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

@DameDoom ooh I like that Baukjen safari shirt. Nice spot.

Slippery, I like the cut of your jib!

Slippery I've got that Asda shirt in blue, it's lovely for the price!

Lots of links here to polyester clothing which I rarely think looks expensive especially in bright sunlight and especially when it's sticking to the wearer and causing profuse sweating in the heat 😐

I always try to stick to cotton (poplin) and linen mix etc (though def not the ubiquitous Next linen drawstring trousers!).

On holiday I don't walk around with every bit of skin on show, no quicker way to mark yourself out as a tourist (not saying there's anything wrong with that, just not the look I'm after). I really think a long sleeve on both men and women looks classy in the heat..

I also always take my panama with me.. covers up sweaty hair and paired with nice sunglasses looks v classy and polished (in my opinion 😳😬)

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00KPWA1IE/ref=s9u_simh_gw_i2?fpl=fresh&pf_rd_t=36701&pd_rd_i=B00KPWA1IE&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_p=187bec3b-0822-4044-bbe9-441718232b3f&pd_rd_wg=R4DI1&pf_rd_r=Q7G9BZ5YCWWKWMD3FERZ&pf_rd_s&pd_rd_w=t6R1U&tag=mumsnetforum-21&ie=UTF8&pf_rd_i=desktop&pd_rd_r=5b1e6a22-5612-11e8-ad28-014ae5dc2f42

Just bought these 3 items for my next holiday, not necessarily to wear together, for daytime wandering..

Fresta I like your choices.

I’m into a more casual look than most S&B posters I think. These are some more of my summer inspo looks

HappyGirlNow

Love those slides!

They're mint velvet stressed - they've not arrived yet but they just look really easy to wear..

I’m sort of cautioning against the whole automatic tan thing.

I bought a Radley tan messenger bag a few years ago / I’m an Asian winter and tbh it just looked really frumpy on me.

Nothing to do with cut - I found a identical red one to replace it and it looks amazing on me and not garish at all.

Ditto with white or gold metallic shoes or emerald or fuchsia dresses or tops - they set me off but don’t overwhelm me because my colouring is dark? Like tan, Navy doesn’t work in dresses for me.

Red looks great too but can be a bit too “va va voom” in a summer dress. I wouldn’t go for, say polka dots or a wrap red dress as feels too costumey

I’ve found spot on accessories and neutral basics which are well fitted (like pp’s have said, not too sexy or fitted) is my sweet spot.

I find bags with tassels are great for that casual look. Also good jewellery in a kind of boho style

Definitely agree that less is more - zero to minimal make up, let the strong colours of clothes and a good hairstyle do the talking rather than too much “stuff”. Also, good fitted jeans and a boat neck top can be just as striking as something white and floaty

Also, style icon! Xisca Perello who runs the Nadal tennis foundation. Can’t put pic up but her style is pretty much on point

Loving this thread!

Ok so I'm looking for some new summer sandals, but they have got to have arch support or a bit of a heel, as I've got plantar fasciitis! Am I ever going to find expensive looking sandals that I can walk in, or am I doomed to wear frumpy orthotic type ones foreeeeeever?

Love the ideas. Very different opinions. My pasty white legs def do not look expensive!
Been treating myself to some new stuff after an insurance pay out. Simple white tops, dresses in blue and white, linen shorts and nice cut card

Are these nice or frumpy? I'm 40 and wide feet

www.clarks.co.uk/c/Delana-Nila/p/26131489

Also got a bright orange pair.. I don't think all shoes should be brown :)

Thanks for the uniqlo dress recommendation. Ordered it in the pale yellow. Also threw in some wide leg, slightly cropped, jersey trousers which I hope will be a good length while I was at it.

Don’t

• wear ill fitting shoes that require wearing plasters all over your feet
• wear chipped toe nail polish
• have bra straps showing
• have VPL
• have sunburn
• wear OTT fake tan
• wear entire skintight outfits

Do

-keep fake tan subtle

• take care of feet, paint toenails and deal with cracked heels
• wear underwear that doesn’t show
• wear leather shoes / sandals rather than plastic flip flops

honey could you do a wedge? Hush puppies do some flattering metallic wedge sandals last time I shopped there.

cotton I think they’re a bit staid looking and will add bulk to an outfit. If you have very lean fitted proportions in the rest of your look then they might work, but a bit clumpy otherwise

Does anyone have flawless porcelain legs that look good bare??

Thanks waltzing. I'm 5 feet tall so maybe not then.

Tbh I think ALL legs look fine out, it’s more a matter of how they’re styled for the purposes of this thread? I’ve always had reasonably dark slim legs

I used to do Ugg boots (cringe) and high wedge sandals with short shorts in a “colourful” look and this isn’t a look I’d do now even though I’ve never really changed weight?

Now I’d do short khaki shorts ( like La Moss earlier) with Vagabond white flat sneakers or pointed ballet flats and a long sleeved black top with a black cotton cardigan over the top. Or a large white cotton shirt. Even if it makes my legs less “long and slim” it looks more classy/expensive IYSWIM?

My first 'official' summer outfit last week! Gap dress, sized up, SO comfortable! Accessorise bag was a gift last year. Felt lovely in this outfit!

No tattoos on show!

I agree re tattoos although know a lot of people love them

I'd like a teeny one on my foot. Probably covered by a sandal strap.

CottonSock I don't like the clarcks sandals sorry they are too frumpy for me. Something less bulky, with thinner straps perhaps?

I really don't get the whole getting 1 size up thing in regards to looking expensive. I disagree, if you want to look great you need to wear exactly your size, maybe actually downsize if the clothes are too oversized (like some hush clothing for example). A nice cotton figure hugging white tee (if you have the body for it) is great. Looser-boxy tops should be matched with something a little tighter on the bottom part, otherwise it's like you wore your bet sheets. And a top is either a loose style or not, you can't force a loose style by going for the wrong size, it will look bad on your shoulders.

Apart from that, lots of valid points and good ideas on this thread. Let me just add one thing:
In order to look expensive, you need to actually buy some at least moderately expensive stuff. You can't be in 5 pound tops and 10 pound jeans all the time and expect to look expensive, although that does not mean you will not look gorgeous anyway! You def need to invest in some qood quality well sewn clothes, even of it means spending 60-70-100 for an item of clothing that you know you will get a lot of wear out of.

I have to steer away from completely flat sandles due to PF. I usually get a couple of pairs I can wear from the end of summer sale at Jigsaw and put them away for the following summer. Have made huge savings doing that.
IMO it's important to avoid a cliched summer look. I have a colleague who is very smart but definitely not chic. The Bardot stripe off the shoulder top, white pedal pushers and raffia wedge always reminds me of cruise ships.

I don't wear dresses IRL but I loved an M&S swing dress instore (though the pattern was a bit out of synch) so I've just ordered one with a more random pattern.

Once my very off-putting legs are fake tanned , I'll be out in it. Currently white with a smattering of red capillary .

I love the sage modal jumpsuit but at my time of life, getting out of clothes quickly to go to the loo dictates a lot of my clothes

Loving this thread.

ChanandlerBongsNeighbour very nice & 🌞🌞

I mentioned that I love K Jacques but I’m going to order some of these

www.madewell.com/uk/p/J0139

Not good for pf sufferers though.

70 will we tell them how to peel off their grey skin that they didn't know they had?
I refer to the Princessing 2018 thread, all welcome!

Top fake tanning tip, have a long hot Dead Sea salt ( Tesco or tk maxx) bath then exfoliate with a Korean Italy Towel ( eBay or Amazon)

And watch in amazement as grey/beige stuff rolls off your legs. You will be white as a ghost but smooth as glass.

Now apply gradual tan! Smooth and lightly tanned by the morning