How to dress expensively, without actually breaking the bank.
We all know that person whose clothes are always freshly ironed, not a hair out of place and can somehow stay cool when everyone else around her is sweltering. Annoying, right? You may be regramming your favourite Celine look or saving a photo of Leandra Medine in her Louis Vuitton outfit to your Pinterest board, but the reality is, most of our wardrobe budgets are what we can put delicately put it as limited.
Know what works for you
The oft-heard refrain in any style manual is that your wardrobe needs to have the fundamentals. The usual suspects are the perfect fitting pair of jeans that you can wear with the ideal white shirt or the grey marle T-shirt but part of the secret is to work out what wardrobe staples work for you. Not into trousers? Make a denim pencil skirt your go-to. Hate crew necks? Embrace the V-neck. Keep your eye out for images from runway shows or street style to get an idea of what you like and what suits you.
Read up on fabrics
How many times have you bought a piece of clothing that looked great when you first wore it, but by third or even the second time it’s looked worse for wear? Get to know fabric compositions. A rough rule of thumb is that angora or mohair knits will eventually pill so much that it limits how many times you can wear it. Thinness in fabrics is a major culprit for looking unpolished, so err on the side of caution with thicker jumpers and jeans with a small percentage of elastane; the less stretchy the jean, the sturdier they will be so that they will hold their shape. On the other hand, fabrics like some polyester may last, but some have a certain sheen which cheapens the whole effect. Another general rule is to stay away from metallic thread in chain store items. Trust us – these never age well.
Know where to skimp, and where to splurge
If you're on a budget, don't be seduced by white T-shirts that cost hundreds of dollars. Often, chain store buys that are 100% cotton (read the above section!) will be just as good, and you won't even notice the difference. Handbags and coats however, are worth investing in and it doesn't need to be from the designer racks. A well-chosen coat that has enough fabric in the cut, top quality fabrics and a flattering colour can hide a multitude of sins: wear it with a plain white T-shirt or shirt, jeans and sneakers. That’s your winter outfit sorted.
Find a good tailor
Proportions are key to looking polished, and every well-dressed woman knows that she can rely on her tailor to perfect her look. For shorter women it can be worth having the tailor raise the waist on dresses or reduce the crotch on pants, but there are other minor tweaks that can be done too, like altering a neckline to be more flattering to your face and neck, or bringing in the shoulders of a jacket or blouse ever so slightly for a premium fit.
Look after your clothes
A quick iron of your clothes before you wear it is a simple enough trick to make yourself look instantly more polished. If you're in a rush, you could even pop your clothes on a hanger in the bathroom while you have a hot shower – the slight steam will help. If you spill anything on your clothes, deal with it as soon as possible or take it to a drycleaner if you're not sure. Storage is not to be underestimated either. Don't put dirty clothes back in your wardrobe; it will attract insects like moths, which will ruin not only that item of clothing but others around it. Store your handbags properly in dustbags and stuff them with tissue paper so that they keep their shape.
Think about your beauty look
It's not about more is more, but about nailing your beauty look. Clean skin with mascara and a touch of blush can be all that's needed to look polished if you're more of a natural make-up kind of girl. For that something extra, wear red lipstick.
