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?

Here is another example of how you can dress cheaply, but if the clothes are in good fabrics and your accessorise well, you will look expensive - dug this one up from late last spring.

Black thin cotton ribbed tee purchased for about $10 in 1995 in the men's department at the Calvin Klein outlet store with a skirt purchased for less than £40 at a vintage shop (was shopping with my fashion designer brother who pointed it out to me - no name at all, cotton). Throw on nice heels, belt, and bag and voila!

Momatrix, love the outfit. You are stunning and slim. Not a croticism, but you'd look good in pretty much anything.

If I wore that skirt I'd look enormous. Pencil skirts or A line all the way for me.

Though I have promised myself for my 40th to get fit and lose some weight in the process.

I think a problem we have in this country is coats. I have a really nice (I think) long coat but the only waterproof coat I have which has a hood is an outdoorsy thing more like a glorified anorak.

I'm still trying to figure out how to look expensive and classy in a khaki parka. Is it possible?

Good points WhatsGoing, thanks.

Agree about the bra straps showing too. When you don't see bra straps on a racerback vest, it just looks like your outfit has actually been thought about, which is much more elegant.

Absolutely, absolutely .

When I was in Rome one Winter, I noticed the women wore puffa coats and boots but still looked glam.

I think the difference is that they still expect this look to e sexy IYSWIM.

So puffa coats are shaped - nipped waists, belts. Women search for the right shape and length for them. And they spend hard cash on them (I bought a fabulous gold/bronze one that cost £££ but I've worn for several years).

Ditto boots. Comfortable and weather conscious, but good quality and the right colour.

And then beautiful accessories. Lots of hats. Huge scarves in the most flattering colours. Gloves. And although they don't need to match, there is always a theme. Not just a mix of what was close to hand. Though this being Italy, black and red naturally feature .

but you cannot compare Rome in winter to the endless supply of rain and mud we have to cope with in the UK!

I was a lot more stylishly attired when I lived in Buenos Aires, but here it is wells and a barbour in Winter

Have just spent five minutes of my valuable life looking at photos of rich & stylish people outdoors in a British winter I can confirm:

1. For doing outdoor, muddy things in the cold, one wears a thick padded jacket with a hood and as many pairs of socks as necessary. One doesn't let vanity interfere with important muddy business.

1. For doing low-mud activities outdoors, such as leading one's horse around the circuit or presenting awards, one wears a well-cut coat with fur trim over thick, woolly tights and sensible lace-ups or boots. And a hat.

1. If walking on pavements, wear what Mumsnet would suggest. And a hat.

We clearly don't talk enough about hats! Mind you, my head's too big for most headgear (this is an embarrassing fact!) so I do un-mumsnetty things with scarves. I don't look expensive anyway, no loss.

Zara Phillips :)

Wellies and a Barbour need not be unstylish, provided they fit beautifully and are appropriate. My Barbour is now almost 10 years old (and has just developed a small hole from wear but older is better); it has a drawstring which nips in the waist a little, leaving room for the warm sweater (cashmere V neck from Uniqlo for information) that I usually need. Add hat, gloves and scarf from a selection acquired over 30 years, and even waterproof overtrousers on very wet days and I am good to go. Jeans on the bottom half because they get filthy; these are downgraded from polite wear after about a year. No make-up unless I have to shop from dog-walking, in which case a MLBB lippie is added in the car. Country Life pronounced recently that stylish country ladies don't wear make up on the morning school run or for rising/walking -- so it must be true . But for hunting, make-up is de rigueur because the horse will have been groomed to perfection and you would not want to disappoint it!

(I don't even ride, before MNHQ delete this but I thought you would all want to know! I offer the information because this thread is about looking expensive.)

riding...

Great photos FrankUnderwoodswife, loving your style

This thread has really inspired me to re-embrace my inner vanity. Thank you, all of you. :) Feeling you look great has SUCH an effect on your mood, it's actually totally daft to ignore that side of life.

Or, I'm trying to justify all the money I've spent on cosmetics, clothes and hair stuff in the sales this past week. Ahem.

Holly Willoughby. I think she looks brilliant. Even when she was pregnant and gained weight she looked great.

Zara Philips seems like a nice person......................but hell's teeth she's often one of the worst dressed royals. And that's some stiff competition!

Sadly there aren't any pictures of Willoughby doing proper cold, wet & muddy stuff Mitzy. Closest I could get was wearing padded motorcycle gear that wouldn't, as my mum used to say, keep your bum warm. I think you really do have to leave your vanity in the bathroom if you're battling with the elements!

I think Geri Halliwell (sorry can't be arse to research her married name) since she married the rich bloke and Amanda Holden have this look off pat nowadays.

Isn't the key with parkas to get camel or navy?

Amanda Holden? god no, does she look expensive? She's horrifically very 'done', but that doesn't equate to 'expensive'.

Have spent ages reading this thread. Looking expensive (to me) can rarely be done slowly or cheaply. Hair, eyebrows, makeup, teeth. And if you are choosing cheaper end clothing, you have to chose carefully, and take time.

Love Giovanna. Also like a couple of the European royals.

God, I have now started obsessively looking at how people are dressed, everyone, I look at everyone! This thread has been very enlightening ( and will be very expensive too!)

I went into a couple of dress agencies today ( posh charity shops if you are not familiar). Hideously over priced second hand stuff.

Woolovers have a sale on. I have some of their pure wool jumpers. I like the style but find the wool itchy. I was thinking about their merino and cashmere? They get good reviews and seem to wash well.

How you achieve the expensive/well groomed look with summer clothes?
Anybody know?
It's not so easy with summer clothes.

I think it's easier to achieve this look with winter clothes, but how do people manage to pull it off with thinner fabrics.

without breaking the bank

How do

Frankie, seeing as everybody is asking you questions, can I ask a lame one?

Can a cardigan ever look good on?
Or am I committing the equivalent of fashion death by wearing one?
Are they okay as long as they fit well, or should they be baggy and slouchy?
Or is it best to steer clear of them all together?

Iis it best to try and stick to jumpers and jackets?

Alternative question here, I can do 'expensive' looking, well did naturally when slimmer and a little younger, BUT how do people pull off the really relaxed, not bothered look and look good? That's what I've always wondered. I don't do 'practical' but my friends do, they can wear a practical coat of any type and look fine, if I wear any at any point in my life,of any type I look bloody ridiculous and awful.

My sons teaching assistant (who admittedly I really like ;) ) was wearing a hoody earlier and he looked gorgeously adorable.

How does that work?!

Mominatrix, wow!

That's style.

Summer outfit:

Dress from Uniqlo. I have to admit that the jacket was truly expensive, but that are many lookalikes at moderate prices available.