5 Ways I Make All My Outfits Look Expensive

“It’s expensive to be me,” I say in my best Erika Jayne voice. If you didn’t get the RHOBH reference, watch more Bravo shows. Only kidding; also only kidding with my opening line. While I had the opportunity to stay at one of the most luxurious hotels in Milan for my first trip there, I took a decidedly different route with my outfits, playing with high-low styling to balance my outfits while on my trip.

As I mentioned earlier this week, I wore these key under-$10 items throughout the week (thanks, Amazon Prime) and found myself styling the pieces in unique ways to ensure my looks were as Milan-approved as possible. I would’ve never guessed I’d wear a simple Hanes tank half the trip or hide my sweaty hair in a chic $8 leather headband I bought “just in case,” but more on all that below.

I teamed up with Dorchester Collection’s Principe di Savoia for my stay, and as you’ll see by the majority of mirror selfies below, the rooms are stunning, and the service is absolute five-star status. Today I’m giving you a peek inside the hotel and sharing everything I wore for my first trip to Italy, including all the ways I made all my outfits look triple the price. Keep reading for my savvy styling tips and shop the pieces you need to re-create my MFW looks.

Here I elevated my $4 biker shorts by pairing them with sleek white boots and an oversize jacket. Gold hoops always lend a polished look as well.

Before my trip, I stocked up on a three-set of basic white Hanes tanks and ended up wearing the whole pack. For this look, it was the perfect layering piece for my pale pink blazer and-boots look.

This was one of my favorite looks of the week because I was really into the loose-jeans, tight-top combination, and my thick headband topped off the look lending a flirtatious vibe to an otherwise relaxed look.

So, my original plan was to cut my Hanes tanks into crop tops… but I ran out of time. Instead, I had to use the old-school folding trick. Since the top is so basic, I styled it with bright pants and a vintage chain belt I found at the Melrose market in L.A. I think wearing pointed-toe boots over strappy heels or flats also made this outfit look so sleek.

Sidenote: I wish I could take mirror selfies in gorgeous Principe di Savoia lobby every morning.

This cropped jacket from Aritzia made my casual last-day outfit look way more put-together (and helped hide the fact I was completely sweating through my tank because of all the walking). You can't see it in this picture—I was cropping out my shiny face—but I was also wearing the thick black headband with this outfit. 

Similar style: