Our 10 Favorite Dupes For Insanely Priced Designer Pieces
by The Candidly Team
We know that many designer things are just “paying for a label.” Not all of them, mind you, but many.
But some are more quiet luxury. Or they possess some stroke of genius that makes everything we wear with them look wildly better, more expensive, more “styled.”
We’re willing to pay a little more for special pieces that make dressing a million times easier.
But not when that amount is off the rails.
And so we found 10 unbelievable, sometimes double-take, dupes for the most ludicrously expensive things we’ve been lusting after recently.
All are special. All fill a hole in our wardrobe that makes them as practical as they are desirable.
We’re dressed better because of them.
And here they are.
1. DESIGNER VS DUPE
On the left we have the acclaimed Jenni Kayne Cashmere Cocoon Cardigan that’s admittedly a stunning thing to have on hand for all of time, but it costs almost half a grand. And while we’re all about investing in a single, cashmere sweater that fits like a dream and lasts a lifetime, we found THIS one that’s equally soft, equally luxe, equally cocooning, and it doesn’t require near as much saving. It’s from Quince. It costs more than 3 times less, and there’s a 97% chance we’re wearing ours at this very moment.
2. DESIGNER VS DUPE
A loafer is already the solution to “what shoe works with this outfit?” an uncanny amount of the time, but Gucci with its detailed touches takes it to another level where the shoe itself elevates anything else we happen to be wearing. Add it to a cozy knit dress or a plain t-shirt and jeans and suddenly you’re high art, completely put together, a genius where fashioned is concerned. And we get to achieve all this while remaining both comfortable and lazy - the dream. But, of course, Gucci loafers are guttingly expensive. In truth, if we’re buying anything Gucci we’d rather spend half as much on THIS. But as for the loafer, Sam Edelman makes a version just as pretty and with just as much power to up-level all our clothes. They’re flawless, my friends, and 1/4 of the price.
3. DESIGNER VS DUPE
The oversized tie on THIS Bottega Veneta bag took some sort of double-knotted hold around our heart that we haven’t been able to shake, that is, until Anthro-frickin-pologie made THIS incredible dupe. We love the full-size version as an everyday bag (especially in black) but we also adore the mini version which we’ll be scooping up and taking to every party we’re invited to this year.
4. DESIGNER VS DUPE
There are few things more simultaneously cool and classic than a jean jacket. It makes all our black pants, dresses, skirts, tees, or literal joggers look “styled.” The look is always effortlessly clean and cool, but the fit and feel is what you have to pay close attention to. So you could go for $400 designer orrrrrrrr you could go for the 100% organic cotton, soft, comfy, perfect-fitting $50 version from Quince.
5. DESIGNER VS DUPE
Red is very on trend at the moment, and we wouldn’t normally care about a trend (not because we’re above it - just because we’re old and tired and trends typically don’t work for us), but this one makes sense. A gorgeous red shoe is show-stopping in and of itself. We can wear a simple black dress, or even jeans, and a shoe like THIS perfect Prada will stun.
“I’ve been looking for a red suede pump!” (Name that quote)
But we won’t do foot pain. Or $1000 price tags. What we will get behind is a heel that’s gorgeous but is made specifically to feel amazing on our poor, achy feet. Our Inez dupe isn’t a $50 DSW brand. It’s designer and detailed and still admittedly an investment, but the brand’s mission is to make heels we can actually walk all day in without suffering. Also, they last FOREVER.
AND…we have a code just for you for 15% off. Use CANDIDLY15.
6. DESIGNER VS DUPE
Leather pants are basically the solution when we just don’t want to think about what it might take to look “dressed up.” For date nights or any post 4PM events. Wear them with anything, anything, and you have edge, a hint of sexiness, all while looking “put together.”
So it makes sense we worry that if we buy a faux pair, they’ll come off shiny and plasticky and ruin the whole effect of something like THIS lusted after pair from AGOLDE.
However, THIS vegan style from Marcella came along and proved we don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to get everything we desire from a pair of leather pants. They are soooo flattering on curves, size up to 3X, and and aren’t super shiny, so they look genuine and expensive and feel glorious and smoothing on every bit of our bodies.
7. DESIGNER VS DUPE
Some jewelry takes a mysterious hold on us, like we’ve formed a tiny little kinship with a specific piece, and since we’ll wear it for most of our lives, unlike our clothes, it does kind of feel like a part of us. This all to say that THIS statement necklace from Foundrae is one of those pieces. The serpent pendant is supposed to represent “wholeness,” and we swear we’re not being witchy when we say something about it feels sort of grounding or centering (maybe it’s the weight of it alone, but we like to think it’s something else). Fine, we’re being witchy.
Sidenote: Maybe you’ve seen this or a similar version on Gwyneth Paltrow, who we have to say looks even more beautiful than normal and almost illuminated every time she wears it.
But amazingly, we recently found another pendant that we love just as much, possibly even more, and that slashed a full zero off the price of Foundrae’s. Still crafted from a brilliant designer. Still a badge of absolute beauty. It symbolizes “protection” and feels like a tiny shield beaming from our chest. This particular version above is gold-dipped in sterling silver, so it lasts forever, but it also comes in a solid gold that costs much much less than Foundrae’s. We’re wild about the snake, but there are other designs that feel like they’re magically suited to several important humans in our lives. So, once again, we will be gifting this treasure.
8. DESIGNER VS DUPE
If you’re unhinged like us, you may remember the look Katie Holmes wore on the streets of New York, sweater just open enough to expose a cashmere bra. And while we’re realists who willingly accept the fact that our boobs in a cashmere bra would equal nothing more than nipples veering in opposite flight-paths and highly unfortunate sweat stains, we still covet that sweater.
Of course, it’s from Khaite, and of course it’s almost 2K. But we’ve been so obsessed for so long that we found two dupes: 1 the perfect spitting image you see above that’s chic and luxury in its own right, and 2. a $40 Amazon steal that has that same chic, pocketed shape we want to wear daily. Maaaaaybe even with a cashmere cami and our own comfy-as-all-heavens bra underneath…naturally.
9. DESIGNER VS DUPE
Anyone who asks a question ending in the word “wishlist” gets sent THESE Birkenstocks so fast, they barely have time to find them sold out on practically every site on the internet. There’s a reason. They’re heaven to wear. And they’re one of few slippers you can acceptably wear in public. THIS dupe from Quince is 100% water repellent suede, but by shipping direct from maker to customer, they cost half the price. And they are JUST. AS. COMFORTABLE. They make the perfect gift, but be warned, slip this cozy clog onto your own foot, and you won’t want to give it away.
10. DESIGNER VS DUPE
A coat is one thing we firmly believe is worthy of investment, bceause we but it once and keep it for a lifetime. And in that lifetime, it needs to be classic, timeless, and durable. It needs to make everything we layer under it look chicer and more upscale. Vince makes flawless coats like THIS one, but if you’re not ready to invest on that level (who is?), Marcella has created an Italian wool coat with possibly our favorite relaxed fit of all time. It comes in every color we could ever want and sizes up to XXXL. And while it’s not as cheap as Amazon, it’s also not something we’ll ever feel the need to replace. And as a sure-to-be heirloom winter coat, it could be the most valuable item on this list.
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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