HOW TO LOOK EXPENSIVE WHEN YOU'RE ACTUALLY BROKE

HOW TO LOOK EXPENSIVE WHEN YOU'RE ACTUALLY BROKE

SÍVASA ZINE

THE GIRL GUIDE

HOW TO LOOK EXPENSIVE WHEN YOU'RE ACTUALLY BROKE

Because looking like you have money and actually having money are two very different hobbies.

By Sívasa Girls' Club
5 min read

Let's be honest.

There are two kinds of expensive:

Expensive because you spent ₹12,000 on an outfit.

And:

Expensive because you somehow made a ₹1,500 outfit look like ₹12,000.

We're interested in the second one.

Because being broke is temporary.

Looking cheap is a choice.

01 — THE FIT MATTERS MORE THAN THE PRICE TAG

The easiest way to make an outfit look expensive?

Make sure it fits properly.

A ₹500 top that fits you perfectly will almost always look better than a ₹4,000 top that doesn't.

Look for:

  • Clean silhouettes

  • Structured shoulders

  • Tops that sit properly on your body

  • Jeans that actually fit your waist

  • Nothing constantly needing to be adjusted

And please.

Stop buying clothes two sizes too big because they're on sale.

Unless oversized is the look.

Then we're listening.

02 — INVEST IN THE BABY TEE

The baby tee is basically the little black dress of the broke girl wardrobe.

It works with:

Low-rise jeans.

Baggy cargos.

Mini skirts.

Denim shorts.

Sweats.

Under a blazer.

With literally everything.

And you don't need to spend a fortune on one.

Enter: Sívasa baby tees.

Our baby tees range from ₹499–₹599, meaning you can get the statement piece of your outfit without sacrificing your entire month's budget.

The trick?

Don't make the entire outfit scream for attention.

Let the tee do the talking.

Pair a graphic Sívasa baby tee with:

vintage-looking jeans + simple jewellery + clean shoes

and suddenly you look like you have a Pinterest board dedicated to your finances.

You don't.

But they don't need to know that.

03 — GOLD JEWELLERY. ALWAYS.

There is something about jewellery that makes an outfit look immediately more intentional.

You don't need a Cartier bracelet.

You need:

A pair of hoops.

One or two necklaces.

A couple of rings.

Maybe a watch.

That's it.

The trick is not wearing everything you own at once.

Pick a metal and stick with it.

Gold + gold.

Silver + silver.

Let the jewellery look intentional rather than accidental.

04 — IRON YOUR CLOTHES.

I'm serious.

Nothing says:

I got dressed in the Uber

quite like a completely crumpled outfit.

You could be wearing a ₹5,000 shirt and still look like you slept in it.

Steam it.

Iron it.

Hang it properly.

Even your ₹499 Sívasa baby tee will look significantly more expensive when it's clean, crisp and styled properly.

Presentation is half the outfit.

05 — THE SHOES ARE DOING MORE THAN YOU THINK

You don't need twelve pairs.

You need two or three really versatile pairs.

A clean sneaker.

A good pair of flats / loafers / boots.

And something slightly more fun for going out.

Keep them clean.

Seriously.

Dirty shoes can destroy an otherwise perfect outfit in approximately 0.7 seconds.

06 — STOP BUYING EVERYTHING TRENDING

This is where we save the money.

You don't need:

  • The viral top

  • The viral bag

  • The viral shoes

  • The viral sunglasses

  • The viral necklace

  • The viral whatever TikTok decided was essential this Tuesday

Pick a few things that actually fit your style.

Build around them.

The girls who always look expensive usually aren't wearing 14 trends simultaneously.

They have a look.

07 — THE COLOUR FORMULA

When in doubt:

Pick 2–3 colours.

Black + white + denim.

Brown + cream + gold.

Grey + black + silver.

Navy + white + denim.

Red + black + gold.

It instantly makes an outfit look more intentional.

And intentional = expensive-looking.

08 — YOUR BAG DOESN'T HAVE TO COST YOUR RENT

Please don't spend ₹20,000 on a bag because you think it will make your outfit look expensive.

A simple structured bag can do the exact same thing.

Look for:

Minimal hardware.

Clean shape.

No excessive logos.

Neutral colours.

And most importantly:

Keep it clean.

Your bag shouldn't look like it's been through three wars and a Goa trip.

09 — THE “I DIDN'T TRY” TRICK

The ultimate expensive-girl outfit is usually:

Good jeans

A fitted baby tee

Simple jewellery

Clean shoes

A good bag

Hair that looks intentional

That's it.

You don't need seventeen accessories.

You need confidence and a mirror.

10 — THE SÍVASA ₹1,000-ish FORMULA

Let's say you're working with a limited budget.

Start with a ₹499–₹599 Sívasa baby tee.

Then style it with pieces you already own:

LOOK 01 — THE OFF-DUTY GIRL

Sívasa baby tee

  • baggy jeans

  • hoops

  • sneakers

  • shoulder bag

LOOK 02 — THE HOT GIRL ERRAND

Sívasa baby tee

  • denim shorts

  • sunglasses

  • tiny bag

  • sandals

LOOK 03 — THE “I HAVE A 9 AM CLASS”

Sívasa baby tee

  • oversized shirt

  • loose jeans

  • sneakers

  • headphones

LOOK 04 — THE NIGHT OUT

Sívasa baby tee

  • mini skirt

  • jewellery

  • boots

  • tiny bag

One ₹499–₹599 tee.

Four completely different personalities.

THE SÍVASA VERDICT

Looking expensive isn't about having expensive things.

It's about knowing:

what suits you,

what fits you,

what works together,

and when to stop adding things.

You can wear a ₹599 baby tee and look incredible.

You can wear a ₹10,000 outfit and look like you got dressed in the dark.

The bank account doesn't make the outfit.

You do.

💌 WANT MORE?

READ NEXT:

ONE BABY TEE. FIVE PERSONALITIES.
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