How do people make inexpensive clothing look expensive? Tips?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good quality belts and shoes

Whenever people say things like this, I am always like…what century are you from? Good quality belt?! How often are you wearing belts?!?

The real answer is having well fitting clothing which correlates w/ being thin but curvy enough to see your waist through the clothing.

DP. I wear belts with anything I own that has belt loops - which is just about every pair of pants I own. If you’re not, you look unfinished/unpolished. That is the real answer.

Are you a man?

[Anonymous]

There’s one secret: be thin. Being thin makes what looks fashionable much easier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There’s one secret: be thin. Being thin makes what looks fashionable much easier.

+1, though also ironing, using a lint roller, choosing clothes mostly in neutral colors, accessorizing with well made (and sometimes more expensive) accessories, and other tricks also help.

But being thin helps the most. It is particularly useful in making inexpensive clothes hang/fit well, as most inexpensive brands don't fit larger bodies as well.

[Anonymous]

Avoid synthetic fabrics.

Buy fewer things and instead spend money to get items tailored to your body.

Read care labels and launder items appropriately, plus steam or press as needed.

Stay away from prints.

Pay attention to proportions. If you wear something loose on the bottom, try to balance with a fitted top and vice versa.

Most shirts look better tucked in to show off the waist.

Clothing should be in a color palette that’s flattering to you.

Inspect pieces before buying to ensure the fabric is on grain, seams are flat, etc.

Nice accessories and shoes make inexpensive clothing look better. Spend money on real leather belts, bags, and shoes and nice jewelry.

[Anonymous]

I have an 80 year old aunt who always looks fabulous. She is about 5'9" and on a good day is probably a size 18. She shops at places like TJ Maxx and J Jill. She knows the colors and styles that suit her and everything she wears is freshly ironed. She has good hair.

The most important thing perhaps is that freshly irons everything she wears.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve seen people make Zara or H&M items or JCPenney look like they spent hundreds and the item is a $30 blazer or sweater.

I hate to say this but thin people can make everything look good! ( I’m not one of them ) .

[Anonymous]

Mix cheap with good quality and always wear clothes that fit and flatter you, that you like and feel confident in. You dont need designer clothes but buy the best you can afford. Buy on sale and clearance. Buy from anywhere if it works. I think this works better than head to toe anything, expensive or cheap. Have a good haircut/color. Only accessorize if you are confident doing so but try new accessories. Sometimes the right necklace or bracelet can level up the outfit. Per Hannibal Lector, don't look like a rube with your "good purse and your cheap shoes." (Kidding).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Above all, it needs to fit well.

+1, anything that pulls or pinches will look cheap. Oversized clothes don't so much look cheap as they make you look uncouth, but the effect is the same. Clothes should fit, especially in the shoulders, hips, waist, and to the correct hem. Spending $$ on tailoring, or taking the time to find the proper size or the brands that fit you best, is well worth it.

This is something I’d love to know also, how do you make the oversized sweater or blazer look nice? I feel like people either hit or miss in this season. But others completely nail an untucked oversized sweater or cardigan.

Oversized blazer looks good on almost no one, even influencers and people with model proportions. Part of this is buying styles that look more classic and then the price tag / brand is less obvious.

[Anonymous]

Being really thin.

[Anonymous]

People always say tailoring, but tailoring is expensive! How much are you all spending on this? And at what price level is it worth tailoring something?

OP is talking about items from H&M - the tailoring would cost more than the clothes...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Avoid synthetic fabrics.

Buy fewer things and instead spend money to get items tailored to your body.

Read care labels and launder items appropriately, plus steam or press as needed.

Stay away from prints.

Pay attention to proportions. If you wear something loose on the bottom, try to balance with a fitted top and vice versa.

Most shirts look better tucked in to show off the waist.

Clothing should be in a color palette that’s flattering to you.

Inspect pieces before buying to ensure the fabric is on grain, seams are flat, etc.

Nice accessories and shoes make inexpensive clothing look better. Spend money on real leather belts, bags, and shoes and nice jewelry.

I really disagree with this unless you have a great body. Otherwise it's very unforgiving.

The shirts that were actually shaped with a waist (like the typical shirts of 10 yrs ago) were very flattering. Today you have to tuck because everything is shapeless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People always say tailoring, but tailoring is expensive! How much are you all spending on this? And at what price level is it worth tailoring something?

OP is talking about items from H&M - the tailoring would cost more than the clothes...

It is worth it, honestly. It doesn't mean take a cheap H&M blazer and have it torn apart then remade to fit you exactly. But, like, get your pants hemmed if that half an inch will make them look and feel right. Have the blazer sleeve taken up just a bit.

I just had some shirts cropped a bit because they were *just* too long - these were madewell shirts I got off eBay, and now they look great. Not that you want to dress like me - you don't - but it is worth spending that money on tailoring, I think. Instead of buying a bunch of stuff from H&M that you think isn't even worth being tailored, go to the consignment shop and buy some stuff that you think is worth getting tailored.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think people are making this a lot more complicated than it needs to be. I’ve never spent hundreds of dollars on outfits for everday use, so I can’t be certain I meet your criteria, but this is how I approach fashion.

Pick out clothes that suit your body type and coloring. Research can give you an idea of which styles may be flattering, but it really comes down to trying on things until you know which cuts flatter you (and which don’t). You may be able to “get your colors done” professionally, but it’s expensive and unnecessary. Most likely the colors that will look best on you are the ones you’re drawn to and the ones you feel happy/confident/energized wearing. Make sure the fit is good - too small is worse than too big. If the style, color, and fit aren’t right (fit is negotiable IF you’re willing and able to sew or pay for tailoring), keep looking. While others may switch out buttons, I acknowledge that I’m all thumbs and don’t want to go to the time and hassle involved for a result that probably won’t look quite as good as it did before my efforts.

Prioritize classic styles and prints. You’ll be able to wear them for years. If a trend comes along that you like you can buy a few pieces, but the seasons where everything is awful, you’ll still look great in the clothes that flatter you. Mixing neutrals and colors will add versatility, but remember to stay in your colors. For instance, my neutrals are black and white, and I look get in jewel tones. I have a lot of red, turquoise, and magenta. I might wear black slacks with a red shirt, or a white blouse with a floral skirt. For my mom, on the other hand, her neutrals are earth tones and she looks fabulous in pastels. Wearing her colors makes me look and feel like death warmed over.

Add the finishing touches. Accessorize, but don’t go overboard. You can be bold or whimsical, but stop before you reach gaudy. When in doubt, less is more.

Make sure you’re “polished”. Expensive clothes don’t matter if you’re wrinkled and mussed. On the other hand, if you’re freshly pressed, every hair in place, shoes polished, whatever makeup you wear looking fresh, etc., you’ll probably make a good impression as long as your clothes are appropriate to the setting (professional, casual, formal, etc.). Also, present yourself positively. Good posture, confident movements, a friendly smile, etc., make a difference. I’ve seen celebrities on TV wearing designer clothes that I know cost thousands of dollars, but when they slouch and slump it spoils the effect.

When I want to look nice, I tend to shop at Penney’s and Kohl’s. For everyday casual clothes that look nice enough, but I’m not particularly concerned about making an impression, I like Walmart. I’ve gotten some of my favorite casual shirts there. Since Payless is no longer an option, DSW is where I do most of my shoe shopping. I would probably buy purses from Penney’s, Kohl’s or Target. I generally find Target’s clothes for women to be overpriced, poor quality, and too trendy. Sales and outlets are your friends.

Or just lose 20 lbs. Everything looks better on skinny people. Sorry , but that's the harsh truth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People always say tailoring, but tailoring is expensive! How much are you all spending on this? And at what price level is it worth tailoring something?

OP is talking about items from H&M - the tailoring would cost more than the clothes...

Maybe but as someone 5 ft tall and a size 6, no matter what I pay I have to get it tailored.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Be thin, have good hair, skin and nails, and you can make anything look good. It's that simple.

No, "good nails" don't make any difference.