How to Dress Like the Royals With a Not-So-Royal Budget

Turning to the royal family for style inspiration is a tale as old as time. But unfortunately, the tragic fact of the matter is that most of us have very different clothing budgets than the royals.

I know, I know, it’s an annoying, seemingly unnecessary chore. But hear us out! Ironing or steaming your clothing is a surefire way to keep your clothes looking as fresh as the day you bought them. In some cases, it even helps strengthen the fabric.

When it comes to dressing like royalty, the recurring theme is less is more. While it can be fun showing off the designer logos, it doesn’t match the effortlessly chic aesthetic most royals sport. Luxury brands have a large enough marketing budget, they don’t need us to be walking advertisements too.

A timeless silhouette is made up of clothing that has remained fashionable for decades. Think of a simple button-up, a comfortable overcoat, and trousers. These are versatile outfits that could just as easily be worn to the office or out to drinks.

What’s the saying? Wealth doesn’t scream, it whispers? One of the ways it achieves this is by wearing high-quality, sturdy clothing that doesn’t fall apart after a few washes.

Dressing luxuriously is all about quality over quantity. It’s far more impactful to have a small collection of high-quality outfits than dozens of poorly made shirts. Even Princess Diana was an outfit repeater.

For day-to-day looks, sticking with neutral tones will create a look that says sophistication and class. The added benefit is that with a neutral capsule wardrobe, it’s easy to mix and match your outfits, giving you the biggest bang for your buck.

When you do opt for a pop of color, try to do it in a strategic way. Use a bold color as an accent to tie a look together (for example, wearing red shoes, a red bag, and red earrings with an otherwise black outfit). It creates a lovely contrast of subtle and bold color schemes.

When trying to look luxurious, we want to achieve a feeling of timelessness. You can never go wrong with a solid black (or any other neutral color, really) cross-body bag. It doesn’t need to be designer, but it should make you feel gorgeous. If you can picture yourself walking down London’s cobbled streets with it, you’ve done well.

Large, dark, and mysterious sunglasses are such an easy and universal way to upgrade any outfit. No matter if you’re rocking a mini skirt or pair of sweatpants, they just have a certain way of making the wearer look important. The bigger and bolder the better.

One of the most underrated ways to imitate royal glamour on a budget? Consistently sporting a nice perfume. This perfume doesn’t have to be fancy – generic brands cost less than $15 and still leave you feeling glamorous.

I want to take a moment and truly think; have you ever seen a royal in clothes that don’t seem to fit them perfectly? Probably not, because they get all their clothing tailored.

The last few years have seen the emergence of microtrends – trends that are all the rage for a couple of months before fizzing out. A few years ago crocs were considered hideous and only meant to be worn indoors. Now, they’re all the rage.

Never underestimate the power of simple jewelry. There’s not a royal family member out there that doesn’t know how to accessorize. Princess Diana in particular did a fantastic job of always finding the perfect earrings to tie an outfit together.

Certain fabrics just have a royal air to them. Anything with silk, chiffon, linen, wool, or cashmere is going to look miles better than standard polyester (and it’ll last longer too!). There are so many iconic royal outfits with these materials that choosing one for an example was a herculean task. But Kate Middleton looks stunning and cozy here in her wool winter coat.

I know a few slides ago we were saying to be wary of trends, but we’re co-signing the ‘quiet luxury’ trend. Quiet luxury is all about swapping extravagant aesthetics for subtle yet well-made pieces. It evokes a sense of timelessness; when the current trend fades, the pieces can still be re-worn.

Take it from Princess Diana’s makeup artist, Mary Greenwell. She always advises her celebrity clients to stick to softer shades that bring out one’s natural beauty. When asked about how she styled Diana, she said that she’d only use a foundation, quality waterproof mascara, and neutral eyeshadow pallets.

Unironically, one of the best parts of winter is bringing out cozy winter coats! While this does require some investment upfront, a quality overcoat can be re-worn for years. A small but quality coat collection can elevate even the most basic of wardrobes.

Want an easy style tip that’ll leave you looking like you hired a professional stylist? Try matching your shoes to your bag! This not only says that you’re a thoughtful dresser, but also that you have countless options (even if that’s not really the case).

It seems like the royal family has a constant supply of new outfits, and it’s hard to fight the urge to keep up with the Joneses. This kind of overconsumption isn’t just impractical for most of us, it’s also incredibly expensive and terrible for the environment.

The biggest way to incorporate a bit of sophistication into your style? CONFIDENCE! Several studies have actually proven the idea that the clothes you wear affect your mindset. Basically, if you believe that your outfit is fit for a princess, others will too.