How to look 'expensive'

[INeedSomeHelp]

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?

Be thin

I love the 'camp cashmere' tip!

Actually do you know what - I detract that statement about thinness. That is because I have a wealthy looking friend and she's extremely thin - and I think tall and thin can make very cheap clothes look expensive. She wears lots of Primark stuff and just always looks amazing. However she also has q few expensive bits - leather boots, good outerwear.

A lot of it is just having good taste too. So I think an oversize, tastefully worn leather handbag looks wealthy - not necessarily designed. Good sunglasses. I'd say you would have to invest in those, just to get the more fashion forward frames. Again oversize is a good look IMO.

Never cheap shoes. Have to be leather.

I'd always buy a size up - unless it's jeans and you're extremely thin. Looser tops just look better. More material, not showing muffin top, tasteful.

No major boob action. Boob crease. Yuck.

A lot of this is inate and built up over years. I do know what OP means though. I feel good, go out and then another put together woman can just make me feel like a big Bagpuss by comparison.

There is also that old money thing too. A lady at soft play the other day just had it. She wasn't thin, had wrinkles, clothes not wow - it was just her essence and the way shed draped her scarf. It made me want one instantly!

Good post OP.

Retract

Oh God loads of typos there. Sorry!

Cheap clothes I find don't wash as well as more expensive clothes- they seem to lose shape and colour
Highlights
Earrings- pearl style- no trashy ones
Normal eyebrows but shaped naturally to tidy
Subtle make up that enhances but is minimal
Gilet and boots look good
Expensive bag
No track suits or fleece style garments
A good haircut on a regular 8 week basis
I find shops like joules; Hobbs; mint velvet sell mid range well made clothes
Coupled with trendy boots like Sam Edelman Louis - that sort of style
Posh people at other end of spectrum can be very horsey and covered in animal hair
Definitely no hunter wellies in any colour but blue or green!!

I agree on the sunglasses- welly looking women always gave a nice pair of sunglasses

I agree with Joules.

love it, camp cashmere. I'm going to tk maxx to look for camp cashmere ( rubs hands)

I have a pair of red hunters. They are wonderful.

Marking thread , really like it!
This year we'll be busy with our extension but maybe next year I can concentrate on "looking expensive"

OP I do get what you mean, some women just always look polished.

Some days I think I manage this, some not, sure it will be less after baby is born !

I was given a book when I was younger by Rachel Zoe, a celeb stylist from America (I hadn't a clue who she was) not my thing but actually had some really good advice in there abut what to invest and what not. Essentially a wardrobe of essentials in black white and caramel can never do you wrong. I have just bought a reasonable (£60) caramel coloured coat and [i think] it looks like it's worth three times that at Least! If it had been black would not have Been the same.

I don't wear make up but do get my lash extensions filled in every other week and wear a light coloured usually nude or taupe nail varnish, it would be rare I'd ever go out with chipped nails. Takes me five minutes to paint them in the morning as I use the quick dry stuff - so probably what most people do on make up. To me that makes me feel polished and 'done' especially in the professional environment.

Hair is my downfall, I'm lazy / don't value time spent poncing about with it. If I could find a quick fix to it always looking good I would do it!

Now I'm a bit too older I spend more on clothes and buy less. Usually Boden sales, joules etc, and feel finally I'm getting it right after quite a few dodgy years.

I personally think the things that make people look polished are well fitting clothes, fairly neutral make up and clothes with a statement something - either jewellery or their hair or a good coat or gilet. I don't really care how others look, you should do what makes you feel good, but for me getting it right makes me feel good especially if I'm in a scenario I could do with a boost.

Saw a man today in the shops in front of me who was wearing the same kind of coat my dad wears. But his was obviously very expensive. It made him look wealthy and well turned out.

Kim Kardashian I suspect spends a lot more on her clothes than Kate Middleton. She never looks anything but cheap, badly dressed and tasteless.
Kate Middleton never looks anything but expensive, stylish and tastefully dressed. The difference is subtlety, modesty and grooming.

Because of school uniform flashbacks, I can't wear v neck jumpers either or kilt-style skirts (specific games uniform trauma there). I'm beginning to suspect that it's because Italians and the French don't tend to have school uniforms that they tend to be so stylish - they adopt them later in life instead. When I'm in Italy in winter, I'm always amazed how people can instantly pick out their navy blue down jacket amid the piles in the restaurant cloakrooms.

Always wear pearls!

"I love the 'camp cashmere' tip!"

So do I. I'm off to TK Maxx tomorrow.

the expensive looking women I know just spend more time on their appearance I think.

One of my best friends looks incredible despite mainly wearing supermarket clothes. She is thin which I think helps, but mainly she just spends that bit longer than I do on how she looks. She gets her hair cut regularly, gets up a bit earlier to do her makeup instead of going without most days, she irons her clothes which does make a huge difference I think even with "non iron" stuff, and she will take things to the cleaners as soon as they need to rather than spot cleaning and "it'll do" until it really is minging.

Am writing down all the tips for blogs and websites-very helpful!!

Went shopping today and really looked properly in the sales-mainly tat and lots of patterns!! I have a couple of vouchers for Reiss & Banana Republic but at determined to use them for something good quality.

I am feeling so much more positive about getting my act together with my wardrobe-for years I despaired. Love this thread.

You see I wear fuck loads of makeup but if you looked at a picture I don't think you'd think 'Jesus'.

Not saying I look expensive but I do think proper makeup helps matters. Foundation is worth spending a lot on. £40 say. Estée Lauder amazing.

Mascara - if I tell you I'd have to kill you. It's unbelievable.

I saw the tip to buy clothes a size larger up thread ..
Does anyone do this ?
I find if I try things do not fit on shoulders ?

Fedup Oh go on, tell us. I'll risk it.

bogey I think you're right about just spending more time, especially if spending money isn't an option. I know I look infinitely better when I have time to regularly redo my manicure/spend more than12 seconds on my make up/plan outfits out etc.

Talking of foundation, mine tends to sink into my pores a bit now I am the wrong side of 40, do they all do this or is there one that "floats"? I find that this makes me look quite manky unless I redo my whole face halfway through the day. I usually use liquid foundation, was wondering if one of the compact type ones would be better.