Welcome back to the Gentleman's Gazette.
In today's video, we'll teach you how to look like a million bucks without breaking the bank.
♪ Gentleman's Gazette Theme Song ♪
When it comes to our wardrobes, I'm sure we'd all love a little extra cash to add a little
extra zing to our looks. However, it doesn't take a pile of money to look expensive when you know
the secrets to looking expensive that we'll teach you today. Soon, you'll be putting on the Ritz.
["Puttin' On the Ritz" by Fred Astaire] ♪ Spending every dime ♪
♪ For a wonderful time ♪
On Rodeo Drive and Beverly Hills, looking expensive might be wearing
a track suit that's covered in name brand logos. While in London's financial district,
it might look more like a dark two-piece suit paired with a colorful tie and flashy shoes.
As we are a classic style channel, our definition of looking expensive harkens
back to bespoke garments made from luxury materials like those worn by our style icons
in the real world. Why do we specify "in the real world"? When scrolling through social media,
you often see menswear items that are highlighted and showcased in a way that is much bigger and
bolder than they actually are. Set against a glittering nightclub scene, these outfits look
hip and dynamic. But, at the end of the day, it's just a gray hoodie and a black T-shirt,
no matter how much they might actually cost. So, for us, looking expensive refers to
classically-styled clothing that emanates value and worth while still maintaining a classic look.
Why would you want to look expensive? As you know, we often don't recommend flashy or showy clothes
here at the Gentleman's Gazette, and we would never want you to use your clothes
to show off or to belittle others.
[scene from "Arrested Development"] Gob: "Okay, the guy in the $4,000 suit is"
Gob: "holding the elevator for the guy who doesn't make that in three months. Come on!"
There may be certain occasions where you want your look to exude
classic style and still maintain a look of expense. For instance,
if you're meeting a potential client in a professional setting, an air of financial excess
can make you appear more reputable. Now, this works for most financial meetings in general.
Like when Raphael secured a larger line of credit after meeting an executive from his
bank on a flight. He was impressed by the high standard of dress Raphael is wearing
on a plane. And fewer things give you more confidence than dressing like a million bucks
to feel like a million bucks. So, you'll be at your peak when dining at a fancy restaurant,
getting drinks at an exclusive bar, or visiting a private club. But, really,
do you need an excuse to dress up and look great for your enjoyment? We certainly think not. So,
let's get started with our nine tips to help your outfits look more expensive.
Number one: perfect fits. We'll take our first tip from the lyrics of the Irving
Berlin song that we played earlier. First made perfect by Fred Astaire,
perfect fits. It doesn't matter if you have a cashmere suit with silk lining and gold buttons.
If the fit is off, it just won't look good. Conversely,
a well-tailored suit will give the impression that the garment was made expressly for you,
and looking bespoke is rarely seen as cheap. But, you don't always need to go custom. You
might have seen others buy inexpensive suits and then have them altered. Just
look at these before and after results from Don at Splurge Frugal. Oftentimes,
alterations are not all that expensive, especially if you're able to save money on the original
garment. And even basic alterations will massively improve the look of your garments, making them
appear more expensive as a result. Here, you can learn our seven top tips for tailoring to ensure
tip top tailoring. Wow! That's a mouthful. Number two: care for your clothes. Whether your clothes
actually cost a lot of money or you just want them to look like they did, all of your grammar
should be regularly cleaned, neatly pressed, and attentively cared for. Not only will this extend
the life of your clothing, it makes the clothes themselves actually look better as well as making
them look more expensive. Need some help getting started? Our playlist on clothing maintenance has
over two dozen videos that cover everything in detail from sewing buttons to ironing suits and
removing stains to long-term storage. So, whatever your wardrobe needs to look well-maintained, we've
got you covered. Naturally, you don't want your clothes to look more put together than you do. So,
don't neglect your own appearance. You won't
need a 24-karat gold facial to make your hygiene routine look expensive.
Just follow the basics of personal grooming and it'll be both so fresh and so clean.
Number three: ditch the labels. Brand names might be a big part of looking expensive in contemporary
styling, but did you know that draping yourself on labels can actually have the opposite effect?
Essentially, trying to prove that your outfit is expensive by making the branding extremely obvious
usually backfires. Over reliance on labels can make it very obvious to the casual viewer
that you're trying to look expensive with the implication that the outfit
isn't actually that expensive. While there's nothing inherently wrong with
wearing tasteful designer goods, they work best in moderation. As an example,
let's consider this outfit - modeled very tastefully, if I do say so myself. The
only explicitly branded feature is my navy Ralph Lauren sweater with contrast red logo.
Compare this to a monogrammed Fendi sweater. That sweater costs almost a thousand dollars,
but my Ralph Lauren looks more expensive
and costs a lot less than that. Why does it look more expensive?
It's not over-the-top. It doesn't appear to be compensating for anything with excessive
branding and more closely resembles classic and timeless style elements;
with quality materials, simple lines,
and subtle charm. Need help separating genuine quality from brand hype? That's what our
"Is It Worth It?" series is all about. Number four:
curate combinations. Contrary to what you might assume,
you don't need a massive walk-in closet the size of Ace Rothstein's in "Casino" to have a wardrobe
that looks expensive. But, you should endeavor to have a sizeable selection of staples. This will
allow you to rotate your selection and employ different articles into different combinations,
so it doesn't look like you're wearing the same thing over and over again.
By emphasizing and investing in quality staples, you can make a relatively modest
well-curated wardrobe look like the sartorial selection of the most luxurious clotheshorse.
Our video on capsule wardrobes introduces the basics on how to build ensembles in
this way. This especially applies to accessories - luxurious jewelry, ties,
socks, and pocket squares are versatile enough to be worn with multiple outfits,
and will make each one appear more expensive and elegant. Need help determining what
should make the cut? We have suggestions for essentials here. But we can give you a big hint
right now with our next tip. Number five: wear white shirts. The crisp elegant look of a fine
white shirt is the perfect pop to elevate any look. Why? White matches any color and
creates dazzling contrast that makes other colors appear more vibrant and lustrous.
And therefore, more expensive. Culturally, white is also a color associated with wealth
because pure white is expensive to dye and more expensive to keep clean.
Check out our video on white clothing in general to learn more about this connotation.
So, between its effect and other colors and its social associations, a beautiful white shirt can
make any look look more expensive - whether it's a more casual sweater outfit or a more formal
suit ensemble. There's a reason that white shirts are the go-to for the most formal, most expensive
Black and White Tie dress codes, and why they are standard issue for inductees in to the Kingsman.
Number six: find fabulous fabrics. When value is dictated by quality
and not brands, you'll find yourself with considerably more financial wiggle room
to then spend on high-quality pieces. When it comes to sourcing quality,
garments that were quality from the ground up are a great place to start. That is to say,
seek out menswear articles that are made from quality materials. For clothing,
this often means sourcing natural fabrics. Not only do natural fibers like cotton, linen, wool,
silk, and cashmere have numerous innate qualities that set them apart from synthetics,
their naturally refined appearance marks them as being more valuable
and expensive. [scene from "Rush Hour 2"] Carter: "I'm gonna need black, 42 long."
Carter: "And nothing touches this body but pure silk."
Trust us, a discerning eye will always be able to tell the difference between pique cotton
and polyester or synthetic Shantung silk from the
real thing. In a similar vein,
you should also seek out well-made fabrics woven from these materials.
Weaves can greatly impact the particular qualities of a fabric as illustrated in our dress
shirt guide. When it comes to looking expensive, you can easily achieve this with heavier fabrics.
They will appear more plush and decadent and have a better drape - highlighting your silhouette well
without appearing constricting or baggy. You know all those gorgeous fashion illustrations
of impeccably dressed gentlemen with well-draped suits? The heavier weight and historic fabric is a
major factor in why they look so good. We'll also note that items made from high-quality materials
often have craftsmanship to match. While it does occasionally happen, few craftsmen who care to
source expensive raw materials will risk ruining those materials with inferior production methods.
Granted, we know that, most of the time, natural, high-quality fabrics are gonna cost more than
cheaper, synthetic varieties. But, by focusing what money you do have on versatile pieces,
you can make your limited funds go further. Number seven: be functionally formal.
It's a cliché that traditionally wealthy people overdress for all occasions,
including even, it would seem, sleeping.
But, taking the time to appear more formal in your day-to-day life will give the impression that
you are wealthier. Formal clothes are socially coded as being nicer and a better quality than
casual clothes. For most people, this $1,500 suit ensemble appears more expensive than the casual
outfit from Gucci; even though the Gucci outfit costs over twice as much. Does this mean that
you should wear a suit of every hour of every day? No. But, in order to look more expensive, consider
dressing more formally than those around you. Perhaps one step up the dress code hierarchy.
For instance, at a social lunch date, wear business casual with a sport coat
and odd trousers instead of just a polo. Dressing this way will help you stand out
in a positive way and appear wealthy and successful like a TV executive.
[scene from "Seinfeld"] Jerry: "They're just TV executives."
George: "They're men with jobs, Jerry!" [laugh track]
George: "They wear suits and ties! They're married! They have secretaries!"
Number eight: craft complete outfits. One reason that more formal clothing
appears more expensive is because it is more structured and put together.
All the elements come together in a complete and unified whole - giving the impression of
a distinct matching set purchased together. Perhaps this fact explains why monochromatic
outfits often appear expensive-looking. They are obviously part of a whole. Although,
upon closer examination, the matchy-matchy ensemble
is often aesthetically unpleasing. Not that we'll say that to John Wick's face,
of course, and it's almost impossible for all of the colors to match entirely.
So, Mr. Bale, just because Batman wears black all the time,
doesn't mean that you have to. Rather than employing a monochromatic approach,
you should ensure that your entire outfit is coordinated;
employing complementary and contrasting colors, but also patterns,
textures, and fabrics. This means that ensuring that every aspect of your outfit -
from your shoes to your hat - actually looks like it belongs and contributes to the overall
look. This approach might tempt you to focus on minimalist outfits as it will
be easier to fit all the elements together. It's true, this cohesive approach is a great
way to make sure that simple and understated minimalist outfits appear more expensive. But,
it also works for maximalist outfits. Although, we don't want you to think that this means
cramming expensive accessories into your look simply to prove that you can afford them. It's
pretty easy to see through this ploy. Sorry, Raphael.
Instead, outfits with numerous elements need to be carefully crafted. This ensures
that there is a place for everything and everything is in its place. So,
let's take a look at Preston's outfit here. He's really piled on the gold accessories -
cufflinks, a lapel pin, a watch chain, and a collar bar.
But, rather than looking gaudy, the gold fits neatly into place with the off-white
shirt and orange and yellow pocket square. Both the dark grey suit and black shoes keep
the entire outfit grounded. The result: a maximalist outfit where every element has
a place to be and a role to play. Not only does this outfit look great, it also looks expensive
because every component works together to create a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.
Number nine: adopt a signature piece. Money can't buy confidence, but money can buy unique and
special items that make you feel more confident. A signature piece is often employed by wealthy
men of style to set them apart from others. Think of Gianni Agnelli and the luxury watches
he would wear over his shirts, Lino Ieluzzi and his iconic number 7 tie,
or Tom Ford and his signature black suits. Your signature piece can assume many forms. Maybe it's
one expensive item that you wear prominently like a ring or a pair of exotic leather shoes;
or a unique color choice like always featuring pink in your outfit;
or an unusual way of wearing an article like how you button your jacket or wear your bow tie. Even
if your signature piece isn't expensive itself, it'll put people in mind of the luxury show pieces
showcased by wealthy men and set you apart as a man of distinction and taste.
The signature piece will work best if it develops naturally and if it's significant for you. Don't
feel like you have to force yourself to have one. And if you do adopt one, recall that, by nature,
a signature piece will attract attention and bend some style rules. So, keep in mind that anything
too outlandish or trendy may not be in line with classic style.
[scene from "The Simpsons"] Grampa: "So, I tied an onion to my belt."
Of course, at the end of the day, only you know how much money you actually have
in your bank account. The confidence you use when interacting with others will be the defining line
of your look. We hope that the suggestions that we've given you today will help you
feel and exude that confidence as you build outfits that look like you had to spend a bundle,
but all you actually had to do was spend some time - time planning on ensembles,
whose worth and style far outweighs their worth and money. Here's how I
tried to achieve that with today's outfit. I'm wearing a navy cable knit Ralph Lauren
sweater with a blue and white striped dress shirt, khaki trousers, brown dress shoes,
and Fort Belvedere socks. Check out the Fort Belvedere shop here for socks like these.
♪ Gentleman's Gazette Theme Song ♪