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

Account222 that's a shame, they are long, I'm 5'7" and took them up another inch. I'm wearing mine today with Missoni print grey converse and a very fine knit, scoop neck top, all in navy. Accessorised with very shiny teeth after a visit to the hygienist.

I went into our HoF today (ours is not closing) as I have a gift voucher to spend. There were lots of sandals 50% off, but nothing I liked and fitted.

Lots of lovely bags in John Lewis, quite a few things 20% off too. Of course, I can't seem to find them on the website which is being very slow!

Boden navy jersey dress arrived and is fabulous. Wore it today and never had so many compliments! I will get loads of wear out if it - dress up/down - so very pleased

Oh that's great bzz. Would you mind linking to it again?

I was in Tesco the other day (I don't usually shop there , too out of the way for me) but I got a swimsuit (green leafy print) and an olive green pull on skirt with a wrap over belt ti (to artfully hide my stomach)

I have a tummy control swimsuit from Primark - fits my bust , my stomach but is really baggy round my bum !
(I'm thinking about a bikini for holiday , I'm pretty sure no-one will care what I look like and I can throw a sarong on for cover)

I'm going for trying to look expensive on a budget today . I'm wearing my charity shop jigsaw dress (for music activity this am with dd2, followed by late afternoon/evening retirement party with live music) dressed down with grey, Missoni print converse trainers from Brandalley sale a few years ago, new bra from John Lewis which cost me all of £3 yesterday due to gift voucher + 20% off, grey biker jacket quite a few years old from tkmaxx. I might change my footwear to grey suede boots for the evening. I love a bargain.

I would love to see the dress bzzbeebzz.

Brandalley has lots of fitflops (cork soled tan or white ones look less fitflops like) and castaner espadrilles, if anyone is interested, just check delivery times as some sales have longer delivery.

I dare not look at brand alley!

I'm really struggling for summer trousers at the moment. I'm only 5ft, but I'm a size 12-14 hourglass. I'm not very good in the heat, so I'm trying to find clothes that are lightweight, but don't make me look bigger. Has anyone seen some trousers that might fit the bill?

Curbside
The Matalan 'premium' ankle trousers in the pinned mumsnet trousers thread at the top are brilliant. Lovely cool material and slimming cut.

For the PPs above the Boden dress is
m.boden.co.uk/en-gb/womens-dresses/day-dresses/j0206-blu/womens-cyan-emmie-jersey-dress

A second one arrived today which I also love but I can only justify/afford to keep the first one. And actually the neckline has a slight gape so it would bug me a bit, whereas the one above is without any such issue.
m.boden.co.uk/en-gb/womens-dresses/day-dresses/j0211-nav/womens-navy-nicole-jersey-dress

I saw a woman today walking through a carpark who had totally nailed the "expensive in summer" look - she just looked like someone you would assume was wealthy in a non-flashy (and therefore 'proper money') way.

Trying to work out what gave that impression and when I looked a bit closer (ok, I totally stared, but don't think I was noticed to be staring!), nothing she was wearing was obviously expensive.

she had on - khaki slim fit trousers that stopped above the ankle, white fine knit jumper, tan leather loafers, tan slouchy handbag. She had dark blonde hair that suited her colouring and was clipped up neatly. Big sunnies, but not obviously expensive ones.

Trying to think what gave the impression - everything was neat, no wrinkles in her clothes, all fitted her, no lumps and bumps. Nothing was particularly fashionable (and so didn't look like she was trying). Biggest thing seemed to be the way she carried herself, she had exellent posture and that seemed to give her an air of being important.

So ladies, shoulders back, chin up. Make sure your hair colour is something that might be reasonably seen as natural for your skin tone. Do the ironing (sorry about that one).

Thank you Bejazzled I will take a look

I love that first Boden dress bzzbeebzz. Sadly, it is beyond my price range.

Car park lady sounds nice!

I'm in Liverpool today. Sat outside John Lewis people watching. Hard to say exactly what set the well heeled shoppers apart. Just a general ambiance.
Chambray shifts and lots of well fitting white trousers. Light tan. Gold and silver stacking bracelets. A good watch. Well cut bobs.
And none of them were wearing furry sliders

I read that as "well cut boobs"

I think being slim has a lot to do with it too. The simple chinos and a white shirt or chambray shirt and white trousers looks good on a slim person. On me, it would look frumpy. Back to the diet.

at well cut boobs

I think it's often that wearing something simple but super flattering look. Carpark lady sounds very chic, style over fashion, knowing what suits you can give you lots of confidence too (I would look pretty awful in khaki, tan and with dark, blonde hair).

bzzbeebzz that first dress looks particularly lovely. So great when you find clothes that just work.

Possibly @MinaPaws , but carpark lady wasn't thin/slim, she wasn't obese- but wouldn't call her slim. But her clothes fitted, so many slightly larger woman seem to be walking around in clothes that will fit them when they've finished their diet.

Agree @diamondsandrose - you can spot the "well heeled" people, yet when you break it down, it's not that hard to achieve - this gives hope!

@quirkychick - yep, dark blonde would look terrible on me, but then many woman will go light, bright blonde and look cheap/fake, and would look better with a more boring dark blonde colour. Guess that's the expensive hairdresser who knows how to colour to suit you rather than just what you ask for!

I'm waiting for delivery of this dress. £60 down to £16.

I decided to buy it after the comments up thread about black looking good in summer.

I wish I could do the whole white/tan/khaki thing, but I need some darker colours to contrast with my blue/white skin.

https://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod1070111000161132+485059BLAA-1

I am lusting after that dress Kitchen

I'll let you know how it fits when it arrives @LoniceraJaponica

I'm trying to buy more expensive clothes in the sales rather that spending the same amount in supermarkets, Primark and everythingsfivepounds.com!

I'll let you know how it fits when it arrives @LoniceraJaponica

I'm trying to buy more expensive clothes in the sales rather that spending the same amount in supermarkets, Primark and everythingsfivepounds.com!

Sorry for the double post. I've noticed this happening a lot as threads fill up. (I hope this only posts once 🤞)

CoffeeOrSleep that's so true about people wearing what size they want to be rather than what fits. I think when we think of the very chic European look of french/italian/spanish and probably cool scandi too, it's about being fussy about what fits and flatters us, rather than what we wish looked good on us.

Kitchen that's a good bargain, I tend to avoid buying viscose, though, as I had a very lovely grecian warehouse maxi that shrunk horribly, despite being washed on delicates .

Last summer, I really went for dressing in lots of neutrals either greys, metallics, black or white, navy and blues with the odd bit of colour maybe smoky violet or seagreens (I'm very pale too) and found it so much easier, as it's closer to my "normal" style the rest of the year. Bright florals are just not really me and I usually find summer dressing much harder because the shops are full of so-called holiday clothes of flowery dresses and blingy sandals.