Does anyone else feel like life is being written by a 4th grader lately? “…And then there was this virus, and everyone was scared. And then the world ran out of toilet paper. Yeah, then there was no school for a month and you couldn’t get chicken nuggets anymore! And then it snowed!”

When the world outside seemingly goes crazy, and many of us are stuck inside either trying not to worry or trying not to go stir crazy, fashion can be a great distraction. I know looking at editorials and social feeds for all of the things I can’t afford is a super-satisfying and frustrating indulgence when I’m trying entertain myself. Its pretty natural to find something that makes your eyeballs pop out, and immediately really want to have that piece or wear that look. Sadly, there are few of us who have the buying power to go out and grab a $4k outfit just because you’re coveting it in that post you saw.

There is a specific formula that the pros use in addition to having the money to buy amazing high-end pieces.

I am both stubborn and creative, which means I don’t let my lack of thousands of dollars earmarked for fashion deter me from getting “the look”. Over years of doing this with varying degrees of success, I have tapped into the specific formula that the pros use in addition to having the money to buy amazing high-end pieces. The good news for the rest of us is that using that same formula will help you create a high-end style even without the designer duds.

You Don’t Need $$$$ To Have Haute Style

Its important, if you aim to recreate the looks of your favorite designers, editors, and celebrities, that you not only understand what works for your body, but that you’re willing to experiment with styling tricks until the look works for you. The least haute thing you can possibly do is knock off someone’s outfit when it really doesn’t look good on you. You need an awareness of what works for you, and the ability to adapt a look to your wardrobe and body shape. Keep that in mind as I drop some knowledge on you that will level up your style.

1 Size up. Designer clothes are cut in fits that flatter. High street or fast fashion is not. Ergo, get over the size label and size up in your mass-market clothes by at least one or two sizes. If you want a high-end look, you’re going to have to tuck and taper and accessorize your way to it using pieces that mimic their high-dollar counterparts.

Oh, you’re still obsessing over the number on that size tag?? Ok, first of all, cut it out. Second, go do this for me: Take to the interwebs. I challenge you to find one photo of a fashion editor or haute influencer wearing an outfit that’s plastered to their body. No, ma’am. A high end look is built upon a flattering fit, and to fake your way to it you will either have to go buy the designer piece or you’ll have to build the foundation of your style by wearing something that’s too big for you and making it fit you in the ways that work best.

While you’re at it, make sure you have the right accessories to alter the shapes of your oversize pieces so you get the fit you want. Belts, ties, pins, and clips all come in handy to alter the fit or shape of a piece that doesn’t look quite right without a little help.

2 Proportions, proportions, proportions. This is actually an add-on to the first trick: You have to wear what flatters your body best, as well as what makes the outfit itself interesting. The way to do that is by having an iron grip on the proportions of the pieces and how they interact with each other.

To utilize proportions like a high end stylist, you must follow 3 rules:

1. Visually highlight your smallest body part. For most of us, this is our natural waist (at or above your belly button). Forget about hip hugging shapes unless your hips are as slim as a teenage boy’s. You can layer over a waist-highlighting piece, so long as you can see the belt or waistband or figure skimming dress beneath it. Why? Because unless you’re built like a 6 foot size 2 fashion model, its going to be very difficult to layer without adding bulk, and ensuring you can see your body shape helps counteract that.
2. Vary the lengths. Avoid having too many pieces with the same hemline, sleeve-length, or shoulder shape. Some of the most interesting layering looks involve thinking out of the box, putting a cropped jacket over a long trench, or a blazer over an uber-feminine dress.
3. Vary the shapes. Don’t make the mistake of layering multiple tailored pieces, or multiple oversized pieces, or too many tight-fitting pieces in one outfit. If you are being a good student and sizing up, this is the place to use accessories and creative use of ties and tucks to create different shapes for each layer.

3 Texture. This may just be the most important rule to follow for haute look creation. Whether you are wearing pieces from a high-end designer or a bargain basement $1 bin, focusing on the textiles and textures is the easiest way to look either flimsy and cheap or ultra luxe. Choose pieces that have some substance to them, whether you are wearing velvet or chiffon. High-end fabrics have more weight and a smoother handfeel than their economical counterparts. This means if you go with the knock-off version from a fast fashion store, the fabric is usually a very inexpensive and thin synthetic, making it instantly recognizable as a knockoff version of the real thing.

Texture is the visual spice of your outfit, which also means you should blend different textures together in order to have a finished look that is visually pleasing. You wouldn’t want to eat a meal with only one flavor any more than you want to wear an outfit that has no variety.

4 Get shopping savvy. Even fashion editors know that you only need one really amazing high end piece to make your entire look seem as if its straight off the runway. Find a couple of investment-worthy pieces and work them into an outfit that is otherwise basic and you’ll be well on your way to fashion icon status.

Even better than splurging: go find a high-end designer piece that’s already been loved a little bit by someone else. You’ll be more unique than if you buy what’s currently in stores, and you’ll save that cash for those shoes you want.

5 Don’t Overdo It. This one is important. There is an elegance in a minimalistic approach to luxury. Let your taste level speak for itself, rather than trying to make your outfit shout about it. You’ll always be more sartorially successful if you follow Coco Chanel’s #1 rule: before you leave the house, take something off.

Let me know what you’re coveting right now, and how you plan to pull it off with your own wardrobe. Maybe I can help.

XOXO,