Left: Oscar de la Renta dress: $5990; Right: Mortilo’s version for Walmart. $13.99
Last year, credit card debt hit an all-time high of $1 trillion. Inflation is still haunting consumers. A Bankrate survey found that fewer than half of Americans—44 percent—had enough savings to handle a $1,000 emergency expense.
“It is chic to be cheap in 2024. Quiet luxury – that minimalist aesthetic that whispered wealth and ruled the world of fashion last year – is out, and penny-pinching is in.”
Isolde Walters, The Daily Telegraph
TickTockers are trying to save more money in 2024 with the help of the new “loud budgeting” trend. But even discerning shoppers who can afford to buy whatever they want are not immune to the joys of finding a good fashion bargain.
I recently spoke with longtime couture client Deeda Blair, whose closet is filled with Chanel and Ralph Rucci. Deeda told me the only purchase she has made recently was from Zara: a pale gray T-shirt and wide-legged pants that really “excited” her because they were wrinkle-free and perfect for exercising and relaxing at home.
I love the challenge of writing price comparison articles, and I am never surprised by what I find. The market is flooded with merchandise, from the low end to the high and everything in between. There is a lot of sameness.
Much of what I discover is variations on a theme but at wildly different price points. Sometimes, some items are so identical that you need help telling the difference. Regarding fashion, “Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery” always comes to mind. Or is it “Great minds think alike”? That depends on how you see it.
To best illustrate, I select 12 items and show the expensive version alongside its much less pricey “twin.” It goes without saying that the items on the right will have a different quality than the high-end designs. Still, they can be put together convincingly if you have an innate personal style, an understanding of fashion, plenty of confidence, and a dose of attitude. It’s not where or what you shop, but how you wear it.
The Exuberant Floral Printed Maxi Dress (Refer to lead picture), Left: Cut of decadent faille, this Oscar de la Renta dress captures and preserves the botanic beauty of the gardens that inspired the Pre-Fall 2024 collection. Finished with a scoop neckline, this piece flaunts a feminine full skirt. Priced at $5990, it is for sale at Oscardelarenta.com Right, Portillo’s high waist maxi skirt with side pockets is covered in a wild bohemian floral print. Priced at $13.99, it is for sale at Walmart.com.
The Safari Jacket
Left, Yves Saint Laurent put the safari jacket on the map, and the spring-summer 2024 collection was an homage to the saharienne. This updated version stays true to its military feel. Crafted of khaki green cotton-ramie blend, it has notched lapels, flap pockets, a concealed front fastening, and a belted waist. It is priced at $1690 and is for sale at farfetch.com.
Right, Frame’s ultimate throw-on-and-go style is a clean, minimal take on the traditional safari jacket silhouette. Crafted from sturdy yet lightweight 100% cotton, it features epaulettes, utility pockets, and a removable belt—plus brass buttons that give it a luxurious edge. Reduced from $748 – $347, it is for sale at frame-store.com.
The (Very) Little Black Dress
Left, The late Azzedine Alaïa had a comprehensive understanding of the female form, thanks to an education in sculpture from École des Beaux-Arts. Revered for his bodycon silhouettes that defined the aesthetic of Paris in the ’80s, the ALAIA Spiral Skate Dress is illustrative of Azzedine’s love of the female form. Priced at $3030, it is for sale at fwrd.com.
Right, Helsa’s Black Faille Mini Dress gives new meaning to “little” in “little black dress.” It is made of mid-weight cotton gabardine and features a halter neck, back zipper closure, and side slip pockets. It is for sale at fwrd.com for $258.
The Crystal Studded Ballet Flat
Left, Touted as “The Shoe of the Season,” Alaia’s crystal-studded ballet flats have taken the fashion world by storm. Made of black-grained lambskin, they have an almond toe, treaded rubber sole, pin-buckle strap at the vamp, and crystal-cut accents. Priced at $1290, they are for sale at Alaia-maison.com.
Right, Arqa’s rhinestone-studded ballet flats have all the bells and whistles but will only cost $57.16. They are for sale at amazon.com.
The Iconic Chanel Jacket
Left, In Chanel’s Spring-Summer 1994 collection, Karl Lagerfeld brought a fresh perspective to the classic suit. The first look from this iconic collection was the legendary ivory suit, adorned with contrasting braided plastique trims, humorously referred to as “Scoubidou” by the French. The open-front jacket features four exterior pockets, the signature Chanel gilt metal chain along the hem, and three black and gold logo buttons on each sleeve. Priced at $3600, it is for sale at 1stdibs.com
Right, Tory Burch put her own spin on the iconic jacket with her Kendra cardigan. Crafted from soft wool and trimmed in contrast black sequins, it is reduced from $698 to $347 and is for sale at toryburch.com.
The Striped Club Blazer
Left, Libertine’s Eton Striped Short blazer has country club written all over it. The jacket is made of colorful striped silk and features a notch collar, button closure, long sleeves, flat pockets, and a tailored silhouette. It is for sale at bergdorfgoodman.com for $2950.
Right, Inspired by Princess Diana’s love of double-breasted blazers, Rowing Blazer’s Croquet Stripe Diana Blazer is made of a year-round 75% wool/25% cotton blend. It has brass house buttons, working 5-button cuffs, and a handmade cloisonné butthole badge. Priced at $598, it is for sale at rowingblazers.com
The Birdcage Bag
Left, At the recent NYBG Conservatory Ball, one guest was carrying what I considered the best accessory of the evening: the limited edition CHANEL Bird Cage bag from the pre-fall 2020 collection. It is undoubtedly a great conversation starter for special events. I did some sleuthing and found a similar version currently for sale on eBay with an asking price of $28,900.
Right, I did some more sleuthing and found a far less pricey iteration. No, it does not have a drawstring bag in lambskin leather, the top doesn’t open like a beautiful flower, the door doesn’t have two little birds, and the bottom is not decorated with pearls and a CC logo, but it’s pretty cute anyway. And it’s only $30.66 on dhgate.com
The “Tennis, Anyone?” Cardigan
Left, Thom Browne’s classic white cardigan is trimmed with red and navy stripes. It is made of lightweight cotton knit with a brand logo, a v-neck, long sleeves, and a button closure. It’s ideal if you are headed to Wimbledon to watch the tennis matches, or heading to Paris for the Olympics. Reduced from $3320, it is priced at $730 and for sale at yoox.com.
Right, The same came be said about Zara’s cardigan which is made from a thicker cotton blend. It has a v-neckline, long sleeves, front patch pockets, and contrast piping detail. Priced at $49.90 it is for sale at zara.com.
The Capacious Straw Shopper
Left, Mirroring the silhouettes of its sculptural ready-to-wear, Alaïa’s ‘Khaima’ tote will be a showstopper on the beach. Crafted from natural straw, it’s trimmed with supple black leather and sits tall on an arched base. It measures 14.6×19.7×6.3 inches. Carry yours by the structured top handles, or use the detachable strap. Reduced from $3320 to $1992, it is for sale at saksfifthavenue.com.
Right, The Cos Market Tote is a refined take on the classic straw bag and almost a mirror image of ‘Khaim”. Scaled up to oversized proportions, this version has a modern fanned shape and is trimmed with contrasting leather at the handle, base, and crossbody strap. Inside, a zipped pocket is designed for small essentials. Priced at $190, it is for sale at cos.com.
The Asymmetric Gown in Show Stopping Red
Left, This Valentino gown was designed by Valentino Garavani before his retirement in his signature Valentino Red color. From the 2000s, this ankle-length gown features an asymmetric v-neckline and a single off-the-shoulder strap. The dress is complete with ruching throughout and an asymmetric seam that runs across the dress, providing a balance to the neckline. Priced at $2795, it is for sale on 1stdibs.com.
Right, Flaunt your effortless style in this asymmetrical dress with side slit from Mango. This off-shoulder dress features an asymmetric design, a wide strap, invisible lateral zip fastening, a side opening at the hem, and gathered detail. Priced at $99.99, it is for sale at Nordstrom.com.
The Book Clutch Bag
Left, Adored by the literary-loving fashion elite, French brand Olympia Le-Tan reimagines classic book covers and transforms them into artisanal clutches. Le Tan’s “A History of Opera” Clutch book bag is made of hand-embroidered silk thread and felt appliqué with a stainless steel frame. Each piece has a unique printed lining (which could differ from the picture). Limited edition numbered, it measures 20cm x 14cm x 3cm. Priced at $2238.38, it is for sale on olympialetan.com.
Right, VRStorybook specializes in customizable book bags and book clutches. “The Phantom of the Opera” Bookbag is available for customization like all the others from this designer. The dimensions range from 18x12x4 cm (7.1” x 4.7” x 1.6”) interior 16x10x3.5 cm (4” x 6.1” x 1.7”) to 21x13x5 cm (8.3” x 5.1” x 2”) interior 18.7x12x3.9 cm (4.6” x 7.6” x 1.8”) depending on which finish you order. Priced at $204, it is for sale on etsy.com
The Zebra Striped Cloud Bag
Left, Bottega Veneta’s iconic cloud bag in graphic zebra-striped Nappa leather is so popular that it has sold out. Originally priced at $3100, I found one for sale at fashionphile.com for $2480.
Right, Leave it to Shein to create an almost identical version. Of course, theirs is not genuine leather, but for $26, you can’t go wrong. To purchase, go to shein.com
*Meanwhile, zebra prints were used throughout the recent Jacquemus Fall 2024 ready-to-wear collection shown in Capri. Simon Porte Jacquemus is to be honored with FIT’s Couture Council Luncheon on September 4 at Lincoln Center.
Latest Comments:
Thank you for all your research into this fascinating history.
Wow! Patternmaking brings designs to life and can inspire changes for better design!
Exciting event celebrating jewelry creativity!
Great and informative article. There is nothing that compares to a beautifully made garment that lasts forever.
All one has to do is look at her to know that all you say so eloquently is true. Like…
It’s Exhilarating to see so many varieties of BEAUTIFUL!!!
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Thank you for that RF….yes..it’s an ongoing complaint..and it is NOT about looking young..it’s about looking and feeling great and…
So refreshing to see you aging gracefully and looking fabulous! Too many people fixated on looking young instead of appreciating…
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Wonderfully written article Marilyn