Looking expensive has nothing to do with spending a lot of money. Sure, it can help to wear designer items but you don’t necessarily need to spend thousands to look chic. Style is about how clothes fit you, how you accessorize, and how you mix and match items in your wardrobe.
As a rich housewife, I’m often around wealthy women who don’t necessarily look expensive, while I can walk through the streets of New York and see women whose style screams money — even if they’re not necessarily well-off.
Want to achieve an expensive look? Even if you’re on a budget? Read on to find out how to look expensive no matter what.
How to Look Expensive
My Style
I like to say that I'm more stylish than fashionable; to me fashionable is about wearing trending labels and you don't need to have any style to do that. Anyone can wear a Dior outfit that the brand curated and looks cute. Stylish is taking a few pieces and putting them together; some are from Forever 21, some from Shein, some from Bloomingdales, some from Dior, and then putting them together to make them look stylish.
To look expensive, accessories take you to the next level. You can wear any outfit, but with the proper brooch, earrings, jewelry, handbag, or shoes, you can look expensive. You also need to make sure that your clothes are always ironed and fit properly — that gives you that expensive, well-tailored look.
My Go-to Accessories, Bags and Shoes
A Chanel broach is a go-to piece for me. I have a few different ones and you can wear them on a shirt or wear it instead of a belt buckle. I also love pearl earrings; my Dior Pearl earrings are some of my favorites. I like hoops and I also like bracelets, however, I'm not into the 10 Cartier Love bracelets on the wrist. I don't love necklaces, they’re not my style.
As for shoes, I like boots a lot. Brand-wise, I love Stuart Weitzman, they're always comfortable and I also love Schutz — those are my two favorites.
A Cheap Versus Expensive-Looking Outfit
An outfit will look cheap when it doesn't fit properly. This happens when an outfit is too tight, when there's too much showing, for example, too much cleavage or too much leg. It's not necessary to be naked! You look cheap when something is see-through or if it’s not ironed properly. You also look cheap if your outfit is tight and the fabric is pulling. Other telltale signs are cheap fabric or buttons that don’t fit properly.
My Style Icons
I loved Iris Apfel, but sadly she just passed away, she's always been my fashion inspiration because she was just so stylish. I also like Kate Middleton’s style, it’s classic. I also like classic Sarah Jessica Parker fashion in Sex and the City. I loved her Carrie Bradshaw look.
How to Look Expensive: Your Essentials
If you had to invest in a few items, here’s what I would choose
1. Outerwear: I would go with a cream-colored wool trench coat or wool coat. Get a neutral color so it will go with everything. I would also get a black dress coat. Those are two staples that will last you 20 years.
2. Black Boots: Invest in a really good pair of black boots.
3. A Crisp White Button Down
4. A Leather Skirt
All of these four items you can mix and match with everything.
Add these accessories:
5. A Chanel broach
6. Pearl Earrings
Those are some staples that I've worn over the last ten years and I know you can mix and match them with any outfit. They make great capsule wardrobe pieces; you’ll wear them again and again.
What’s your favorite clothing item to look expensive? Let me know in the comments.
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