Being in college, saving money when at all possible is a common thing many students experience. The cost of tuition and cost of living is already high in California on its own, so luxuries such as going out and buying new things come with some territory. That means having to choose what is more of a priority at times when shopping, or finding good dupes with the changing seasons as clothing styles and trends are ever-evolving. Luckily, I have been able to find some dupes to help you look and feel your best this spring!
Dr. Martens have made a full comeback this year, with both the low and high styles being worn by many. As with many things, the quality of the shoes has gone down some since their initial creation, yet the price is steep at an average of $100, which is similar to the price of the Adidas superstar sneakers or Nike Air Force 1’s, both of which are also on trend currently as a go-to everyday sneaker. If you like the look of Docs but don’t like the price point, ASOS has a pair with a very similar look that are currently on sale for $32.50 at the time of writing this article, called the Magda chunky lace-up flat shoes in black patent. Not bad, considering the original price point was $50!
Dr. Martens 8053 Leather Platform Casual Shoes for $180:
ASOS Magda chunky lace-up flat shoes in black patent for $32.50:
Jeans have also as always been a staple in everyone’s wardrobe, however finding a good pair can be difficult (especially for those of us who are vertically challenged, like yours truly). Recently the style of jeans that have made a strong statement have been the total opposite of the skinny jean trend of decades – the preferred style for trendy girlies today is a wider-flared leg fit. The well-known brands for jeans tend to have higher prices, however Hollister in particular has different affordable styles currently available. Cider, an online retailer that is known for having numerous cute and trendy clothing styles for cheap, also has some jeans that are in the $30 range. Having ordered there before, I can vouch for the fact that their clothing is better quality than their competitor SHEIN, and it does look just as good in person. Hollister has some affordable options, too!
Princess Polly “Holly Asymmetric Straight Leg Jean Light Wash Denim Lower Impact” jeans for $76:
Hollister’s Ultra High-Rise Medium Wash 90s Straight Jeans for $29:
Y2K and even some 90’s fashion is back and better than ever! Juicy Couture has put out a stellar new collection filled with pastel colors for their tracksuits they have always been known for – however, the bad news is that the jacket/top piece itself is over $100, so a whole set would be over $200. Definitely not something most of us can justify buying at a time of inflation. Want the look for less? Head over to Forever 21 or Victoria’s Secret, they have essentially the exact same thing for a quarter of the price – VS has a set going for $26.99, and Forever 21 has a set for around $40.
Juicy Couture’s “OG Big Bling Velour Hoodie” for $119:
(https://juicycouture.com/products/juicy-couture-og-big-bling-velour-hoodie-hot-hot-spr23)
Victoria’s Secret “Velour Full-Zip Hoodie” for $26.99:
(https://www.victoriassecret.com/us/vs/apparel-catalog/5000008419?genericId=11187860&choice=5MKK&size1=S&size1=S&cm_mmc=PLA-_-GOOGLE-_-VSD_VS_Sport%2BLounge_SSC-_-Ad+group&&&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgO3lmpa8_gIVPymtBh3tDwpbEAYYASABEgIzUfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds)
At the end of the day, even if you are a fashion lover through and through, labels don’t matter at the end of the day, and neither do material things, so it is better to skip the name and luxury brands when necessary and go for something that is good quality and will last you a while. I hope ultimately that fast fashion eventually becomes a thing of the past, and that we can all feel confident and our best selves in whatever we end up wearing. Authenticity and happiness is what makes you beautiful.