How To Dress Expensively When You’re On A Budget

We all love to look good. Us women want to look polished and put together whether we’re going to work, meeting the girls for lunch, or doing the school run for the kiddies. (And might we add men are just as picky with their closets, as much as they’d want you to believe otherwise)!

Us ladies want our closet to exude elegance and quality – and this goes even for the plain Jane’s, too! Yes, even those that love a good pair of jeans and a comfy tee; because at the end of the day it comes down to ‘looking expensive’, even when wearing the simplest of items. And while looking expensive shifts your outfit game to the next level, it also makes a world of difference to you, because looking expensive really just means it’s a great quality item, and that means it’ll stand the test of time.

Now in this day and age it can be a little tricky to get your hands on high quality looks without spending an arm and a leg. It sometimes seems as though we need to play the online US powerball just to be able to buy one item of ‘expensive-looking’ clothing. So what’s a girl to do when the wardrobe needs are piling up, and there’s hardly a budget to satisfy them? Well, we’ve got the answers – all you need to do is read through these helpful tips on how to dress expensive when you’re on a budget.

Pay a visit to those vintage stores

Don’t ever underestimate vintage stores! Many women turn up their nose to the idea of shopping at vintage stores and thrift shops because they think they’re settling for the equivalent of ‘hand-me-downs’, however, this is not what vintage shopping is about. Vintage clothing oozes quality, because as we know, back then clothing was made with careful craftsmanship and high-quality fabric. So vintage shopping is really about settling for quality – and what’s even better is that you probably won’t find anyone with the same piece as you, so you’re also getting a unique and rather exclusive item of clothing at a fraction of the cost. Now that’s a deal your closet and your wallet are going to love!

Wear black

Black is a smart colour. It’s very difficult to tell if a black piece of clothing is high-end, or whether it was bought on sale at a corner shop. That’s the beauty of black – it can hide a multitude of secrets – and to let you in on a little secret, it can also make you appear skinnier. If you want your outfit to look of high quality, without putting yourself in debt, then pick out at least one item that’s black – preferably a staple item; meaning a pair of black trousers, or a black top/blazer. You’ll certainly appear smart and polished!

Choose well

You’ve got half the job done if you know how to choose well, when you’re shopping. This is because quality is not only about the fabric or the style, or the name brand on the label. A large part of quality is about the fit. This means, you can look like you’re wearing an expensive, quality piece just by choosing items that fit your body well. So next time you shop, pay close attention to the fit as this will help you to pull together a look that looks ‘expensive’, even if you were really shopping on a tight budget.

Accessorize

Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize! You will literally look like a million bucks just by adding a few pieces of jewelry, or a sophisticated scarf, a pair of glamorous looking shades or a great handbag. A simple, ‘budget’ outfit can be spruced up and taken to the next level just by adding a few fabulous accessories. But make sure not to over do it. One or two accessories are all you need to make an outfit look trendy and ‘expensive’. And what’s great is accessories needn’t cost you the earth – here again it’s about choosing well.

Add at least one smart piece to your outfit

Another great way to look like you’re wearing high-end clothing, or look like your outfit was not bought on a budget, is to incorporate smart clothing items into your look. Smart items include a well-fitted blazer, a shirt, tailored trousers, or a pencil skirt. These items can easily be paired with casual items such as a T-shirt, jeans or shorts, and instead of looking too casual, this one smart piece will take your outfit to the next level.