I would love to have a bougie and impressive wardrobe and supply of items, but that is far out of my reach. I can’t realistically have Lululemon’s entire collection or 15 Yves Saint Laurent bags. Sometimes, I would prefer not to spend 80 dollars on a single pair of shorts, even if they may be adorable. Luckily, for just about everything, there is an appropriate and adorable dupe. A dupe, if you weren’t informed, is an object or item of clothing that is very similar or the same as another but not from the original high-end brand for a cheaper, more affordable price. Finding these can be hit or miss, but it is always worth checking to save ten to one hundred dollars.
One of the best places to look for dupes is Amazon. I have many dupes from there that I sometimes forget aren’t the name brand to begin with. My favorite dupes are my Lululemon, Hotty Hot dupes. I had them given to me a few years ago, and I have worn them countless times since. They are a dupe of the older style of Hotty Hots, but multiple people have asked me if my shorts were the Lululemon brand. They fit perfectly, with a breathable athletic fabric that is lightweight and soft. I have had them for almost 3 years now and they have no pilling or tears. It is nearly as if they are like new. Along with these shorts, amazon has amazing Lululemon, Athleta, and Free People Movement dupes that can satisfy your outfits.
Birkenstocks are worn by people of all ages and genders. Yet, with all their popularity, they are not cheap shoes. I have owned multiple different Birkenstocks over the years, but making a high-priced purchase can be difficult. Luckily, the same style of shoes can be found at a variety of stores, from Walgreens to Kohls. You can find the different styles, materials, and colors between different stores, for sometimes less than half the price. Although they will likely vary slightly, they will still give the same spice to any outfit. Additionally, they usually aren’t made of the same material, so getting them dirty and wet won’t be as big of a consequence. For the original leather Birkenstocks, they are supposed to stay dry, because the water will ruin the materials. If you purchase a cheaper pair, they may not be tolerant to the weather and natural conditions, yet if they do get ruined or ragged, it won’t burn as big of a hole in your pocket to buy another pair, or even hurt for all you paid the first time.
Makeup is a great category of dupes because some things have a price difference of ten to fifty dollars but go on your face the exact same. Elf has amazing dupes of multiple products. Although I don’t have it, my friend has a Rare Beauty blush dupe from Elf that she loves. It is similarly packaged and includes a similar applicator and shade. A little goes a long way, so if used correctly it will last a long time. It cost all of seven dollars while the Rare Beauty cost twenty-three dollars.
If you enjoy a certain brand and know you enjoy it, sometimes they will carry dupes of other brands themselves. Although you may not save on price considerably, you may have the comfort of knowing the brand is familiar and worth the price. For example, Altar’d State has a lot of dupes from Stanleys, Lululemon, Free People, and more, but they’re not always considerably cheaper than the original. Still, if that is a familiar brand, then sometimes playing it safe is the better option.
The best place for dupes, as I mentioned earlier, is Amazon. The website, along with fast and efficient shipping, has an enormous variety of options from clothes to home and everything in between. Also, Target tends to have good dupes from time to time. In all honesty, there are so many places that carry dupes that it isn’t even worth mentioning. You can find them almost anywhere, it simply depends on what you are looking for. Sometimes, going to a local large chain store like Costco, Meijer, and even Walmart can find dupes for insanely cheap prices, although I do find that all those places and probably many more are very hit or miss.
There are a few guidelines for dupes. Firstly, sometimes the original brand and expense are for a reason and will provide better quality or comfort. Although this is not always the case, when dupe shopping, taking that into account is always worth the thought. If you are expecting a short-term piece of clothing or item, then go right into it. If you would prefer something for the long term that will benefit you to the best of its ability, maybe you should buy the classic. Similarly, the item will probably not be identical. Whether it’s a pocket placement or length, it may not perfectly compare in style to the original either.
Also, the main idea of dupes is to mask as if they are the original. So if that is your goal, make sure there are no obvious giveaways that make it look fake. For example, there are many dupes of Marc Jacobs’ The Tote Bag. These tend to not be the ideal dupe because their name is largely and bluntly advertised. Instead, it is an obvious side brand. Of course, it is acceptable if you don’t care if people know it is fake, and all you want is a similar-style bag. Then feel free to buy away. Sometimes they open a door to new and creative options that you didn’t get with the original brand. But, if you would like it to be discreetly off-brand, that may not be the easiest brand to mimic.
The biggest rule to remember is don’t feel ashamed to buy a dupe. Not everyone can keep up with the Jones and have a full closet of $80 per piece of clothes or a house full of $1000 objects. It is realistic and real to have off-brand items, especially if they are cheaper. Sometimes they can even be better than the original.
