How to look expensive in 2017

[brickinitIam]

Inspired by How to look expensive 1 & 2 (loved those threads)

The clothes on sale this year are terrible beyond belief and really poor quality.
What are your tips for not looking like you've been dragged through a hedge backwards? Especially if you don't have enough money to buy from the more expensive shops?

This year I'm saving any spare money for the hairdresser and possibly shoes.

What makes you look cheap and what makes you look expensive (polished)

Boots have it in stock here

Thank you, itsa

I was going to purchase this dress but the colour is just not me. Finally sticking to my colour palette

www.houseoffraser.co.uk/women/twilight-rose-cut-out-shoulder-lace-dress/d768092.pd#261719274

Massimo Dutti always looks expensive.

Damn, I'm not in the U.K. and the KG shoes are 9 Eur delivery with no free returns Not sure whether to risk it!

I wear KG shoes (DD used to work there) and find them absolutely true to size and very comfy, even my heels.

@PaperdollCartoon agree with @getahaircutCarl - gel polish (often called everlasting polish at salons) is fine on my nails. It's not like acrylics or gel extensions - it can be beneficial to have a break after a few months continuous wear, but my nails are dine. Different systems include Gelish and Shellac - if you see anyone in the salon wearing masks or using drills, avoid. Gel polish shouldn't use any of these - I'd also avoid removing the gels by soaking in acetone, much better to use cotton + foil wraps (aka finger burritos). The least buffing of the nail bed the better. I cannot be arsed with the maintenance of regular polish, which chips so easily and inevitably smudges even with quick drying topcoat. Gels are immediately dry as they're UV cured, and I get 3 weeks wear out of them (with no worries about chipping - I can just forget about my nails

@Gah81 @GloriaGilbert thanks for recs. What’s the upkeep like on the leather leggings?

Now wondering about finding my own colours - I have absolutely no idea what mine are. Almost everything I own is grey / black / breton stripe!

Follow up to a prev question about bare ankles - today I wore brogues, which I absolutely cannot wear without socks without them rubbing horrifically. In the pic below I’m wearing a pop sock - does anyone have any better suggestions for trainer socks that actually stay on? Or should I stick with the pop sock?

I love this post! Lots of good tips and I've some research to do now I agree that the expensive look is the more understated simply statement pieces rather than high fashion trends. Those trends are over to fast anyway and then you are left with a load of stuff you don't feel like wearing anymore.

I think it's vital that clothes fit well too! Baggy cloths look frumpy , HATE saggy arsed trousers/jeans; proper bra essential!

ChloeChloe, like you I am not in the UK and ordered via international delivery. Unfortunately boots were two different sizes ( both marked 39 but about half an inch in size difference). Had to send photos etc then they offered refund or new pair. Choose refund and sent back boots- BUT they are refusing to refund the cost of me returning the boots to them. This was obviously costly but unavoidable as they insisted on returning before they would refund me. The original error was certainly not my fault. It is shocking that I am out of pocket when it was not my error. Just beware before you order.

If you have PayPal and sign up for their international returns programme they will refund you up to £15 of returns cost.

I had my colours & style done at house of colour-great fun altogether & quite life changing for me. I guess it depends on who the consultant is but I'd say worth the risk if you're not certain on what colours suit you

I have also recently bought this gorgeous suede jacket from Jigsaw:

www.jigsaw-online.com/product/soft-suede-collarless-jacket/J32636_BL133

Oh, just spied this thread and shamelessly placemarking 😊

Currently on maternity leave but due back to work this summer and this is giving me good ideas for when I get out of the jeans and breastfeeding friendly tops rut that I am currently in!

Love these as a purse friendly alternative to the pp.

I like the jigsaw suede jacket but I don't think it looks very versatile.

Thanks for the heads up sontagsleere that's terrible service to be out of pocket for a faulty item! I think I will give them a miss and go for the M&S version vivienne kindly pointed to!

How annoying to make you pay- I wonder if the five euros or whatever makes up for the fact you'll most never shop there again and tell others of your bad experience? Such a bad idea in terms of publicity/ customer service.

I have just bought these to try:

www.tkmaxx.com/womens-heeled-shoes/brown-suede-wedge-heel-espadrilles/invt/25185610

I have 2 stunning flat/low heel tan leather sandals for summer but both pinch.

I thought these would go with shorts/skirts/dresses or caprice pants/kick flare etc as well as longer length so quite versatile.

I thought low heel would be perhaps more comfy than totally flat, okay for school run etc and wedge would stop me sinking in grass in park.

I quite like the espidrilles with ribbon tie but thought I'd be less likely to faff with them when flying around trying to get out of the door with kids in the morn.

After a lot of hunting around, went with these as suede rather than synthetic for a good price and colour will go with pretty much everything I own (ideally wanted a sort of mushroom colour but could only find for £80+).

Just hope they are actually comfy now!

Has anyone see any nice shirts that fit well over boobs other than Pepperberry which I find a bit frumpy? I like that soft drapey material rather than cotton (modal??)

Dancergirl I like M&S No Peep shirts. They have extra buttons hidden between the buttons you can see, so you don't get that horrible "busting out" feeling.

A lot of them are cotton but I recently bought this one which is a more silky material. It looks much nicer in RL that it does here www.marksandspencer.com/cotton-rich-striped-fuller-bust-shirt/p/p22502886?OmnitureRedirect=20377090&cid=6734368

Here are my gazelles - very happy

Anyone a fan of Pure Collection? At least on the JL website lots of items are 25% off today.

Dancergirl Boob gap is such a pain isn't it? I have this site bookmarked www.saintbustier.com but haven't bought from them yet

I got these nude shoes

and this Mac today

Both items should go well with my new polished look.

Also ordered these lovely sunglasses

What has everyone else been buying?

Turnip - please could you elaborate on your vitamin c / retinal skin care routine ? Exact products and process much appreciated!! I have hit 35 looking extremely haggard and think it's time I took skin care seriously!

All I've bought is some new mascara and some Korean face masks as I've run out. Trying to decide on a new handbag. I'd love the Prada galleria bag but it's a wee bit out of my price range so trying to decide between the ted baker dimita here and the coach edie here. It's really frustrating that ted baker don't put the actual dimensions of the bag on their website though so I'm having to guess at size. Ted baker is cheaper, but coach might be a better investment. So hard making decisions

Can anyone give me some ideas for Pinterest search terms to try for good style stuff - I never know how to find what I'm looking for

@PaperdollCartoon I've been looking at searches with items of clothing I like and different ways to wear them

So for example, I was looking at gazelles / stan Smiths / breton tops / brogues

People whose style I like - eg Emanuelle Alt, Olivia palermo

And there's always more generic ones like 'scandi Street style' or whatever floats your boat