How to look 'expensive' 2

[IkeaGoddess]

(old thread got to 1000 posts)

Alternatively I would wear something like this look using a fitted white blouse. I wouldn't wear that colour bag though. Either tan bag (go with jacket), or black or something contrasting like salmon pink.

With the first look, as your sweater is v neck, make sure you create a deep v with your blouse by leaving top 2 buttons undone.

Both of these looks are my casual looks but if I was going smart casual I would swap jeans for slim fit tapered black or beige trousers, and would use more subtle jewellery than in the 2nd link. Creating a deep v allows you to show off a nice simple necklace, with studs, simple watch and a bangle.

You're welcome Princess, have a good day.

These Kettlewell tops are lovely.

I'd wear them with a white mid length skirt, or jeans and plainish jewelled sandals.

Bit scared of viscose though - I seem to regularly ruin it in the wash,

Agree too much pressure to look stylish is unpleasant.

I love clothes and grooming and playing around with fashion and appearance, but it has to be "for me, from me".

Coming from a partner or a social group would be a no-no, although compliments are nice.

I have never met a man who is overly interested/opinionated on what women "should" look like who hasn't been a loser in other ways.

Princess I love the sound of that look!

I think that a really slim shirt under a fine knit jumper looks lovely, but never seem to be able to find one. me+em have a lovely one but it's very expensive.
I think having really good hair helps (I don't) and tasteful Laura mercier make up really makes a difference too.

Some great tips - love the camp cashmere suggestion.

When wearing long boots, make sure these are 1) real leather 2) well fitting -i,e no wrinkling or gaps at the top - these look so much better when these fit snugly at the top. Ankle boots are much better to buy and wear if you have skinny or large calves.

With some expensively dressed people I think they often look frumpy rather than stylish - I much prefer the Parisian look on me. I also love the way truely fashionable people dress in England - so much more interesting and fun but its not me.

Re colours, I look shit in camel and beige but fab in black (which unfortunately tends to overwhelm many people, and can look cheap on them - a mid navy or light grey would work better for them), dark navy and grey. I also wear a bit of strong colour e,g scarlet, cobalt, wine to add interest and contrast.

For those who want guidance about what style and colours would suit them, I would recommend House of Colour. Shopping is so much easier and quicker.

Just looked at the "Baubles to Bubbles" ,

Most of those looks are not what I'd call expensive, groomed maybe if done properly.
She looks (to my elderly eyes) that her clothes are a size too small.
The black jacket (I knoew its not meant to button) and the parka (looks like if she reached for a high shelf it would burst)
And those jeans

I like a classic dark jeans/white shirt/black jacket/black boots (or a faded pair of jeans if they are smart)
I rememember watching Melanie Griffiths in "Pacific Heights" she had ths look with small black buttons on the shirt , I was , she looked good.

Love this thread. Does anyone have advice for pulling off wearing a knee length puffa jacket? Hate being cold but I don't think there is anyway to make it look more stylish/elegant. Should I just face the fact that I can't be toasty and elegant at the same time?

I'm going off on a tangent but this - YouTube Instagram Husbands made me laugh!

Sorry -

I didn't look and still haven't looked at the Baubles website, just lifted the picture because Google took me to that picture to convey the look I wanted to describe. The woman's look wasn't chic because the jeans are awful hence why I said "smarter jeans" in my first post.

I think the only way to make puffa jackets in anyway approaching chic would be to dress up the rest of the look - like overdressed. So for me it would have to be swishy looking hair, make up, and I wouldn't wear flats. I think you have to wear either boots with stiletto heels or stiletto shoes. I would use a small handbag (shoulder bag). Under it I would either wear a slim fitting dress or slim fitting jeans/trousers.

Does anyone have advice for pulling off wearing a knee length puffa jacket?

Some puffers are hopeless. I recently bought this parka which is incredibly warm and very cute.

"and I wouldn't wear flats. I think you have to wear either boots with stiletto heels or stiletto shoes."

I don't think stilettos are required to look chic at all. I think women wobbling around in shoes they can't walk in is not a good look - and that would be me. Flat shoes can look chic, but I find is very difficult to find flat, comfortable and stylish looking shoes.

Bunbaker, I completely agree that stilettos are not required to look chic. But I think (and it is just an opinion) with the puffa jacket it would be a more interesting look than flats.

I really can't picture a long puffa jacket with stilettos.

70isNotATarget has posted my thoughts. I don't agree with the stilettos and puffa thoughts either. A puffa jacket is casual and mixing it with stilettos doesn't make it chic or stylish. As the thread is about looking expensive I think there are puffa jackets and puffa jackets though. Although I've seen some very expensive ones that look cheap and vice versa.

Great advice on the thread! Have now bought some clothes from the Jaeger outlet shop online - well cut trousers and a dress in good fabric and neutral colours (and at extremely attractive prices).

As I am larger for tops than trousers, I have also started having any dresses I buy (even if they weren't terribly expensive) altered so that they fit correctly. This has made a huge improvement to the "look". I've also taken a critical look at my clothes following this thread ...

Agree with previous comment about stilettos. For really nice flats would suggest searching out shoe shops (often independents) selling Italian leather loafers.

Goodness. It was just an opinion. I never said puffas were chic. I don't own one and wouldn't own one as it doesn't fit my style. I could have posted my first thought of "No chance of making it chic" but decided to stretch my mind a bit and think of someone I have seen who has made a puffa look better than most. I think the fact I said "in anyway approaching chic" was meant to convey "I don't think so, but is my opinion what you can do best with it.

That's odd Blingy I took your thread as a direct order, and am sitting her at my computer in an anorak and slingbacks.

I was thinking of this thread while stuffing my face having breakfast this morning, and through the coffee shop window I saw a girl with a great, what I would think of as expensive, look. Skinny black jeans, square heel black boots, simple motorbike leather jacket and a huge blanket-type scarf very skilfully wrapped. The leather all looked good quality, the scarf/shawl did not add bulk to her slim frame, and her Mediterranean features were highlighted with neutral but very well applied makeup.

She then came into the coffee shop and got changed into her waitressing uniform. Which proves that you can look classy and groomed on a limited budget.

It is super-cheap to look chic if you're young and skinny. True.

This daily mail link of of Sofia Vergara or this random person is what I was trying to get across. It really was just an opinion of how one could make a puffa jacket look nicer or as I put it "anyway approaching chic". It can be very happily ignored as it is just opinion, not an order conveyed using "I think..."! As I appear to be derailing your thread, I think I will bow out gracefully now and leave you all to crack on although I am really curious about the sling back and anorak combo.

OK, in a the never ending quest to look expensive, chic, call it what you will. Can anybody help me with these situations that bug the life out of me.

1. What do people wear in the gap between shoe, boot and cigarette/cropped trousers? Knee highs or pop socks make the trousers stick to your legs, and you end up doing a funny dance eery time you stand up!!
2. I really like wearing a shortish jumper with a longer white blouse underneath. Where do you buy blouses that look good under cropped jumpers and more importantly do not crease to high heaven every time you sit down?

I would be so pleased if someone could help me with this, I 'm a sz 14, but need to drop one dress size. I 'm 5'8'' so can sometimes get away with looking a bit slimmer, especially if I wear heels.

Ah ok, that's not so bad. I think I was picturing 1980's white pin point stilettos or something.

I have a black puffa coat for cold days - I wear penny loafers or smart boots (long flat or ankle boots) and a nice scarf with it.