5 simple ways to make a summer dress more expensive: tips from stylists Fashion

Finding summer dresses on a budget isn’t that hard, but can you turn them into a luxury designer piece? Here are some tricks that stylists recommend using.

“It’s easy to add flair and sophistication to a summer dress — accessorize,” advises stylist and buyer Meloni Huber. And fashion designer Rael Cohen adds: “Pay attention to natural materials such as leather or metal, they look expensive. High-quality sandals, a wide-brimmed hat, a structured handbag or eye-catching jewelry will help you look elegant.”

Want to look chic? You can’t go wrong by choosing a monochrome look – in other words, creating a set of things in one color. “Monochrome clothing is hard to mess up and usually looks more elegant than multi-colored clothing,” says Milan-based writer and fashion expert Joanna Walker. She recommends pairing a white summer dress with sandals in the same color and a light gray summer dress with a dark gray cardigan and felt hat if you’re going to wear it in the fall.

Who says you have to settle for cheap plastic buttons? With a little effort, Walker says, you can drastically change the look of a piece—find buttons made of mother-of-pearl, wood, copper, or even ivory. Maybe they will appear in your home on old things that no one else wears.

Another way to update summer dresses is by layering them, says Huber. “Try layering it with a cashmere sweater, or go to work with a structured blazer or a fitted blazer,” she advises. “It will look luxurious.

According to Cohen, it doesn’t embellish anything or make it “expensive” like a perfect fit. Even minor adjustments to your summer dress can make all the difference, so take it to a seamstress to adjust the armholes, waist and length.