Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

How to look 'expensive'

1000 replies

INeedSomeHelp · 30/12/2015 16:58

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?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
60
CreviceImp · 07/01/2016 18:43

I think these are chic outfits

How to look 'expensive'
How to look 'expensive'
How to look 'expensive'
AmberNectarine · 07/01/2016 18:43

And Labelux own Jimmy choo but that doesn't make it a Swiss company!

CreviceImp · 07/01/2016 18:44

Some more ideas....

How to look 'expensive'
How to look 'expensive'
How to look 'expensive'
Donge13 · 07/01/2016 18:59

Crevice I love them outfits

Dancergirl · 07/01/2016 19:02

Can anyone advise me where to go for v-necked cashmere jumpers please?

CreviceImp · 07/01/2016 19:14

I got a most excellent one from Jigsaw that is Navy and slightly slouchy. Reduced from £150 ish to about £90. Warm, thick and good quality so worth it I would say. No clinginess either-just a lovely drape but not voluminous. Mid hip level.

How to look 'expensive'
BlairWaldorfLovesShopping · 07/01/2016 19:30

Crevice I agree those are chic outfits, but I think only the first one looks expensive. I don't think cross body bags generally look expensive, probably because they are very practical. And the last woman doesn't look expensive because of the bright lipstick and the chunky jewellery on her left wrist. (The first woman has on bright lipstick too, but it looks better with a more casual outfit)

All just my opinion ofc - so many disclaimers required on this thread Wink!

The capsule wardrobes look very classic and classy, problem is not everyone suits that look.

CreviceImp · 07/01/2016 20:08

Okayyyyyyy!

I think bright red lipstick is classic Parisian chic (which is my look) but like all things you have to have the features to pull it off and keep everything else subtle. I don't suit natural make-up as I am high contrast and look dug up in nudes.

Those capsules have elements that can work for a range of shapes and is my sort of thing. Granted it might not work for all but is certainly chic to most people's minds.

Let's see some of your ideas.

Mominatrix · 07/01/2016 20:13

Huh? Someone does not look expensive due to bright lipstick and chunky jewellery?

I think that the epitome of the "expensive" look exposed by CBK and even to some extent Olivia Palermo can be traced back to Slim Keith and CZ Guest, for whom I associate a red lip and judicious use of chunky jewellery.

CZ Guest in Bright lipstick
The amazing Slim Keith

And in terms of cross body bags, this is an example, in my opinion, of an a great casual look. The bag is theHermes Jypsiere, which is definitely an elegant bag.

I think there are many definitions of the "expensive" look. I'm

BeaufortBelle · 07/01/2016 20:35

You see we all have a different view I think the lady in picture three looks most expensive or do I mean classy I think she would look more classy wearing a softer lipstick. She is fair and mature and I think it would look better.

DD and I are fair and could only carry off a lippy that bright in a jewel coloured summer dress with a light tan - even then something lighter would be better. In my opinion.

AmberNectarine · 07/01/2016 20:36

I wear my Chanel cross body and I still think it looks expensive.

The trick with bright lipstick is to pick the right shade for your skintone. Get it wrong and it looks brash.

BlairWaldorfLovesShopping · 07/01/2016 21:01

I'm having real trouble expressing myself on this thread. Crevice I didn't mean to offend you. I was just trying to demonstrate that after ~800 posts, what "expensive" looks like differs from person to person. It obviously came out wrong, sorry.

And I didn't say that bright lipstick or chunky jewellery can't look expensive. I just meant that I thought that they didn't enhance the expensiveness of the third woman's look.

BoffinMum · 07/01/2016 21:18

Beaufort I have managed to fit orthotics in my Gabor shoes ... why not have a go?

BeaufortBelle · 07/01/2016 21:34

I've got some half sized orthotics that are fine for an evening but they slither a bit if I can't anchor them under an in-sole. At nearly £50 a shot I'm reluctant to permanently anchor them with the sticky on bits iyswim.

BeaufortBelle · 07/01/2016 21:37

Your fitflops aren't dissimilar to my Romika lace-ups - I might try a fitflop but was advised by my physio they wouldn't be a food idea. Cpl of dodgy discs to go with dodgy feet. Sits up nicely Smile and expensively Grin

Auntpodder · 07/01/2016 21:38

I saw an older (70ish) man on the bus today and he looked fantastic. It wasn't so much that he was tall and lean but - while dressed quite classically - he had a fantastic, hip, pair of glasses on (like exaggerated Raybans but thicker and chunkier). I think the most stylish people past the age of 40 generally wear age-appropriate clothes and then accessorise with one or two things that are younger in feel. His look spoke subtly (I felt) that he hadn't given up, still cared about how he looked and enjoyed fashion and had the confidence to express it. And then I went to pick up my two-for-£159 varifocals from Asda. They're ok but um, nobody's going rave about them on an internet forum.

Waitingforsherlock · 07/01/2016 21:54

Thanks merry Smile

TheDowagerCuntess · 07/01/2016 21:57

Aunt Grin

Is that Elle with the cross-body Hermes bag, Mominatrix?

I love her blazer. I bought one online that is almost identical to that, but when it arrived and I tried it on, it finished basically at the bottom of my waist - not even on my hip. I was way too short. Would love to find one that length.

My (gay) brother used to give my Dad (75 when he died) the odd styling tip (like wear jackets fitted, rather than the baggy / voluminous look that a lot of older people go for), and he always looked age appropriate, but youthful. Being tall and slim helped.

Wagglebees · 07/01/2016 22:07

The further on this thread gets the more it seems to look expensive you have to have £££ and preferably live in a city.

When it started it seemed more like being groomed and 'polished' was the key. Location, lifestyle and income wasn't as relevant.

So I'm slightly lost now and place marking so I can keep up. 💅🏻 Grin

TheDowagerCuntess · 07/01/2016 22:08

I think this thread is confirming that you just can't pin it down.

You almost can't rule anything out, because on the right person, as part of their look, anything (e.g. bright lips, boyfriend jeans, off-piste handbags, chunky jewellery, not being tall and slim, etc, etc) can look incredible.

So while that makes it harder to know how to adopt it for yourself, it's also really good because in a way, anything goes. You just have to somehow be an absolutely style guru to figure it out for yourself! Grin

Floppityflop · 07/01/2016 22:10

Hmm, I used to commute in ballet flats and now have arthritis in my feet. But Skechers flats are okay.

BeaufortBelle · 07/01/2016 22:31

I was feeling the reverse wagglebees. Thinking it was all rather genial. I shall miss it if it reaches 1000 posts and dies.

hollieberrie · 07/01/2016 22:34

I love my converse too and I think they look pretty stylish but only with a visible bare ankle and no socks. It's just too cold for that right now! How can I have have stylish and expensive looking but comfy feet in this weather? Do you guys wear converse with socks, or just endure cold ankles? Confused

Larastheme · 07/01/2016 22:48

The woman with the chunky bracelet looks like loads of well to do women were I live its sometimes difficult to tell the rich Scandinavian shoppers who visit here from the locals sometimes, but yes, this is usually a standard look of wealthy chic women here, she looks good

I think I understand what blair meant with not being "E" it appears that to many posters , expensive covers a variety of styles ,and to others its just one,

I'm one of these people who think expensive is many styles, and unfortunately they are not all good , to me expensive is the Ecclestone sisters,Olivia P , Its excess, bling, over the top, showy,they are dressed to be identified and attract attention more than dressing to look good,

So when a poster mentioned CBK as expensive I was really shocked because CBK is anti excess , she worked with CK and is the true epitome of mid/late 90s minimalism, like christy turlington and caroline murphy,

Pictures of caroline and christy from that time, 20 years and counting , still look fresh and contempary, because the emphasis is on understated and simplicity to achieve a different ,more simpler type of wealth,

Prints, black, trainers, are all fine,

Fashion moves in a cycle, if we gather rules and hold on to them tightly for long period of time we look dated and out of place, we need to move according to our taste and within our sartorial limit,

So please, no more expensive, use words like chic, elegant... glamorous if you must, Wink

Sorry for the long post!

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

This thread is not accepting new messages.
Swipe left for the next trending thread