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)

Another product I'm loving is the Sally Hansen colour therapy polish in rosy quartz.

The Sally Hansen clear polishes usually have a slight pink tint to them.
They make your nails look natural, only a healthier looking natural.

I just think that they key to remaining chic (IMO) with colours is to anchor e.g. a red dress or bright emerald skirt with neutrals like nude/cream/navy/tan etc. and keep the jewellery small - the bright colour should be the main event. Not a fan of clashing/lots of loud colours even if it does look great on the catwalk.

A good quality bag in a really bright colour, worn with an otherwise all- neutral outfit can have the same stuffing effect.
Same with nails and lips.
One of the most stunning, put together women I know will often wear all navy or all black and the only colour you see is her bright red lipstick and/or nails. The colour really stands out.
She does have long swishy hair and flawless skin, which helps

Glad to be of service Laska - for me the neck is fine but I wish it was one inch longer for me and, for my preference, without pockets but it is a good dress.

What are you planning to wear it with? Me - probably black wedges and sunnies but can't decide on bag.

sorry about all the 'for' s - it has been a long day.

Re the blue h&m dress - is it true to size (I know what H&M can be like !

Also, how long it is? Am concerned that it's knee length on the model.

I am 5' 6" and it is just above the knee on me

H&M dress is true to size I think, just above knee for me (5. 6in) I got the 16 as i am busty ..36E (and H&M sizes are small) , Is a great fit for me though , not too big on hips (which are not that big.. 37, ) plenty of room for bigger . I think ill wear it with opaques and boots for now, probably loafers later on. It really is a great dress at a good price ..

It's to my knee bwatch so a decent legnth for opaques and loafers I think

Thanks - I've ordered it

Are there any plus size expensive looking ladies? I know the holy grail of looking expensive is to be thin but that is a work in progress. How do I look expensive while fat? Is it even possible? If so what do I wear, where to shop etc?

My mother is plus size and always looks impeccable. She loves camel/cream/black/grey. Pearls and diamonds (but small ones). Tortoiseshell jewellery (Hobbs does good stuff).

Places she shops: M&S, Basler, BHS, Debenhams. Classic cuts and colours. Always a slick of burgundy lipstick. She's lucky that she's gone grey beautifully but her hair is a long bob which I cut (!) (I am not a hairdresser).

Expensive shoes - many of which she has had since the 60s. Expensive jewellery too, which I think helps with her overall look despite rest usually being pretty cheap!

Lanaa - I think that one of the most important things is to wear clothes that fit and flatter, in the colours that suit and styles that look good.

That's what I try to do anyway

I don't know if it the awful current fashions or my age but I have become a bit obsessed with good basics in my wardrobe but I don't want to be bland or twee.

Some of my thoughts...

I got rid of almost all my black because navy is a better shade for me but although substituting a navy for black can sometimes be chic it can also sometimes look very safe. There is an edginess to black which I miss. Firstly I need black cigarette trousers which I can wear with my navy tops because I love navy and black!

Although if in doubt a navy v neck jumper is my easiest to wear staple.

Oxford shirts are a good look on me but not white, blue is so much more flattering and less waitressy, I also have striped and pink. White or off white is good for silky or drapery fabrics. Leave a good few buttons open at the top and add a fine layered or interesting necklace to soften tha masculine style.

I plan to buy some of the uniqlo soft touch blouses I would wear them all the time!

I need to trim my waist so a belt looks good, being apple shaped feels very unchic.

I echo previous poster on good coats and jackets. I am living in my trench at the moment. According to Ines de Fressange never do up the buckle, you ignore the buckle and tie it if you need to fastening it.

I think we have to be careful of following too many rules at once!

Things I notice as to whether I think someone looks 'polished' or expensive would be things like:

Clean shoes. Price is irrelevant to me as long as they look fit for purpose.

Clothes that fit (including bra) Maybe 3 block colours at most. No holes or loose threads either.

Hair that looks like it's trimmed on a regular basis.

Clean nails.

Groomed eyebrows and a clear, glowing complexion.

Black and navy definitely OK together, I have lots of both so they have to be...

I was told off for shuddering on the other thread Wasn't meaning to be rude but it came over that way.

Was the 'not looking expensive' thread user5174? (you need a name btw! how about 'Navy&blackisfine'? )

I looked at that thread but dont really get it, they seemed to be saying that to look expensive its all about 'boring neutrals' .. I dont just wear neutrals, actually love strong colours , but I do like plain colours or , stripes and checks at a pinch.. have a nice cotton blue/red/blackchecked shirt on now, But its ironed and worn over a navy vest top with navy Hush harems.. casual for a day off, but IMHO, not cheap looking ..

Call me snobby, but I think its the cut and the finish thats important, ( oh and yes, sadly ironing.. )

I have a cut every 4/5 weeks though, but my hair is pixie cut , also dyed white blonde (as its so grey now , but sadly in patches and not all over in a lovely silver ) so I have to maintain it so it looks good .. I dont really do make up , but dye my eyelashes myself and make sure I get my brows sorted when i get my hair cut..

Nails are always short and unpolished, as I love gardening but i do buff them, toenails are always painted , I do have to get onto the 'summer legs' buffing routine now though. Luckily for me I am not very fuzzy so epilator is fine every couple of weeks and I do that all year around..

I think these things are all part of looking groomed and supposedly 'expensive'

I also really rate scarves for adding colour to a plain outfit, I have zillions .. TKmaxx is great for good quality scarves at a decent price.. I try to go for long ones that drape really well , most often in natural fibres .

and of course shoes matter .. good clean shoes and boots and get them heeledand resoled regularily , I have boots several years old still looking good

Yes, that one Laska - yes I think they were overfocusing on beige!

I have had a few MN names but they've never worked for as long as this username. And navy/black moniker really belongs to the other user on this thread

lanaa I'm large and usually look reasonably non tacky I think. But I am prepared to pay quite a lot for my clothes ( e.g. Marina Rinaldi not Debenhams or H and M) and for my accessories and hair. You might like to have a look at the thread ' if you're old and fat', even if you aren't old. Lots of suggestions for better quality plus size clothes there.

Oh and sorry if this has already been mentioned but good quality well fitting bras are essential too, particularly if you are big-busted.

I love these threads. I look a berk in prints and kooky clothes. Like them on other people, but not me.

The hard thing is walking that line without moving into boring territory. My style crush is Jeane Damas, who wears simple shapes, but with an edge.

Yes I wouldn't be seen dead in beige. Pastels just make me look washed out. If I go for colour it has to be jewel tones - ruby ted, emerald green, can I blag that navy is actually sapphire blue? Haha.
I went into fat face earlier (closing down sale) and dd(13) kept commenting how it's all not my style and wouldn't suit so I asked her to describe my style - casual, relaxed but smart was her answer. I'm pretty pleased with that answer.
Also had my eyebrows threaded for the first time, I've been a plucker for years, so now I have lovely groomed brows. Still won't go near a hairdresser though, too many bad cuts in the past so I now do the mumsnet haircut every 3-4months whilst I grow it long. I'm hoping to grow it long enough to cut and donate to the little princess trust. I hope that's not dragging down my look though.

I think the thing about not slipping over into boring territory when you favour a very pared-down look is to have a thing that is very much you. For me it's my hair, it's a mad Grace Coddlington affair, but grey.

The rest of me is ultra simple.

I do like red lipstick too though.

But I do think to look 'expensive' in itself is a strange ambition. To what end? To engender the respect of others? I guarantee very few people actually care how expensive you look, I do pay attention to what other people wear but only in a 'I think she looks great' respect. Style is very personal and a cookie-cutter approach is a bit soulless.

The H & M dress is lovely- are we saying it's a bit on the short side? Because I'm a giraffe and wouldn't want to bend over and show my pants!

My Mum is a 16-18 and always looks amazing- many of the brands mentioned above. She is always made up, but subtly, and always spent money on skincare. Lots of cashmere/marino colours, then jackets and blazers.

Ilike I see this "looking expensive" thing more as "looking classy and a little bit timeless, but not slipping over into boring-timeless territory"