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The Weekend Read * How to Elevate Your Style Look More Expensive Without the Designer Price Tag

February 14, 2026

The Weekend Read * How to Elevate Your Style Look More Expensive Without the Designer Price Tag

Judi Prue | Read in 8 minutes

Hello!

Do you ever look at people like style icons, celebrities or influencers for style inspiration and think: 'I love their style but I wouldn't be able to afford their look?' Or do you love expensive brands but don't like the price tag that comes with them?

Well here's the good news, looking expensive has very little to do with how much you spend, but everything to do with how you put your look together. True style confidence doesn't have to be about logos, labels or luxury price points, it’s about choosing pieces that work hard for you and which suit your seasonal palette, work with your body shape, reflect your personality and are styled with a little careful knowhow.

We'll let you in on a little secret, the most elegant women we know are not always dripping in designer labels, they’re simply consistent, considered and comfortable in their own skin.

So this week’s The Weekend Read is all about those quiet, clever tweaks that instantly elevate your look, from hair and accessories to fabrics, patterns and finishing touches which are all entirely achievable on any budget.

Lets start at the top......

Hair: The Foundation of a Polished Look

Hair is one of the biggest giveaways when it comes to looking put together. The outfit can look stylish, but if the hair feels tired, unkempt or mismatched to your overall style, the whole look loses impact.

This doesn’t mean salon blow-dries every week, it just means having a haircut that works with your natural hair texture and lifestyle. A shape that falls back into place easily, a fringe that doesn’t need constant fussing and a colour that complements your House of Colour season rather than fighting against it.

Healthy-looking hair always reads as more expensive. Regular trims, a decent conditioner and avoiding overly brassy or flat colour can make an enormous difference. Even something as simple as smoothing flyways or adding a touch of shine serum can elevate an everyday outfit instantly.

The Weekend Read * How to Elevate Your Style Look More Expensive Without the Designer Price Tag

Glasses & Sunglasses: Treat Them Like Jewellery

Your glasses sit right on your face, they’re one of the first things people notice. Unfortunately, they’re often treated as an afterthought. In reality, well-chosen frames can be one of the most powerful style tools you own.

The key to a great pair of glasses is proportion, colour and condition. Frames that suit your facial features, reflect your clothing personality and sit comfortably without slipping will always look more refined. Colour-wise, frames that harmonise with your seasonal palette feel intentional and elegant. For decades, black frames have been deemed to be stylish, yet for those of us that aren't Winters, they will overwhelm our faces. And even if you are a Winter, black isn't always the most flattering colour to sit in the middle of your face.

Sunglasses follow the same rule. Classic shapes tend to look more expensive than novelty styles and neutral or seasonally flattering tones will work with more outfits. Keep lenses clean, frames straight and cases handy as scuffed, scratched or bent sunglasses instantly detract from an otherwise polished look.

Scarves: The Secret Weapon of Stylish Women

Scarves are one of the most underestimated accessories in British wardrobes, and yet they’re one of the easiest ways to add colour, interest and sophistication without spending much at all.

A good scarf introduces your best colours near your face, softens an outfit, and adds that sense of finish that so many people feel is missing. Lightweight scarves in silk, modal or fine wool tend to drape more beautifully than bulky synthetics and subtle patterns often feel more refined than loud prints.

How you wear a scarf matters too. Thoughtful draping, a loose knot or a simple fold can feel chic and effortless, whereas over-fussing can look forced. One well-chosen scarf can elevate multiple outfits across the week.

Jewellery: Less, But Better

When it comes to jewellery, restraint is often what creates that expensive feel. This doesn’t mean minimalism suits everyone, it means clarity. Choose pieces that work together rather than compete with each other.

Jewellery that aligns with your clothing personality, whether that's delicate, bold, structured or organic, will always look more put together. Wearing metals that flatter your colouring will always lift your look; warm golds for Springs & Autumns and silvers for Summers and Winters.

Avoid jewellery pieces that are tangled or broken or have stones missing. Modern costume jewellery will look elegant when it’s clean and polished, but will tarnish over time. A single necklace, a pair of earrings and a bracelet that echoes your outfit’s colours can be far more impactful than layering everything you own at once.

Fabrics: Texture Is Everything

One of the biggest differences between cheap-looking and expensive-looking clothing is down to the fabric. Natural fibres tend to hang better, breathe better, and age more gracefully than man-made fibres do.

This doesn’t mean you need a wardrobe full of silk and cashmere though. Look instead for garments with weight, structure and movement. Viscose, modal, wool blends and well-made cottons often drape far more elegantly than flimsy synthetics like polyester and nylon mixes.

Matte finishes tend to look more refined than shiny ones, and fabrics that don’t cling or crease excessively will always read as more polished. Before buying anything new, touch the fabric and ask yourself how it feels in your hands? If it already feels cheap on the hanger, it won’t magically improve once you put it on.

Patterns: Subtlety Signals Sophistication

Pattern can be incredibly stylish, but remember scale and contrast make all the difference. Smaller, more harmonious patterns can often feel more expensive than oversized or overly busy designs.

Patterns that reflect your colouring and body shape will flatter you rather than overwhelm you. Softer body shapes will shine in fluid, blended prints whilst more structured body shapes need geometric or defined designs.

If wearing pattern feels daunting, start small; a patterned blouse under a jacket, a printed scarf, or a subtle stripe. Used thoughtfully, pattern adds depth without overpowering your outfit.

Bags: Structure Is Your Friend

A handbag doesn’t need a designer logo to look luxurious, but what it does need is structure, proportion and some TLC.

Structured bags tend to look more polished than slouchy ones, particularly for work or everyday wear. Neutral colours or seasonally flattering tones will give you far more versatility than novelty shades.

Don't forget to keep an eye on the little details including keeping the lining clean, checking the zips work, and the handles haven't deteriorated. A well-kept high-street bag will always look better than an expensive one that’s worn to death.

Shoes: Where Polish Really Shows

Shoes will often tell the real story. Scuffed, tired footwear can undo the most beautiful outfit, while clean, well-chosen shoes elevate even the simplest look.

You don’t need dozens of pairs, you need a few reliable, comfortable styles that work with your lifestyle and wardrobe. Neutral tones, quality materials and classic shapes will always feel more refined.

Regular cleaning, resoling when needed, and rotating your shoes so they last longer all contribute to the effortless elegance we’re aiming for.

Accessories & Finishing Touches

Belts, watches, tights and even socks are the small details that matter more than we realise. Accessories that coordinate rather than clash bring cohesion to an outfit.

Think about colour harmony, texture balance and proportion. When everything feels considered, the overall impression is calm, confident and expensive.

The One-Week Style Challenge

This week, we’d love you to try a simple experiment. For the next seven days, before leaving the house, ask yourself three questions:

• Does my hair and make-up feel finished today?

• Have I added at least one thoughtful accessory?

• Is everything clean, pressed and in good condition?

No new purchases are required, just a bit of awareness. You may be surprised how quickly your outfits start to feel more pulled together, and how much confidence that will give you.

Final Thoughts: Looking Expensive on a Budget

Looking expensive isn’t about pretending to be someone you’re not. It’s about understanding what suits you in your colouring, your personality and your lifestyle and making thoughtful choices within this framework.

Style confidence grows from consistency, not cost. When your wardrobe works together, getting dressed becomes easier, calmer and far more enjoyable.

As always, colour and style aren’t about rules, they’re about making the very best of the tools you have. When you use them well, they will quietly transform everything.

Next week in The Weekend Read, with the start of London Fashion week we will talking about how British women's style compares to our European and American counterparts. In a special two part blog we will be discussing who is the best dressed and why.

Best wishes,

Judi & Jenny xx

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