Whether you’re a lover of understated quiet luxury, or the more-is-more mob wife look is your thing, there’s one thing we can all agree on: the secret to looking wealthy is nailing your basics.
Forget flashy logos and statement designs, investing in good quality pieces that can be styled up in a number of different ways is an easy way to ensure your outfit always looks expensive.
While as as stylist, I love luxury fashion (nothing gets me quite so excited as seeing an iconic runway look out in the real world), it’s safe to say high fashion prices are rarely attainable. With brand’s selling vest tops for over £1,000 (we’re looking at you, The Row) and socks for close to £500 (hello, Miu Miu) it’s become impossible to keep up.
Thankfully, it’s still possible to dress like a millionaire, even if your bank account doesn’t match. As long as you know where to look – and what to look out for – you can curate an expensive-looking wardrobe on a high street budget.
So, where to start? I’d recommend curating a capsule wardrobe of luxe-looking basics that you can then mix in with other pieces. If there’s a designer piece you’re obsessed with, try using that as inspiration for your Google search terms. The overall effect will be sleek and put together, as well as effortlessly chic.
While the high street is currently awash with great designer dupes, it can be hard to work through all the noise and separate the genuinely decent pieces from the junk. To help make things easier, I’ve compiled a list of my favourite dupes available right now that are guaranteed to make you look wealthy.
The Scarf Coat
A coat is the cornerstone of any winter wardrobe, and will be the main point of focus on almost all of your outfits this season.
A scarf coat is one of this season’s biggest trends and has the added bonus of being genuinely warm thanks to the wrap-neck design. This Helsa coat spotted on super-influencer Leonie Hanne is one of this season’s most popular designs. At almost £1,000 it’s on the pricey end of the spectrum.
Instead, I will be reaching for this dreamy River Island dupe. Sharing the same neutral colourway and elegant longline silhouette as the Helsa design, its almost impossible to tell them apart.
River Island scarf coat, £149
The bag
There are certain materials that always look luxe, and a soft suede is one of them. It instantly elevates any simple piece.
Take this cult Elleme bag, for example. The minimalist tote shape is simple but, paired with the chocolate brown suede, it screams quiet luxury.
As with most suede pieces the designer buy is out of my budget (especially this close to Christmas!) but I found this Asos dupe which is just as slouchy and chic — but at a fraction of the cost.
Asos suede tote bag, £80
The loafers
A classic loafer is a wardrobe essential. They match with almost everything and can be dressed up or down to suit just about any dress code.
Perhaps the most sought-after style for any fashion insider, these Prada loafers are instantly recognisable thanks to their triangular logo across the front. The only problem? They’re almost £1,000!
Finding a good dupe for these classic loafers is a little tricky. After all, faux leather can look cheap and quickly scuffs. I’d also recommend staying away from anything too shiny, as a matte finish always looks more expensive.
For something just as luxe but budget-friendly, I suggest trying these Mango loafers. I love the metal detail across the tongue, which looks almost identical to the Prada pair’s hardware.
Mango leather loafers, £79.99
A good quality blazer has the ability to smarten up any outfit. So, if you’re looking to add a touch of luxury to your everyday wardrobe, I’d recommend investing in a good quality, tailored style in a neutral colourway.
This Joseph blazer ticks all the right boxes: it has wide lapels, strong shoulders, and a luxe double breasted design. All of which combines to make it look very expensive. Which, at £700, it is!
Luckily, there are loads of great dupes on the high street right now. Try looking for pieces with padded shoulders in a thick wool material to avoid it looking cheap. My top pick would be this affordable lookalike from H&M.
H&M recycled wool blazer. £54.99
The kitten heel
Want to look expensive? Add a kitten heel! It’s this season’s hottest shoe style and is an instant way to make you look put together. You’ll also get loads of wear out of them as they can be worn with everything from casual jeans to an evening gown.
The Manolo Blahnik Maysale mules are by far the most iconic versions of this style. Plus, with the oversized buckle on the front, they are instantly recognisable to those in the know.
While a black shoe is a great neutral, I think Abisola Omole‘s red picks are also extremely versatile. Red is, after all, this season’s hottest hue and the deep shade adds a luxe twist to the shoe.
Want to try the trend for less? These Amazon dupes are a fraction of the price and even have the buckle detail. I’m sold!
Amazon buckled mules cost £57.26
