The 10 Most Expensive-Looking Things We Bought For Spring From Budget-Friendly Stores
Image: Karwai Tang | Getty Images
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by The Candidly Team
Are we the only ones who are now using our Pinterest as a giant junk drawer for clothes we can’t afford but feel like if we save for later there’s still a chance we’ll one day own them?
Just us?
But you get the basic sentiment. There are lots of looks we’d be thrilled to wear, but when we try to dupe them with cheap clothes, we end up giving up so much on quality, we miss the whole point.
Well, that’s what this article is here to reconcile. There are few things more satisfying than finding perfect and affordable pieces that have the exact same effect as their expensive and designer counterparts. And well, we found 10.
Here they are in no particular order:
1. These $50 Jeans That Are As Flattering As Designer
WHAT: Quince Bella Stretch Relaxed Straight Jeans*
Why We Love It: The only reason we ever fork over a lot of cash on a pair of jeans is because the fit is so superior we know we’ll now feel depressed putting on any of our existing jeans. These jeans have such a classic, sculpting fit on your butt and hips, but there’s also a huge amount of stretch, so we can actually breathe and squat and enjoy our lives. They never gape or lose their perfect shape. And they cost $50. Here’s a little front and back view of one of us wearing them.
* Gifted
Price: $50
2. This Sailor-Chic Fisherman Cardi
WHAT: Quince 100% Organic Cotton Fisherman Boxy Cropped Cardigan*
Why We Love It: If you’ve visited our site more than once, you’re probably already sick of hearing us go on about the undying chicness of stripes. But we really do appreciate how something so simple and lazy as choosing a staple piece in stripe instead of solid makes our outfit look more styled and more expensive. We love the detail on this striped cardi from Quince (poor detail is a dead giveaway for something being cheap). And if you prefer a pullover style we also really love THIS ONE* and THIS ONE.* Both are in our carts.
Price: $50
3. These Old Money Trouser Shorts
WHAT: Next Friends Like These White Tailored Bermuda Short*
Why We Love It: Nothing screams old money like trouser shorts. Well, maybe white trouser shorts. But we actually love that they offer us a very chic and more covered up way of wearing shorts. The pleating and high waist make this pair very flattering on all the lovely lady lumps on our lower bodies.
Price: $62
4. This Perfect Spring/Summer Set
WHAT: Z Supply La Belle Linen Cropped Top* and Scout Linen Pant*
Why We Love It: Z Supply is a brand that supplies us some of our prettiest sets. This one is the sort of set we could live in the entirety of every hot month of the year. It’s light and airy and spacious and flattering, but it also looks both tailored and designed, all of which is to say we feel like we’re in pajamas while looking our most put together. We wear it with chic flat sandals by day and heeled strappy ones by night.
* Gifted
Price: $68 for the top, $78 for the pants
5. This Gauzy, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy-esque Button-Down
WHAT: J.Crew Factory Double-Gauze Button-Up Shirt*
Why We Love It: If you like looking sophisticated and effortless and hold Carolyn Bessette Kennedy as a style icon, this is teh best piece for you on this list. It’s a classic button-down, but in light gauze so you can wear it through all the weird-weathered moods of spring. Tuck it or tie it at the waist with jeans or wear it open over fitted tanks and bodycon dressed for a little extra coverage.
Price: $49
6. This Beyond Flattering, Denim Corset Dress
WHAT: Gap Denim Seamed Corset Maxi Dress*
Why We Love It: It’s very hard to find a dress we love ourselves in. And not to borrow an overused social media trope, but it really is not us. It’s the dresses. But this is one of those dresses that makes you very happy when you look in the mirror. It shapes you but also has space every place you want it. Smocking in the back means it fits like a glove without restriction. It’s just such a good, smart spring staple dress. And we need more of those.
Price: $59
7. This "Clean Girl" Tank
WHAT: Banana Republic Factory Timeless Tank*
Why We Love It: We first wanted a tank with this exact shape when we saw THIS street-style look that’s been gracing fashion mags since the late 90s. Tuck it into cropped jeans, add a big old tote, and comfy, heeled sandals, and it’s just so minimalist and elevated at the same time.
Price: $12.50
8. This Staple Spring Midi Skirt
WHAT: Free People Lowen Striped Midi Skirt*
Why We Love It: We’ve written whole articles about this skirt. We own it in multiple colors. It’s the most welcome alternative to pants on warm days. Pair this skirt with any white t-shirt, tank, or button-down you already own and you look instantly upleveled and chic. There’s a band in the front so it looks elegant, but smocking in the back so there’s loads of stretch (the ultimate pairing). It comes in a bunch of solid colors, but you know how we feel about a stripe. We won’t make you sit through it again.
Here it is in white:
Price: $60 - $70
9. This Whispery White Tee That Other Brands Charge $95 For
WHAT: Z Supply Modern Slub Tee*
Why We Love It: We wouldn’t be doing our jobs if we didn’t include our favorite-fitting white t-shirt. And it’s from a brand that doesn’t inexplicably charge $95 for its white t-shirts. It’s the exact length to not have to tuck to look put together, but you can tuck it if you like, and it’s perfection.
Price: $39
10. This Woven Leather Sling Bag
WHAT: Quince Italian Leather Handwoven Sling Bag*
Why We Love It: We love a bag that gives tum coverage and is a literal part of your outfit. This one is real, woven, Italian leather and a wildly great price. Also comes in black* and taupe*.
Price: $94
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.
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