How to Fake an Expensive Wardrobe

Is there any bigger compliment than when a stranger is compelled by the greatness of your outfit to approach you with the potentially embarrassing question, "Where did you get that?" This ego-boosting incident usually happens when you’re wearing your most luxurious-looking items, whether they were actually pricey or not.

So in the name of looking our most expensive, we had to ask: What is it that makes clothes look fancy? Fast-fashion stores like Zara and Topshop are experts on emulating the current designer trends in terms of prints, cuts, and style, but what’s a little harder to fake? Fabric quality.

But since we can’t all afford cashmere and silk, we figured we’d do a little research on the best affordable clothing materials that only look expensive, plus which cheap fabrics often belie their humble origins. With your clothing label know-how, you can make smarter and more luxurious fabric choices, even when you’re on a shopping budget. Just below, we're sharing our easy guide to shopping different materials of clothing and our favorite affordable finds. 

Linen

One of the hallmarks of cheap clothing is a shiny, obviously synthetic fabric. Natural fabrics like linen feel expensive because they have the exact opposite feel. It actually gets better with age, whereas many synthetic fabrics deteriorate at an accelerated pace.

Faux Suede

We all know authentic suede is an expensive fabric, like most leathers. “Vegan” suede tops our list of great affordable fabrics because it’s difficult to differentiate the faux from the real, so it naturally looks more expensive than it is.

Cotton

Cotton is a high-quality fabric that doesn’t necessarily come at an elevated price. Its natural fibers are its strong point, similar to linen, and the washable, low-maintenance fabric is easy to care for.

Rayon

Rayon tends to age poorly, and it will often start to pill or show wear and tear after a few wears.

Acrylic

Acrylic pieces can lose their shape easily, so after you wash an acrylic sweater, for example, you may find it stretched out and ill-fitting. It also isn’t a very warm fabric for winter pieces.

Polyester

Polyester has a bit of a bad reputation, but today’s versions have a decent feel, and the fabric is so ubiquitous in affordable clothing that it can be hard to avoid. We recommend considering each polyester piece individually—stick to affordable brands known for high quality, and always run your hands over the fabric to ensure it feels high-quality.

Shop Affordable Pieces That Look So Expensive

Now, even more affordable shopping ideas, care of Zara's new swimwear collection.

This post has been updated by Anna LaPlaca.