How To Look Expensive on a Budget? Get style tips from an expert

Have you ever wondered how to feel and look your best with a stylish and expensive-looking outfit without over splurging? In this blog post, we are sharing our key tips for creating impactful outfits which look lux without the heavy price tag. Our stylist has created a chic work capsule wardrobe for my client Rachel, using only high-street brands. Here are the style tricks she used to add an expensive feel to the looks.

“Discover 9 expensive-looking outfits for a classic, feminine and preppy style personality. Even if your style personality differs, the style tips I share in this post will help you look expensive on a budget.”

Style Tips: How To Look Expensive on a Budget

It’s important to shop with a plan, even more when you shop at high street as you can easily get distracted by the different options in store. To avoid spontaneous purchases, always create a plan prior to your shopping day. For Rachel’s style, we were after looks that are suitable for the relaxed smart casual dress code at her marketing company. Understanding what cuts and silhouettes work for your shape is also key. For a ‘desk-to-dance’ look we put Rachel in an all black look of wide leather pants and fitted top and paired it with a white tweed blazer. This outfit would be perfect for a day where she needs to go to work but has drinks planned with friends in the evening. She can pair it with smart trainers for work and switch to a strappy heel for the evening.

Tweed blazer | Leather-effect straight trousers

A classic color combination of black and white look sophisticated and chic. Mixing different fabrics such as leather and tweed, and opting for sleek cuts will add expensive feel to your look.

For dresses, classic prints such as gingham and polka dots are always a good idea. For Rachel we opted for a mini tweed dress, but if you prefer the midi length this Mango polka dot dress is a great option.

Shop similar styles: Tweed dress | Embroidered black and white dress

When you shop high-street, it’s important to pick the right shopping location and time. The best time to shop at Zara is early in the morning. Weekdays are the best as stores are more calm and they are often restocked with new items so you will have more options for sizing. Weekend shopping is often hectic and you may face large queues for changing rooms and check outs. Also certain Zara stores and latest collection and premium quality items first. We found this expensive-looking cotton shirt dress for Rachel at one of the grade 1 Zara stores in London.

Shop similar style: white linen shirt dress

Pay attention to the fabrics. I would suggest opting for natural fabrics such as cotton, poplin, linen or silk which look more expensive in comparison to polyester.

Expensive on a Budget: Go Tonal

The key to looking expensive when shopping at high-street stores is to focus on selecting items that fit your shape. Choosing the right colors is also extremely important. For Rachel’s transformation, we focused on selecting neutral warm palettes, and avoided overly trendy colors and items which were bound to go out of fashion quick. A classic tweed suit in vanilla shade suits Rachel’s warm complexion while the mini skirt and high waistline flatters her shape. The rest of the outfit is less revealing to ensure the look remains elegant. We selected this tweed co-ord set blazer and skirt for Rachel as it is a great piece both for work and for weekend activities. The great thing about co-ords is that they can be worn separately and paired with other items to create new looks.

Opting for a tonal white looks portrays timeless elegance and looks expensive.

Shop similar style: white tweed skirt |

A tonal white look is a great way of looking effortlessly put together. Wearing tone on tone, especially with items that have clean lines, will portray an innate sense of fashion. To put together an impactful monochromatic look, it’s important to select similar shades which compliment each other and focus on adding texture through different fabric choices.

Pay attention to the small details such as the buttons. Where fast-fashion usually stands out from luxury fashion is in the details. If a really nice item has cheap-looking buttons you can always swap them out with a better quality ones. This will elevate your high street items and make them look more expensive.

Shop similar style: metallic pussy bow | pink trousers

Style Note: A statement blazer, like this green one, is a great option for adding some personality to a simple monochromatic look. When selecting a statement piece, opt for a shade which will suit your complexion and work with the rest of your wardrobe.

When you pick a bold piece from a high street store, wait a few months before you start wearing them. In this way, you will avoid seeing many other ladies wearing the same item.

Green tweed blazer | White jeans

Style Note: When selecting jeans we suggest you opt for one with a cropped hem which will look chic and highlight the shoe. Pairing it with a simple yet chic jacket is a great option to add more class to a casual look. To make your outfit more unique, you can tie a scarf across your neck and it will also give off classic Chanel vibes.

Shop similar style: Pink blazer | Printed twill silk scarf

Style Note: If you want something in a print we would suggest you opt for one in a more muted color which is not overly busy. We put Rachel in this pastel mesh shirt because it has soft colors which will work effectively with the other items in her capsule.

When shopping at Zara or Mango, look for their special collections and premium ranges. There you will be able to find better quality items and interesting designs. For Rachel, I styled a print top, that has a Pucci feel, with beige trousers and sparkly strap sandals. The top is viscose material which has nicer and expensive feel in comparison to polyester.

Shop similar style: printed shirt | beige trousers

Style Note: Off-the-rack items won’t always fit well which is why, if you are willing to spend a little more I would suggest tailoring your items to achieve the perfect fit. Tailoring your items to fit you perfect, has the power to make any high-street outfit much more expensive than it is.

Want to create your own unique, expensive-looking style?

Looking expensive does not necessarily mean you need to be splurging money on labels. With the help of a personal stylist, you can build your own expensive-looking style with items regardless of your budget. In an in-store styling session, your personal stylist will select items for you which look lux and suit your body type and complexion. She will help you build looks which can be mixed and matched together to create multiple outfits. With the help of a stylist, you will save time and effort shopping in stores without knowing what works for you and avoid making expensive mistakes. Book your In-store Personal Styling at www.denikiro.com or email info@denikiro.com for enquiries.

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