13 Items Of Clothing Under $50 We Wear Every Single Day To Look Chic
Nothing’s more thrilling than dressing bougie on a budget.
by The Candidly Team
Clothes are getting more expensive. Which makes it harder and harder to dress chic on any kind of budget without looking like we hit up a sale rack at Forever21.
We’re sick of watching something we just bought turn stiff and sad and fall apart after 3 wears or 1 wash.
And the most annoying part is now that we’re more, ahem, refined, we ONLY want to buy clothes of lasting quality that fit us perfectly, that, at least, look like an investment, and that we’ll wear for a long, loooooooong time. The word “forever” comes to mind. Just not 21.
Needless to say, we spend many achy hours looking for really well-priced pieces that we’re just as excited about as the splurgey stuff. Today, we present you with 13 of our favorites.
Buy one, and you have a staple you can turn to a million times over. Buy them all, and you have a downright capsule wardrobe. If we sound pleased with ourselves, it’s cause we kind of are. But we’re more pleased with the clothes.
Let’s see what you think.
1. This Luxe Knit Top
Abercrombie Crochet-Style Shell Top
It’s the detail that makes things look more expensive. That and, of course, the fit. This top has such a chic shape and the perfect crochet pattern to make it a staple for spring/ summer. The high neck means we can easily wear a little cami underneath. A nude bra is also perfection.
Price: $50
2. These Foolproof Classic
Jeans
Levi's Women's 314 Shaping Straight Jeans
Nothing is more classic than an in-between jean - not too loose, not too wide-leg. This Levi’s pair is incredibly flattering on every shape. Makes your legs go on for days. But more to the point, makes your butt look amazing.
Price: $49
3. This Mindlessly Easy
Dress-Up Skirt
Quince Chiffon Pleated Midi Skirt
Sort of a wearable version of the Carrie Bradshaw opening credits look, no? Which explains why we love it in pale pink but in black it becomes an especially amazing solution for those of us who never find dresses we want to wear to “occasions.” This skirt with any excellent fitted top (might we suggest #8 on this list?) and your best heels will do just fine.
Price: $50
4. This Whisper Soft Button-
Down
J. Crew Garçon Classic Double-Gauze Shirt
Let us count the ways we wear this shirt. Half-tucked into high-waist ankle jeans on the weekend. Fully-tucked into a fav trouser for work. Open over a sleek fitted dress. Tied above a gorj midi skirt. Just long and loose with any decent pair of shorts in the dead of summer. It’s soft and light, which makes it possibly the biggest thing we turn to in warmer months. It’s on sale rn so get a move on.
Price: $44.50
5. This Genuinely “Cool”
Chino Pant. Yep, We Said
Chino Pant
J. Crew High-rise Girlfriend Chino Pant
Guys, we wanted a reeeeeeallly well-fitting chino ever since we laid eyes on THIS perfect outfit from Jennifer Aniston. It just makes you look so effortlessly cool, so (almost accidentally) chic. These pants have nailed it. Lots of colors. Size up to 24.
Price: $47.50
6. This Iconic Jean Jacket
Quince 100% Organic Cotton Denim Jacket
Want to read our love letter to a jean jacket? Go HERE. Want to just jump on the perfect one for 50-flippin’ bucks? Go HERE.
7. This Very French Tee We
Keep Going On About
J. Crew Cropped Boatneck T-shirt
Have you been hanging out with us lately? Then surely you’re sick of us talking about this French marinière and how it makes your boring old clothes into outfits and creates perfect proportions. If, however, it’s your first time seeing this gem, don’t let the word “cropped” scare you. It hits exactly where you want it to without showing any skin. We even had one of ours hemmed to make it shorter because we wanted that cropped look. Yes, we said one of ours. We got it in multiple colors. It’s just THAT good.
Price: $32.50
8. This Sophisticated And Deeply Flattering Tank
What is this material? That’s what you’ll ask yourself when you see yourself nipped and smoothed and molded into this perfect tank. We loooooove that it dresses up, too. Sizes in plus and petite. Comes in the full color wheel. Might we recommend striped?
Price: $48
9. These Linen Shorts
That Make You Want To Immediately
Book A Vacation To Any Riviera
Abercrombie Linen-Blend Pull-On Short
Half of you will hate this particular print but for the romantics among us who dream of an afternoon in Provence and a non-boring shorts look, these are quite the find. Just imagine with a fitted tank, the above gauzy button-down, and your chicest leather sandal. Have you not mastered spring? Or summer for that matter? But here’s the main thing. You want a pair of shorts that fit like this. And yup, they come in solid as well as other patterns. Size up to XXL.
Price: $50
10. This Summery Tote That
Makes Us Look Chic When
Lugging Round Our “Junk
Drawer” Of Essentials
Universal Thread™ Caning Natural Tote Handbag
Speaking of mastering spring/ summer, we just found a home for our SPF, unread book, sunglasses, reading glasses, spare sweater, 7 scrunchies, 2 snacks, and weird number of lip glosses (even for us). And it all just looks so perfect, so chic, so contained in this tote.
Price: $35
11. This Deeply Flattering
Organic Tee
HonestBaby Short Sleeve Boxy T-Shirt
Drop sleeves and boxy fits make us look younger without looking like we’re trying to look younger. Incidentally, they make waists look smaller and legs look longer. Also, all t-shirts should be this soft. And organic. And cost $20.
Price: $17 - $23
12. This Everyday Spring
Dress
Quince Tencel Jersey Fit & Flare Dress
Spot the pocket? First thing we noticed. Plus, it’s buttery soft and gives you a stunning silhouette. Honestly, you’re gonna have trouble not choosing to wear this dress (in whatever color mosts speaks to you) daily.
Price: $50
13. This Nude Sandal That
Feels Like Nothing
Flip flops sometimes bore us. But we like a sleek little swoop of nothingness in a shoe. It’s just very sophisticated and ultra-feminine. Behold, a beautiful example of strappy flat sandals done correctly. They make looking at our feet just an all-around lovely experience all throughout the day.
Price: $50
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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