How to Look Luxe for Less
Buying clothing that looks and feels luxe does not have to be expensive!
Looking polished doesn’t have to mean spending more. In this episode, Natalie breaks down how to look luxe on a budget—from fit and fabric to finishing details—and why intention (not price) is what actually elevates your style.
Episode Notes & Resources:
Revisit episode 11 of Wear Who You Are: "What's the Deal with 'French Chic'?"
Visit BU Style'sWardrobe Care Heroes catalog for tools to keep you looking polished, no matter how long you've had an item
Join BU Style Circle to get more style resources, live Q&A sessions with Natalie, and more
Submit your style questions to be answered in a future Nat Chat
Read the full& Raw Episode transcript:
[00:00]
Hello friends, the podcast is back. I’m so excited to be here.
We took a little sabbatical. I needed to refine my voice, find joy in content again, and I think we’ve all been there, so that pause was really meaningful. And now we’re back with a slightly new format. We still have the same podcast, but with new goals. I want to give you information that’s bite-sized and actually applicable to you.
[00:45]
So we’re breaking things into Nat Chat episodes, short, under eight minutes, and we’ll still have guest episodes, but those will be more focused on Q&A. These Nat Chats are coming straight from your questions. I’m linking a form in the show notes where you can submit them, anonymously or with your name. If you’re getting dressed or shopping and think, “I wish I had an answer to this,” this is where you put it. I want this to feel like we’re having a conversation, like I’m sitting across from you answering the questions you actually have.
After doing a lot of keynotes and panels recently, I’ve realized there are a lot of questions, and not a lot of places to get real, specific answers. So that’s what we’re doing here. We’re back, I’m excited, let’s dive in.
[01:45]
This first question comes from Claire S. in Indiana. She asks, “I want to look luxe on a budget. How can I do that?” Such a good question, and one I get all the time, especially right now, with “quiet luxury” everywhere and prices feeling…high.
So first, let’s level-set. Luxury, or what I call “polish,” does not equal expensive. When people say they want to look “luxe” or “effortlessly chic,” they’re usually talking about the Polish style personality, if we’re using BU Style Six language. And it’s really about intentionality, how things fit, how you style them, how everything comes together.
[02:45]
Fit is a big one. Even if something is meant to be oversized, it should still look intentional. I had a pair of wide-leg pants that fit well in the waist, but were sloppy in the back, so I took them to my tailor and had that area shaped slightly. Still relaxed, still wide-leg, but intentional. That’s the goal. Tailoring a $40 piece can make it look like $400, so find a good tailor and use them.
[03:30]
Fabric is another piece of this. Pay attention to weight, drape, and content, because price does not always equal quality. There are brands, like Uniqlo, that use great natural fibers and are well made at more accessible price points, so always check. Along with that, think less logos, more clean lines. If you’re going for that luxe look, it’s less about branding and more about that “if you know, you know” energy. It’s about your style, not being a walking ad.
[04:30]
Color and texture also do a lot of heavy lifting. Cohesive or monochromatic palettes are your best friend, and then you layer in texture, maybe a chunky knit with a smoother pant, or denim with something softer. That’s what creates depth without needing more pieces. And then, finish your looks. This is where people miss it. Your accessories, your bag, your belt, your jewelry, those are the punctuation. That’s what makes an outfit feel complete, even when it’s simple.
[05:45]
And then take care of your clothes. Wrinkles are the fastest way to make something look not luxe. Steam your pieces, de-pill your sweaters, take care of your shoes. These small things make a big difference.
And finally, secondhand and rewearing. Vintage and consignment are great for finding quality pieces, and repeating your outfits is part of the look. Luxe style is not about wearing something new all the time, it’s about your clothes feeling like an extension of you. The more you wear something, the more it molds to your body and your life, and that’s what makes it feel effortless.
[07:00]
So Claire, I hope that was helpful. Thank you for the question, and I’ll see you in the next Nat Chat of Wear Who You Are.