Look, all those beautifully dressed women you see in all those inspiration posts are nice, but give me a clothing budget with several zeros and I will definitely get quite far. Those who have to rely on Zara's and H&M's need to be a bit smarter with their clothing budget. They don't say for nothing, “if you're not rich, you have to be smart.” Or something like that. Anyway, today in the Explorer I give tips & tricks on how to adjust even the most budget-friendly outfit so that it looks like a look that made your credit card start smoking. Here we go.
1. Hire a good tailor.
The reason clothing from the big retail chains doesn't look expensive is partly due to the fabric, but largely because the fit is never really perfect. If you have a good tailor on speed dial to alter that dress for €19.95 for the same amount, you suddenly have a piece that looks like ten times the alteration costs plus the purchase costs. We are fans of Bubble & Stitch, who even knows how to handle fortune costing Gucci skirts.
2. Take good care of your shoes
Nothing looks more unkempt than a worn-out pair of sneakers under an otherwise pretty decent look. I swear by statement shoes + jeans + something simple on top. A pair of Zara jeans, a blouse from H&M, and pumps from L.K. Bennett – nothing more to do. But woe betide you if you don't maintain those heels properly, nothing NOTHING is worse than worn-out heels that make such a cheap sound.
3. When in doubt, buy black
A tip I rarely take to heart myself (I have a cat, wearing black and having a cat just doesn't go together) but which really seems to work. Just look at all those chic fashion magazine girls, all in black. Black is timeless, slimming, and goes with everything.
I always feel on top of the world with my Chloé Paraty on my arm
4. Invest in a really good bag
Just like with shoes, a good bag is actually indispensable. It doesn't have to be a Hermès of €15,000 right away, a Marc Jacobs of €400, has (almost) the same effect. With a good bag on your arm, you can't go wrong. I always feel on top of the world with my Chloé Paraty on my arm and a good pair of heels from L.K. Bennett, Giuseppe Zanotti, or my Isabel Marant boots on my feet. It costs something, but you enjoy it every day and every outfit gets better from it.
5. Invest in a really good coat
Also a good investment, a coat. A coat is a piece of clothing that you wear every day in cold times and is the first thing people see about you, so why not make a good investment in it? Jet once bought an incredibly beautiful (black!) coat from Gucci, a considerable deep investment but that thing is still gorgeous, and will remain so for the next ten years.
6. Store your clothes neatly
And don't just throw everything in a corner on the floor. Nice sweaters made of subtle fabrics should be folded, don't hang them on hangers because they will stretch. Make sure your closet is aired out regularly, use blocks against moths, and clean everything thoroughly every few months. Your clothes will look better for longer and that instantly contributes to the million dollar effect.
8. Make sure your hair looks good
Party? And no budget to pull an Elie Saab or Valentino out of the closet? No problem. A dress from any budget chain is a great idea as long as you go to the hairdresser for a good blowout. Trust me, if your hair looks good, you look like a movie star from head to toe. For 40 euros give or take you're done and that's a lot cheaper than a dress from Elie Saab.
