Would you believe if I tell you a thousand-dollar handbag or shoes will not make you look expensive or sophisticated? Making your everyday style look expensive is a statement-making choice, where you not only show your style sense but also your personality. You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on your wardrobe to look expensive and chic. An endless budget will certainly afford you some elegant pieces, but there are easier, more budget-friendly ways to upgrade your overall look.
There are many different definitions for what ‘looking expensive’ means. Fashion and style are subjective and therefore are interpreted differently by each person. But there are some universal styling tips anyone can follow to look polished and pulled together. Today we are going to discuss how to incorporate basic pieces into your everyday wear that will make you look more expensive and sophisticated.
How to look expensive:
Monochrome Outfits
A monochromatic outfit is an outfit consisting of one color family. You don’t need to go crazy here and make sure everything you’re wearing is the same hue — monochromatic outfits can also look great when they’re all similar shades of the same color, too. The best part of a monochromatic outfit is that they tend to make anyone look instantly more pulled together. Looking more pulled together is key to looking more ‘expensive’ and polished every day.
Obviously, you’ll want to select a color that flatters and suits you. Once you settle on a color, look in your closet for similar shades, or keep that color in mind for when you go shopping next. Perhaps you’ve chosen a blue shade — look for cardigans, pants, or tops in that shade or similar ones. It can be fun trying to hunt down pieces to pull the outfit together.
You also can’t go wrong with all black or all white. Chances are, you have enough pieces in your closet to do a full outfit of each, and they are timelessly chic.
Suggested read: A Beginner’s Guide on How to Follow Modestly Chic Style
Tailored Clothes
One of the easiest ways you can upgrade your look is by wearing tailored clothes. When you see really stylish people on the street, you may wonder ‘why don’t I ever look that great in jeans and top?’. The answer is simple: they’re wearing clothes that actually fit them and suit their body type.
This isn’t to say that you should only buy custom-made pieces. You certainly could, but it’s not very affordable. Instead, you should get yourself properly measured, either by a friend or by a professional tailor. Next time you go shopping, refer to your exact measurements before buying or trying things on. This will guarantee that you pick things out that actually fit!
Suggested read: Best online clothing stores for budget shopping
Classic Coats
If you live somewhere with multiple seasons, chances are you have that one coat that you wear every day. Investing in a really nice, classic one is a great way you can upgrade your overall look. When you’re out on your daily work commute, you probably just want a work attire that’s warm and sturdy that can handle the weather. That’s reasonable but doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice style, too.
Get rid of your dumpy old winter coat and invest in a really nice, stylish one that’ll last you long. Stick with solid neutrals so that they can go with most of your outfits. Longer coats have always looked more chic and classy, too. Whichever style you choose, you can never go wrong with basic and simple. These kinds of coats look great with everything and will elevate your daily look, making people think your style is way more expensive than it really is.
Choose the Right Accessories
Choosing accessories that elevate your outfit, as opposed to distracting from them, can be a delicate challenge. As with most of our tips, simple is always better if you’re trying to look more expensive. Try to only wear a couple of understated pieces at a time. A classy, structured bag, simple jewelry pieces, or silk scarfs, can all add to an outfit immensely.
Adding a perfect ring, necklace, or bracelet can make any outfit instantly look more expensive. Jewelry has always been a mark of expensive taste, and you can easily make people think your look is way fancier than it really is.
Add Texture
Adding textured clothes, strategically, can be very chic, too. If you feel like you have pretty good style and taste, you should take the next step and play around with different types of textured pieces. Faux suede, faux leather, wool, tweed, silk, or satin can all be fun and interesting ways to elevate your outfit.
Experimenting with prints, like leopard or polka dots, can also be eye-catching and make any outfit look incredibly stylish. As you start playing with textures and patterns, try to incorporate one at a time. This way, you won’t overwhelm your outfit, which can look messy or too busy as opposed to chic and expensive.
Throw a Blazer on Top
When in doubt, throw a blazer on top of your outfit and you’re bound to look polished. A well-fitted blazer looks great paired with jeans, pants, dresses, and skirts. Classic looks are timeless for a reason — they look great, no matter the occasion or who they’re on. Blazers are the perfect example of this.
Wear Quality Shoes
Hear us out: if you want to invest in only one thing in your closet, buy quality shoes. Like anything, quality matters when it comes to how something will feel. If you invest in a great pair of shoes, they will last a long time, will be good for your feet (& health), and also quickly become a wardrobe staple.
A neutral-colored quality shoe (high heel or flat), looks great with almost any kind of outfit, and can really pull an entire look together.
Making these small yet significant changes to your everyday style will absolutely make you look more expensive, sophisticated, and powerful. Which one was your most favorite tip? Share in the comment section below.
Author bio:
Tess DiNapoli is an artist, freelance writer, and copy editor. She enjoys covering the fashion industry, has a passion for yoga, and often writes about health and wellness, as well as fitness.
Follow Sifa’s Corner on,