5 tricks to make your high street buys look designer

While it’s a real treat to shell out on expensive pieces by Vetements, Balenciaga and co, not all of us can afford top-to-toe designer wardrobes. But this is far from being a problem: the key to true modern style is to mix and match your designer and high street items.

Everyone does it, including the It Girl: it’s what fashion girls are all about, especially if you know how to make designer pieces look high fashion. So, here are 5 style tricks to dress high street but look high fashion. Just put them into practice to make the cheaper outfits look expensive!

Can you guess the designer vs. non-designer pieces in this look? No? All the more reason to follow our tips! (Answers: Jeans: Balenciaga, Bag: Mango, Shoes: Zara)

Image: Getty

1. Fitting is important
Any cheap garment will immediately appear much more expensive if you find the perfect fit. So make sure you always buy low cost clothes in your size, or have some small alternations made by a tailor .

2. Invest in one designer piece

A surefire method to make your dress look more expensive? Combine it with one iconic designer piece like an It Bag. The method is proven to work a treat by most of the #OOTDs that populate Instagram.

3. Avoid bright colours

Focus on high street dresses in neutral colors : black, white, beige, denim. A refined colour palette like this is immediately more elegant.

4. Change the buttons

They look like minor details, but buttons are very important. On high street items like blazers and coats these can be very poor quality, so just replace them to make that blazer look straight out of the Armani boutique instead of the shelves of Mango.

5. Never forget your sunglasses

Have you ever wondered why all It girls sport sunglasses even if it’s overcast and cloudy? Simple: these accessories have the power to make the look up-to-date in a snap. Dark or metallic lenses, jewelled frames or extravagant shapes give an air of mystery thats serves to elevate an outfit to designer status.