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

I have some M&S trousers from a couple of years ago ( tag is still on them plain navy , veering towards a hareem but not quite.
I need to get something to wear on the top half now.

I don't wear much black, I prefer navy ( black trousers in my work uniform so maybe that's why I steer clear )
I don't mind the "Oh its Summer lets pile the colour on" , I do mind the "Oh its Summer lets walk about showing everything off Sweaty topless blokes standing behind me in the Fruit&Veg aisle deserve to be shot)

These are lovely and inexpensive

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ex-Oasis-Heidi-Haurache-Tan-Leather-Sandals-Peep-Toe-Brown-Size-3-4-5-6-7-8/152997379115?var=452798300872&hash=item239f5abc2b:m:mWOZVu2bm6bJfzXr9GY5vUg

www.shoeaholics.com/brands/women/carvela-kurt-geiger/binko-tan-synthetic-carvela-kurt-geiger

I’ve just bought these, £23 with the discount. I need some white jeggings now.

I’m 5’5” but look daft in loose trousers so jeggings it will be.

Sorry coffeeorsleep I was just trying to post a pic of Audrey & the glasses came along too!

I would look in TKMax for reasonably priced sunnies 😎

This thread is GOLD you are all geniuses
I may need a new notebook!
offensive

All colours of skin apart from sunburnt or patchy fake tanned look expensive! Can we leave that discussion at that please?

As you were...

I think you also need to know what colours work for you. I’m a pale, freckly red head and black, grey and most navy, doesn't suit me. Coral and orangey reds are some of my best colours, so I’m going to wear those coral vest tops. I don’t suit silver jewellery at all so all my jewellery is also “garish gold”. I find it easier to stick to the colours that suit me as it means everything more or less goes together.

I come from Australia, and my overwhelming observation is that U.K. clothes retailers seem to believe that Brits want a “holiday wardrobe” involving garish prints, either horrendous maxi tent dresses or tight & short, and a lot of nylon!

I did buy a really good pair of denim shorts from Hush a few weeks ago - they are a really flattering short length and have a slight amount of flare so the ends aren’t sticking to my thighs. I disagree that shorts cannot look expensive but you need to wear a slightly more oversized top if you’re not at the beach.

I hate linen bottoms - they crease and rarely look good on anyone, unless you are the sort that looks great in a bin liner - but I just got a mustard yellow linen collared shirt from Jaeger that’s really useful both for the office and with said denim shorts.

I typically think that simple, unpatterned clothes look the most expensive but accessories are really important too. A good tan belt is really useful and a good cross body bag as well. I have some tassel earrings that are useful for lifting an outfit - COS is great for simple jewellery. Decent sunnies are essential as well.

That supermarket in Geneva sounds like my kind of place!

I was in tk maxx yesterday and got lovely carvela leather espadrille wedges and Clarins cellulite cream

Big tan faux leather totes are half price at Gap. I just got one to replace the one I've had for years for €27. (am in Italy) I always think a tan tote looks posh

Has anyone found a good white t-shirt and white vest top?? They all seem to be totally see-through or have stupid cold shoulders or are very short!

(I am chuckling a bit at the classy looking Italian ladies- here, in my neck of the woods, it's a bit "more is more" and "bring on the bling". Think Donatella Versace as style icon. But when I lived in Spain, I noticed how very very classy the women looked.

Agree and laughing re the "holiday wardrobe" section particularly in British supermarkets.

Now, Sainsburys have some great clothes, their premium range is very good. But has anyone seen the "holiday" section?
Awful.
Garish colours, cheap prints, just nasty.
Lots of my mother's pet hate , "Black with a bright colour" particularly hot pink and black, apparently the worlds cheapest looking combo.
Ok it could be done beautifully I guess with expensive clothing but more often than not looks rank

Asda girls clothing is OBSESSED with hot pink and black. With silver and bling added to make it worse

marmite- white t shirt- the more expensive ones in Marks- supima cotton. Or the same at Uniqlo. The Marks' ones are lovely and shaped at the bottom, I have 4 identical. They wash beautifully. I am giving the Uniqlo a punt as they get good reviews. Just ordered a couple for now. Steer clear of Gap- you might as well go nekkid.

Yes you need to watch the Italians for veering into bling territory but it still looks better on Italian colouring than British!

At a very expensive hotel a while back I was obsessed with looking at the Russians. Bling encrusted denim jackets over bikinis. Massive Jordan sized fake boobs/lips and lap dancer sandals with clear plastic heels. It was amazing

I think it's a case of knowing which styles and colours suit your colouring and shape. I'm very pale and freckled with dark hair. I have massive thighs. I don't just go into a shop and choose what I like best. I look for certain shades and cuts and try them on and see what suits. Navy looks better on me than black, deep red more than bright red but bright pink more than light pink etc. Short shorts look fine but short skirts look awful on me. A short, lemony sundress might be beautuful but would make me look ghastly. I have had compliments in the last year or two and it's purely because I have started to shop with my head.

Fluffy I love those sandles ..
My DD got some Schuh Birkie-stylee sandles (faux leather) they look nice and come up narrower than Birkies (I have stupidly thin feet so Birkies don't work for me)

I have 3 pairs of Clarks toe post with adjustable strap sandles. Not tan leather , I will leave the Style part and just try the Beauty

The most elegant women last weekend in my small town were wearing strapless cotton dresses/jumpsuits and looked cool and comfortable.If I wore them I just know I would expose myself at some point. One older lady looked very simply elegant in a loose navy v necked top, white trousers plus tan sandals and a grey bob.
I think it’s so much harder looking elegant in summer if you are anything bigger than a size 12. And I’m really not being discriminatory because I am.
For me wafty culottes, loose linen trousers work with relaxed cotton jumpers/linen T’s plus espadrilles. I agree that too much colour and patterns look wrong and possibly aging.I do love colour on my feet however and have just bought bright pink and orange espadrilles for summer.

Maybe I’m wrong but I think prints can look classy and expensive if they are chosen carefully. I especially like green leaf prints on a white background for summer.
Anything neon looks cheap to me, and yes, agree pink and black not great.
I’m a fan of taupe as a colour for looking expensive and it goes with everything too.

Splendid do some lovely summer basics in Supima jersey, I have a maxi skirt and some 3/4 sleeve tops that I bought from the Outnet 5+ years ago and they still look good.

I am over a size 12 and have no problem dressing. A line cotton
And linen mixed shift dresses look fabulous. White jeans with cashmere ponchos for colder days. Pretty kimono for summer parties. Doesn’t matter what size are you, flattering colours and cut is everything!

Very much enjoying this thread as have finally booked our holiday after many 'debates' so now turning to the wardrobe! Have just bought two dresses from hush which arrived yesterday that I'm really happy with.

Can't link as haven't worked that out yet but its the striped tara dress and the vest tara dress. Having read the thread now it sèems i need to style them with tan sandals!!

What I struggle with is looking elegant in a swimsuit with my c section wobbly belly. Thinking of getting a swimsuit with a tummy panel but they all look a bit middle aged (which is what I am so I shouldn't moan :) ) If anyone sees any let me know!

Tipsey I’ve gone for a retro halterneck style suit with ruching (so?) around the tummy which is really flattering. It was from Amazon and I’m really pleased with it.

That should have been (sp?), not (so?). Even my spelling corrections are spelt incorrectly.

jacinta this may be style and beauty but thhat doesnt excuse your blatant racism and self hate. I make no excuses for that either.

@Fresta intreiged by the kahki jumpsuit if you could give details please. I like the sound of all your options.

For swimwear I have tried the ruched swimsuit to hide the tummy but felt like my granny so now trying roll top bikini bottoms instead.

For my holiday abroad wardrobe I only by something I'd wear in this country as a way to avoid the garish holiday prints. I think it's a bit too easy to fall into the holiday print trap and end up looking cheap!

Please ignore all my spelling errors!