6 Cheap Styling Hacks That Make Any Outfit Look More Luxe
You might assume that to create expensive-looking outfits you need to invest in expensive pieces, but that's not always the case. Sure, an endless budget will get you some pretty luxurious looks, but so does having a few savvy styling hacks up your sleeve. If you find yourself wanting to make the most of your clothes and create outfits that look ultra-luxurious on the cheap, you've come to the right place. Boy, do we have some outfit tips in store for you. All your answers for how to dress expensive for cheap lie ahead.
There are little tricks for when you're shopping or getting dressed that can make any outfit look more elevated. Whether it's adding a belt to your everyday jeans outfit or shopping for certain fabrics that look expensive at literally any price, keep reading to discover these tips, see how fashion girls are putting them to the test, and then shop affordable pieces to nail each look.
1. Belt Anything and Everything
Add a belt to your favorite trousers or jeans, or think a bit outside the box and cinch up a blazer or dress with the addition of a waist belt. Despite their "boring" reputation, belts can do wonders for an outfit and make it look instantly more put-together. We wouldn't be surprised if people assumed you spent far more on your outfit than you did.
2. Go for a Monochrome Outfit
Monochromatic ensembles—especially an all-white outfit—automatically look more expensive. Try mixing shades of cream, white, and beige for a luxe look.
3. Take the Next Size Up
We recently learned the French-girl way to make cheap clothes look more expensive (thank you, Jeanne Damas), and it's as simple as ordering the next size up to achieve a slouchy, oversize look. We recommend trying it out with basics like blazers, tees, and high-waisted trousers.
4. Choose Silk and Satin Fabrics
Silk and satin fabrics have a luxurious quality to them that makes them appear more pricey than they tend to really be. Use this to your advantage by incorporating a satin skirt, dress, or top into your outfit rotation.
5. Double Up on Knits
Polished knits are the micro-trend we're loving most this fall since they make for an ultra-elevated outfit, no matter how much you actually spent on them.
6. Top off a Blazer With an Overcoat
Leave it to fashion girls to find creative new ways to layer. In our minds, innovative layering always equals a well-thought-out outfit, and right now, it's all about layering with jackets—a blazer underneath an overcoat, to be exact.
This story was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
Anna is an editor on the fashion team at Who What Wear and has been at the company for over five years, having begun her career in the Los Angeles office before relocating to New York, where she's currently based. Having always been passionate about pursuing a career in fashion, she built up her experience interning at the likes of Michael Kors, A.L.C., and College Fashionista before joining the team as a post-graduate assistant editor. Anna has penned a number of interviews with Who What Wear's cover stars over the years, including A-listers Megan Fox, Issa Rae, and Emma Chamberlain. She's earned a reputation for scouting new and emerging brands from across the globe and championing them to our audience of millions. While fashion is her main wheelhouse, Anna led the launch of WWW Travels last year, a new lifestyle vertical that highlights all things travel through a fashion-person lens. She is passionate about shopping vintage, whether it be at a favorite local outpost or an on-the-road discovery, and has amassed a wardrobe full of unique finds. When she's not writing, you can find her shooting street imagery on her film camera, attempting to learn a fourth or fifth language, or planning her next trip across the globe.
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