Cheat the designer fashion look with our guide to the five easiest ways to make your outfit look more expensive
Words Joy Montgomery
There’s something about those effortlessly stylish women you see at fashion week. That certain je ne sais quoi that helps them to carry off red vynil trousers or feather-lined skirts with Kate Middleton-like poise. Maybe they’re born with it, or perhaps it’s the expensive aura that surrounds their head-to-toe designer gear.
But believe it or not, there are ways to cheat the designer look without the high end budget. And, as all good street stylers know, there are certain quick tricks to nailing the fashionista flair. We’ve looked to industry insiders for five easy hacks to make your outfit look expensive.
OPT FOR TONAL HUES
As well as being a big trend for SS17, tonal dressing is a sure fire way to make your outfit look expensive. Whether it’s mag editor black or cool camel, colour-matching exudes minimalist uniformity. Make sure you keep your separates simple to avoid overkill: a clean-lined coat, tailored trousers and crew neck knit will do the job nicely. The harmonising layers will do the talking for you.
ADD STATEMENT ACCESSORIES
Alongside the sunglasses glued to their faces, the fash pack can’t resist a statement accessory. There are of course some who can pull off the ‘more is more’ jewellery look (we’re looking at you Iris Apfel). However, as a general rule, one or two sculptural pieces will elevate your outfit. We love Lucinda Chambers’ chunky gold chain to offset casual layered tops. Or, for new season appeal, we can’t resist a simple knotted bandana scarf with a cream cable knit.
CHOOSE OVERSIZED SILHOUETTES
Fashion girls don’t do tight all over. They just don’t. Unless it’s YSL, that is, or you’re Anna Della Russo. Playing with your silhouettes is an important component of a high end look, and including something oversized is a must. Whether it’s a boyfriend shirt, roomy overcoat or super-wide leg trousers, it’s time to embrace the bulk. Just remember to counterbalance oversized with tailored pieces elsewhere to keep your look luxe.
EXPERIMENT WITH LUXE LAYERING
Another way to make your outfit look expensive, which doesn’t involve buying new clothes (sorry), is luxe layering. Every year the fashion crowd find a new way to pile on their existing wardrobe faves in chic and innovative ways. By experimenting with your layers you can offer a quirky spin on an old favourite. Last year it was slip dresses over white tees and this year it’s all about dresses over trousers.
KEEP IT SIMPLE
If you examine the looks of style icons through the decades you’ll notice one thing that links many of them: they keep things simple. Coco Chanel once said: “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take at least one thing off.” We couldn’t say it better ourselves. Expensive looks are often identified by their simplicity: a beautifully cut coat or a dress that hugs in all the right places. Vogue Editor Sarah Harris is the queen of understated cool. She knows that all you need to really pack a punch is a pair of jeans and a crisp white shirt.
