture. Always natural fibres, no more than a couple of colours, always leather bag (different ones for different purposes/occasions). Always impeccable grooming, subtle make-up. Well-chosen accessories, usually wears a scarf.

One thing is that she sews and will alter shop-bought clothes to fit her perfectly. She knows what suits her and sticks to a certain silhouette.

I do a lot of the things on this thread, and am tall and slim, wear lots of navy, grey, white, well-cut things etc, yet I never feel particularly good about my appearance. I have an athletic build, don't feel particularly feminine, short greying hair (don't suit it long, refuse to dye it). Friends say I am elegant, but I admire those of them who have more "flair" putting things together. I veer towards classic and neutral but I suspect it looks dull not chic!

Those of my friends who look "expensive", are the ones who really look after themselves and prioritise quality over quantity. But they are also overwhelmingly slim and most of them are quite well off too :) No obvious labels, but you can tell their shoes, bag, coat etc weren't cheap.

Laras I read what you wrote (I have no clue who she is) but I see what I see.

New Grunge? Rock ? That might be her style but it's not "expensive" which is what we're discussing here.

I doubt she gives a toss what I or anyone else thinks.
As I don''t care what she wears.

But if it;s the green dress/blue shoes , I stand by what I say. Cheap. Trashy,

If it;s the Editor of French Elle - that is not an expensive look IMO. She might spend loads......

I think Giovanna Battaglia looks amazing in that link. She always looks amazing! I've seen her in RL several times and she is mesmerizing.

I've just Googled -she's a stunning looking woman no mistake.
But the green dress + a red/cobalt handbag?

A leopard skin print coat + a red/blue floral top?

Eh? . Why would you put those colours together and think "Yes, World. THIS is how I want you to see me"

And for all the "huge labels don't look expensive" A Lulu Guinness 'Lips' bag.

Good job we're not all clones then.

70s

ha ha Shirley Carter no definitely not or Linda Peacock's mother or Linda for that matter:)

I've just looked on Amazon and the book I had was the original 1975 orange and purple edition of Cheap Chic. Apparently it has been updated and a reprint is on its way. Would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone interested in fashion, but particularly to younger people who need to understand that just spending money isn't enough. I don't often read Vogue any more but they do sometimes (annually?) do a special More Dash than Cash. Up there with ageless style, a promise that is completely irresistible.

Love this thread!

Just interested to know if it is possible to look well dressed in the rain? What do you wear to cope with wet weather and not look like bedraggled day tripper ?

This thread has been a really interesting read!

Like MrsCB, I have no desire to look expensive. I see my clothes as an external representation of my character. I'd much rather someone looked at me in my Charlotte Olympia kitty flats and thought, 'she looks like fun', rather than 'she's spent a lot on those shoes'.

Anyway, my tuppence worth:

I think it's more or less impossible to look 'expensive' if you shop only the bottom end of the high street - while you might find the odd gem in Primark/New look, a lot of it is acrylic tat.

Grooming counts for a LOT. There is a mum at school who spends a bomb on her wardrobe - it's all Marant, McQueen etc. However she is quite overweight. This in and of itself is not an issue, however her clothes don't fit well and she doesn't dress for her shape. She also usually has several inches of dark roots on display and never wears make up. It totally undermines her expensive wardrobe.

I work in quite a staid, corporate environment so I have to dress in a certain way for client events. I find DVF wrap dresses, well tailored shirts (usually uniqlo, of all places, for cotton, equipment for silk), good pencil skirts (VW red label, jaeger, McQueen) and simple, not too high, heels (Jimmy Choo and Chanel are the best I've found), work well for this. However, none of that is exactly cheap (except the uniqlo shirts!)

I think if I was doing it on a smaller budget I'd look at M&S, as they do have some gems.

I've also seen many a nice outfit let down by a cheap, synthetic bag so that is where I would prioritise funds.

Quick recap for my own benefit:

Best I can afford leather bag
No shoes I can't walk in
Best I can afford basic pieces preferably in neutral colours
Groomed hair with minimal well applied make up
No fake tan
No fake nails
A nice piece of jewellery but no brashness
No patterns

Anything I've missed?

I do love everyone's opinion on this thread and peoples different take on it!

With reference to posters saying how being tall is an advantage, it frequently isn't. If you find the right clothing, it may hang better but the problem is finding desirable pieces in the first place.

There are limited options for tall women and we have to work extra hard to find the right fit and cut. Sleeves are too short, waists on trousers are too low, dress waists and hip sit too high and belts don't sit in the right place.

We are at the mercy of the limited options of the likes of ASOS, LTS and the very limited long sections in M&S, Next, Top Shop.

The desire to find a look is often outweighed by finding something that fits that won't stop me trying though

Agree about being taller. I don't like to show any flesh if I reach up that often happens as the top rides up; my solution is to wear vest top under most things but that can look awful&spoil the look of a top.

I think good skin helps, I get a couple if rotten spots just before my period and I think greasy skin/spots really ruins atempts to look polished.

I'm currently really struggling to find a simple watch without a big name plastered all over it.

this was the book I had am going to turn my house upside down looking for it as I can't believe I gave it away to a charity shop.

I too am loving this thread, it's come at a good time of the year where I'm looking to up my game a bit and to fine tune my style this year.

This is for Aye....

I'm about to turn 40, am an average height, approx 2 stone over-weight.

But I make sure I keep myself groomed. Nails, eyebrows, hair always clean and tidy.

I took this photo to get opinion from DSiS, as I was on my way to an important meeting. I work from home and normally live in pretty casual clothes.

White silk shirt from banana republic, skirt from French connection, red Valentino jacket in the sale, j crew necklace.

Oh yes, shoes you can walk in. One of the easiest ways for a beautifully put-together woman to put everything asunder is wearing heels she can't cope with.

FrankUnderwoodsWife (claire) I think you look amazing.

Same jacket, different look - here is me really going for it in a print skirt!

The skirt is from whistles, embellished shirt under jacket is jcrew, sunglasses from accessories! But the handbag is a real Hermes and the shoes are Valentino.

I truly believe if you spend a bit of money on hnadbags, shoes, coats, everything else can come from the high street.

Thank you Apple!

I'm just trying to show that a 5ft4", size 14 woman can look smart, sexy, however they want to, if they buy clothes that suit their shape.

70, then we agree to disagree , beauty or in this case "expensive" is in the eye of the beholder,

Still think GIovanna always looks great,

Ive been thinking about this a lot somehow , and this thread made me identify what works for me more,

of all the links on this thread the only one that speaks to me is Leila yavari in that HB link, the rest are all too classic and put together or in GB case over the top, "expensive" in the way that lots of posters identify with would feel suffocating,

I like that we all have different views on a single subject, and I'm really surprised that its still all civilised , the last time something similar was on S&b think " how to achieve the MC look" turned a bit nasty, maybe we've all grown up ,

This is me in "work" mode. It helps me get my professional head on.

Most of the time I live in jeans, shirts, blazers or jumpers, biker boots or converse!

I would love to have a thread where we all post pictures of what we are wearing. I'd like to be more adventurous in my day to day wear, and need some inspiration.