There’s no denying that dressing designer isn’t the most accessible thing in the world. Whether it be the financial side or the lack of access to certain garments. Looking high-end isn’t always straightforward, but we’ve got you covered!
Looking ‘high fashion’ is an art form that comes with many barriers. It can be difficult to achieve the look you envision in your head, especially on a budget. Whether you’re a fashion lover, buyer, or handcraft your own garments, finding ways to master the ‘high fashion’ look isn’t easy. In fact, even some of the most established fashion designers struggle to achieve it today.
But what if there was a way for the average person to achieve this look? Check out some of our tips on scoring yourself the high-end looks you’re striving to turn heads with!
Identify Your Style
Like most art forms, fashion is subjective, and by that standard, so is ‘high fashion.’ Whether you’re embarking on your first year in a fashion degree or have always had a thing for styling yourself in a way that matches your personality. Odds are, you’re already closer than you think to dressing high fashion. Identifying your own style, from the clothes you put on to the accessories you swing on for a final touch, is key to helping you attain the ‘celebrity’ look you’re striving to achieve.
With all that being said, as ‘subjective’ as fashion is, some looks do just serve better. Whether on runways, movies with killer wardrobes like David Frankel’s Devil Wears Prada, or award shows. Sometimes fashion is high-end, it’s showstopping, jaw-dropping and likely, extremely expensive.
Though there are a few hacks to achieving a high-end look, without breaking the bank!
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Create A Pinterest
We promise that creating fashion vision boards isn’t a thing of the past. While global sites such as Tumblr and MySpace were the blueprint for online vision boards in the late 2000s, Pinterest still stands with credibility. And without heaps of career-destroying backlash.
Of course, you can create vision boards however you want. If you’re more into digital media, handcrafting them can be a fun activity that feels less like a task, and more like a creative endeavour. People have vision boards for everything, from life achievements to holiday destinations and fashion inspirations. Having a vision board on Pinterest can help you solidify the first bullet point: identifying your style. From that point onwards, it’s much easier to shop high-end, since your version of what is high fashion could be completely different to the next. Additionally, creating a vision board is a simple way of figuring out which places you can grab similar clothes from at an affordable price. Or better yet, at a bargain!
Never Underestimate A Charity Shop
It sounds basic, but we promise you, charity shops still don’t quite get the praise they deserve. Often run by volunteers of a variety of ages, charity shops are one of the very last affordable chains in the fashion industry that still serve the standard working-class person.
If you live in a busy city, the chances of you finding an absolute steal in your nearby charity shop are pretty high. But, you’ve got to become more savvy. If you notice its shop workers are young, artsy looking-people, the likelihood of you finding the best outfits is almost slim to none, since they get first dibs. And rightfully so!
Some of the most popular charity shop chains include British Heart Foundation, Oxfam and Mind. But if you’re looking for something with a bit more quality, a fine-tuned range of items, then shops like Beyond Retro are your best bets. The latter has dedicated sections with a variety of items that are more or less on the same branding. Which makes it a lot easier to shop, because you can go from area to area, knowing you’re more likely to come out with what you intended on buying.
Whereas a standard charity shop might not have that level of consistency. But that’s what makes them more fun! There are better bargains to find in your local, underfunded charity markets, and often, a better chance at finding one-offs.
Vinted Is Your Best Friend
For a long time, sites like eBay and Amazon were the go-to affordable online sites to get vintage and ‘new in’ clothes. But, if you’re bored of bidding to get your favourite top. Or using a site that’s infamously known for exploiting its workers, Vinted is quite literally the best alternative. Not only is it an easier way to find clothes or full outfits, but there’s no exploitation in the process. You can purchase it as soon as you’ve seen it. Delivery usually takes less than five days. And most items are at an extremely affordable cost.
Shopping on Vinted is an endless stream of gains, as it can be easy to find high-fashion products at a low cost, and vintage one-offs. The only downside is once it’s gone, it’s gone.
Also, while it isn’t advised, you can absolutely bargain with the sellers on a price that’s more affordable for you. Chances are, they’ll swing to your offer, as they want to get rid of the clothes that are gathering dust in their closets.
Whether you’re a student or a young adult looking to find your style on a budget, there are ways around the fast and high-fashion markets that are burning holes in your wallet. If you enjoyed reading this, check out our article ‘Style with a Soul: Why Sustainable Fashion Is the Future’. Additionally, in 2025, KODD, the fashion, beauty and culture magazine, published an article titled ‘When Luxury Becomes Accessible.’ It is all about the evolution of the fashion industry and how dressing high-end has become more achievable to the average Joe.
Laviea Thomas is a journalist at Inside Success who writes about film, music and politics.
Outside of that, she is an experienced freelance journalist with bylines in NME, The Quietus, Metal Hammer and more.
Over the years, Laviea has been an active panellist discussing fundamental conversations in the music industry, such as diversity and inclusion, and the importance of grassroots venues. She has been a panel guest for Kerrang! Focus Wales Festival, Future Yard and more.
