How to look REFINED ON A BUDGET | 7 tips to get that expensive look for less

Hello everyone! Times are tricky money-wise and us, elegant gals, need to adapt. So this week I thought I'd share a few tips on how to look refined, expensive, elevated - while still staying on a budget.
Hope you like it ;)
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00:00 Intro
00:39 The importance of basics
02:15 Beware of expensive beauty treatments
04:33 Upcycle what you already have
06:14 Focus on neutrals
08:36 Learn what quality looks like
10:51 Be strategic when you shop
12:43 Niche brands and pre-loved

[@AshleyMBuffa]

I have started getting serious about shopping secondhand for clothing, accessories, and my home, and have found amazing deals! Hand knotted persian rugs, beautiful art, an amazing tweed jacket, a string of pearls...my home and wardrobe are looking better than ever!

[@virginiaboone8163]

I learned a long time ago that with thoughtful and frequent visits to thrift stores, especially ones in high-income areas, one is able to find items of quality that they would never be able to afford at regular retail prices. Of course you must be extra careful when inspecting donated items, but some of them still have the original price tag or show no signs of wear. Just yesterday I brought home 3 cashmere sweaters for $4.95 a piece. Love your video’s, Mariana… you are so personable and warm.

[@janitapanos240]

I adore your sage classic style advice! I recently swapped the gold/plastic buttons on all of my designer blazers with silver buttons I found on Etsy because silver jewelry suits my skin tone.

[@MarianaZelenjuk]

I bet it looks way more chic now!

[@HAnna1627]

Truly Mariana, your classy style and most of all - lovely personality/ thoughtfulness/ and realism - is very appreciated. Most of us want to aspire to elevate ourselves and inspire others in the process... but.. few of us have huge budgets beyonds life's necessities. Thank you sooo much for your inspiration to help us elevate ourselves within our means!

[@MarianaZelenjuk]

It's my pleasure Ann! 😊

[@HAnna1627]

Thrilled that you replied/ just subscribed today & will be watching you regularly!

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

My most-worn items are my white silk button-front shirt and my white silk knit tops. They have been well worth the higher initial cost because I wear them so often. If they were cheap synthetic versions, I would have tried them once, taken them off 15 minutes later when I got hot and sweaty (or cold and sweaty), then donated them. I learned that these synthetic-fiber fabric items are really just false-economy versions, they’re not “more affordable” if you don’t wear them! Now I buy fewer items, but in the top-quality fabrics that I love to wear. Better-quality brands generally have better style, cut, fit and construction, too, in addition to better fabrics. Over the years, my wardrobe has gone from so-so to excellent, I just did it gradually as I could afford it. I only regret spending so much on fast-fashion items that seemed like such great deals at the time. I ended up donating multiple enormous bags of these over and over.

[@maddscientist3170]

IRON YOUR CLOTHES even if they are expensive & winkled they look cheap.......exception Linen....linen wrinkles & that is fine.....it's a high quality fabric

[@martinasansavini]

love it!!! I would love to see more people like you here in italy. I look around and I see like everyone has no taste in fashion 🥲

[@nickyonstilts128]

A boyfriend of mine had Gucci loafers. He took them to the shoe repair and had them re-soled 4 times before giving up on them. He made that quality last on a student budget.

[@maddscientist3170]

my shoemaker is my best friend! he works on purses also

[@latinaalma1947]

About 75% of my clothing are classic pieces thrifted....I am quite well dressed.

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

Great tips, Mariana, I do all of these. I’m always upgrading buttons, hemming, narrowing waists, etc. to get those “almost” items exactly right. Definitely neutral, or what I call “basic” colors like navy, and classic prints, should comprise the backbones of our wardrobes. Love your argyll-sleeve sweater. I got two great argyll sweaters in 100% cotton from Amazon a few years ago, quality doesn’t always have to be expensive (but, honestly, mostly, it is).

[@teresahalliday3680]

These are smart and great suggestions. I ALWAYS do my own nails! I really enjoy doing them myself and I can't see spending money on something I enjoy doing at home. I've only had three "professional" manicures and none of them were that good. One made my cuticles bleed!! Thank you for a smart video. You are a gem!!

[@nickyonstilts128]

Yes, I had my nails done at a salon the day before my wedding. Morning of the wedding, I had to re-do them myself as they had bubbled. Never again!

[@zsuzsannamolnar5599]

Thank you Mariana for these VERY useful tips! It has just helped me to return an (unworn) ball gown and save a ton of money 😍 I have instead taken my old dress to the tailor to gave it a new life. Also the editing of this video was spot on with the visual examples👌

[@nikkil764]

Love your style. So elegant and your hints are so true. I wore a camel hair blazer today that looks wonderful and modern but is actually decades old. Buy the best quality and care for them to keep them in perfect shape.

[@sandimcdougall2909]

Yes, dying clothing that can be dyed is a great idea. Since my color analysis I have dyed many items to my new “season”. Great video Mariana.

[@Ingrid0410]

Hi Mariana! What a lovely video👍👍👍one secret Ive found for buying quality cashmere sweaters is to buy them in the Spring or late winter when they’re half price!!!same with quality summer essentials buy them in late summer when they all go on sale. This way you don’t scrimp of quality at all. Love all your tips👍and videos like this👍💜

[@a.delsinore7160]

Wonderful points, Mariana! I also check hemlines and seams to be sure things are well-made. Especially the wrist hems and pant or skirt hems: if these are stitched cheaply by machine, the garment will not hang nicely. It will look cheap, even if you pay a high price. ❤️

[@MarianaZelenjuk]

So true!

[@lifewithlovie]

Excellent advice Mariana, rules I have lived by that never fail. Love your style. 💜

[@SN-wi6nn]

I love nicely manicured nails but it’s pricy and honestly I don’t think it’s really that healthy all those toxins entering my body, so for a long time I keep my nails natural and they look so healthy and beautiful as well! Also I find a lot of quality clothes and accessories in consignment stores. I have a few designer items I purchased for under 100 dollars

[@ericalopez9427]

Awesome video Mariana! Love all the tips that you gave, one of my favorites it is to upcycle handbags, I like to swap the straps, mostly with vintage designer bags

[@Echolyris212]

Ooh can’t wait to see this. I love your videos so I know this is going to be good as usual.

[@MarianaZelenjuk]

Hope you like it 😉

[@MmeFleiss]

Another KZbinr introduced me to Quince and their silk and cashmere products are really great quality. I've also had great luck getting affordable 100% mulberry silk scarves from Amazon.

[@MarianaZelenjuk]

I didn't know about Quince... great tip!

[@sophiee8314]

Yes! I love Quince cashmere! I have the Jenni Kaye fisherman sweater (about $400 new - I thrifted it) and the Quince one ($90)… they’re nearly identical. Totally worth it in my opinion

[@graciellastokes7979]

Hello Mariana! Somehow I found you and I subscribed because from the little bit I have seen ( your Q&A , stylish scarf tying) I like your refreshing style, your personality as it shines via your vlogs and what you have presented thus far. I look forward to learning more about your life in Italy , and the other topics you choose to share. I wish you every success !

[@lekeatharumph1438]

I love all the tips, especially Tip #5!!!!!

[@virginiaboone8163]

P.S. The same advice is true when making home decor decisions!

[@mafaldasadio5468]

Olá Mariana! Adorei este vídeo! Vai ser um clássico! Daqui por 10 anos vai continuar atual! Eu acrescentaria apenas outro aspecto: tratar qualquer peça com cuidado, independentemente do valor que tenhamos pago. Se as nossas peças de roupa estiverem sempre bem passadas a ferro e cuidadas, com os botões bem colocados, sem manchas, parecerão sempre muito melhor! Um beijinho 😘

[@MarianaZelenjuk]

Um ponto essencial, Mafalda!

[@marilenaireland6045]

What sensible advice/suggestions!

[@beatrizrobinson6481]

Great video. I just subscribed!!! Great points. Greetings from Arizona!!!

[@jenquarry7169]

Thank you for these tips! I’m watching it for the second time. I also love your sweater and would love something like it. I started knitting a few years ago and I’m considering if I can make something similar myself.

[@MarianaZelenjuk]

Of course you can! 😉

[@agnieszkaszymanczak5318]

I just bought poncho from your last video. Is so gorgeous. My first ponczo ever. Maybe you can make a video about how to style poncho and other "not so common now" clothes, like vest, beret etc.? Your video about scarves was so educated. I didn't know there are so many ways to style scarves.

[@siprapahavlund6246]

I feel like the way I shop nowadays is everywhere lately. And I always end up with pieces that difficult to match and wear the same things all the time. So I really need to hear this. Thank you!

[@NancyLiedel]

And I turn 60 in December and am going to Paris. I picked a ridiculous year, but 60!

[@eileenstasczak6606]

How is that relative to this video? It's not.

[@sweetfreedom999]

Love your channel, just subscribed. You have gorgeous simplistic, classy style and present it so well. Lovely to see an au naturel woman whose beauty shines through as dislike fake eyelashes, nails, bladed eyebrows, Botox lips etc. Thank you, going to go through all your previous vlogs. Good luck with your channel. 😍⭐️🌹 Edit: which nail polish are you wearing, I could not catch what you said and I love the naturalness of the colour? Thank you. 🌹

[@babycakes1402]

'Pre-loved' is nice for styles that you can't find in stores anymore... Coach is a great example, they're always changing & evolving so things are 'in' for a short time & if you want to find an older style that maybe you weren't sure of at the time or just saw someone else with it & 'hey, I like that but I can't find it in the stores anymore'... Go for the pre-loved & eBay is a great place to shop for older Coach styles, I just got the Christie bag & matching wristlet to use as a wallet just after Christmas & it was like new.

[@celiathirlwall3329]

Excellent video, Mariana!! Enjoyed your thoughtful tips and presentation as always!! I fell for a one hit wonder about 25 years ago. It was a beautiful green 'princess dress' that I only wore once to a christmas party. I think I paid $350 for it which was allot of money for me then. I do have a nice framed photo of me in it that night with my husband so there is that! LOL!! Never again though!!!

[@MarianaZelenjuk]

Oh, Celia... We've all been there! And I think it's totally ok to go a little crazy every once in a while. I bet you looked gorgeous on that green dress 😊

[@evetteswindale6232]

If you can't afford to buy high quality choose pre worn as you get so much more for your money and look more put together.

[@DesireeGonza]

Thanks ❤

[@Chahlie]

I had the most creative clothing when I was very poor. If I wanted nice things I had to remake them rather than just buying things. Handbag replacement straps/handles are a great way to extend the life, it's like resoling shoes!

[@MarianaZelenjuk]

Difficulty is the mother of creativity Heather. You’re so right!

[@josephinepepper2238]

Dear, Mariana, so happy to see your videos and all the tips on how to use scarves Where are you? I’m in England and so pleased to see someone with good taste I’ll keep watching your videos ❤

[@MarianaZelenjuk]

Hi Josephine! I’m in Milan, with a lot of inspiration all around me 😊thanks for watching

[@susanp2349]

Just curious. How do you keep to an elegant style while working out. Do you have an exercise time of day?

[@MarianaZelenjuk]

Hi Susan! I work out early in the morning and do it from home (I use a pilates app called The Pilates Class), so I don’t feel the need to look too presentable. But my workout clothes are all black (except for my tennis outfits that are mostly white), which makes them easier to combine. I also go for longer sports bras and high waisted leggings, which hide everything I don’t want to show, but still give the illusion of an hourglass figure.

[@nadanalia3000]

Inflation is that girl who ruins the party AND refuses to leave. She is not a lady! 😂 Love this video thank you Mariana ❤

[@MarianaZelenjuk]

Who invited her???? She's NOT on the list 😂

[@nadanalia3000]

@@MarianaZelenjuk LOL 🤣🤣

[@nicolette3436]

Where were those beautifuo blazers from?

[@MarianaZelenjuk]

They're all Zara!

[@DonaLeopoldina-dr4so]

Ola Mariana voce e muito Linda e simpatica. Beijindos de uma Portuguesa

[@MiaHessMusic]

Buy used. Most of the time, I've been able to find cashmere and merino wool, occasionally silk and linen gently used. I think a lot of foks just don't think about thrift and consignment stores.

[@cherylparris9209]

Wearing some colours are also good to wear too including prints. Life is not perfect

[@babycakes1402]

Oh, if I hear myself saying 'it'll do in a pinch'... It goes back on the rack & stays at the store.

[@catherinegardner8407]

But fast fashion still doesn't pay workers ethically.

[@claudefuller6160]

Promo sm 😝

[@kts7113]

If you’re paying $450 or more for a cashmere sweater, you are over paying for a name brand. I have 100% cashmere sweaters that I only paid $100 for!

[@kts7113]

The saddest part is that you could pay $6-$2600 on the same stuff. Just because it has a name brand doesn’t mean it’s quality or in fashion!!

[@michelles2299]

Look expensive get mugged

[@theripleyeffect5203]

Excellent point! It's a dangerous world!