When To Get The “Look For Less”

Originally I was just going to share this outfit, but as I thought more about these boots I’m wearing, I thought of the concept of the dupe. I had been lusting after these for the longest time, and when I almost pulled the trigger, I remembered that Dana had shared these. I thought I’d give these a go first to test the waters and see how much I truly like them. I am SO glad I did! The quality is amazing and they are literally 1/10 the price! Yes, you read that right. One TENTH. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to pull these off but I am so obsessed. They’re comfortable, too! For the price, I am so glad I went with the dupe versus the real deal. Looking back, this isn’t the first time I’ve done this. I went with these over these and didn’t regret it one bit. I opted for these over these and they’re one of my closet staples! But that’s not to say I don’t know when to call a spade a spade and splurge for the real deal. I bought probably four dupes of this before going for it, and I could’ve saved all that money on the look-a-likes and just got it from the get go. I wear that bag a few times a week so I’m glad I have the authentic version so I know the quality is there for the long haul. There’s definitely a balance, so today I want to outline 5 ways to know you should find the dupe over shelling out the big bucks:

1.) It’s trendy – A great example of this is velvet. Right now, it’s a big thing. I was obsessed with this look from Rach, but couldn’t justify the price tag for a trendy item. So, I went with this instead. See more on this look here. I’m not sure this is something I’ll want to wear for years and year, so under $40 felt right for me.

2.) It’s a statement piece – I think the booties in this post are a good example of that. These are definitely more of a statement shoe and therefore probably won’t get too much wear from me. I don’t feel bad about shelling out a ton of money on something that I’ll likely only wear a couple times a season. The plus side is that they should last a good while since I won’t be wearing them into the ground!

3.) You have a lot of other similar items – These flats are what I mean by this. I have a ton of flats that I can wear for work and play, so I don’t always reach for these first. But, I do love the look of them and knowing they’re in my closet makes me happy.

4.) There are different versions by different designers – Let me explain this one. When a certain style is being done by a few different designers, it can be hard to tell whether the chicken or the egg came first, if that makes sense. In that event, you might as well save the coin and go with the dupe! This is the best example I can think of: the original, the “me-too”, the dupe.

5.) It’s out of your price range – This one may seem obvious but sometimes I think we all need a reminder that there’s nothing wrong with living within our means. It can be so hard to want to Keep Up with the Jones’s but that’s not always possible. If you love something but can’t afford it, fake it til you make it! Amazon offers a “look for less” of practically every designer bag and shoe, so that’s a great place to start if you’re wondering where to go for a good look-a-like.

I want to end this by saying I have an immense respect for fashion, the industry, and the designers. While I know sometimes that duping can be frowned upon, I think it goes back to point number 5. While it would be nice to think everyone can afford couture off the runway, that’s just not reality. As a fashion blogger, I like to think it’s my job to bring forth ways for my readers to look and feel their best. And, sometimes, that involves scoring pieces within your budget that allow you to represent your best self. I often mix high and low items here on my blog and I think it’s a great way to diversify your wardrobe and keep classic pieces you’ll wear forever while also dabbling in trends. While I pride myself in having an authentic Chanel bag, I also am proud that I know myself well enough to know that the $130 I spent on today’s booties opens up hundreds of dollars to spend on other [more important] things. I hope this was helpful! Let me know in the comments your thoughts on dupes. As a follow-up, let me know if you’d like to see a post on which designer items I do think are worth the splurge!

Tee: BP [only $19] // Coat: Boohoo [old, similar here] // Scarf: Old [similar here] // Leggings: SPANX [highly recommend] // Booties: Choies // Bag: Prada // Watch: Michael Kors // Ring: David Yurman // Sunnies: UO // Necklace: Gorjana

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