Pieces that trick people into thinking you're rich

[PaintingOwls]

Sorry about the wanky title, I don't quite know how to put this!

I have a friend who always looks very expensive and put together but whenever I ask where her clothes are from she will say Zara, Primark, etc. She says she gives off the vibe that her clothes are expensive because she has a few statement pieces that set the tone, so Ted Baker coat, Longchamp bag, Kate Spade purse. People see those and assume everything else is of the same caliber.

The only expensive thing I own is a Hobbs trench coat which I only bought because it was the perfect shade of beige. I have a black Harrods bag that I bought on sale to have a smart interview bag. I've been trying to use it more but it is a bit incongruous with the rest of what I wear.

I have noticed that when I wear the Hobbs coat people are more polite towards me, hold doors open, smile, move out of the way for me, men help me with luggage on trains... When I wear my denim or leather Primark jacket I get ignored and people barge past me.

Has anyone noticed anything similar?

I realize this isn't an exact science but if I was to buy a thing or two to help set the tone, as my friend says, what would that be?

[Ellapaella]

Just out of interest does everyone equate looking expensive with looking stylish? I'm intrigued as I don't necessarily put the two together at all. Looking stylish to me is about someone who knows what clothes and style suit them and expressing a bit of their personality through their clothes and accessories. I don't think you need look like you are wearing expensive clothes or have lots of money to look stylish.

[MadameJimJam]

Totally agree with Floisme about it being easier to be confident when you feel like you're well dressed.

Yes, people should treat you respectfully whatever you look like. But they don't always.

Yes, you can make your presence felt whatever you look like: you can use confidence, authority, choice of words, tone of voice etc. I once managed it in a manky old dressing gown and bare feet. But it was SO MUCH HARDER than if I'd been well dressed or indeed dressed . It was just much more difficult for me to muster up that attitude.

P. S. CountFosco . Hope you didn't buy the bag if she was getting commission...

[BrainScience]

I think 99% of it is posture, confidence and having good hair. Look at Theresa May, she’s a billionaire but even at posh events she looks like she’s wearing badly fitted, charity shop clothes. Whereas other women could wear the same outfits and look incredible.

[Floisme]

Sorry for double post - no idea how that happened.

[JuJuMu]

Spend money on jackets/coats - they are the most important thing you wear and wear good shoes (polished) that don't look worn out (and socks/tights).
Branded bags - look fake and if not maybe even a bit too obvious, I'm not convinced they improve your look - a good quality non shabby bag that is consistent with the occasion you are dressed for. Grooming and posture - a bit of jewellery again blingy watches can look fake.
I've never been too bothered about looking expensive - I'm still trying to look cool in my 40s 😎😂

[Floisme]

Yeah looking cool - that's the holy grail for me too.

[Supersimpkin]

I live in an expensive bit of banker London, and what I'm advising is Stealth Wealth style, which is not logos or anything that shines.

Otherwise you look Russian. :) Thing is, if you are rich, you don't need to display it, but you do, by default. So:

1. Pricy highlights, the Wandsworth butter colour
   
2. Paige jeans at 200 quid a pop (or TK Maxx)
   
3. Moncler anorak (no logos, black, 800 quid)
   
4. Scruffy linen tee shirt
   
5. Small Gucci bag with the GGs, black, quilted.
   
6. Mulberry has long gone out of fashion but some of their new smaller styles are making an appearance.
   
7. Trainers - crucial, this - muddy from walking dog.

[JuJuMu]

7. Trainers - crucial, this - muddy from walking dog. I've got that one sorted but also wear my Grenson Nanette's for dog walking - because we always walk to the pub and I need to feel I'm looking cool enough for the pub!

[LoafofSellotape]

I'm sorry OP but none of these scream rich or aspirational to me. These are "the statement pieces"? Not much of a statement I'm afraid. Sorry if that sounds bitchy but I can't think of a nicer way to write it! You really don't have to write/say everything that comes into your head. Maybe the reason you can't find a nice way of saying it is because there isn't a nice way of saying it and it's just 'bitchy?'

OP I always like a nice purse and I always notice other people's too.

[Jauralane]

@Supersimpkin Could you post a pic of 'Wandsworth butter' colour highlights? Intrigued to know what you mean x

[PaintingOwls]

Floisme

As for people looking expensive in something from Primark or Sainsbury's - yes they can but I do wonder how many times they wear it. I've found it can look great the first couple of wears and then the next time I put it on, it looks like a used up tea towel and from then on, nothing I do can revive it.

You just described my entire wardrobe...

[LittleAndOften]

The rich people round here all seem to wear...

Designer sunglasses in all weathers
V smart coat
V smart boots
Shiny dyed hair

Or they might all be hairdressers...

[Floisme]

I found Sainsbury's particularly bad for it Painting. I stopped doing the weekly shop there because I got suckered so many times.

[AdoraBell]

As others have said - grooming, posture and natural fabrics that fit you properly. I also think a nice looking, but not necessarily ££££s, coat/jacket helps.

I splurged on a simple dress for a thing I had to attend this week. It wasn’t overly expensive but the fabric and cut are more forgiving of my recent chocolate habit than anything that was sitting in my wardrobe. Met a lovely group of ladies in full on designer clothes and accessories, privately educated, expensive cars and DC in private schools. Properly rich. One of them said my dress was beautiful. I firmly believe that was because it was a simple design in a flattering shape that fits properly.

[JuJuMu]

Pleated trousers, not jeans, with a soft white shirt. Is anyone else seeing the pleated trousers and soft white shirt and thinking Golden Girls? You can look classy and not look like you are dressing like a 90 year old!

[JuJuMu]

Met a lovely group of ladies in full on designer clothes and accessories, privately educated, expensive cars and DC in private schools. Did they really tell you they had these things?

[ZaraW]

I wear mostly natural fabrics apart from a couple of Issey Miyake Pleats Please dresses I got on EBay which were insanely expensive even when bought second hand. These dresses are polyester they are beautiful and the only items of clothing people stop me in the street to tell me how nice they are.

[championquartz]

@JuJuMu at Golden Girls. Now I can't see anything else!

Decent knitwear helps, I think. All this awful acrylic. Looks awful. Wears awfully. Washes terribly. It doesn't even do its function - no warmth in it.
As do decent shoes/footwear. Not necessarily high end.
Decent coats.
Not so hung up on handbags. I think that's more a badge than an expensive look, per se.
Ironed clothes.
That's what I notice anyway.

But it's a 'cared for with very little tat' look - good hair, make up and then the rest.

[stucknoue]

It's actually about how you present yourself not the cost - if you feel good then others will see your positivity. Ive got a good coat, decent (not designer) bag etc and I definitely feel better wearing them

[mummmy2017]

My Barbour was so beat up,. I lived in it winter time, but it looked stylish due to the cut...
Jackets always work...
Trainers are never stylish, if your doing a muddy walk can't beat a pair of old hunter wellies...

[cranstonmanor]

The really really rich people I know tend to wear torn cardies and scruffy boots.

The ones trying to appear rich would never be seen dead in such things.

I live in a very posh part of my country and this is certainly true here. The more the labels show, the poorer people are in my experience.

[fancynancyclancy]

Agree with other posters, I want to look cool too!

[JuJuMu]

Trainers are never stylish, if your doing a muddy walk can't beat a pair of old hunter wellies Hunter wellies are rubbish and a bit tacky - if you really walk a dog, you need to invest in something a bit more functional - I'd recommend Aigle Pacours .

[AdoraBell]

No JuJuMu it was just obvious. Friends of a distance relly who I know was in private school, so her school friends who met their spouses at school and their DC are in the same school. Saw their cars, and super expensive bags, as we all arrived at the same time.

They were genuinely lovely people though, just like the distant relly.

[BiddyPop]

I think there's nothing wrong with using high street items - just make sure that they are well fitting (for you!), clean, and keep them in good condition (so hang them so they don't go out of shape when drying or storing, ironed if necessary etc).

And wear them with confidence, that goes a long way to looking more "successful" (which can seem "rich").