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?

everythingsgoingsouth I agree with you on Esprit - lovely simple clothes. With so many UK brands you have to wade through piles of over-fussy stuff that you're going to get tired of so quickly.

From people watching (a lot) I think that something that really marks well dressed people out is that their outfits are cohesive. Not matchy matchy but if they're wearing a smart getup, they'll also have a smart coat on - not a anorak. And if they're wearing a fleece and jeans, they'll be wearing a sporty bag and shoes rather than a leather handbag and boots. And they might not have a massive wardrobe of bags and shoes but they wear ones that work together. It's about being thoughtful and disciplined about what you buy and making sure it all works together.

This is a very interesting thread to me as I'm looking forward to putting together a classy new capsule wardrobe once I've lost my baby weight this year. One thing I'm never sure about though is maintaining the clothes. Lots of nice expensive/expensive looking things seem to be dry clean only, which I don't have time for. Where are the nice machine washable clothes?

Late to the thread, but I've been thinking about this and need to make a Marmite-sort of post here it will mention House of Colour.

I agree with what's been said re grooming, taking care of clothes, spending money, (often) being slim and tallish, etc, but I also believe that it's only possible to actually achieve the specific look that a lot of people on this thread seem to be referring to, if you have a specific style personality. (By style personality I mean the categories discussed here - NOT a HoC link ).

Not everyone looks "right" or their best in blazers, loafers, silk scarves, smart jeans, wool coats, riding boots or whatever item you want to ascribe to the "expensive" looking woman. As has been said, these items usually belong to a very classic look, something which I believe you need to have a classic style personality to carry off.

I'll use my Dsis as an example. She has been diagnosed as an Ingenue Natural by HoC (basically relaxed and feminine). If she tried to dress like a preppy Ralph Lauren model she would look ridiculous (and she's a curly girl so couldn't do the sleek highlighted hair either). To look her most "expensive" she would need to wear items according to her style personality, because by definition those items would make her look most like "her".

TL;DR - most people seem to have a specific look in their mind which they associate with looking expensive, and I think that people who don't suit this look can never look as expensive in that way.

The exception would be the woman mentioned above wearing the suede skirt and fur gilet; I would assume that because 1) these items suit her style personality, so she can pull them off, and 2) these items are currently in fashion, and 3) these items may be made of very expensive materials, she can still look expensive without looking classic.

I've pondered this too. I was lucky to have a private education for part of my school time. Some of my friends were daughters of multi millionaires, some were aristocratic. I think the look you are describing is the aristocratic one. I think what the basis of the look is is something to do with being self assured. Saying that though, the aristocratic "old money" ones all bought the very very best natural fabrics and made them last. New things were seen as very non u, worn in but smart was better. Absolutely no bling in the day. Plain metal chains, earrings or pearls- normal size - not the big obviously fake ones. They also had a "ready for any eventuality" way of dressing. Whether wandering round some fields or going to a posh restaurant for lunch - they would have fitted in. And you have to be slim, not thin but slim. And it must always look like you are not really trying to give off the wealthy air.

I failed to get anywhere near their poise- luckily they were a lovely lot and accepted me for the slovenly tramp I am!

It reminds me of times walking round Harrods/Selfridges/ liberty etc and there are women waling round who obviously have LOTS of money but are wearing absolutely hideous clothes.

Whether wandering round some fields or going to a posh restaurant for lunch - they would have fitted in.

Could you describe the type of outfit/shoes this would involve? To me a field involves wellies at least and a posh restaurant definitely doesmt!

There's a great FB group called MrsGloss&TheGoss and there's bloody loads of tips over there on this kind of stuff. It won't save you money though !

I think you can look expensive without looking preppy. Sofia Coppola looks expensive but not in a preppy way. A person wearing ingnenue style clothes in good fabrics with good quality leather shoes will look still expensive even if they're not wearing preppy or sloaney clothes. And conversely I think the pic above with the peach jumper and the big fake pearls looks preppy but not expensive.

Well Rudeelf, didn't you know ones Hunters are necessary for a nice lunch at Claridges?

Ok, maybe a change of footwear for the different places, but the style wouldn't have changed.

Am googling house of colour as we speak...

There's a great FB group called MrsGloss&TheGoss and there's bloody loads of tips over there on this kind of stuff. It won't save you money though

Thanks for the tip felicity

Well Rudeelf, didn't you know ones Hunters are necessary for a nice lunch at Claridges?

oh, well its been an absolute age since i've dined in claridges. Must have forgotten the compulsory hunters

I actually do wear wellies and posh frocks!

I commute by bike and walk lots so it's most practical.

I wear these and put a dress on top. They're really fitted and flattering and don't look farmerish on (actually maybe everyone is too polite to say ha ha!)

My last dinner date with a multi-millionaire so presume bill was expensive though I didn't see it I wore something like THIS but MUCH less "zazzy and sexy" with these on my feet. Trenchcoat (H and M but I got it from charity shop) on top and a plain black rucksack (from a cheap shop) full of my usual shit. Probably a textbook on quantum physics

Plain silver heart necklace and silver heart watch (no expensive brands) and my glasses and no make up.

Dinner was squeezed in after visiting a college I might want to attend one day for postgrad and museums and galleries, so I needed something for walking round in.

If it had been raining I'd have worn my Decathlon wellies for sure!

I like the way I look but realistically no-one is going to think I'm rich based on my job. If I wanted to be rich I'd have gone into banking rather than hoping to do research and BEEN rich ha ha!

so I try to look pulled-together and appropriate in colours that make me happy.

I think what Belle said about appropriate occasions and what someone said about personalities is very true: you need to find the chic look that suits your own lifestyle and hairstyle and face shape, not just buy some loafers and a scarf in a pattern that doesn't suit you and end up miserable wearing them out in the rain to visit Asda!

I also saw a woman in Sainsbury's yesterday who looked 'expensive' whilst I was looking sweaty and dragging a basket full of cut price xmas chocolates, trying to steer dc away from minecraft stuff. She was slim with smart boots and a gilet, difficult to define but she looked wealthy.

Being slim is usually a contributing factor to looking stylish and 'expensive'.
Clothes hang better for a start - one of the reasons fashion designers like to use slim people to model their clothes as opposed to larger people.

People don't like to admit it, but it's true.

I think it's all about a beautiful coat, boots, bag & hair.

I agree.
When you leave the house those are the things that people notice, so why not make sure those outer garments are good quality, because they are the first things people see.
Instead of wasting money buying cheap crap to wear underneath.

I think there are lots of ways to look "expensive", but personally I am a huge fan of colour and originality. I am far from claiming to be an expert, but my go-to style at the moment is a shirt dress (really flattering on most body shapes - I'm 5'4" and a curvyish size 10 and they look really flattering if pulled in at the waist) with tights and boots. One of my friends wore a fabulous Warehouse shirt dress the other day, which looked much more expensive than it was. I tend to go for quite colourful dresses and scarves, with classic shoes - mainly Russell & Bromley sale purchases for daywear but I think you can get great looking shoes from Clarks and Jones too. I'm also a fan of DVF wrap dresses - if you can spare £80 - £100 then you can pick one up on eBay for special occasions. They are great for curvier figures though you do need well fitting underwear!

Personally I think the Sloaney skinny jeans and sweater look on its own is a bit bland. I am also not sure it looks great on anyone who isn't slim with small breasts (not me!). I think that people who really have money to spend on clothes (with a personality to go with it!) will tend to seek out more original, "look at me" outfits or accessories. There are some brilliant scarves that really make an outfit for an investment piece - eg lilyandlionel.com/scarves.html

Ultimately I think my attitude is that I would rather look interesting and individual. I love clothes but I am not very interested in conforming to a look that supposedly makes me look thinner or more attractive to men. However, I think that attitude is actually what makes people look more "expensive" and stylish - it may not be to everybody's taste but if you have nothing to prove then you can enjoy dressing for yourself and as an expression of your personality. The key is really enjoying clothes and not worrying too much about what other people think. I think that is especially important if you are curvier. There are so many gorgeous clothes out there that it is just a bit sad when people feel they have to wear a certain uniform to try to look slim.

Oh, and another thumps up for Alex Monroe! I get so many compliments on the necklace I have. I think his designs are beautifully understated and interesting at the same time.

Oh, and for those of you suggesting that you need to be thinner to look more expensive, I give you this blogger who I think looks gorgeous, expensive and stylish despite not conforming in any way to the slim, white ideal:

3.bp.blogspot.com/-tABp7UagTBc/VSoV_sT0JXI/AAAAAAAALCA/-KkCn-V-B1o/s1600/DSC_0153-1_edited-2.jpg

Whats the original blog Ready, she looks great?

God this is a good thread

I know! I don't want it to end.

That woman looks lovely. Very nicely groomed and turned out. Not expensive.

I'm not sure maxi dresses ever look expensive - struggling to think of an image of a woman in one that looks wealthy

Hi Process

This is the blog:
garnerstyle.blogspot.co.uk

Don't attempt to color your hair at home.
You can always tell when it's a cheap diy job out of a box from Boots The finished result usually lacks the different tones, warmth and richness which you get from going to a salon and getting it done properly.
The colour always ends up looking cheap and flat despite what you may think

On that picture alone i disagree that she looks stylish or expensive. The dress, massive bangle and oversized clutch bag looks like theyre out of a catalogue. Maybe in her other posts (which i havent seen) she does but not in that one.

I think she looks like Mama Cass, and not in a good way.

Her hair and makeup are lovely but the dress looks like it's synthetic and the pattern doesn't make it look expensive. She looks nice but not expensive

a bit better

I think the blue outfit and the black outfit look slightly expensive in a way that the maxi dress doesnt but the black is too kardashian for my liking and the blue skirt is a style that has become very popular this year and so inexpensive to buy with some cheap versions available. So it has made it an inexpensive look. A bit like the towie effect.