Look Fancy Without Spending a Fortune

Forget what other people preach: looking fancy on a budget isn’t as simple as collecting convincing costume jewelry or buying one really expensive classic piece and wearing it all the time. Pulling off a polished look—everywhere, not just as parties—is a nuanced, tricky challenge. But to prod your friends and family into wondering whose trust fund you inherited or how steep your last promotion pay raise was, we’d try these sneaky tips:

Geranium flower pointed courts

Instead of spending $100 on lackluster, simple black pumps, buy overly-complicated ones like these. With a metal cap toe and floral applique design, they seem like the spoils of someone who collects ridiculously elaborate, kitschy designer pairs like Prada's flame heels and Miu Miu's glitter sandals.

Geranium flower pointed courts, $110, topshop.com

©Lucky

1 of 7 Courtesy of Topshop.com

Printed silk scarf

Tying a silk scarf to a top handle bag gives any daytime look an arrogant, preppy affectation. Team this bright Hermès orange one with some cat-eye sunglasses, and even the most drab jeans and t-shirt combo could look very Olivia Palermo-eqsue.

Printed silk scarf, $48, Lauren by Ralph Lauren, lordandtaylor.com

2 of 7 Courtesy of Lordandtaylor.com

Strappy pink peplum dress

Choose a cocktail dress in a graphic, digitized print or a staunch peplum silhouette—or both. Not only do those two features hide tailoring defects, they also smack of higher-end designers like Mary Katrantzou or Peter Pilotto.

Strappy pink peplum dress, $320, topshop.com

3 of 7 Courtesy of Topshop.com

Cafe capri in pop art polka dot

Swap weekend jeans for a pair of proper trousers. The cotton versions are no more fuss than denim (i.e., they're machine washable too) but they look so much more polished. (And these cost less than the last pair of jeans I bought. Eesh.)

Cafe capri in pop art polka dot, $118, jcrew.com

4 of 7 Courtesy of Jcrew.com

Minaudiere

Unlike slouchy leather envelopes and scuffed satin clutches, a metal minaudiere never shows signs of wear, so it'll look just as great eight years down the road as it does now. (The more shrunken, the better: it'll let people know you stash the rest of your valuables with your driver.) Minaudiere, $135, Whiting and Davis, shopbop.com

5 of 7 Courtesy of Shopbop.com

"Waverly" dress

If striking shapes or busy prints aren't your thing, elevate an affordable basic dress by choosing one with a slightly off-kilter silhouette. Like something Rick Owens or Margiela, this one feels a little subversive—but it won't cost more than your rent.

"Waverly" dress, $146, Ina, shopbop.com

6 of 7 Courtesy of Shopbop.com

More on Luckymag.com:

Looking for the next big beauty innovation? We put together a full list of the hottest high-tech beauty items on the market, ranging from acne-fighting lights to illuminating teeth whiteners. Click through the gallery to see our roundup of must-have products for any tech-savvy beauty buff.

We speak to three readers who can inspire you to make the world your own. Their secret: It's less about the destination than it is about taking pleasure in every moment of your journey.

There’s no easier fashion foundation than a great pair of jeans. Find some you love, and you’ll wear them over and over—winter and summer, year after year, with absolutely everything. But as tried-and-true as your most perennial pair may be, there’s always room in your closet for more. Colored, printed and textured denim is here to stay, and it’s time to put candy-hued, bold-printed, and wax-coated styles in heavy rotation along with all your light- and dark-wash favorites. Just in time for jeans season, check out 50 pairs we love.