There’s a particular kind of satisfaction in telling someone that this was only $65, especially after they’ve complimented your outfit. Because looking expensive has surprisingly little to do with how much you spend. More often, it comes down to knowing what to pair together.

That’s the thinking behind the high-low formula: start with the uncomplicated pieces that earn their keep in your closet (you know your white T-shirts, your go-to sweatpants, and your cozy hoodies), then introduce something with a little more pizzazz into the look. Maybe it’s a sharply tailored blazer, a great leather bag, an unexpected mini skirt, or playful lace-up flats. Mixing and matching these key pieces is every fashion girl’s secret to looking like a style star.

Nike makes an especially good starting point for this approach. Its sporty staples already have the clean lines and relaxed proportions that are crucial to the backbones of a well-curated collection of basics. So instead of saving your sweats for the couch or your crewneck for errands, consider them the first layer of a much better outfit. Below, five formulas for making everyday essentials look considerably more expensive than they are.

DashDividers_1_500x100 The Simple Tee + The Boxy Blazer + The Sweatpants

The quickest way to make sweatpants feel effortlessly cool, never slouchy is by giving them something structured to play against. A boxy blazer instantly sharpens the softness of a relaxed pant, while a fitted white tee gives the layers underneath simple vigor. From there, resist the urge to make everything else casual. A sleek clutch, sculptural earrings, dark sunglasses, and pointed-toe mules create the kind of contrast that will instantly turn you into a fashion girlie.

The Crewneck + Slip Skirt + Leather Bag

A sweatshirt and satin skirt shouldn’t necessarily work together, which is precisely why the do. The relaxed, slightly sporty attitude of an oversized crewneck takes some of the preciousness out of a silky midi, while the skirt gives an everyday top a completely different context. Add a polished leather shoulder bag and slim sunglasses to keep things sophisticated, then ground the look with a sneaker rather than a heel. The result lands somewhere between dressed up and completely unbothered (arguably the best place for an outfit to be).

The Simple Tank + Wide-Leg Trouser + Statement Belt

A great tank top doesn’t need much help, but it does benefit from a strong silhouette around it. Pairing a close-fitting tank with exaggerated wide-leg trousers creates instant proportion and makes a relatively simple combination look far more directional. A statement belt gives the eye somewhere to land and helps define the waist against all that volume. Finish with a compact bag, minimalist sunglasses, and a low heel. Nothing here is particularly complicated.

The Sweatpants + The Trench + The Pretty Flats

Consider this your argument for wearing sweats somewhere other than the airport. A trench coat brings instant polish to a matching hoodie-and-pant combination, but the real trick is what happens below the ankle. Instead of defaulting to sneakers, add delicate flats (I, personally, can’t resist a lace-up ballerina). That tension between sporty and pretty makes the entire ensemble interesting. A shoulder bag and barely-there sunglasses finish things off without competing with the unexpected color underneath.

The Quarter Zip + The Mini Skirt + The Loafers

The quarter-zip has officially escaped the gym bag. Paired with a clean A-line mini, its athletic associations start to feel almost preppy, particularly when loafers enter the equation. Keeping the palette tonal makes the inexpensive pieces read as one cohesive look rather than a collection of separates. Then add the details that make minimal outfits matter: a substantial leather tote, scrunched socks, and classic frames. Together, it’s proof that basics don’t have to be boring at all. Sometimes all they need is better company.


Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

These “Sneakerinas” Solve Fall’s Biggest Dilemma

Zara New Arrivals Build The Perfect Fall Wardrobe

The Jacket You’re About To See Everywhere