High/low is one of the biggest buzzwords in the fashion world, but if you don’t know what it means, it’s definitely something to learn about.
High/low fashion means you’re combining expensive high-end items, with less expensive low-end items for a look that’s cohesive, stylish and much more budget friendly than if you were to just purchase designer items. Celebrities are known for their knack at creating great high/low looks. Kate Middleton is one of the biggest celebrities (and members of the Royal Family), who utilizes this fashion technique. She’ll regularly pair couture designer items with pieces from stores like Zara and H&M, and the finished look is flawless.
Here are our top tips for effortless high/low fashion:
- When you’re looking for inexpensive items, avoid prints, particularly very distinctive prints. Stores like H&M often have their own signature prints, so if you’re going to add these items to your wardrobe it can be a dead giveaway you’ve purchased a less expensive items. It’s generally best to choose items in neutral colors that aren’t quite as distinctive if you want to fool people into thinking they’re more expensive.
- If you’re going to splurge on anything in your wardrobe, do it on accessories—particularly your bag and shoes. Bags and shoes tend to stay in style for years or even decades, and if you pair designer bags and shoes with less expensive pieces in your wardrobe, the look is going to be instantly elevated.
- Don’t try to find replicas of high-end items. If you’re going to do designer, make the jump and really do it. If not, wearing fakes or knock-offs is one of the fastest ways to make your wardrobe look inexpensive and just plain tacky.
- Learn what makes high-end fashion different from low-end items, and then look for those features in less expensive pieces. For example, fit, detailing and fabric are all characteristics that are important in expensive items, and if you do some digging, you can find similarities between expensive and inexpensive items.
- Don’t buy expensive items when you don’t have to. You can find loads of basic tees and tanks that are expensive, but what’s the point of buying these? Instead, you can go to a store like Old Navy or even Wal-Mart and pick up lots of basic tees and tanks for just a few dollars, and then save your money for things like designer jackets or jeans that are going to last a lifetime.
- Be prepared when you go shopping. Fashion magazines often do features on finding inexpensive items that are similar to designer items, and you can do this yourself. Take the time to browse through high-end fashion magazines like Vogue, and find items and looks you like. You can then use this as a guide when you go shopping to find less expensive items that are dead ringers for what you love.
- Don’t be afraid to shop vintage and thrift stores. You can find some great treasures, and a lot of older items tend to be made with quality in mind, when compared to modern clothing items.