Under-$100 Work Items That Make You Look Like You Earn 6 Figures

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(Image credit: Sandra Semburg)

Dress for the job you want, not the job you have—so the saying goes. But we all know that’s easier said than done, especially when your salary doesn’t correspond with a designer shopping spree at Barneys. Luckily, there are are several tips and tricks on how to look like you’ve added a few zeroes to your paycheck. From chic color schemes to luxe-looking accessories, you can create a sophisticated work wardrobe that balances polish, style, and garners the respect and attention of your colleagues without breaking the bank. Scroll below to discover some handy tricks to faking an expensive outfit, and shop the items we’ve found for under $100 that look way more expensive than they actually are.

A Great-Fitting Blazer

A great-fitting blazer in a versatile color (cream, black, check, or gray) will not only last a lifetime but also exude polish and sophistication.

An All-White Outfit

Wear your whites from head to toe for an elegant, six-figure salary look.

A Sleek Watch

A classic, luxe-looking watch can unquestionably elevate any outfit. 

Immaculate Shoes

Well-maintained shoes are a foolproof way of looking chicer. Opt for an immaculate white or play with plush-looking textures like faux snakeskin and velvet.

A Luxe-Looking Handbag

You don't have to spend a fortune on a designer handbag to look like you qualify for a higher tax bracket. Instead, look for a sharp and professional purse in shades of rich camel, burgundy, pastel, and black. 

A Silky Blouse and a Crisp White Shirt

A silky looking blouse or crisp (pressed!) white shirt in a smart and modern silhouette can take your outfit from zero to 100 in an instant. 

Sophisticated Accessories

Don't forget those elegant finishing touches to your work outfit. Delicate and graceful earrings, necklaces, and bracelets will add a touch of sophistication.

A Stylish Trench or Overcoat

Say goodbye to your puffer and denim jacket throughout the workweek and instead opt for a longer length overcoat in pearly white, gray, camel, and black. Or a cultivated trench coat will always look chic.

Up next, under-$100 accessory trends taking over Instagram.

Judith Jones
Senior Fashion Market Editor

Judith is the senior fashion market editor at Who What Wear and has worked in fashion for nearly a decade. Judith started on the Shop Who What Wear team, creating content and managing a team of merchandisers for the Who What Wear shopping app. She later crossed over to the editorial team, where she shares the coolest, most desirable fashion market finds and brands in her shopping-focused stories and social takeovers. She has become one of the top affiliate earners during her six plus years at Who What Wear. Before working in fashion, Judith was a TV host on the PBS travel show Globe Trekker (airing on Netflix and Amazon Prime) and shared her passion for travel and food. She studied at the prestigious London Academy of Dramatic Arts as well as Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York. She later studied fashion merchandising and design, which laid the foundation for her career in fashion.


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