How to look 'expensive' 2

[IkeaGoddess]

(old thread got to 1000 posts)

Glossy hair tips:
Use GHDs straighteners to run through and tame flyaway hairs (use heat protecting spray first - just a couple of spritz will do!) . Or for added bounce, use Babyliss big hair curlers. Then add a few drops of this product 'No oil hair oil' to hair after styling or drying it with a hairdryer. It's way better than Argan oil etc. It's not too oily which would make your hair lanky but oily enough to give it shine.

I also spritz my hair with a little hair spray to deflect flyaway hair in the wind. Elnett gold spray can.

Here's the link to the no oil hair oil:
link

Someone on the last thread wrote something like dark pink being a neutral for Asian women, and I just tried on all my pink dresses and I agree - I can wear one with minimal accessories and it looks amazing.

Strong dark green is another excellent colour for me, so going to try to increase that in my wardrobe.

I do look great in red, but I find anything in red, especially if formal (ish) and fitted, sometimes has a bit too much of a "come hither" effect. It's date night colour for sure!

Tan and camel and navy doesn't work for me at all. I feel like I'm trying to ape someone else.

One of my friends always looks stylish and expensive. She is actually not well off at all. So I have studied her closely for the last week or so.
She always wears dresses with coordinating jewellery, never wears "casual" anything and has a lovely knee length wool coat in a jewel colour. She is not particularly slim.
I am going to buy some dresses.

Fozzleyplum I think Maitai is the epitome of elegance. Grown up, but very chic (I am almost 50 though)

Re: scarves. I think the way the scarf colour and print and size interacts with ones face and colouring and outfit is the key thing?

I've thrown out a couple and I think they came into the "nice on the hangar but not really suiting my face" category.

Do you think this bag looks "expensive"? (or would you see it as a part of an "expensive" look?)

Bag is quite nice marghini so long as it is real leather as the fake leather / synthetic versions can look really cheap.

Marg- bag is nice as Cookie said, if real leather. Do you wear silver jewellery? I only ask as I wear gold (or rather, a sort of matt gold, not sure how to describe it!) I put on a navy cardi I have with silver clasp and (after reading this thread), realised how it really spoilt the look. Now I look for jewellery /hardware in the same/similar colour.

Thanks for that link, Fozzley - will try some experimenting in the morning. :)

Jut to agree with others - there are some people on whom a silk square is ALWAYS going to look frumpy/dull, and some people on whom it will look classic/chic/quirky. I look like a transwoman in a silk scarf, I am too broad/indelicate. But a bit statement wrap or scarf that makes the classic dressers look untidy or drowned in fabric is perfect for me, I look statement-ey and chic.

I am loving these threads. My nye resolution is to look more groomed. A key thing for me is time, I just put myself at the bottom of the priority list. I am sure I am no busier than the next sahm but I only manage teeth and a quick hair brush. I am really noticing my skin aging but don't have a proper skin care routine. I am starting to pay more attention to my clothes and have just purchased a few bits from uniqlo.

This thread is helping loads and has given me loads of tips. Def need to up my grooming and lose my baby weight to start looking more expensive. Any tips for finding the time?? I wore nail varnish for the first time and had to take it off after a day as it chipped and there is nothing expensive about that look!
It seemed a massive waste of time but they were pretty.

Top nail varnish tips:

• decent base coat. I like the OPI one, but there have been other recommendations on here.
• two mins between coats (others say 5, but I find 2 plenty - I do thin coats)
• at least 2 coats of colour, potentially 3 if not totally opaque
• Essie gel setter top coat
• OPI quick dry drops to finish so I don't smudge it in the first 18 seconds. It's still 'soft' for a couple of hours, but this sets it somewhat.
• reapply top coat every 24-36 hours to avoid chips for an extra day.
• use a light colour so chips/imperfect edges are less noticeable

I am rough on my manicures and can get 4-5 days out one doing the above.

Oh, and re finding the time, I squeeze in seconds where I can! Try to do one beautifying thing (nails/facial/pedicure etc) once a week, make sure I have a couple of minutes to do hair and make up in the morning, and have a 90 second make up routine and stand by hair styles for rushed mornings.

My DSis just sent me some pictures of a family get-together last year and instead of cringing at the pictures of myself and clicking onto the next one, I did a bit of analysis based on this thread.

Turns out my hair is a total mess, the colours I am wearing are too dark and make me look zombie-fied, and my clothes are too tight. I am wearing a midi-skirt but since I am quite generous in the hip department, it looks frump-tastic on me.

Oh, and the best bit, is that despite the fact it's a smart do, I am wearing - please don't flame me - a rucksack and a plastic watch....!! The rucksack contains the kids' gear (spare clothes, wipes etc) and the plastic watch is worn because my nice one got wrecked with baby vomit etc.

If I hadn't read this thread, I would literally not have noticed any of those fashion disasters. Thank you, brilliant S&B-ers.

I'm just off to up my game.....

Thanks for the advice hopeful I will give it a try. Swishy hair seems to be high on the list. My hair is jaw length which I like but due to being skint I stopped going to my naice hairdresser and started having a cheap cut and colour at home- it was 1/3rd of the price but its awful so that's my next priority.

I have been trying harder with my clothes and have stopped saving things for best. Later I am going to dig out my pearl earrings and my other nice bits of jewellery. I am rubbish at putting outfits together and making them look finished and polished, any advice?

I have a tricky one for you all: how to look expensive at the beach? I just took a look and all my beachwear is tatty stuff from ASOS or bought in Goa. The only thing that is good is that I invest in Eres pieces for swimwear, but when I have to get dressed for dinner...

Black maxi dress, silver bangles, fine knit jumper, leather sandals. Really simple. :)

I am feeling very inspired. Thanks to the last thread I got the dark grey trousers from Uniqlo (most comfortable trousers I have ever owned!)

www.uniqlo.com/uk/store/goods/154149-08-007

which go nicely with some Paul Green tan shoes and a Fiorelli tan bag my mum gave me when she was last having a sort out. I put them with a beige merino v-neck sweater

www.uniqlo.com/uk/store/goods/151933-36-006

and a cashmere mix coat in beige

www.uniqlo.com/uk/store/goods/146621-31-006

all in the sale, and DH said I looked 'fashionable' and 'your bum doesn't look too big in those' . I paired them with an M and S knock off of a Hermes scarf from the 1980s and if you squinted your eyes and I stood with the light behind me I reckoned I looked like minor royalty if I may say so myself.

However from the back the new coat looked quite rumpled after my train journey and it is not like me to look creased so I am not sure what happened there. Perhaps it is the light colour? Anyone got advice on this?

Also I got a red merino cardigan and a mustard merino jumper from Woolovers too, to make more of the basics I have already got. They have some very nice stuff. I've had a good wardrobe sort out and mended various things so I feel comparatively well-equipped now.

Bernard, I think it's all about becoming sensitised to things and then you develop more awareness. I used to work in women's/sleb magazines including for some high end ones and I looked completely different and fucking marvellous. I now hang out with academics all day and frankly if someone doesn't have egg down their front they are doing well. Hence trying to get back on track.

I don't know whether I will get flamed and probably the Facebook people won't approve, but I really think some people spoil their chic or glossy look, when at the table, by holding cutlery incorrectly. Also to my mind even worse, is gesticulating with knife or fork, and not putting knife & fork back down on the plate in between mouthfuls.You see people on Come Dine With me and the like, practically waving cutlery in the air whilst they chew their food and IMO it looks absolutely horrible but that 's just my opinion obviously.

If you're dressed elegantly and channelling your inner chic whilst meeting a friend for lunch, this is the fastest way to look utterly nasty and undo all the good grooming.

"and not putting knife & fork back down on the plate in between mouthfuls"

Seriously, who does that?

I love this thread, I've been lurking on this and the previous one and have picked up so many tips! I've stated checking all my labels to check it's 80%+ natural fibres!

For those on a budget, Maybelline do a range called 'Forever Strong Super Stay 7 Days Gel Colour' that's less than a fiver and (imo) great. I used the top coat (over Sally Hansen complete manicure) when I painted my nails last Friday and they are only just starting to chip today. I think if I do an extra top coat halfway through they could last a week.

Is anyone good with hair? Highlights were mentioned on the last thread, I've just grown out my (in a box) dyed hair and don't want to do an all over dye again as my hair is fairly dry anyway. It's mousy brown at the minute, would lowlights in a richer tone just a shade or two darker than my hair look ok?

I'm light mousy brown and think darker ones would just make it flat. I have some dark blonde ones and goldish ones done which mingle quite nicely with my little bit of grey. Overall it looks fair and quite natural without looking highlighted. I have a half head about twice a year and a T Bar every six weeks. The highlights and different colours mean there is never a growth line.

Bunbaker are you serious?