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Original poster

Pieces that trick people into thinking you're rich

317 replies

PaintingOwls · 16/05/2019 19:12

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 Grin but if I was to buy a thing or two to help set the tone, as my friend says, what would that be?

OP posts:
Peakypolly · 17/05/2019 17:10

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.
I believe TM is a millionaire. She is tall and slim and personally, having seen her irl, I think she looks quite nice in a willowy, distracted way. Certainly a lot of comfortably wealthy women her age seem to dress in a similar way in my part of the country.
I don’t really think this is the “rich” look you are after though Owls?

Alsohuman · 17/05/2019 17:13

The worst thing about May is her posture which is atrocious. Her hair used to look really good, she seems to have changed hairdressers - and not for the better.

GeorgeTheBleeder · 17/05/2019 17:15

The worst thing about May is her posture

Nope! Grin

Alsohuman · 17/05/2019 17:16

We’re talking looks here @George! And, yes, you’re right.

JuJuMu · 17/05/2019 17:19

Theresa May doesn't look poor though does she?

formerbabe · 17/05/2019 17:20

You do need to be thin. I'm curvy...even at a size 10, I'm buxom shall we say. Whatever I wear, I scream aging 1980s page three girl/aging barmaid.

Craftycorvid · 17/05/2019 17:21

Alsohuman. Agree that Trezza is looking very stooped lately. Mind you, I think I would in her (kitten heeled) shoes. Grin

About 1000 years ago (all right, the 1980s) a book came out called ‘More Dash Than Cash’ - published by Vogue magazine. It was about precisely that: looking good on a minimal budget. Still has some relevant advice and some ebtertainingly dated photos. Some of the advice includes choosing interesting costume jewellery over dodgy stuff attempting to look expensive (so a lovely wooden bangle looks better than a trashy gold one from Argos). Anyone else recall this book?

Alsohuman · 17/05/2019 17:25

I remember that book vividly, as far as jewellery is concerned, I’m still following its advice! I’d love to get another copy of it.

And you don’t have to be thin.

GeorgeTheBleeder · 17/05/2019 17:29

More dash than cash? Still got it. (The book, that is ...)

Reminds me that I lent it to a relative ages ago. Angry

LaurieFairyCake · 17/05/2019 17:31

Of course tall and thin is almost all of it.

I'm short, fat and very booby. I couldn't look rich if I wanted to. The most I can look is lower middle class (maybe).

Rich people aren't short, fat and booby Confused
They're just not. There's the odd aristocrat who looks like the progeny of his cousin and be quite unfortunate looking. I could be that (unlikely).

But the rich described here - new money, celebrity, modelly, Sloaney, lady who lunches and shops at Harvey Nicks - they're NOT short, fat and booby 🤷‍♀️

Outofinspiration · 17/05/2019 17:35

God, Mumsnet is obsessed with 'looking expensive' 😂

Outofinspiration · 17/05/2019 17:36

I agree with the tall and thin thing.

Very few of the super rich double barrelled girls are short and dumpy.

Alsohuman · 17/05/2019 17:37

What about the Queen?

NameChangedNoImagination · 17/05/2019 17:37

Lol just talk with a very posh voice and it won't matter a jot what you wear

ILikeyourHairyHands · 17/05/2019 17:39

Queen Victoria was short fat and booby.

LaurieFairyCake · 17/05/2019 17:44

As I said, they're aristocracy Grin

Alsohuman · 17/05/2019 17:50

And rich. Very, very rich.

Lexilooo · 17/05/2019 17:50

Even when young and slim the queen was fairly blessed of bosom, the queen mother was short plump and booby - both pretty rich. Both York Princesses are booby, though slim.

Anyway the richest person I have ever met was wearing cheap green dunlop wellies with a stockmans coat.

LaurieFairyCake · 17/05/2019 17:55

Yes, and again that's Aristocracy rich - not the Rich that people are looking for on this thread

We could all put on wellies, an old Barbour and bray round a few pubs. We could con a few people.

But the rich people mean on this thread is the ones who hang out in Knightsbridge in yoga gear or beautifully put together clothing - the ones with highlights and lowlights and posh bags.

Essentially the one I can never look like with my tits and fat ass.

ILikeyourHairyHands · 17/05/2019 18:01

Anyway, these threads crop up on a regular basis and always make me laugh and cringe in equal measure. Fact is, ultimately, you can't buy confidence. Whether your confidence comes from being brought up with money, or in a certain class, or from natural intelligence or from just realising you're as human as every other fucker and so we all should be treated respectfully. Clothes do not maketh the woman. They can help, they can send out social signifiers, in many ways they are devisive, but they won't imbue the wearer with special super-powers. That, I'm afraid, has to be wrought from within.

FWIW, I love clothes, I love fashion, and how different outfits make me present myself, I think clothes should be taken as seroiusly or as lightly as we want them to, from high-art or the simple act of covering the body.

There are certain codes which denote certain tribes but why you'd want to try to send a message that wasn't truly you through your clothes seems an odd endeavour. The people in that tribe won't recognise you as one of them, and you'll feel a bit empty because your sleight of hand failed.

Much better to realise that your intrinsic self has value and carve a style from that. Honest and authentic people always garner respect no matter how they're dressed. Pretenders, not so much.

Fraxion · 17/05/2019 18:11

Some of the advice includes choosing interesting costume jewellery over dodgy stuff attempting to look expensive (so a lovely wooden bangle looks better than a trashy gold one from Argos

This reminds me of the time I was trying on a really nice diamond ring (wasn't buying it) and the jeweller admired my bangle and asked if it was antique. Errr no I bought it in Oasis and it had tarnished rather nicely it seems Grin

Fraxion · 17/05/2019 18:16

When I graduated I was presented with my degree by a gentleman who is a billionaire. If you passed him in the street you wouldn't think he looks rich, never mind a billionaire.

Ellapaella · 17/05/2019 18:32

@ILikeyourHairyHands 👏 spot on

Honeybee85 · 17/05/2019 18:34

An expensive watch, expensive earrings and good quality shoes.

MrsPear · 17/05/2019 19:24

So following ilikeyourhaoryhands does that mean I should wear big gold bling, sports wear and trainers?! Erm no. I will not dress like my ‘tribe’ if that makes me an inverted snob so be it.