One of the mistakes people make when they want to look expensive is doing the most. But a big secret the rich wouldn’t tell you is that the key to class is silent wealth. You’d probably not see a wealthy housewife donned head to toe in a Fendi monogrammed dress, but you’d swear her sweater is as soft as a baby’s butt and that that silk looks like it was spun by the hand of God. Side note, it’s cashmere.
The biggest thing to know when trying to achieve the classy/expensive look is that less is more. If you’re like me and you love to make a statement with your fashion choices, then you can do less is more with a little bit of oomph.
Because it’s the holidays, you’re going to have a lot of events to attend. Brunch with friends you haven’t seen in a while, unexpected run-ins with exes, family dinners and the all too frequent holiday parties. At any given time you want to make sure you look your best, and if what you’re going for is expensive and classy, then read on for all the tips on how to achieve that look.
Make Sure Your Hair Is Always Done
Wigs are dead. Someone needed to say it. It’s 2022.90 and if you’re still declining Facetime calls just because you need some time to fix up your wig, then you have no business reading this article. I am of the firm belief that we are at the age where we need to look presentable even in our homes. This holiday, ditch the wig for a sew in, or better still, get braids (not cornrows since those wear out quickly). Your face is the first thing people see when they look at you and you want to be presentable at all times. If you’re super attached to your wigs then, try leaving out your hair to help it blend naturally. Forget baby hairs, we can see the lace sis.
Moisturize
Nothing screams poverty louder than ashy legs. And I swear, I have dry skin so I am very guilty of this too. This is exactly why I swear by @hayetrida’s moisture gang recipe. It’s ⅔ parts of aveeno eczema cream with ½ parts Johnson baby oil. If you’re in a country where you don’t have access to these products, then try mixing ½ parts of your favorite lotion with ¼ part vaseline and ¼ part baby oil.
Wear Monochrome
Wearing monochromatic outfits is an easy way to get a classy look. One of my favorite things is doing that in varying shades e.g. a sage green top over a navy green bottom or a royal blue top over a sky blue bottom. The lighter color doesn’t always have to go on top. Feel free to mix things up but, whatever you do, please don’t do jean on jean, that’s so 2010.
Test Out Neutrals
Black, Rust, Tan are my favorite neutrals but if you want to scream rich aunty at every outing try cream on cream or cream on ivory. There’s something about that color, and pairing it as a monochromatic look, that screams BOY I HAVE ALL THE MONEY. It’s giving a rich bitch and we are completely here for it.
Accessorize With Sense
One of the faux pas I see people make with jewelry is doing the most all over the place. If you’re gonna go bold on your neck go easy on the ears and vice versa. You can definitely wear bold earrings and a bold bangle to match because your eyes and your hands are on different eye levels. Just make sure you balance it out with simple earrings. (And if you’re gonna do bold earrings and bold bangles then wear a simple necklace)
Pay attention to the quality of jewelry you’re wearing. A single tone of either gold, silver or brass is usually the way to go. Most multi-colored jewelries tend to look tacky when done wrong.
If you have a very bold outfit on, then I’ll suggest using a simple jewelry all through or if you have a simple outfit then you can make it pop with a bold belt or a bold bag. It’s all about balance, but whatever you do make sure you don’t leave the house without a purse. It brings the entire look together. Also, classy babes don’t stuff their pockets with keys, phones and what not.
Choose Clean But Comfortable Shoes
You know that trend where you wear high heels out then take them off at the party because you can barely walk. That’s tacky AF. No judgment, I am definitely a big offender, but I only do that at events where I don’t give 2 cents. If your goal is to look classy and expensive, you want to be put together and being put together does not involve ditching your shoes for slippers. It also doesn’t include you looking uncomfortable. Think about how much walking you’ll need to do and choose shoes that fit both the occasion and outfit. You can go for block heels, lower kitten heels, flats or sneakers. Yes, you can still look classy in sneakers just make sure they are clean.
Don’t Overdo The Makeup.
The point of makeup is to enhance your natural beauty, not make yourself look like a different person. Part of the entire persona of being classy comes from your confidence and if no one has told you today, you’re a beautiful babe, you just need to believe it. I personally like to do simple looks and tie them up with a nude lipstick. So that’s subtle eyeshadow, eyeliner, brows, foundation, concealer and a nude lip(or lipgloss). If it is a more formal event or party though I might substitute the nude lip for a red one.
Be Intentional With Your Choice to Show Skin
There’s nothing wrong with showing skin, but there’s a thin line between doing this in a classy vs a trashy way. You want to look party sexy, not strip club sexy. If you’re going to reveal a lot of boobs, then cover up more legs. If you intend to show off more legs, then cover up more boobs. If you haven’t already noticed the recurring theme here is balance.
Make Sure You Smell Nice
If you have a perfume you absolutely love, this would be the best time to drip and drown in it to complete your look. If you don’t have a scent of choice, that’s completely fine. Just make sure your clothes smell clean (don’t re-wear them) and for God’s sake make sure you’re using deodorant. We all have a smell but there’s nothing classy about having an outsider smell us. If your perfume is very heavy and choking then spray only a little bit.
Smile
The perfect accessory is a smile, there was never a truer saying. If you’ve done everything on this list, DAMN GIRL YOU LOOK AMAZING. But, you also want to look approachable and not like a meanie. Smile at strangers that make eye contact with you and please take pictures, girl! Then tag us on instagram (@girlilydotcom)