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)

Are we talking expensive or classy? You could look expensive if you have ugly branded items eg garish LV bags or whatnot. Is it about showing wealth or developing a classic style?

I would say to invest in having your colours done. I’m a light spring ( blond hair, light blue eyes, light golden skin) and cream, camel, tan, and warm beige look great on me. With a bit of coral lipstick and gold accessories, perfect. Black, on the other hand, makes me look sickly not sophisticated.

I see a fair amount of people who are clearly winter seasons with cool undertones who would look so chic in black, instead try to warm themselves up by using bronzer, fake tan, and wearing tan/ beige. It just looks all wrong. Conversely, many warm toned blondes go head to toe black- nope.You really have to work with your colouring! And what you like is not always what suits you.

Making sure roots are done regularly. I’ve never managed the standing straight. I’ve a couple of friends who would look fantastic in a bin bag, purely on posture & hair.

I follow Myka Meier on Instagram and she has some great tips about manners.

Plastic in general is a no-no. I once spoke to a wealthy person who had been everywhere to buy a sold-out toy for their child and had ended up in Argos as a last resort. The horror in her voice as she said “There were people in there wearing PLASTIC SHOES!”

How snobby. They may have money, but they don't have class.

The biggest selling shoes in the world are flip flops because they are sold for less than $1 a pair in places where you have two choices: flip flops or barefoot.
On a thread about looking expensive, it’s a bit crass to talk about plastic shoes with faux horror.

A tip for the pasty skinned who want a slight tan. Dove’s dermal spa mousse is great. I think it’s new to the market, I used to use the gradual tan moisturiser in the sand brand but it took ages to dry and didn’t smell great. The mousse dries instantly, streak free and no aroma.

🤣

I agree with you that it's fine to suggest a tan. My point was that I bet the two posters sanctimoniously scolding a PP for suggesting a tan are white.

These threads are fascinating.

Why do people want to look "expensive"?

Do they mean look like they've got lots of money? And if so, why? Or that they've spent lots of money on how they look (so probably are rather unwise with money)? And if so, why? Then the complication that many people you see quite clearly have spent a lot of money on how they look, but it does not make them look good. Like that awful photo earlier in the thread. Or do people mean that they want to look like they have elegance and taste? Because that is a different thing entirely!

I think that was exactly my point upthread, @PolkadotZebrasAndStripyGiraffes ! It's about different things: looking wealthy, looking classy, looking stylish. If you want to look wealthy, it's easy to display the logos of expensive designer items eg Chanel, Gucci etc. It doesn't necessarily look good.

Placemarking

Indeed. And is not what most people with significant money would do, so would have the opposite affect on those circles of people if the idea is to integrate into different social circles.

That photo upthread was rather tragic! Clothes more appropriate for a dodgy club than, say, a high end restaurant. The OTT make up and tan etc, I winced. It is quite unclear what people are trying to emulate and perhaps they are talking at cross-purposes.

The "no plastic" is nonsense too.
Plastic jewellery

Or spend a few minutes in the shop attached to just about any art gallery in the world to find innovative jewellery from new designers using plastic and acrylic.

It's unlikely the people being referred to by that poster were wearing Stein pieces.

Hmm, I'm going to suggest good grooming, and tidy accessories. Also, well fitting clothing. Someone can have a beautiful, expensive outfit, but if it's too snug in all the right places it brings it down a notch.

Perfectly put.

Some people need to unclench and read the actual words written down, and take a moment to understand them rather than steam off on the wrong tangent

I'm mixed race 1/4 each of England/France/Iran/Barbados. Same colourings as Nicole Scherzinhger. And I look so much better, healthier, prettier and slimmer with a light tan. Which is nothing like the colour, "light tan". Bizarre to think anyone would refer to another person as being light tan, it clearly means having a light tan.

Confidence, and a sense of being comfortable in your own skin is a good starting point for me. The point about good manners is wise as well as having good social skills (maybe more or less the same thing).

I couldn't care less about 'good haircuts' and 'polished nails' - the women who look good to me are the ones who own their space and are thriving within it. I barely notice anything they're wearing, because it will be completely different on each one.

That's why two women could wear exactly the same outfit and have similar hairstyles/whatever, but project completely different vibes.

I disagree with tans. I think untanned very clear smooth and soft skin. White straight teeth. Hair a natural and flattering color and softly styled. small discrete accessories. Natural/manicured nails/toe nails without clunky fake gel or bright colors. No large spilling over purses or shopping bags everything contained in a mid sized or smaller bag. Proper undergarments for fit lift and coverage make clothes look better. Subtle make up. I think to me expensive is very groomed but not obvious.

Definitely disagree about the tan, think it looks slightly 'common' now - beautifully maintained, dewy skin in its natural shade (whatever that may be) looks a lot classier than faking it, not least because it demonstrates a confidence typical of the very wealthy. A very pale woman with expertly coloured hair, smooth and healthy skin, subtly groomed eyebrows etc will look phenomenal - especially as it's not something you see regularly. A lightly tanned white woman wearing neutrals and ballet flats is usually a bit meh, and looks like someone who's spent too much time researching how to look rich!

Also, how is it ok to make derogatory comments about skin tone? Don't see much difference between saying a white woman shouldn't be too white and saying a black woman shouldn't be too black tbh, would people be ok with the latter?

I don’t mean to look wealthy. It’s hard to explain!

I want to look effortlessly “put together”, no bold statements like LV handbags or Louboutin heels. Just simple, quality items and naturally looking beautiful hair, makeup, skin, nails etc

But what items? How do I achieve this? I always seem to somehow miss the mark 😆

As we've said, though, it's different things. Some very wealthy celebrities certainly look rich, they don't necessarily look good. Or stylish.

OP, if you want tips on how to look pulled together I’d recommend reading this thread https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/mumsnet_classics/3797652-thanks-to-s-b-i-m-finally-winning-in-the-pursuit-of-elegance?page=1

Most people on S&B don’t actually want to buy the sort of ‘effortless’ clothes wealthy people might own. Long, close observation would suggest that the average MN-er will happily spend significant amounts on gel nails and highlights and salon waxing - but will tear someone to shreds for suggesting that a 5 ft 6, size 16 woman might find her clothes more flattering if she spends more than £30 per (new) dress. ‘Simple, quality items’ cost money. (Or time spent on pre-worn sites.)

But I’m pretty sure ‘bold statements’ are part of what makes an individual stylish!