The “how to look expensive” thread

[Throwaway1066]

I remember this thread from possibly years ago, but search function is failing me.

Does any one have the link still? Or failing that…..any tips for looking “expensive”

By that I mean effortlessly stylish, simple pieces, maybe kinda like a Parisian!

Hair, makeup, clothes, shoes, fragrance, jewellery…. Everything! What’s you favourite “expensive” tip?

(bonus if it’s not actually expensive)

It’s not skin colour, it’s condition. Glowy, dewy, generally quite subtle makeup (during the day). I’m a natural redhead, I will never get a ‘light tan’, but I can still have skin in good condition. For slightly older women, any tweaks are very subtle - no OTT scary fillers, but perhaps some light Botox, well done fillers, that kind of thing. Teeth are well cared for. Hair which is in an well-kept style, clearly kept regularly trimmed etc. If it’s dyed, the colour has been chosen to look natural rather than hanging onto the colour you once had - skin tone changes with age too so just going straight back may not work that well.

And yes, clothes which fit well regardless of how much they cost - anything that fits properly always looks better. Take Kate Middleton for example - she wears a lot of expensive things obviously but she wears cheaper stuff too. But it always fits well and has probably been altered to do so. Makes all the difference. Shoes you can walk in, whether that’s high heels or not - it’s being able to walk in them that’s the key! Accessories like bags are often expensive brands or good lookalikes.

But also - posture and poise make a difference too. Being confident and reflecting that in the way you move and hold yourself. And that really is something we can all do 😊

You don’t need to be offended.

I imagine they just mean that on white skin a light tan looks more better/more expensive. Im not white and I agree! I mean fake tan was invented for a reason!

It goes without saying everyone looks different: hair colour/skin colour/figure, so obviously every piece of advice won’t apply to everyone.

Surely nobody thinks fake fan looks classier on anyone.

Extraordinary.

Oh and also! A good bra. Going back to the Royals look at someone like Fergie, bless her - she wears very expensive clothes but if she has the wrong fit and the wrong bra on, they do not look their best at all. Right size and right underpinning - much better. A good bra fitting is definitely an investment in looking that bit better!

For me, hair style and thin makeup that makes our skin glowy, clean shoes and most importantly, a tone of voice, the way people speak

I think the colour palette of caramel, beige, greige, taupe, mocha with a touch of white looks very expensive on some people. Think Sienna Miller in Anatomy of a Scandal and Naomi Watts. Unfortunately, I am not one of those people! Those colours wash me out.

I don't think there is a one size fits all formula. I am not one who thinks tweakments look expensive.

I remember quite a stylish friend of mine moaning about somebody wearing plastic jewellery. So that must be a no-no.

I loved Sienna Miller's clothes in that show.

Actually, the OP question was, "What’s you favourite “expensive” tip?". The light tan is her individual tip, stop baiting.

This is a fashion thread ffs, I agree with a light tan, thank you for the advice.

And many pale skinned white people feel they looked more healthy, and glowy with a bit of a tan. Is that seriously news?! Do you know the fake tan business in the UK!!! Wish people would stop attaching accusatory meanings to this stuff. That was HER tip, if you're a person of colour you may have a different tip. So what.....

This is exactly how I read it too, that someone with very light skin would look better with a light tan.
Not that a light tan is the only perfect look and anyone who’s darker can’t possibly look “expensive”.

A fashion blogger I follow one recommended sizing up as slightly oversized clothes (it was a jacket in her case) tend to look more expensive.
I found it quite interesting and I think it’s also makes sense - well fitting clothes or slightly oversized as opposed to squeezing yourself into a size you think you should be.

It doesn't though. Non fake tanned skin looks much more expensive. spf costs a fortune (there's a campaign to make it VAT free) fake tan is too try hard

Agree. Don’t know the person but judging by the pictures she’s not what I’d personally associate with an effortless, Parisian look.

Clothes that fit, the size on the label is irrelevant. Cut it off if it annoys you.

Spend money on neutrals, timeless, well cut items.

Spend little on patterns, prints, trend, etc.

Only wear what suits your figure and complexion. (I'm short and pale as much I may love a baby blue maxi dress, it doesn't love me)

@GeriKellmansUpdo neutrals are awful on me too! I hate that recommendation. Tan, beige, khaki are horrible on me.

I think new looking, neat shoes, clean handbag, clean hair, clean nails. CLEAN!
And skinny.

Re the one expensive item - I would go for a tailored jacket. Just back from France and that was the thing that stuck out for me - most of the chic looking woman were wearing light tailored blazers

Hair clean, shiny, well cut.

Do not wear beige ( hi Meghan).
Wear a bit of colour that sparks your skin, eyes, hair. Even if it's only one small thing like a scarf , glasses, necklace. I don't do make-up.

When I dress up, I wear or carry just one unusual item I love, and know suits and flatters me. It might be the shoes, a bag, hat, wrap; linen top, necklace. It might be bright or it might be discreet. It might be ancient, expensive, or a charity shop bargain. The beloved item makes me feel great; and radiate self confidence. (The rest of the outfit can be crap; ancient plain black jeans, dress, skirt, dog hair, mud. Nobody will notice). I learned long ago I was never going to be sexy, beautiful or even pretty; and settled for being me. Men like that a lot.

An old man once said to me " I hardly recognise anyone I know any more. That's why I like you; one look and I know its you. You always wear the same thing."
:-) Bless. What I always wear, is the Bazooka look.

I love this sort of thread, even though I’m fat, knackered and perimenopausal which means I’ll likely never look expensive!😂

That said, I make sure my clothes are new looking. I wear a lot of vest tops for comfort due to pain and hot flushes..usually from Next…but they fade so I replace them periodically. That said, they do get worn well so I don’t feel too bad when replacing.

I’ve started doing my own manicures/pedicures and use a Chanel Base and Dior glow on my fingers, then a nice colour with a shiny top coat (Jessica Brilliance) on my toes.

I am extremely ‘Caspar-the-ghost-like’ so I do use some gradual tan - more to stop me looking quite as knackered. Obviously that’s not necessary for everyone - it just helps me.

And as my hair is grey (though still quite shiny), I just blow dry it regularly with my Shark Flex thing, which I love.

I’m also doing my teeth whitening at the minute (proper dentist stuff).

So, for me, it’s more about being well groomed, regardless of what a person’s hair, or skin colour is. Short, neat, natural nails, hair clean and tidy, clothes & shoes clean and tidy with no fading or holes etc. And then light makeup. I try to do all all these things but still don’t look expensive!😂

I think Meghan Markle looks expensive. Everything about how she looks is beautiful

Yep this x100. Being courteous and polite goes a really long way and it forms a huge component of the impression that you make on others, probably more than what you are wearing. But decent basic grooming is key!

Agree.

Skin, eyes, bone structure, smile, hair, figure.

She is what you get when you add an A+ team of stylists, aestheticians, MUAs etc. to great genes and natural beauty.

So unfair!

I think to look expensive you need to look polished. So freshly washed and style hair, clean and tidy nails, make up but subtle - using it to enhance your face, not completely conceal. Clean, ironed clothes.
and yes a certain glow in your skin - maybe from two weeks in the sun, getting 8hrs sleep, drinking 2l of water, avoiding alcohol, no smoking etc. there are times that all skin can look dull if we are not taking care of it, and looking after our bodies does make us all glow - whatever shade your skin is.

But the poster didn't say "be light tan coloured"; they said "a light tan" - which anyone can have, regardless of their skin colour. I'm brown, my SIL is black. We both get a light tan after some sun exposure, which is what the PP said. Neither of us becomes light tan in colour at any time, which nobody has suggested (and which would be exclusionary).
Be offended all you like, but your offense is based on a misreading of the post.