Let me say something that the fashion industry doesn’t really want you to hear: looking polished, put-together, and like you spent a small fortune on yourself does not actually require spending a small fortune on yourself. It doesn’t require a two-hour morning routine, a standing nail appointment, or a wardrobe full of pieces with intimidating price tags. What it requires is something far more accessible and far more interesting than any of that.
The high-maintenance look is really just a collection of very specific, very learnable signals. Your brain picks them up constantly without you realising it — a certain kind of hair shine, a fit that’s just right, a skin tone that looks alive rather than tired. When all of those signals line up, the impression they create is “she really looks after herself.” When they don’t, even an expensive outfit can fall flat. I learned this the hard way. Now I know exactly where those signals come from, and more importantly, how to create them without the effort people assume they take. Here’s everything I wish someone had told me sooner.
The Power of a Really Good Blowout (Without Booking a Salon Every Week)
Here’s the thing about hair — it does a disproportionate amount of heavy lifting when it comes to how polished you look. Bad hair day? Your whole OOTD suffers, even if your outfit is incredible. Great hair? You could be wearing a plain white tee and people will think you tried.
How to Fake a Fresh Blowout at Home
You don’t need a £60 salon appointment three times a week. I learned this the hard way after genuinely budgeting salon blowouts into my monthly expenses like a rent payment. Here’s what actually works:
- Invest in a good quality round brush — the size matters more than people think. For volume, go bigger. For sleekness, go smaller.
- Use a heat protectant spray before you touch that hairdryer. Non-negotiable.
- Finish with a light-hold hairspray or a tiny amount of serum on the ends to tame flyaways.
- On day two or three hair, dry shampoo at the roots followed by a quick blast of warm air makes hair look freshly styled without the full effort.
The goal is shine and smoothness. Both of those things signal “I care about myself,” which is really what the high-maintenance look is communicating at its core.
Nails That Look Like You Spent a Fortune on Them
Can we talk about nails for a second? Nothing reads “she has her life together” quite like a clean, polished set of nails. And I don’t mean a full acrylic set with rhinestones — I mean a shape that’s consistent, a color that’s intentional, and cuticles that don’t look like they’ve been through a paper shredder.
The Low-Effort Nail Formula That Always Works
I swear by this approach, and it’s saved me so much time and money:
- Stick to neutral or classic shades — think soft nudes, clean whites, deep burgundy, or a classic French tip. These grow out gracefully, so you’re not sprinting back to the salon every ten days.
- File your nails into a consistent shape. Square, oval, or squoval — pick one and commit. Uneven shapes are what make nails look unpolished (pun intended).
- Apply a base coat, two thin layers of color, and a top coat. This routine makes even a cheap polish look expensive and last twice as long.
- Every few days, swipe a fresh layer of top coat over your nails to extend wear time without redoing them.
TBH, the shape and upkeep of your nails matter more than the brand of polish you’re using. Keep them clean, keep them filed, and you’re already winning.
The Outfit Formula That Fools Everyone
Yes, I know another article telling you to “invest in basics.” But hear me out, because I’m not just going to rattle off a generic list and call it a day. The high-maintenance look comes from how you put basics together, not just owning them.
Fit Is Everything (Seriously, Everything)
The single biggest difference between looking like you tried and looking like you didn’t? Fit. I used to grab things in whatever size was closest to mine and then wonder why I looked frumpy. The moment I started getting things tailored — even just hemming trousers or taking in a blazer at the waist — everything changed.
You don’t need to spend a lot on a tailor. Most alterations for things like trouser hems or shirt taking-in cost under £15-20. That’s less than a cocktail, and it makes a £30 blazer look like a £200 one.
The Outfit Combinations That Always Look Expensive
Here are the combinations I keep coming back to, because they reliably look more expensive than they are:
- Tailored wide-leg trousers + a fitted, tucked-in top + pointed-toe flats — this combo does a lot of the styling work for you.
- A structured blazer over a simple slip dress — the contrast between structured and flowy is what makes it look intentional.
- Monochromatic dressing in a neutral tone — wearing one color head to toe (try camel, chocolate brown, or cream) always reads as deliberate and polished.
- Straight-leg denim + a crisp white shirt + loafers — a classic for a reason. Clean lines, clean fit, done.
The key is proportion. When one piece is loose, the other should be fitted. When one piece is statement-making, the other should be simple. Get that balance right and you look like you dressed with intention — because you did.
Skin That Looks Like You Actually Sleep Eight Hours
Let’s be real: glowing skin is probably the biggest high-maintenance signifier out there. And also the one that people assume requires the most effort, when actually, it requires consistency more than complexity. 🙂
A Simple Skincare Routine That Delivers Results
I spent years buying expensive serums and skipping SPF, which is absolutely backwards. Here’s the routine that genuinely changed my skin without requiring forty-five minutes every morning:
- Cleanser — gentle, fragrance-free. Do it twice a day, not just at night.
- Vitamin C serum in the morning — this is the one step worth the investment. It brightens, evens skin tone, and makes everything look more awake.
- Moisturizer — hydrated skin looks plump and healthy. Simple as that.
- SPF 30 or higher, every single morning — non-negotiable. Sun damage is what ages skin faster than anything else.
- At night, swap SPF for a retinol — start with a low concentration and use it two to three times a week if you’re new to it.
That’s it. Five steps, morning and night, and your skin will start to look like you’re getting more sleep than you actually are.
Makeup That Looks Like Skincare
The high-maintenance makeup look right now isn’t a full face of heavy coverage. It’s skin that looks good with very little on top. IMO, the most polished makeup look you can wear in 2024 is:
- A skin tint or light-coverage foundation that lets your skin texture show (a little)
- Cream blush on the cheeks and a tiny bit on the nose for that flushed, alive look
- Mascara on the top lashes only — dramatic without being overdone
- A glossy lip in your natural lip color or one shade deeper
The whole point is to look like you just have really good skin, not like you spent an hour doing your makeup. Blend well, use your fingers where possible (warmth from your hands makes cream products melt into skin beautifully), and keep it light.
Accessories That Do the Heavy Lifting
Here’s a styling secret I wish someone had told me earlier: one really good accessory can make an entire outfit look more expensive. You don’t need to be covered in jewellery or carrying a designer bag to look polished.
The Accessories Worth Actually Investing In
Not everything needs to be a splurge, but a few things are worth spending a bit more on because you wear them constantly:
- A structured handbag in a neutral color — black, tan, or chocolate brown. This is the one area where I’d say spend what you can afford, because you carry it every day.
- Gold or silver hoop earrings — medium-sized, simple, and they go with literally everything. I wear mine with everything from gym wear to going-out outfits.
- A belt — specifically a simple leather one in a tan or black. Belting an outfit instantly makes it look more intentional.
- A quality watch or a stack of simple bracelets — something on your wrist always makes an outfit look finished.
FYI — you don’t need to buy all of these at once, and plenty of great versions exist at high street price points. ASOS, & Other Stories, and Mango consistently deliver accessories that look far more expensive than they are.
The Small Details Nobody Talks About (But Everyone Notices)
The difference between looking high-maintenance and looking like you just threw yourself together often comes down to the smallest details. These are the things that people don’t consciously notice — but they do register them.
- Ironed or steamed clothes. Wrinkled fabric immediately undercuts even the best outfit. A handheld steamer costs around £20-30 and takes two minutes to use.
- Matching underwear lines. Visible bra straps in the wrong color or visible underwear lines through trousers pull the whole look down. Seamless underwear is your friend.
- Clean, polished shoes. Scuffed shoes instantly date an outfit. Give yours a wipe-down regularly — it takes thirty seconds.
- Fragrance. Smelling good is a huge part of the high-maintenance impression. It doesn’t need to be an expensive perfume — there are brilliant dupes and mid-range options that smell genuinely luxurious.
These details are so easy to sort and so easy to overlook. Sort them, and the overall effect is noticeably more pulled-together.
Wrapping It All Up
Looking high-maintenance is really just about looking intentional. It’s hair that’s cared for, nails that are consistent, outfits that fit properly, skin that’s looked after, and a few small details that tell the world you actually thought about this. None of it requires hours of effort or a fashion budget that makes your bank account cry.
Pick two or three of these areas to focus on first, maybe nails and skin if those feel most manageable, or maybe fit and accessories if you love getting dressed. Build from there. The high-maintenance look isn’t a destination you reach all at once; it’s a collection of small habits that add up to something that looks effortless but isn’t actually effortless. It just looks that way w,hich, honestly, is the whole point.
Now go steam your blazer and book that blowout (or don’t, because now you know how to fake one). Either way, I believe in you. :/