One of the biggest style myths out there is that if you want to look ‘expensive,’ you need a designer wardrobe. Over the years, I’ve realised that style isn’t really about how much you spend. It’s about how thoughtfully you wear what you already own. In reality, some of the most elegant, polished women I know aren’t constantly buying new clothes. Instead, they focus on a few simple habits that make anything they wear look more elevated.
Here are five small style habits that instantly make any outfit look more expensive.
1. Prioritise Fit Above Everything Else
Nothing elevates an outfit more than clothes that fit properly.
A blazer that sits perfectly on the shoulders, trousers that skim the floor at exactly the right length, or a dress that flatters your shape will always look more luxurious than an expensive piece that doesn’t fit well.
I’ve become a huge believer in tailoring. Even small alterations can transform how clothing looks and feels. If you’re investing in one thing this season, make it a relationship with a good tailor.
2. Stick to a Cohesive Colour Palette
When I look at outfits that feel particularly elegant, they almost always have one thing in common: the colours work together.
This doesn’t mean dressing head-to-toe in beige, but it does mean being intentional. Chocolate brown, cream, camel, black, navy and soft grey all work beautifully together and create a sense of harmony.
One of my favourite styling tricks is tonal dressing – wearing different shades of the same colour family. It instantly creates a polished, expensive-looking effect.
3. Take Care of Your Clothes
This sounds obvious, but it makes an enormous difference and is often overlooked.
Steam your clothes before wearing them. Remove bobbles from knitwear. Polish your boots. Store handbags properly. Replace missing buttons. People don’t notice when clothing looks well maintained, but they do notice when it isn’t!
Luxury isn’t just about what you buy – it’s about how you maintain it. A well-cared-for high street coat will often look more expensive than a neglected designer one.
4. Choose Fabrics Carefully
Fabric has a huge impact on how an outfit is perceived.
Natural fibres such as wool, cotton, cashmere, silk and linen tend to look more refined than synthetic alternatives. They drape beautifully, wear better and often photograph more elegantly too. This is one area where the high street can be tricky. Higher end brands do tend to use higher quality fabrics, but that’s not always the case. Premium high street brands like Reiss, Massimo Dutti and & Whistles can be a great place to find affordable fashion in better fabrics and when shopping, I always encourage looking at composition labels as much as the price tags.
5. Wear Fewer Things, Better
One of the most common styling mistakes is overcomplicating an outfit. In fact, Gabrielle Chanel once famously said ‘Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.’
An elegant coat, a beautiful knit, tailored trousers and simple jewellery often make a stronger statement than multiple trend-led pieces and accessories competing for attention.
When in doubt, keep it simple. Earrings and a watch, a brooch with a hat. A statement bag and pearl studs. Not all at once!
There’s a confidence that comes from simplicity, and that confidence is often what people interpret as looking expensive.
Final Thoughts
The women whose style I admire most rarely chase every trend. Instead, they focus on quality, fit, care and consistency.
Looking expensive isn’t about spending more. It’s about paying attention to the details.
And often, it’s the smallest details that make the biggest difference.
With love,
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This post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own.
