Trust Me—These 9 Colours Always Make Outfits Look Expensive

If someone were to ask me, I would say I’m not a huge fan of colour in my wardrobe. But that would actually be a lie—I do like some colours, just not the ones you’d automatically think of when that word is thrown around. Bold primary shades, I find, can date my look quickly and my ultimate goal is to own a timeless wardrobe that I can wear year after year. Not to mention, they’re difficult to style (even for a stylist) and can often end up looking quite cheap and garish if paired together incorrectly; or if they happen to be the wrong tone for your skin or hair colour. 

This is not to say you should never wear bold colours. Of course, if that feels like your own personal style, we celebrate wearing whatever you feel good in here at Who What Wear. But if you’re reading this and relating to my fear of brights, stick with me. Because this doesn’t automatically mean a life led in only monochromatic clothing. In fact, over my 10 years of working in the fashion industry I’ve made a point of trying to figure out exactly which colours it is that feel elegant year after year.

Keep scrolling, and you’ll find an edit of chic fashion items in what I consider to be the most expensive-looking colours. To back up my theory, I've used none other than the queen of expensive-looking colours: Who What Wear contributor Monikh Dale, to give examples of how these colours can be worn with ease. Yes, most of them have an understated, dusky or neutral base, but paired with fresh whites (for spring, especially) or styled together in a top-to-toe outfit, they’ll still do the job of adding plenty of interest to your new season looks.

These are tones that I’m seeing all over my social feeds for spring 2023, but the best thing about them is that they are transitional shades that will also feel polished in all seasons, so you can wear them for the rest of the year and beyond. Shop them all below... 

1. Mole

2. Vanilla

3. Dusky Rose

4. Chocolate

5. Sand

6. Sage

7. Berry

8. Olive

9. Rust

Up Next: The 9 Most Expensive-Looking Items On The High Street This Week