How to Look Expensive (in the summer)

[diamondsandrose]

Please can we resurrect my favourite EVER thread, but with a summer twist?

I think I'm pretty stylish in cooler weather but struggle in the heat.

I know the usual drill ..natural fabrics, linen cotton silk in neutral colours. Light tan courtesy of gradual tanner. Tan real leather sandals. Straw or heavy cotton beach bag. No gaudy colours or prints. No bra strap showing under vests.

But I still feel I don't look as good as I could if I tried a bit harder! I get freckly and I think that stops me looking expensive!

Please tell me your tips and stories of fab expensive looking stylish people you've seen on holiday

Well my Debenhams dresses have arrived and they were clearly reduced for a reason.. the navy slip dress is awful, really think scratchy material and see through. The tile print dress is annoying as it fits me well and the shape is good, but the wonkyness of the pattern would drive me crazy I think... Anyway, I'm trying to stick with the mantra that if I don't love it I don't need it, so they're both going back.

I think it's worse as the pattern is slightly off centre. If it was completely off it wouldn't look so annoying! Whoever said upthread that patterns show their price (or something like) was spot on.

It’s true about patterns plus they are less versatile I think.
I’m only buying plain at the moment and will buy some chunky colourful jewellery if I need to brighten things up.

The vast majority of my clothes are plain. And I'm actually trying to change that a bit. I ADORE a polka dot. Big patterns can be problematic though I agree.

Same, mostly plain clothes but I like a bit of texture for interest. Love bags and accessories and although I love shoes I have unpretty feet.

Thank you to whoever mentioned Toms on this thread. I just looked at their website for the first time on the offchance, and they go up to a size 10! One pair of these in a 9 winging their way to me .. and thrilled to have another retailer to consider when buying shoes.

www.toms.co.uk/women/natural-yarn-dye-womens-sienna-wedges

That's great to know pupsie as I'm also a 9. Those wedges are gorgeous

That was me @Pupsiecola. That's great! They are so comfortable and well made.

This is the thread that never stops giving isn't it? I've found it so interesting and enlightening. Thank you @bzzbeebzz

Really enjoying this thread - thank you. And thanks for the introduction to Toms, which somehow I hadn't come across before. I may have just succumbed to these rather beautiful mules. The sunglasses may have fallen into my basket as well...

Marking my place for later.

Ooh those are lovely @FlorenceLyons! I need to look away, I have already bought two pairs of espadrilles and a pair of sandals from Toms this summer.

So I went to the shops to have a little look at sunglasses and beach bags today. I came home with a longchamp Le Pliage in navy - decided the PP upthread who said classics are classics for a reason and tend to work well for the "effortlessly stylish/expensive" look! (This is my justification for spending £75 on a nylon bag...)

Anyway - also had a bit of a revelation in Oasis - it's a shop full of the style a lot of posters on here are afterwards, it's all lady-like summer clothes, not clinging "here is all my flesh" looks, lots of it looks far more expensive than it is. Worth a walk round if you are looking for a lot of summery things still.

@Katiepoes the fabric hangs from your most extreme curve - it does not hug your butt underneath like body con, if that is what you mean, unless you ordered a size too small?
If I'm feeling brave I'll get the kids to take a snap of me wearing it tomorrow...I'm not making any promises though!

CoffeeOrSleep the Longchamp Le Pliage bags are great and very practical, I'm debating one or possibly the Ralph Lauren Tote which are a bit more structured (I like structured bags) I'm an idiot as they had one in TK Maxx recently for £50 instead of £100 and I wish I'd got it.

I like those Mules but think they would make my feet look huge, I'd so love dainty feet.
As the discount code is still valid I bought one of these as well as the pale blue bag I pictured earlier - too much of a bargain. I got it in Navy.
www.myexquisiteshop.com/products/olivia-fine-italian-leather-shoulder-tote
I have loads of sunglasses but all cheapies, they will do though as they look fine.

I need magic sandals that make my feet look small and cover my corns

I'm also now going to put my credit card in the deep freeze, this is the thread of danger!

I'm.now adding Oasis to my bookmarks and Uniqlo glossy chinos.

Le Pliage now comes in black leather and nylon...on sale in Selfridges and looks very lovely - I'm not keen on the tan leather.

@CoffeeOrSleep

Hmmmmm...mostly cotton too...

www.oasis-stores.com/gb/clothing/dresses/long-lace-a-line-dress/065688.html?dwvar_065688_color=02&position=25#q=Lace&page=2&productsMoved=0&hideFeatured=false&start=25&categoryID=null

I have a Le Pilage in dark grey. I generally like bags with pockets so I use one of those inserts with it. I like the bag though because it's so light.

How have I never known that Toms went up to a 10? I thought I knew every supplier of big shoes in the country! This could get expensive!

I know Fizzing! I think plenty of other people don'rmt know either as they have 9s and 10s in stock too!!

Great thread!

I've ordered the tan M&S sandals linked above I usually like silver sandals, they look nice and summery and go with most things.

Someone was looking for a black jersey dress, I've got my eye on this:

www.jigsaw-online.com/product/ruffle-hem-jersey-dress/J37341_BK000

Great minds, Dancergirl I bought this jigsaw dress yesterday in a charity shop. Petrol, though, not black.

Thought I'd share some of my recent purchases:

www.oliverbonas.com/fashion/category/dresses/68151#selection=color:Green__70;size:12__365

Looks much better on, lovely fabric, drapes well. Size down.

Jackets/blazers - I have two - Hush Fitzgerald jacket which I bought last year and have worn loads.

And a light grey flecked blazer from Joules. It's similar to this one but mine isn't jersey:

www.houseoffraser.co.uk/women/joules-jersey-blazer/d875577.pd#287627885,q=joules-blazer