16 Under $50 Wardrobe Staples That Are Just As Good As Their Expensive Counterparts
This article could save you $1732. And you’ll never dress better.
by The Candidly Team
Ok, maybe we got a little overzealous with the title. We’re not about to tell you that some $35 Amazon sweater is literally as good as a $500 designer one.
But here’s the thing.
Who actually has $500 to spend on a sweater?
Not us.
Instead, we spend a lot of our time searching for similar things - not exact replicas but also not ridiculous, plastic dupes. Things that give the same effect of luxury without draining our bank account and filling us with more guilt than joy.
That said, we found 16 individual pieces that have a classic, high-end aesthetic that’s so effective, it does honestly kind of feel like striking gold.
Any of these items on a body, side-by-side with designer could leave you scratching your head trying to determine which one you’d pay an exorbitant amount for. So that’s something.
And here are those 16 things.
1. This Chambray Button-Down
J.Crew Factory Chambray Shirt In Signature Fit
Putting on an excellent-fitting chambray button-up with any bottom in our closet is such a lazy way to look like we cared when we got dressed. This one has the cut and signature softness that defines every $300 chambray shirt out there. Perhaps you know the one we’re talking about. Indistinguishable. That’s all we have to say.
Price: $44.50
2. This Spacious Cardigan
Another item that’s reminiscent of a certain $500 version that’s probably all over your Instagram ads at this very moment. This one has the same gorgeous neckline and slouchy fit that looks as good with cropped jeans as it does with drapey, wide-leg pants and all the skirts and dresses in between. Every color is a creamy, neutral dream. And now, we can afford it in more than one.
Price: $35
3. These Perfect-Fitting Boyfriend Jeans We're Always Looking For
Levi's Women's New Boyfriend Jeans
We spend a lot of time talking about specific pairs of jeans that complement curves and end our searches in their respective categories of jeans. But we had yet to find a boyfriend jean that helped us achieve what might be the most iconic, effortless, everyday outfit seen HERE. A bf jean, done correctly, looks good on everyone and balances with any top we wear, loose or tight. And we found THE one. We wear this pair of Levi’s with ballet flats and white sneaks but also with all of our comfiest heels, because our legs just never look better
Price: $42
4. This Striped Sweater Tee
Abercrombie Textural Crew Sweater Tee
Someone will need to explain to us why a knit top makes your whole outfit look 5x more expensive and 10x more styled. Dittos stripes. But for now, we’re just blindly embracing these realities. And buying this top.
Price: $50
5. These Chic Trousers
Tronjori High-Waist, Wide Leg Palazzo Pants
We’re a tough audience where a drapey, wide-leg pant is concerned, namely because we’ve tried 214 pairs of drapey, wide-leg pants. We’ve written many words about this pair, because finding any pants that fit this well and look this chic for $34 seemed like an impossibility. But here we are.
Price: $34
6. This Quiet Luxury Shirt Vest
A New Day™ Women's Square Neck Cami Vest
Whenever anything looks this tailored, you know it’s gonna look very good on and like you spent much more on it than you did. The front is smooth, waist-nipping perfection, while the smocked back ensures you don’t feel at all restricted and can actually breathe.
Price: $22
5. This Classic Jean Jacket
Quince 100% Organic Cotton Denim Jacket
We don’t see the point in spending more than $50 when you find an organic jean jacket that fits like this.
Price: $50
8. This Cropped Button-Down
Abercrombie Oversized Cropped Poplin Shirt
If the word “cropped” sends shivers down your spine, we’re here to convince you that this shirt will alleviate all fears. Oversized button-downs have become a sartorial symbol of sophistication. But a lot of them are hard to tuck or look kind of baggy and meh when left untucked. This one solved the problem by hitting at a length that no does not show any midriff but gives you that “feminine tomboy,” Meg Ryan meets Carolyn Bessette Kennedy effect of a perfect button down. We know we just threw a lot of words at you. Bottom line is it will be your best fitting button-down and you will want it in multiple colors.
Price: $42
9. This Perfect-Fitting Tee
Free People We The Free The Perfect Tee
We’re always searching for that one classic, flattering tee and there are soooo many brands charging $95 for them. This one is incredible on arms with jusssst the right amount of slouch. And it’s the ideal flattering length for all our high-waist pants.
Price: $38
10. This Luxe-Looking Maxi Skirt
Abercrombie Faux Silk Maxi Skirt
Silky skirts are having a moment, but the reason we like them is that they’re part of a timeless sort of French-lady aesthetic that isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. We fell a little in love with this maxi version with its floral hemline (though the stripe is also gorj). With the above tank and below sandals, you have yourself a summer uniform.
Price: $42
11. These Raffia Flats That Match Everything
Dolce Vita Geeya Raffia Sandals
Every designer does something with raffia for their summer collections year after year, probably because it will never stop conjuring images of strolling along the Amalfi coast. Needless to say, we were excited when we found these sandals, which may as well be designer. They match every single outfit we wear in warm weather and look 17x better than an old pair of flip-flops.
Price: $49
12. This Oversized Polo Sweater
Gap 24/7 Split-Hem Polo Sweater
Nothing screams luxury like a soft, cocooning sweater that dips over your hands. But add a polo neckline and a stripe, and you have an outfit unto itself. Looks great with any pair of jeans, but we recommend #3 on this list for the absolute best silhouette.
Price: $31
13. This Chic Maxi Dress
YOXUA Strapless Patchwork A-Line Tube Maxi Dress
Wear your hair in a loose, low bun with a flat, minimalist sandal and no $300 dress in your closet will get you as many compliments (whilst feeling like pajamas).
Price: $27
14. This Black And White Tote
Abercrombie Straw Packable Tote Bag
The kind of bag that instantly makes it looks like you know exactly what you’re doing with regard to styling your clothes. Wear it with black or white or both together. We love a one-item thing you can grab on your way out the door that will turn you chic. And this bag is that for us right now
Price: $48
15. This Cashmere Crewneck
Quince Mongolian Cashmere Crewneck Sweater
Perhaps you didn’t expect to find actual cashmere on an under-$50 list. But here she is. Soft as all heavens and fits exactly how we want a cashmere crewneck to fit. Comes in every color you could want, and you won’t be able to tell it from the versions that cost 4x as much.
Price: $50
16. This Cropped Button-Down
J. Crew Cropped Boatneck T-Shirt In Mariner Cotton
We end with something that you’ve probably seen before if you’ve hung out on our site for more than 48 seconds. This shirt is a French staple piece made all the more famous by Coco Chanel herself. And there is absolutely no reason in this world to spend more than $35 on it. Because this is the ideal one. If you take nothing else home on this list, take this tee.
Price: $35
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
We have to eat.
