How to look 'expensive' 2

[IkeaGoddess]

(old thread got to 1000 posts)

I just spent the morning looking around a nice department store but everything was so expensive (£150 thin but lovely jumpers, £70 scarf, etc).

I just can't afford that and am all depressed now!! I always wear jeans and would love to try dresses but plain colours. I don't know what kind of shape suits me though - I would wear with ankle boots, I love the Parisian rock chick look but don't know where to start. Bah.

Wicked - start small. It's all very well and good us talking about spending more per item but buying less - if you don't have the cash then it's a moot point! Next has some nice streamlined silhouettes in at the moment. I have purchased this top today. It has darts in it and is viscose so has a good weight to the material. House of Fraser still has quite a lot of reductions in store but you really need to have time and patience to do some trying on. I managed to pick up some 50% wool blend trousers today, in a really nice petrol (blue/grey) colour for £26. I also found a lovely 100% merino wool jumper in teal - quite fitted so flattering - in TK Maxx for £16.

It has taken virtually a whole day to get these things. I have discovered that if you are trying to do this without spending a fortune then you really need plenty of time and patience. I must have tried on at least 20-odd things today to only come away with those 3 things, but they are 3 things that I am really happy with.

Saw a picture of Jemima Goldsmith in the paper today, which I think is a really good illustration of money not always translating to looking expensive or polished. It's a DM link I'm afraid. I think the jacket is a nice shape and I like the structure of it, but WTF is going on with that skirt? See through mesh is not a good look at the best of times (and hardly appropriate for the circumstances). The shoes also look a bit cheap and bare legs is a no-no unless it's the summer (or you're on holiday).

Hi Jolse, thanks for the advice! That top from next is lovely - will sit down over the weekend and have a look online for that and other things similar!

I want to get away from wearing skinnies ALL the time. I wear them at work and home, so even when I think I look vaguely smart, I am sure I just look super casual.

It is very time consuming. I am really getting hacked off with trying to find some good quality tops which will be smart enough for work - I had NO idea it was going to be so difficult! I have however, started to amass quite a nice little haul of good quality items. eBay has been helpful for this.

One lesson that I have taken from this; I really need to focus on losing more weight. Dressing well when you are a larger size is so much more difficult.

It's tough isn't it? Especially without lots of cash to splash. I was really pleased with bits I got in the sales after Christmas; unfortunately I seem to have hit a bit of a wall now- I still have 5-10ish key basic items my wardrobe could really use but have run out of money. The temptation would usually be to spend pennies on cheap 'do for now' items so it's hard saving until aI have £££ and waiting for something better quality.

My next stage I think, rather than buying (unless I spot a major charity shop bargain) is to pay a tailor to adjust a few pieces I have. If after that I still don't love them/ they don't look quite right, they are off to charity shop.

On the upside, I went into a local GAP outlet the other day and got 2 leather belts in the sale that were exactly what I was looking for at about £3 each-score. Plus a lovely scarf which looks expensive and while not a great natural material, only cost about £1.50 so great for throwing on for walks. I do think it's worth having some pieces that are much lower end costwise as I reminded myself the other day when I forgot I painted a piece of furniture and leant against it while on the phone!

Be interested to see any other suggestions for Next as we were given vouchers for Christmas and it's not somewhere I think to look usually.

I don't normally shop at Next, but have started looking in there. 95% is patterned/hideous/cheap fabric which is not what we're looking for! However the do have the occasional thing in there which is nicely done I think.

Jaeger navy blue trench is currently 40 pc off this weekend. Just saying

Dammit. I'm still hesitant to spend the money when returns aren't an option. :(

Things I'm after if anyone spots a bargain:

• grey casual trousers for spring/summer (chinos maybe).
• pencil skirt in navy or grey suitable for work wear.
• casual coat that stops just above the knee and is waterproof, warm and has a hood.
• white shirt to wear under other clothes- want a Peter Pan type collar (either round or pointed) but shouldn't be see through.
• navy leather over the shoulder bag (or straps that have over the shoulder option).
• some lovely statement necklaces, quite structural but not floral/bright colours. Ideally in neutral colours or yellow/rose gold (hints of though- not huge blingy faux gold chain or anything).

Bonus points for natural materials or anything from Next so I can get rid of those vouchers!

Was in the White Company the other day and they have some gorgeous expensive looking clothes - all in greys, dark navy and white. Some of the price tags are not too awful considering the decent quality.

Methenyouplus4

Esprit have some nice grey chinos in their spring collection. I bought some from them two years and they are going strong (worn LOTS). I may buy more now and store until my current ones wear out.

TK Maxx can be good for leather bags and at least it's easy to see all the navy ones (sorted by colour). I do find TK Maxx good for that type of thing when you are looking for something quite specific.

Methen I am fairly sure when I was browsing in HoF earlier this week, that Therapy had some Peter Pan collar white/cream blouses and shirts.

I did a final raid today and bought this shirt which is really nice on. It is a 'typical' cream silk style blouse though, so quite see through. I will need to find a nice camisole to go underneath it. Had a look in the lingerie department but cami tops seem to be in short supply!

I also picked up this skirt which fits nicely. I would have preferred something more tailored, as I think this fabric won't have much longevity to it. However I am really struggling to find things that fit the brief I have in mind - so I am going to have to compromise a bit in the meantime I think.

That's it for me now until payday. I've already spent more than I should, but have rationalised it (!) that I won't be 'grazing' through cheap clothing stores like I used to.

Anything you buy from an actual retailer as opposed to e.g. eBay is covered by whatever the Distance Selling Regulations are called - whatever it says on the website, you have the right to return stuff within, I think, 14 days of receipt for a full refund. Accept no bullshit!

Zorion
I use new look patterns mostly .
There are also some very well cut other patterns - I cd find details of you like ?

Love this thread!

Re grey chinos, I just bought some of these which look better on than off.

www.marksandspencer.com/cotton-rich-utility-straight-leg-chinos/p/p22428534?prevPage=plp

Sorry to yammer on, considering I've already expressed my dubiousness at ordering pricy stuff online when I have to pay to return it: I need to know more about Jaeger's sizes. You've all been saying that they are vanity sized - what does that mean? Do you mean that their size chart is inaccurate? I.e. if I feed my 106-86-111 measurements into it and come out as a L and buy an L, it will turn out woefully big because they're lying arses? Because I don't care if the size chart says that my measurements correspond to a 2, 6, 14, 25, L, Z or an arbitrary assignment of butterfly, as long as the chart is correct. Sizes can be called whatever, size charts should be forever.

I love that trench.

Banivani, I am distraught because the 3 button coat I ordered (for £74!!!) has to be returned I ordered a 14 despite usually wearing a 14/16 but a 12 would have been perfect and they've sold out. It's a gorgeous coat - I honestly could cry!

That is ridiculous and I totally feel your pain. Did you order by the chart or just pick the size you normally are?

Let's face it, there's no substitute for trying things on in the shops. I've gone through every shop now and found nothing. Bizarre cutting, no boobs at all allowed, polyester everything. All the upper-end brands cut for thin cylinders. I am willing to concede that I'll never look like your one from mai tais picture blog but surely I should be allowed to look a little more pulled together. Even in my youth when I wore what would now be a sz 10/12 I suppose I had trouble fitting into clothes because of the no breasts rule. And I'm not even large for my frame, honest. :S

I ordered the size I normally wear in coats - gutted :( You're right, it's so difficult finding suitable stuff. No wonder some give up trying! Good luck with it all anyway!

If you really love the coat , could a dressmaker cut it down for you ? Back ,side seams? Is it a simple stricture ? Just a thought .

Ban- I ordered a size down for the things I bought from Jaegar and I'd say most were still comically big. The only thing I would say was 'true' to sizing was knitwear. I bought a coat and retire bed it and tried a few in the shop, I would say go a size smaller and, if you plan on wearing it only in spring/summer with thin tops under rather than a jumper, I may even consider two sizes smaller.

I bought a coat in the sale a few years back and local seamstress took it in a touch for about £15- made it a bargain still and also fitted fantastically. Was a very simple design though.

I am a size 8 in most things (definite size creep - in 1985 I'd be a size 12), but my coat is Jaeger 6 years ago, size 10. It's not showing any wear but I wear it a lot in the winter, it's been brilliant.

Methen - you don't mind if I call you Methen? I decided that was a nice place to break for a nickname ;) - I take it you followed the size guide then and it was simply incorrect?

Ban- ha, not at all. Better than stopping at the 'h' snd just being 'meth'.

I digress...

I didn't pay attention to the guide so that may be the start of where I went wrong. But honestly, there is no way a 10 should be like cliwn trousers on my bottom half. I'm a 10 in Hobbs/M&S etc, a 12 in Whistles/Boden and NOWHERE on this side of sensible am I smaller than an 8 on my bottom half.