Premium Style, Modest Budget—6 Style Tips That Tell Everyone You Have Expensive Taste

As a fussy fashion editor who likes to shop both high and low, I know that there’s an art to mastering an outfit that looks far more expensive than it actually is. Designer pieces can always help to boost a look (and I will always recommend investing in quality pieces with the craftsmanship to last a lifetime), but the secret to looking luxe has much more to do with how you put an outfit together than the price tag attached. Some of the most compliments I've ever received have been on outfits that didn't cost the earth, but look like they did. Think considered proportions, sophisticated colour combinations, elevated basics and those little styling details that make everything look instantly more polished.

And the good news? There's no need to overhaul your wardrobe to get the look. With a few clever styling tweaks here and there, even your most affordable pieces can have that expensive-looking, compliment-inviting finish. From considered colour palettes to the accessories that can transform an otherwise simple outfit, these are the style tips to know if you want your wardrobe to look effortlessly luxe (according to a discerning editor).

6 Underrated Style Tips for An Expensive-Looking Outfit in 2026

1. Mastering Luxe Layering

Style Notes: It has to be said, it's often the outfits that boast a curated stack that get my full attention. Tees, jumpers, jackets. Tanks, cardigans, trenches. Turtlenecks, dresses, coats. Autumn is made for layering, and it's not just to keep out the cold—the right layers give the impression that you took your time piecing your look together. In the same way that a carefully planned jewellery stack shows you know your jewels, the hint of a white tee peeking out from a v-neck, or the flash of shirt cuffs from underneath a blazer are exactly the kind of cues that fashion editors notice as a well-balanced and expensive ensemble.

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2. Opt For a Tonal Colour Palette

Style Notes: While the runways swing back and forth between minimalist monochrome and ultra-maximalist print and colour clashing, a healthy medium is a tonal colour palette that incorporates grounding neutrals with pops of directional brights. Hot reds are having a moment this autumn, but you could easily switch your focal colour across the spectrum each season, and pair with the camel, black, deep browns and greys that will always work with everything across the board.

3. Don't Be Afraid to Mix Textures

Style Notes: Technically, you can't go wrong with a cotton shirt, but doesn't it feel so much more luxurious in whisper light silk? And yes, wool knits are a reliable go-to, but introduce a mohair knit to your wardrobe and you'll be surprised just how much it changes up the look. There's something about updating a jeans and tee combination with polished leather, fluffy knits and glossy satin that feels really elevated, and even better if you can incorporate multiple all in one look.

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4. Practical Accessories Are a Wise Investment

Style Notes: Bag and shoe trends may come and go, but practicality will never go out of style. Sure, that micro bag is conversation-starter, but if it doesn't even fit a phone inside, it's probably not worth the money. Equally, fashion is enjoying it's "freaky footwear" era, but some trends are better left to the runway (and if you've ever tried to wear a barely-there sandal in the rain, you'll understand what I mean.) A good, reliable tote bag and a pair of fashionable and functional shoes will never steer you wrong, and from season to season, the right accessories will be the hardest working pieces in an elevated wardrobe.

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5. Wearing Vs. Styling

Style Notes: The difference between "wearing" and "styling" really comes down to adding your own personal twist to your 'fit'. Start with a simple foundation and add the little things that you didn't know you needed. The finishing touch piece of jewellery. The extravagant sunglasses. The cashmere knit that you took off earlier can be fashioned into a scarf (or tied around your waist). One of the biggest trends to come out of the year thus far has been the silk scarf for the very reason that it can be worn in a myriad of ways, so don't be afraid to unbutton your shirts, tuck in tops, adds belts, and try the hat. Sometimes adding the extra flourish can take things up a notch.

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6. Build a Classic Foundation

Style Notes: Hear me out, maximalists—a wardrobe of versatile basics might not sound like the most adventurous thing in the world, but just like a considered palette of neutrals, they provide the perfect foundation to build a look around. Seasonal staples like the classic trench, blue jeans, ballet shoes and crew neck tee look great together [see Marianne's take above]. but they can also be mixed and matched with buzzier, trend-led pieces to bring them up-to-date. Think a camel trench and playful mini dress, blue jeans and a red shirt, or a t-shirt and taffeta trousers. The result? Always polished, and undeniably, always expensive.

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