Getting the Luxe Look – minus the Price Tag

It’s all too easy to drool over the pages of Vogue magazine, then sigh over the fact that you’ll never be able to afford those outfits. Who has thousands to spend on a dress? And is it worth remortgaging your house just to afford that handbag?

Fortunately, there are ways you can get the luxury look, without blowing a hole in your bank account. Here are some great ideas.

Designer Style, the Wallet-Friendly Way

Ditch ‘fast fashion’ (and help the environment too). While we all love a bargain in the high street stores, these garments are often made of cheap materials, which don’t age well. Clothes that are unintentionally faded, bobbled or ripped will immediately cheapen your look. Also, fast fashion is bad for the planet. Invest in some timeless, good quality pieces that’ll last you for years to come – making them far more cost-effective in the long run.

Lose the tattered shoes. 

A pair of unusual shoes add immediate visual appeal to an outfit. Sports trainers or flip-flops don’t convey quite the right message for the luxe look; instead, choose a pair of shoes with a small heel or an unusual feature, like a buckle or pattern.

Get interesting with your jewellery.

Jewellery can instantly make an outfit look high-end; but let’s face it, most of us don’t have the budget to buy loads of gold or silver. Mix a few expensive pieces with interesting vintage or ethnic-inspired items. For example, a simple gold chain looks amazing when teamed up with an inexpensive leather choker.

Step out of the jeans.

Make no mistake, a pair of jeans can look ultra-designer when teamed with the right top and shoes. However, many people reach for their jeans as their standard ‘uniform’, day in, day out. Make your outfit look a little bit more designer-influenced by wearing something different on your lower half; like a pair of chinos, some paperbag-waist trousers or a maxi skirt.

Work your cosmetics.

Most people, when meeting you for the first time, will look straight at your face. The natural look is awesome and should be embraced whenever you want; but equally, if you want to wear make-up, that’s great too. To add a hint of opulence, go for a sun-kissed bronzer (ideal for fooling people into thinking you’ve just returned from the French Riviera) or a coppery eye palette. Strong eye-liner is also a luxurious look; particularly a flicked-up cat’s eye.

Wear a luxury fragrance (for less).

There are so many decadent-smelling perfumes out there, that you’re spoilt for choice. For the smell of true exclusivity, go for something with oud oil in it, like velvet rose and oud. Oud has been used for centuries as a perfume ingredient, and used to be worn by royalty! Remember, there are some fragrance companies making great ‘inspired-by’ perfumes, at a fraction of the cost of the original.

Change your hairstyle.

Okay, so there will be some mornings when it’s too much effort to even drag a comb through your hair. But, if you have the time and want to look more ‘designer’, go for an up-do. A high ponytail provides the ‘supermodel’ look, and even a few decorative hair-clips can add a hint of class.

Choose one ‘statement’ piece.

Many fashionable women have one statement garment in their outfit, and keep the rest of their clothing simple. For example, a sophisticated blazer looks amazing when teamed with a simple t-shirt and trousers. It doesn’t even have to be an item of clothing; sometimes an accessory like a neck-scarf or belt can achieve the look.

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