Finding expensive-looking pieces on the high-street is my secret talent. No, really. I pride myself when someone asks “is that the Toteme jumper?” or, “that jacket looks so Saint Laurent,” when, in actual fact, my whole outfit probably cost me less than £150.
The thing is, as much as we all love brands like The Row, Khaite, etc etc, we don’t necessarily have the endless budgets that allow us to shop there all the time. First world problems, right? That doesn’t mean to say you can’t always look polished, though. If you strive to look as though money weren’t an issue, so to speak, then I’m here to prove that it absolutely is possible to do so on a budget.
I spend my Monday-Friday trawling the depths of the best online clothing stores as a fashion writer, so I know exactly what makes a high-street piece look 10x more premium than its retail price would have you believe. The secret? It’s all in the tailoring, fabric quality, and details.
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How do you find expensive looking items on the high-street?
My general rule of thumb is to look for items that feel luxurious. What’s the composition like? Does it contain a high percentage of cotton, wool, linen, cashmere or mohair? If yes, and it costs less than you expected it to, get it before it inevitably sells out. Does it hit you in all the right places? For example, do the seams, buttons or pattern/print line up, and does everything fall where it should? Yes? Buy it.
Obviously it goes without saying that just because something is “affordable”, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you need it. If you have similar items in your wardrobe already then put it back – no matter how good it is. Investing in something, be it high-street or designer, is still a loss to your savings if you aren’t going to wear it.
Need some help? I’ve sourced 15 of the best expensive-looking pieces on the high-street RN below, just in time for pay day. Some picks are certainly more affordable than others, but they’ve all met my criteria and then some. Happy frugal shopping, besties.
For more from GLAMOUR UK’s Senior Commerce Writer Georgia Trodd, follow her on Instagram @georgiatrodd.