7 Simple Ways to Make Your Outfits Look More Expensive

I don’t think looking well dressed has much to do with how much money you spend on clothes.

Over the years, I have become much more selective about what I buy and, interestingly, I think my outfits look better because of it. I pay more attention to fabrics, choose pieces that are easy to style and take care of the clothes I already own.

My wardrobe isn’t particularly large, and many of my favourite pieces are actually second-hand. I simply try to choose things that work for my lifestyle and make even a very simple outfit feel put together.

Here are seven things that make the biggest difference for me.

1. Pay Attention to Fabric and Quality

For me, one of the most important things when buying clothes is the material. I have become much more careful about checking fabric composition, especially when shopping for autumn and winter pieces.

I actually bought this jumper on Vinted just this week — my first autumn purchase of the year! It is from H&M Premium and contains 85% wool. As soon as I saw the material composition, it caught my attention because I knew it could become a useful piece in my autumn and winter capsule wardrobe.

And the best part? It cost me only €6.

I think this is a great example of why looking polished doesn’t necessarily mean spending a lot of money. A simple jumper in a good-quality material can make an everyday outfit feel much more elevated.

I have written more about the things I check before purchasing clothes in How to Spot Quality Clothes Before You Buy (Even in High-Street Stores), and second-hand shopping has also become one of my favourite ways to find better-quality pieces for less. My guide to shopping on Vinted shares more of the things I look for.

2. Choose Simple, Well-Fitting Basics

For work, I usually prefer outfits that are comfortable and don’t require too much thinking in the morning.

This outfit is a perfect example — a simple shirt, jeans, a basic top underneath and trainers. There is nothing complicated about it, but the colours work together easily and the whole outfit still feels put together.

I think this is why good basics are so useful. You don’t need an interesting or expensive piece every time you get dressed. Sometimes it is simply about clothes that fit well, feel comfortable and combine easily with what you already own.

Many of the pieces I rely on are also included in my 10 Timeless Wardrobe Essentials That Never Go Out of Style.

3. Add One Structured Piece

I often choose one piece of clothing and “build” the rest of my outfit around it.

Here, it is my brown linen blazer. It is really nice quality and gives some structure to an otherwise very simple jeans outfit. And yes — this was another Vinted find!

Blazers, leather jackets and good coats are particularly useful for this. You can wear something incredibly simple underneath and immediately make the whole outfit look more intentional.

This is also why I include these kinds of versatile pieces when talking about how to build a timeless capsule wardrobe. One good piece should give you many different outfits.

4. Keep Your Colour Palette Simple

I love monochrome outfits because they are one of the easiest ways to look put together without spending too much time thinking about what to wear.

And monochrome doesn’t necessarily mean wearing exactly the same colour from head to toe.

Denim sets are a great example. Different shades of denim still work beautifully together, especially with something simple like a white T-shirt and trainers. I also love all-black outfits when I don’t feel like planning what to wear.

Keeping the colour palette simple removes so much of the headache from getting dressed — and somehow, the simplest combinations often look the most polished.

5. Use Accessories, But Don’t Overdo Them

I love accessories, and this is something I learnt from my mum very early on. She always taught me to never leave the house without earrings — and I still follow that rule today! I actually have a pair of earrings that I have owned since I was three years old.

I always feel like an outfit looks a little “naked” without accessories, but I don’t like to overdo them either.

On an ordinary day, I normally wear my gold necklace, earrings and perhaps a watch. If I add something more noticeable, I usually remove something else.

In this holiday outfit, for example, I added a hat and sunglasses to very simple clothes. I didn’t really need anything else.

For me, the easiest rule is: add enough to make your outfit feel finished, but know when to stop.

Keep it simple and classy!

6. Take Care of Your Clothes

For me, this might actually be the most important point of all.

You can have the most expensive designer clothes and shoes, but if they are stained, badly creased or simply look dirty, it can ruin the entire outfit.

I always try to think about this before getting dressed. If I know something will need ironing or steaming, I plan a little extra time rather than discovering it five minutes before I need to leave! 😀

This yellow dress is a perfect example. I absolutely love it for holidays and beautiful vacation pictures, but because of the fabric and all those pleats, I know it needs to be properly pressed. Otherwise, it simply won’t look as good.

The same applies to shoes, bags and even basic T-shirts. Taking care of what you already own can make a much bigger difference than buying something new.

7. Buy Less, But Choose Better

It is honestly so much easier for me to plan my outfits these days because I simply don’t have that many clothes anymore.

My wardrobe mostly consists of pieces that I actually wear, and I try to choose clothes that work with several things I already own.

Having fewer clothes might sound like it would give you fewer options, but for me, it has actually done the opposite. I know what I own, I know what works together and getting dressed takes much less time.

This is something I have learnt while creating a more intentional wardrobe, and it is also at the heart of How to Look Elegant Without Spending a Fortune.

You can wear the simplest outfit and still look great in it.

Looking Expensive Isn’t About Spending More

I think the biggest change in my own wardrobe came when I stopped thinking that I constantly needed something new.

Good fabric, clean and well-maintained clothes, simple colours, a few accessories and pieces that actually fit your lifestyle can make even the most basic outfit look polished.

And perhaps most importantly, you don’t need to spend a fortune to achieve it. My €6 wool jumper is probably the best example! 😀

I would much rather have a smaller wardrobe full of things I genuinely enjoy wearing than lots of clothes that looked exciting in the shop but never quite work once I bring them home.

If you need some inspiration for putting the pieces you already own together, you can also read 7 Simple Outfit Formulas I Wear Again and Again and How I Make Simple Outfits Look More Interesting.