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)

I wouldn't wear a navy top and black trousers or a navy dress with a gold buckle and pink handbag to be honest.

I wear the same jewellery every day. Wedding ring, eternity ring, engagement ring, white gold watch, pearl earrings, occasionally a simple pearl drop necklace.

Fair enough. I wouldn't wear just the same accessories every day.

I should add in the case of the dress my shoes will be a dark navy too. I don't want to add any more colours. This is the dress though. It looks so much nicer in real life. I normally avoid dresses with buckles but this one is great and so easy to travel in.

www.phase-eight.com/fcp/product/phase-eight/shop-all-dresses/belted-ponte-swing-dress/203733351

The dress is lovely and doesn't need any more accessories.

When you refer to just the same accessories, I think you miss the point.

The dress is gorgeous and I think the pink bag would add a wow factor but jewellery would have to either be incredibly simple or don't wear any.
Oh and I wear navy tops and black trousers all the time, I usually wear with a black cardigan but my entire wardrobe is black grey or navy so there's not a great option.

Thank you for the trainer (and insole!) recommendations. I have a pair of converse but find them fugly. I really don't like trainers at all. Maybe I should start a post entitled "how to look expensive whilst traipsing round theme parks in Florida during August" to get some footwear suggestions. I just see everyone saying "trainers" whenever it's asked

Navy and black together just looks wrong Imo. I would wear grey or a gentle contrast with black.

Catastrophe There's a thread that's just started about summer shoes with orthotics. You may get some ideas in there?

Roses Grey isn't a good colour on me unless it's a strong charcoal. Hypothetically then, what colour jacket would you wear?

I have a black trouser suit under which I wear the heathery colours that suit me. Similar with navy blue suits.

I often wear navy or black with a cream top and wear a coloured jacket or cardigan. I have a teal one that works well.

I also find a stone coloured skirt looks good with a navy or black top or blouse. Am probably much older than you but try not to be frumpy.

Would never wear black shoes with navy.

I think you are older too but that's not what I'm thinking about as our main difference. It's our colourings that are the most different. Thanks again

I'm a late summer by the way. Fair hair, brown eyes, pink tones. Wear soft shades - pinks, blues, mushroomy tones, turquoise, teale, thinks with a blue tone. White better than cream - black works but can't be solid. Navy is great but I'd avoid a gold buckle because silver/white gold works better for me.

Cannot wear anything with a yellowy undertone: beige, brown, corals, yellows, many greens, khaki.

As a clear winter I love navy and jewel colours inc blues. If you had a navy short sleeved silk top and black trousers, what colour jacket would you go for for work? Would you ever wear another shade of blue or would you go for a different colour?

Ivory. I'd definitely not wear another shade of blue.

I love navy and black together, very chic but I can see there's divided opinion here!

Trainers answers:

Gazelles - fit true to size I've found.

Converse - don't buy for walking. They've very thin soles.

In my opinion (maybe google "black and navy" and hit image search) if you wear black and navy those are the only 2 colours you can have in the outfit. These probably aren't the right proportions but:

www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fs-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com%2F736x%2F86%2F2f%2Faa%2F862faa38d51aa7218a25f66c8ff69845.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fexplore%2Fblack-and-navy%2F&docid=IBiorEeRB4DJpM&tbnid=MZUrEbCGKe-C7M%3A&vet=10ahUKEwias6_VkKvTAhUrCMAKHS-YBvMQMwhIKCMwIw..i&w=600&h=1000&client=ms-android-sonymobile&bih=511&biw=360&q=black%20trousers%20navy%20top&ved=0ahUKEwias6_VkKvTAhUrCMAKHS-YBvMQMwhIKCMwIw&iact=mrc&uact=8

Either that, or you do black trousers, light top, navy jacket.

It's interesting as I've gone and rooted out the original thread, as I've seen a few people mention it

It just ratifies the point that the kind of look we envisage is so different from person to person

Most of the looks on the original thread are of the Claire Underwood style - pencil skirts, shirts, heels - what I'd consider elegant work wear

Looks absolutely stunning but SO not the look I'm aiming for, and the garments I choose (and recommend here) are basically almost diametrically opposed

I'm aiming for much more casual chic - think Emanuelle Alt (only with flats instead of heels) or scandi relaxed style

So for me skinnies and a fab coat or great jacket with some stan Smith trainers looks really stylish and can look effortlessly cool. But others will think these looks are hideous!!

I like what you're going for there, banana. I am not super-keen on the Claire Underwood look (incidentally, she wears a lot of VB I think).

In my opinion (maybe google "black and navy" and hit image search) if you wear black and navy those are the only 2 colours you can have in the outfit.

I wouldn't wear 3 pieces of navy/black, I'd break it up with ivory. Or maybe white.

I totally get that the midnight velvet coat against a black silhouette is fabulous.

I simply don't think a navy jacket with black work trousers works.

I just bought some black leather leggings from J.Crew and I've worn them with a navy cashmere jumper and a a low black patent heel for basically everything for the past 2 months.

clearwinter

I think you are older too but that's not what I'm thinking about as our main difference. It's our colourings that are the most different. Thanks again

That is a stunning dress. It needs no jewellery, imo. The pink handbag would be perfect with it. Maybe some black pointed flats, also, and it you wish some sort of discreet blackish bracelet.

I had to google who Claire underwood is but from what I've seen - definitely not my style! My job is a teaching assistant and I have 4 children- corporate style just isn't going to work in my world. Here's some images I found to show what style I try to emulate

To reiterate: black and navy is very very chic.

Bananafish- love the photos you put on (though think I need to loose another stone at least to get near the look and actually spend more than 3 mins on hair and make-up).

What would be the summer equivalent though?

I had to google who Claire underwood is but from what I've seen - definitely not my style!

Have you not seen House of Cards?

Just Google Claire Underwood - her style is a touch drab for me. I do have some similar work pieces but the clothes certainly not what I would be wearing for anything outside of work.

Hope the links work...this is my idea of smart chic:

pin.it/500x9FQ

pin.it/jHNcDu7

pin.it/oCvo1Wa

pin.it/DvawuVl

And casual...

pin.it/U4WqMJL

pin.it/C9wy25O

pin.it/z85SZ7_ less jewellery though.

clearwinter The dress is gorgeous.

I wouldn't wear a pink bag with it though, sorry

I would wear a black or cream jacket with it, depending on the weather etc.

The casual looks people are posting (slim girls in jeans and trainers looking all swishy) are exactly what I am looking for when I am not at work. So great for shopping, going for lunch etc.

I could not wear jeans or trainers to work. Have to look far more corporate.

Have you not seen House of Cards?

Never even heard of it google informs me it's a Netflix series - I only subscribe during to school holidays to keep the kids entertained. We rarely watch anything other then power rangers and Pokémon