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?

Some of these are making me snarf. The Moncler coat and Gucci Disco just announce “I didn’t grow up with money.”

So what MM19? Is it a failing to have not grown up with money and now be able to afford something? Is it in some way an attribute to have happened to be born into a wealthy family? The question wasn't on how to look like you have old money, in which case you should just wear wellies and Barbours and jumpers with holes in them.

Because there’s a vulgarity to that ostentation that communicates you’re a bit insecure? Which isn’t really what the OP wants to know? It’s not so much about “old money” as giving money a primacy it doesn’t deserve.

NOT giving money etc

So what MM19? Is it a failing to have not grown up with money and now be able to afford something?

The question was how to look rich, which is what MM19 was answering (although a bit rudely). Don't take it too personal. It's true, really rich people don't wear the "look posh" labels. There's nothing wrong with those clothes, but they don't make you look rich, far from it.

Where I live the reallly rich people tend to be more outdoorsy and/or hippy and look like it in their spare time.

A pathologist will tell you good teeth are a failsafe sign of wealth. Barely any fillings, free of scale and straight and white without cosmetic interventions.

I guess this depends on what your definition of rich is. If the definition is someone with plenty of money (new or old) then a Gucci disco displays that equally as much as a battered old Barbour jacket. Except that often people who aren’t rich will save up for an item like a Gucci disco so that particular item in isolation doesn’t fit the definition. If everything they were wearing was Gucci then it would fit the definition.

How so MM19? How are wealthy people blessed with straight white teeth without intervention?

I think because certain brands are expensive we assume that by wearing them we will look expensive, but it's not always the case.

I remember reading something Ava Gardner once said "You should wear your mink coat like it's just a cheap Mac and wear your cheap Mac like it's your mink".

It's always really stuck with me.

It's all about presence and confidence. The people who matter don't care and the people who care matter.

You can be wearing something that costs a million dollars; the image can be crushed as soon as the mouth opens

Nutritious diet and close supervision in childhood, including orthodontistry if needed (which is not free for most children). The money and the time to have regular dental maintenance in adulthood.

There’s a man I see walking about with his odd wellies on, filthy coat his dog on a piece of rope and looks homeless with long shaggy hair apparently he’s a millionaire. Clothes don’t make a person look ‘rich’ I think it’s more about having fresh skin, clean hair and short clean nails.. the little things.

Not about looking rich but re the part in your original post where you said people are more helpful to you when you wear your expensive coat I’ve noticed since I cut my hair into an extremely short crop and dyed it blue that security guards follow me around now in shops I’ve shopped in all my life and definitely people seem less helpful/friendly in general to me

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 yes!! I also had a flashback to mid 1980s Sloane Ranger style - all you need is a Fergie copy Alice band and you're good to go!! 😁😁😁

I still marvel over the day I went into Burberry to buy a lipstick and was offered coffee. Everything I was wearing came from Asos and its ilk but I had my Bayswater on my arm. Apparently assistants in high end shops are trained to spot expensive handbags.

GlitterPixie

Yep, I get that completely. The way people treat us in life is definitely influenced by how we look.

I once wandered into Primark in my gym kit and green parka and hair scraped back in a ponytail and I had the security guard squint pretty hard at me!

It's bonkers.

I'm still not clear whether we're talking about clothes that might make you look rich or clothes that can instill a confidence to which people respond positively?

Oh and lay off the Golden Girl please. They were cool

Golden Girls

You need good hair.

When my hair is in need of a wash and I stick it in a pony tail, then it doesn't matter what I'm wearing, I look common as muck.

Oh and be thin.

Yes, you have to be thin and preferably tall and most important, (and where I fall down) you can't look classy with enormous breasts, especially when you are also short.

Unfortunately being thin is not enough when you're short with big breasts, however poised and beautifully spoken and well dressed and well mannered you are. :(

This thread is making me consider getting my legs stretched I'm only 5'6"

Going to look for stunning new shoes this weekend to kick things off.

You really don’t need to be thin, any more than you have to be tall or blonde or tanned or any of the other shit that’s being spouted here and has nothing to do with what OP asked. She wants to know what she can buy to give the impression of being monied.

How rich though? Just been out for lunch with the kids and looking around it's obvious certain people are well off - they look healthy, they wear a certain type of clothing, some look scruffy (Mums with new babies but you know they are not on the breadline) some look very neat and conservative (I looked cool just in case you wanted to know ) - but rich? - I always think serious money like annual income at minimum £1mil a year - probably a lot more - I only ever see people that look like this in London and it isn't one defined style - it's dripping with confidence...having no sign of life's stress on your face - they glide through life - all the doors are opened for them!

I took the question to mean how to be the enviably best version of yourself that you can be and can only second some advice already given.

I firmly believe that was because it was a simple design in a flattering shape that fits properly

This. In spades. And also pruning the wardrobe. Don't fall for something that catches the eye and is cheap and cheerful. Only ever buy things that are going to work hard for you and give good value.

I spend the most money on the things I'm going to get the most wear or use from. Watch, coat, jacket, boots, shoes and bags. I'm also very conscious of the old saying that women wear 20% of their clothing 80% of the time. So be fairly ruthless despite temptations. I only buy now from a limited colour palette and shapes I know are more likely to flatter me.

The time spent on editing your wardrobe, repairing, laundering and ironing will be time saved when you have good basics and can easily put outfits together in a hurry. Finally keep hair clean all the time and only have simple manicure shapes, nothing too flashy.

And also pruning the wardrobe. Don't fall for something that catches the eye and is cheap and cheerful. Only ever buy things that are going to work hard for you and give good value.

I shall prune tonight then. I'm guilty of being a bit of a hoarder.

I still want a nice statement handbag though.