Wearing inexpensive clothing does not have to be synonymous with bad taste. Many women choose not to spend too much money on clothing, and that does not mean you look bad since you can have a limited budget and still look good, with style. Having a closet full of expensive designer clothes does not mean you will look elegant and well dressed. Quite a few celebrities show it with their particular outfits.
If you are one of those women who have decided not to go broke buying clothes, we have some tips on how to make your inexpensive clothing look more expensive and you can look fabulous. Keep reading!
How to make your inexpensive clothing look expensive?
It is possible to get a high-end closet, without spending a lot of money, you should only buy clothes that look expensive, but do not cost more than your budget allows.
To do this you should pay attention to the quality of the clothes and make some post-purchase corrections, if necessary. This way you will be able to find inexpensive clothes that still make you feel very well dressed, regardless of how much you have paid.
Go to a tailor or dressmaker
Many women think tailoring is expensive; however, a simple tailoring solution, such as cutting the waist or lowering a hem, is usually inexpensive, but it makes the clothes look like a million dollars.
Designers have the luxury of fitting clothes to models that are of a specific size and shape. A dress that does not fit right at the waist or pants that are a bit long can make even expensive clothes look sloppy and cheap. By investing in customizing your inexpensive clothing to better fit your body, you will automatically create the feeling of better quality.
Properly wash inexpensive clothing
All mass-market garments come with washing instructions that should be followed to make your clothes last longer and look better.
Fading, wrinkling, and shrinkage are tell-tale signs of inexpensive clothing. However, you can “fool” everyone by being very careful with all your clothes. So always check your clothing labels to find out the best way to care for your clothes to keep them fresh, shiny, and expensive.
Here are some general laundry tips:
- Always wash clothes in similar colors, especially dark colors that can easily fade.
- Run a disposable razor over wool clothing to remove pilling.
- Wear clothes several times before washing to maintain color and shape.
- Air-dry clothes
- Store out-of-season clothing in a cool, dark place.
- Do not rub fabric stains as rubbing can ruin clothing fibers.
Just paying attention to washing your clothes properly helps them maintain color, shape, and quality, even if you grabbed those pants off the clearance rack.
See also 8 ways to take care of clothes and make them last longer
Choose a high-quality manufacturing
When looking for bargains and you see something you love, the first things to look at are the buttons and zippers. Even inexpensive clothing must have sturdy manufacturing, or you run the risk of ruined clothes, unraveling hems, and loose threads.
Always check if the zipper closes smoothly, if there are loose buttons and threads. You should also check the seams of the garment for holes, which are signs that the garment is poorly made and likely to be damaged or lose its shape.
Lastly, check for stains or holes that could have been made by other people who tried the item on at the store. While some stains (makeup, for example) can usually be washed out, you should be able to find other stain-free garments.
Avoid embellishments and logos on inexpensive clothing
Many love a bit of sparkle, but if you go for embellishments and sequins, you risk making your clothes look cheap. This happens for a couple of reasons. First, embellishments can wear out over time, which means the sequined garment will look sloppy and old when they fall off. Secondly, embellishments are simply not as durable trend-wise as a crisp, clean look. That pair of embroidered jeans may look great this season, but a pair of tailored dark-wash jeans is much more timeless.
The same can be said for logos. Logos are often used as a fashion statement, in order to declare that the item was expensive. And while you can find deals on logo-patterned clothing and accessories, I think a well-made brown faux leather bag always looks more expensive than a cover with an eye-catching logo.
Avoid trends
One thing about trends is that, over time, they will fade. If you really want your inexpensive clothes to look more expensive, focus on buying classic pieces that will never go out of style.
Some must-have classic closet basics are:
- A pair of dark-wash straight jeans
- A well-fitted button-down shirt
- A little black dress
- A classic medium length trench coat
- A pair of black shoes
- A V-neck sweater
All of these items have been staples for decades and are unlikely to go out of style anytime soon. By skipping trends, you can avoid spending money on cheap duplicates and instead focus your clothing budget on items that always look current and well-made.
Wear with expensive-looking accessories
If you tend to buy clothes during clearance sales, it is okay to splurge a little on accessories to elevate your entire look, or, if your budget is tight, you can opt for expensive-looking accessories and you will achieve the same goal.
A basic outfit of a white V-neck T-shirt and jeans may not be that appealing, but, if you add a colorful scarf, a pair of eye-catching earrings, and a cross-body bag, the outfit goes from boring to a great hit. If you swap out the scarf for a fancy necklace and a spectacular pair of heels, you will get a great look for a Friday night.
Accessories are a great option to allocate part of your clothing budget because they can change an entire look. They are also great for trying out a trend without spending a large amount of money on something that could go out of style soon.
A good rule of thumb for buying expensive-looking accessories is to go for something that does not look too fake. A huge necklace made of cheap gemstones would be out of your price range if it were made of real diamonds, but a nice pair of zircon earrings are more realistic, so they actually look more expensive when worn because they are obviously not fake.
Wear a monochromatic style
One sure way to look “cheap” when dressing is to stack a ton of different colors and patterns. While a pop of color is great, wearing a monochromatic shade from head to toe creates an idea of quality. You do not have to wear head-to-toe black, but an outfit made up of different shades of gray looks sophisticated and expensive.
Neutral colors look best for this trick: White worn with khaki hues, or dark jeans worn with a lighter chambray blouse easily fool others into thinking you spent a fortune on pieces that can be found at a deep discount.
Pay attention to preparation
If you really want your inexpensive clothes to look expensive, make sure the rest of your outfit is up to the task. It is so much easier to make clothes look for a million dollars if you pair them with a flawless look, a neat manicure, and clean, neutral makeup.
You do not have to go to the salon every day to make sure you have an expensive look. Instead, it is about maintaining a clean, classic aesthetic. It is pretty hard to look expensive with a ton of turquoise eyeshadow and the latest trendy polka dot manicure. Instead, go for neutral colors. Remember that a well-done beige manicure triumphs over a sloppy design any day, no matter how expensive the outfit is. A classic look never goes out of style.
ALFA