I sometimes wonder what it would be like to wake up as Temi Otedola. Or Kylie Jenner. With racks and racks of Hermès bags and designer shoes. Then a mosquito sings rudely in my ears and wakes me up from my daydream. Haha! We have all been there.
Looking good is good business. It’s really the way you dress that you are addressed. And I used to think money limited the way I looked. Like, I could only look “rich rich” if I had a few extra zeros in my bank account. Or if my perfume costs more than other people’s rent money. Or if I stepped out of a Bentley just to buy groceries.
I have since learnt that I can look pretty expensive just by tweaking some things here and there. And paying attention to some extra details.
I’ll let you in on some of my secrets.
Always have manicured nails
Girl! You can’t look expensive if you keep your nails raw and unkempt. Even if you are not an acrylics girl, always try to make sure your nails are well manicured, clipped and clean. An extra tip will be to put some hand cream in your bag and keep those paws moisturized. It’ll make your palms soft to touch during a handshake. And it’ll make your fingers smell nice.
If you like acrylics, nude is the way to go. There’s nothing that screams classy and expensive like a well-groomed, ballerina cut, nude gel polish.
Go easy on the jewellery
There’s a reason why the Mother of pearls is considered jewellery royalty. It is not gaudy or huge. It is simple and beautiful. Stick to clean, classy accessories that are not chunky. A few statement pieces here and there are welcome. But overall, keep your look classy and easy on the eyes.
You can accessorize with glasses that fill your face as well as bracelets that are dainty and look sentimental. They just make you look extra rich.
Take care of your hair
Your hair is one of the first things that is noticed about you. Keep it clean and tidy. Keep your cornrows fresh underneath your wigs and your edges tamed and nice. These little details take your look to the next level.
Make sure you smell good
This does not mean splurging above your means. Look out for soft, floral, scents with hints of woody undertones to make you smell fresh all day long. There are a number of good perfume brands that you can put your money into without breaking the bank.
Wear pointy shoes
Pointy heels elongate your feet and make your posture and stance look way better than normal. Nude pointy heels look great for every occasion. Find shoes that do not hurt your feet so that you don’t have to switch them out. If you favour flats over heels, go for mile flats as well as other covered, pointy designs.
Hunt for entry-level designers and not designer dupe bags
Bags are a statement of their own. If someone is trying to assess exactly how “expensive” you look, they check out your bags. Try not to go for bags that carry fake designer labels and are obviously cheap looking. Look out for entry-level designers. For example, it is better to carry an authentic Aldo bag than a fake, cheap GUCCI bag.
Put your eye out for deals and discounts
To look rich, you do have to be disciplined and save up some money to invest in the real deal. Look into purchasing at least one designer piece every year. Or every few years as your pocket seems fit. Slowly but surely, your collection will grow.
The best ways to find these pieces at amazing prices is to look at vintage and consignment stores like TheRealReal.
Other tips will be to watch your posture, keep your makeup light, try a blue-toned, red lipstick, etcetera.
Lastly, be confident in yourself and you’ll look like a million bucks.