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)

Ive always gone by the "Money talks but wealth whispers" quote.

No patterns, nail the accessories, and lose the overt branding is my only real advice.

I find a touch of ermine around décolletage draws the eye from one’s ‘scouse brows’ 🙄 and gives one the illusion of polish wealth and privilege 👍🏿☘️

This is very helpful, thank you @twistyizzy .

Thank you both so much! Actually yoga sounds like a good place to start as I've been unable to do much in the way of exercise apart from walking lately and toning up in general would be a good thing!

When wearing an outfit, wear one quality piece. This then makes the cheaper pieces look expensive!

Have a look at what the high end brands are selling and look for cheaper dupes. In many cases you’re paying for the name and a few small style details, not for the quality of the item.

For example I was looking at a £330 t-shirt from The Row and it’s not massively different from one M&S is selling for £8.50. Admittedly the one from The Row has slightly nicer details like a thicker collar, but both are the same colour and 100% cotton, so it’s not worth paying the extra. Save your money and buy basics cheaply.

However I do tend to find that shoes and bags are worth paying more for. You will really notice if shoes are poor quality! That still doesn’t mean you have to pay top prices though, for example you won’t see a huge difference in quality between a £150 pair of high street shoes and a £1000 pair of designer shoes, because the high price is mostly due to the brand. But if you’re comparing to a £35 pair of high street shoes then yes, they will look cheap. Try to shop at least mid-range if you’re buying shoes and bags.

Was definitely more classy before- now she's all shiny and artificial looking with lots of flesh on show. When people say expensive this is not what I think of. I think more of Meghan Markle, Jennifer Anniston, Gwyneth Paltrow etc.

I think the key is slim figure, good posture, no low necklines or short skirts, fabrics that drape well, silk, natural wool, understated natural colours like camel, navy, grey, cream, brown etc. Shiny hair, subtle makeup, groomed but not garish nails.

Skintone is irrelevant- you can be black, brown, white or yellow and still achieve this look.

Having expensive items does not make one look expensive. I was wondering this at the weekend. People often tell me my clothes look expensive- I mainly wear Jigsaw, Other Stories, Sezane, Me and Em and other bits from all over the place. I have nice bags like Aspinal, Mulberry and Marc Jacobs and other nice unbranded leather bags, but not any high end clothes or accessories.

While out at the weekend I was musing to DH about some of the women we saw who were carrying Dior, Prada and Chanel bags and wondering how they afford them because the the rest of their clothes didn't look high-end (though they may well have been). They all looked very nice but didn't give off that 'rich' vibe you might expect someone carrying a bag worth 9k to. I certainly don't feel I could splash out that much on a bag.

I think that it partly comes down to the looks that you're born with. Not quite the same as attractiveness, but similar. Some people have expensive looking faces (striking features, high cheekbones etc), while others don't. Also the way that you carry yourself (natural grace) makes a difference.

I'm not sure what people mean by 'expensive hair' but I wouldn't necessarily agree with this. Natural looking hair looks most classy to me. Overly groomed hair can look towie cheap if you're not careful.

I think that it partly comes down to the looks that you're born with. Not quite the same as attractiveness, but similar. Some people have expensive looking faces (striking features, high cheekbones etc), while others don't. Also the way that you carry yourself (natural grace) makes a difference.

Concur with this, particularly the bit in bold, and echo something my mother used to say.

Before I stopped dyeing my hair, I once sent a just stepped out of the salon picture to a friend. Her reply - that is what MN would call expensive hair.
Haha.

Sadly, if you have to ask, you never will. It relies too much on good bone structure. I used to live in Paris and felt like an English peasant because of my round cheeks and chubby ankles. It didn't make any difference what I wore or how I did my hair and makeup. Parisian women, on the other hand, were mostly Bambi like.

I think expensive hair looks like it's naturally beautiful but it wouldn't look that way if it was truly in it's natural state!
Kate Middleton springs to mind. She's likely had an expensive cut, colour, maybe curl put in but theres nothing obvious to say it couldn't be hers naturally.
Helen Mirren also - her hair always looks fabulous.

Shiny hair, glowy skin, short nails, capsule wardrobe, odd designer piece (not emblazoned)

If you want one item right now OP i would suggest a navy blazer. Not shiny.

Second item - loafers

Great advice!!

Wear one of those tall weird hair bands that posh women wear.

Avoid flowery midi or maxi dresses.

Simple colours.

Expensive accessories.

Good shoes.

Groomed hair.

Great skin and teeth.

Invest in your dentist, not your beautician.

Do not buy fast fashion.

Be toned and fit not fat note to self.

Looking rich is one thing but acting with class is a whole different kettle of fish.

Acting with class:
Do not be a snob.
Be genuinely polite to everyone.
Do not boss people who serve you in restaurants, cafes, shops.
Do not gossip loudly to all and sundry.
Do not moan about everything to everyone the minute you meet them as your life really isn't that hard.
Do not be a drama queen.
Do not speak in an affected way.
Do not get drunk and embarrassing.
Polish your critical thinking.
Read good books.
Recycle.
Do not be a snob.

HTH.

You haven't been around a lot of very wealthy people have you

Expensive Looking means different things to different people. To some on MN looking like a 1970's BA hostess, complete with a nifty little neckerchief is the mutts nuts. Others feel it is the deportment gained by several decades of dressage lessons plus a stint ay Lucy Clayton. yet another group place importance on perfect skin with as many helping hands as necessary. It is a question that is as old as the Greeks.

What do you want to look like? Do you turn your nose at people wearing neoprene wellies as opposed to Dubarrys?

I was just discussing this with my dd and she said mum, you don't look expensive, you look 'not cheap' which I think kind of sums up my aspirations on this matter. I don't buy plastic cheap looking handbags but I really never could pay out £1000 for one. I even have the money, I'm too stingy and not rich enough for it to be painless, every time I looked at it I'd be thinking how ridiculous it was.

My aim is to look 'not cheap' for cheap, so I shop in charity shops, Vinted, even car boots. Always leather shoes, preferably bags.

I don't know any people who would care if I looked expensive though, in my profession, no-one looks expensive so I don't know who I'd be demonstrating it to. I think it's different if you live in a London enclave of rich people but I don't. I've met plenty over the years, it's the thinness I can't emulate, the rest really is a question of money (IMO).

Indeed. The BA air hostess look is a lower middle-class fantasy of what upper class people look like.

Rich old money actually looks like Camilla Parker-Bowles, before her queenly glow-up. People like that think it's common to be overly concerned with perfect skin/nails etc. They are a world apart from the polished stealth wealth of Succession, let alone the nouveau riche Made in Chelsea look.

She’s quite M and S Autograph collection though. It’s pulled together and she looks nice, but it’s not especially expensive looking.

This is the first I’ve heard of the “BA air hostess” look. :/

Can someone post a pic of an outfit in that style, as an example?

Or does it literally mean the uniform, i.e. a navy suit with knee-length skirt, navy hat and low heels, because I’ve never seen anyone dress like that anywhere.

I love a floral dress- if looking expensive means no floral dresses, then I'm out!

You'd have to leave behind the big white trainers as well!