How To Look Expensive On A Budget

This post may contain affiliate links and any sales made through these links will generate a small commission for us, at no extra cost to you!

ooking expensive on a budget and being stylish and modern is a topic that requires some knowledge in the fashion industry, but it does not require tons of money. If you don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on designer brand items, indeed they will look expensive, but there are 7 ways to look expensive on a budget without breaking your bank account. So, keep reading for some practical life hacks that will help you shop your closet and create classy outfits with a minimum investment into your wardrobe.

1. White always looks expensive

Go for full white outfits. White makes everyone look younger and expensive because it adds freshness and the overall appearance of the look will always be classy and modern. White can look festive, laconic, and delicate. For example, you can wear a white t-shirt and white jeans for a more casual look or a white dress paired with white blazer for a to-go outfit.

2. Neutral palette

Choose neutrals for the win! I’d choose neutrals over color any day. If you want to look classy and presentable, especially if you are going for a minimalist wardrobe, then neutral basics are your best bet. Neutrals are always easy to pair and combine, which gives you a lot of more free time. When wearing neutrals you don’t have to worry about what to wear your red jeans with and how to look stylish.

3. Combination of White and Black

The combination of black + white is a win-win option for women of any age range. As a result, with black and white palette you can create an ideal, chic and expensive outfit in which you will look your best.

4. Minimalism

Minimalism is one of the most stylish techniques in modern fashion industry. It always looks expensive and adds more status to your outfit. And it doesn’t matter at all how much your look actually costs. You can dress up in everything designer and trendy from head to toe, but this will not guarantee that you will look expensive, chic and classy. Even if you wear a t-shirt from Gucci for $499 with some weird print and logo but when you do not know how to style it and what to wear it with, then you will end up looking like you were dressed up from mass market. And don’t get me wrong. I love mass market stores.In other words, they have a nice variety of designer dupes, trends and basics for the wardrobe. And I like to shop mass market myself. However, sometimes it’s not about the cost or the designer brand, it’s about knowing how to combine and style outfits creating looks that are minimalistic and yet very chic on budget.

5. Denim

Denim always looks very modern and youthful. But for a total denim look make sure that the top and bottom of denim are in the same tone. Also, another advantage of denim is that it will make any body shape look spectacular.

6. Neckline Cutouts

To begin with, this is the most feminine and elegant way to level up your outfit. Fashionistas know that different cutouts are the main highlight of an outfit. Intricate tops or dresses with a cutout at the back, shoulder, collarbones, or neck area always look very interesting, attracting everyone around. These kind of details add harmony to the look.

For example, my personal favorite neckline cutout is heart-shaped tops or dresses because my face shape is also heart shape and I know for sure that this type of neckline will always look good on me. So, if you know these nuances about your body then you can easily turn them into pros.

7. Up-to-date Clothing

Your clothes should have an up-to-date modern look, not outdated. That is, a loose fit with enough of air in between the fabric and the skin. Complement your outfit with the necessary shoes and accessories. When your clothing is up-to-date and you can take the look into any desired style. For example, sneakers will create a more relaxed look, heels- more formal, etc.

8. Monochromatic Outfit

This is an aristocratic way to level up your look giving a noble touch to the most basic pieces. It’s also one of the easiest ways to look expensive on a budget, without wasting money on trends. Monochromatic is when the entire look is in one color. This color could be white, pink, gray or any other color and even if the color tones are off a bit that is absolutely fine, as long as they create a harmonized total look.

9. Layering

Do not be afraid of layering. A sign of personal style is the capability of layering different pieces expressing your sense of style. And the best method to go by is using neutral palette and basic pieces. Firstly, start off with a basic white tee or a tank, add on a blazer and trench, and voila. Your look is finally complete. You just have made up a look of 3 layers and it wasn’t that hard, right? Now, it’s your turn to layer up your outfit.

10. Combination of prints

Stripes, plaid, polka dots and goose prints look great on their own but if you want to create a trendy and expensive look, combination of at least 2 of these prints will automatically level up your game and instantly make your look expensive and on a budget. However, pay attention to the the seams, texture, and quality of the items, because everything must be perfect.

11. Suit it up

This wardrobe item will never go out of style and it will always be associated with luxury and elegance. Either, you wear a suit that fits you well, white blazer + black pants or the opposite. In a suit you will always look clean, sophisticated and polished. Above all, you can’t go wrong with adding a blazer to a plain white basic t-shirt, or some jeans or even leggings. Likewise, you can pair the trousers with tanks or t-shirts. There are so many advantages of having a suit as a set because you can wear them together or separately, it’s completely up to you. A tweed suit is the best investment and its well tested over time. Coco Chanel is known for her famous chic outfits and her “tweed” suits, and over time her style became even more prominent. Tweed is the only material that never goes out of style and it will only class up your look, even if your tweed blazer is from H&M or Zara. And no one will know that it’s not a high-end designer item, if you know how to style it correctly. This is one of my most favorite tips to look expensive on a budget and all you have to do is buy a suit once and have a timeless piece forever, which you can re-wear.

12. Gold Jewelry

Don’t underestimate the effectiveness of accessories. Besides, can simply wear a little black dress with a gold necklace and your look will instantly look expensive. A good watch with a simple necklace will look more impressive than a lot of bright and bulky accessories, do you remember those bulky accessories from 2014? I think we all used to have a couple of bold bulky necklaces. Another tip is to choose gold hardware for all of your handbags.