Good cut and fabric is the most important. I buy almost everything second hand or NWT from the thrift store.

I buy almost all my clothes at thrift stores, basically my rule is natural fabrics only. I get compliments all the time. Polyester looks cheap on everyone.
I also use shapewear even though I'm pretty thin, muffin top and panty lines never look good.
You should NOT stick with neutrals. I know a lot of people who follow that rule and they look so boring. I look best in autumn colors so I always look for those. My one friend spends a ton of money on clothes and I've never seen her in any color other than black, gray and beige. I would not describe her as fashionable.

Look for your body type and follow suggestions (rectangle, pear, inverted triangle etc)

Shop for your body type
Pick good fabrics (cotton, wool, etc)
Neutral/solid colors
Have good taste

Anonymous wrote:

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

Doesn’t really matter that much.
I used to think the trick was just to be skinny and pretty.
But that’s not it.
There’s an Instagram lady who is “mid sized” who makes everything look “elevated” and wealthy looking just be accessorizing the hell out of her outfits (lots of “frosting” aka a good belt and jewelry—a few bracelets, layered necklaces and simple earrings. And then style your hair and makeup.

You are confusing being fit with clothes that fit. Clothes should fit at any size. Your "mid-sized" lady probably looks good because her clothes fit her body. A few bracelets are irrelevant.

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

Doesn’t really matter that much.
I used to think the trick was just to be skinny and pretty.
But that’s not it.
There’s an Instagram lady who is “mid sized” who makes everything look “elevated” and wealthy looking just be accessorizing the hell out of her outfits (lots of “frosting” aka a good belt and jewelry—a few bracelets, layered necklaces and simple earrings. And then style your hair and makeup.

You don’t need a lot of items either - use an app to track wear and purchases… for example my designer jeans which look bomb on me have much lower cost per wear because I wear them regularly and they wash well. My cheaper trendy jeans lower cost per wear and I just don’t love them so don’t wear much at all

every garment fits
decent hair and makeup
top quality shoes

The fit, the fabrics, and also being good at finding things - Zara in particular has some real hidden gems

My sister is and always has been great at this. She mixes in a few really expensive pieces from boutiques or artsy places (she lives in one of those places that rich people go to vacation, so has access to a lot of that and has also picked up some nice pieces at those fundraising sales where rich people sell off their used clothes to mostly other rich people).

I was at a party she threw once, and one of her rich artist friends said to me something about how she always has such great taste, and then I felt better that it's not just me that feel schlumpy next to her.

I think her cheaper pieces tend to be mostly very classic and simple. Like a simple slip dress, but then she's wearing very cool art jewelry and an expensive leather jacket or a scarf made by a textile artist. She also seems to spend on things like jeans, but then can pair the expensive jeans with less expensive stuff, like a simple linen tank from someplace like old navy. She always has a funky bag that looks expensive but is not designer -- again, I think she buys artisan stuff or has stuff she bought abroad many years ago and just maintains well.

I am petite, busty, and not thin. So it’s a challenging profile for me but I think I still manage to dress quite nicely because I know what flatters my shape and I have a set of accessories- belts, shoes, jewelry- that elevate less expensive clothes designed for older women look more youthful. I know that a store like talbots is not youthful but my body is frankly not a very youthful shape. Hair and makeup are critical too. Nothing is impossible if you know what colors and shapes flatter your body. I don’t really shop at trendy stores like Zara or H&M or whatever else has trendy clothes because they mostly look bad on me.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

But bad nails do!

Yes, those plastic things are scary.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just because it’s cheap doesn’t mean that it has to look cheap. Stay away from synthetic material and Look for 100% cotton, wool etc. It makes the difference.


Also pattern and colors matter. The more neutral…the more classic and high end it will look.

People take this advice literally and just end up look poor or dull. Color is very important and neutral colors should just be a base.

Exactly!

Color has to be deployed carefully with inexpensive clothes. If the fabric or construction or cheap, color and especially pattern will highlight this. Especially after a few years.

It is best to spend a bit more money on your pops of color, and also think about where you are adding them-- you get the most bang for your buck if it's an item in a very flattering color near your face. So tops, jackets, necklaces, earrings in your best colors can liven up a mostly neutral wardrobe, but these items should higher quality because they will really draw the eye.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

But bad nails do!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just because it’s cheap doesn’t mean that it has to look cheap. Stay away from synthetic material and Look for 100% cotton, wool etc. It makes the difference.


Also pattern and colors matter. The more neutral…the more classic and high end it will look.

People take this advice literally and just end up look poor or dull. Color is very important and neutral colors should just be a base.

Exactly!