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?

pizzas The style I tried came up quite large. I thought JW sizing was on the small side so was surprised, but it might have just been the one style.

Yes sunday the 'scrunching thing does work . I love linen and used to wear it for work , but had to iron it after every wear . Never buy it now and I check everything for crumpling . Life is too short to iron (much). Thats why I like prints in summer They show creases much less .

Sorry to go back thread a bit, but beaufortbelle makes a very good point about feet and footwear. And other PPs have mentioned orthotics and finding good footwear...

I fall into this category. I wear orthotics. I cannot walk without them unless I am in fit flops...
I feel my feet and knees every second of the day, and if I have been out all day, my feet, knees, back, neck are all exaughsted by the end of it. It shows on my face. All the time.

I look worn done. Even when I make an effort.

to all those in need of good footwear.

Citychick,OT I know but do you swim?I had two slipped discs a couple of months ago,, and it totally sorted me out...could it help?

seasonalvag (love the name)
yes, i do. and it really helps. (am a qualified swim teacher). yoga would work too if i had the inclination!
sorry everyone. off topic.

as u were. enjoying the thread.

I'm not slim but often have comments about how 'put together' I look.

I find the absolute easiest way is to wear dresses...I rarely wear anything else. I think it's simply that with a dress you don't have to consider pairings or what-goes-with-what...just throw on a dress.

I also don't wear very much jewellery....normally one piece only...either necklace OR earrings. Never both.

I actually wear a fair amount of make-up but the end result is the 'natural look' which is anything but natural.

When my nails are longer I keep them natural. I only wear nail varnish if my nails are short. Long and coloured starts to look too much.

I also agree with the crumpling comments...I don't EVER iron. Life is too short. So I just don't buy fabrics that crease....again this is much easier for dresses than trousers.

A decent coat is a must...I got mine with matching scarf from an LK Bennet sale. Still expensive but I will use it for years.

Interestingly I don't stick to neutrals...camel/grey/dusty pink make me look like I'm dying! You need a certain sort of complexion...I tend to wear the opposite....navy blue, red, cobalt blue, aubergine.

If I do something casual like walk the dogs, either wear a gilet or if necessary due to weather a Barbour. And wellies or knee length boots.

Sportswear and trainers should be kept at the gym. My pet hate is seeing people commuting to work on the train in a skirt and trainers! Ballet flats are the answer!

How can you look expensive if you have to wear your hair up? I would love to wear my long flowing locks but 1) they would look like bird's nest after half an hour unless chemically straightened and 2) it is not really allowed to wear my hair down anyway at work.

That being said....I just appraised what I'm wearing right now....

The basics are all fine but it's raining and I don't want to have wet toes in my suede boots so have thrown on my brown flat knee highs with a mainly black outfit. With my laptop bag, handbag and tote bag containing lunch and 'proper' boots plus umbrella.

You'd be forgiven for thinking I was aspiring more to Helena Bonham-Carter as a style idol than the Kennedys.

I guess life and shit gets in the way sometimes 

I lived for many years in Italy and observed the fabulously well-dressed women there. The key I think was the simplest possible cuts in best possible materials, everything hemmed just right (our neighborhood was full of sartorie for dressmaking and alterations, cobbler's shops for shoe maintenance and dry cleaners for keeping everything in the wardrobe fresh). Even people on very modest incomes tended to by the best possible quality from sales, a Missoni sweater instead of a H&M one, and just one really good item instead of five or ten cheaper ones. Many families employed a full-time or part-time housekeeper, ours ironed for a half day every week. Everything looks crisper freshly ironed. Women invested a lot in grooming, very natural and discreet (no acrylic nails, nude makeup, hair usually kept long but trimmed and blow-dried frequently). One particular thing I noticed was that women rarely wore jersey or t shirt material tops, and that instantly made everyone look more polished. The color palette was mostly neutrals (gray, navy, dark green, brown, slate blue, beige, camel), nudes and whites, but black was generally avoided - it can look harsh and cheap. When women chose to wear pattern, it was Marni-type, making a statement, check out Candela Novembre for ideas. Adult women usually didn't wear anything floral.

In general, people there tended to buy quality items, took really good care of them, and saw their wardrobes as an ongoing investment rather than something to be replaced every season.

Pizzas & Sunday I too was pleasantly surprised with Jack wills, having always dismissed their clothes for the aged 5-25 size 6-10 market!! The trousers I really like, they are a bit loose on the waist, but that is me with a size 12 waist and 14 hips and thighs. However I have an alteration place near work, so will take in next week and have them shorten a smidge on the ankle and see if they can so something with the waist, if not I will see if they can be altered to sit in hips, this may be technical but I will not compromise!! AS a by the by - was impressed with the quality of material.

With regards to hair, I had a nano keratin treatment before Christmas and it's changed my life. I still have the curls if I want them but blow drying takes minutes so keeps the damage to a minimum and I'm told it will protect and strengthen my hair the more I have of the treatment which is great since I'm growing it

Brummie - I totally agree with hair and finding something that works for you. I bit the bullet a couple of years ago and researched a variety of hairdressers and found one who "got" me, roots are done every 7 weeks, cut every 14 and highlights done twice a year. This is not a cheap exercise but I started to look at as an an investment in me. I have not had a bad hair day since, can wear blow dried and swishy, curly as nature intended, up down. The colour is fab, however it is the regular cut that makes the difference, would strongly advocate this to anyone. I also asked him how to do things like messy bun, blow dry properly and how to use dry shampoo, Was no trouble and I think he was quite pleased to show me and chat about different styles etc. I luffs him

How can you look expensive if you have to wear your hair up?

I think a good up do can actually work wonders. Scraped back in a pony tail, no. But in a simple, elegant up do, yes.

Its certainly easier to look expensive during the winter as a good coat, bag and boots/shoes will get you far.

I am a big fan of brands such as Gerard Darel, Marella, Max & Co, Comptoir des Cotoinners. They are French/Italian and tend to cut well and use a lot of natural fibres. They are pricey so I only tend to shop in the sale.

In the sales this year I bought a wool jacket in Gerard Darel - www.gerarddarel.com/en_ie/bologne-201201.html. This looks smart over everything so I feel polished just throwing this on.
A black Marella cocktail dress which doesnt seem to be online.
I am also wide of foot and I tend to buy Paul Green shoes so I bought a pair of black pumps.
TK Maxx have fabulous knits at a low price. Cashmere isnt always the best option.

In Summer I tend to buy Comptoir silk dresses with cardigans.

I don't look expensive but I have a friend who does.

She buys good quality coats (jaeger) and/or nice quality boots (tan knee high clarks) in sales.

She also goes for outfits where they suit her, was out with her last night she wore an ecru or beige knit top but sequins on part of front part. Very classy.

She also wears one item of jewellery.

My pet hate is seeing people commuting to work on the train in a skirt and trainers! Ballet flats are the answer!

I used to wear flats with decent arch support and my physio made me stop wearing as they contributed to some ongoing foot problems. They really are not good for your feet if you walk long distances to the train each day. Sorry for looking scruffy for you

merrygoround what is the Comptoir sizing like please? I'm after a coat and they have some great bargains on their site.

I need to join this thread as I usually look very cheap despite the fact that I try a bit to look nice. I'm in a total rut and regard clothes as something to cover my body up and keep it warm rather than much else. I know this is a mistake. I really envy friends who look together and polished but I don't seem to be able to achieve this.

I think height, hair, neat nails and poise seem to be necessary ingredients to looking expensive. I'd love to be able to achieve that sort of look but seem to continually slide back into default mode of warm and comfortable. I'm definitely going to use some of the tips on this thread in an attempt to smarten up and am about to go upstairs and 'Kondo' my wardrobe. I've been planning to do it for a few weeks and am hoping to discover things I have forgotten I own.

Sportswear and trainers should be kept at the gym. My pet hate is seeing people commuting to work on the train in a skirt and trainers! Ballet flats are the answer!

Wrong! Ballet flats are hopeless to walk any sort of distance in. They make you scrunch your toes up, and have zero arch support. For anyone who has more than a few hundred metres to walk, for anyone who does any regular sport, and for anyone who has any sort of foot, leg or back problems, trainers are the wisest thing to walk in.

On a recent trip to London, I noticed quite a few well-dressed women wearing office attire with black skechers whilst commuting. It was fairly obvious that this was commuter-footwear and didn't look too bad. Please note I would not advocate office wear with skechers under any other circumstances!!! Its preferable to a broken ankle and I agree with the poster who just commented that ballet flats are not suitable for walking distances.

Rather than ballet flats I'd go for a flat with a slight heel, loafer style.

Wearing trainers for the commute means you can fit in some exercise, fast walking, into the day. Ballet flats are useless for proper walking.

Petal, go to the City or West End at 8:30am on any week day, and probably 75% of women will be wearing trainers with their business attire

I am definitely a trainer commuter - much faster, can move quickly and I can walk to work should the notion take me!!!! If I wore my usual footwear I would spend a fortune getting them resoled and heeled, as I learned the hard way last year. Had black patent brogues from Clarks, super comfy and about £60 have spent the same again getting them resoled, till I realised wear trainers to and from work and just the shoes in the office!!

I'd definitely wear trainers/skechers if my journey to work involved any walking or hopping on and off trains! I'd wear my pink Nikes!