I’m changing things up a bit with this post and sharing how I shop for trendy pieces. Did you know I got this entire outfit for under $100? I admit that I scroll through my Instagram feed and see the countless bloggers sporting name brands and can’t help but lust over their cool clothes. However, often times I am not willing to pay $$$ for a ruffled crop top or two-tone jeans. Now I totally understand the sentiment around paying more for quality and I would totally agree with that but when it comes to trend items you never know how long that trend will actually last.
Personally, I stick to fast fashion retailers like Forever 21, H&M, and Zara when it comes to looking for more affordable and wearable trendy pieces. The worst thing is when you buy something because it looked amazing on someone else but ends up collecting dust in your closet because it was perfect for that one outfit. Trust me, I’ve had those moments and I’ve learned which is why I want to share my top tips for getting the look for less:
- Do your research: Duh but seriously. Spend the extra time digging around online for similar pieces because more often than not, Zara (or some other store) will likely have a good dupe. It takes some extra time but there are a ton of great resources if you just Google, like In Their Closet which tells you how to get celebrity looks for a fraction of the price.
- Find your go-to stores: Trend items are hot commodities so it’s no wonder why big retailers are following suit. Since you’re buying into the look and not quality, you want to be careful of sizing and materials so it’s important that you find brands/companies that are trustworthy and consistent. I have a pretty solid list of my go-to stores including Missguided, Boohoo, LuLu’s, and the ones mentioned above so you can still look cute without breaking the bank.
- Screenshot or save your inspo: There are a lot of shopping apps these days to help you hunt down the exact or alternative pieces. Whether I’m shopping in-store or online, I like to save my inspo photos so I can easily reference them. The ‘Saved Posts’ feature on Instagram has been a really handy way to do this. Another option is using the LIKEtoKNOW.it app so all you have to do is like or screenshot an Instagram photo and you’ll get the details sent directly to you.
- Use discount finding tools: This has to be one of the oldest tricks in my book. These stores are usually running some form of promotions for new shoppers but you’ll have to subscribe to their newsletter. That’s fine but if you’re looking for one less hoop to jump through, I recommend checking out Ebates or Honey. Both offer Chrome extensions so you can easily see when there’s a promo code or cashback opportunity for an online store. All you have to do is create an account and when you’re shopping on an eligible store, these tools will notify you via the extension. Trust me, this is a no brainer.
Alright, those are all the tips I have for how to shop for trendy pieces. I hope these were helpful but I would love to hear of any other ways in the comments below! P.S. If you follow my Instagram, I usually include LIKEtoKNOW.it links or tag the brands in my pics if you want to shop my looks directly. You’ll also see that I’m currently obsessed with these glasses ?
