There are few things I love more than an affordable product that looks and feels high-end. I’ve been really trying to curtail my shopping habits lately, focusing on replacing worn-out basics (goodbye, beloved Liberty London ballet flats from 2007!!) and spending my money on furnishing a new apartment instead (stay tuned!). Lately, though, I’ve found a few total wins for less than the price of a few pumpkin spice lattes…
Target is smashing it out of the park lately in pretty much all departments…I’m particularly impressed, however, with their “A New Day” line. I got a beautiful, mid-weight olive-green belted sweater that I’m bringing to Italy with me for sure, along with a bunch of basic t-shirts. I usually stock up on J.Crew or J.Crew Factory t’s when they run those crazy sales over the summer, but I’ve been underwhelmed by the quality of their knits lately - it seems like the hems unravel or I get little holes along the seams after just a few washes/wears. Target’s t’s are a heavier weight (less see-through!) and, clocking in at around $10, I can’t complain.
I do tend to love J.Crew Factory’s shoes, however. I’m notoriously hard on my footwear…I have narrow heels and high arches, so my stride is weird and I wear the heels of shoes out like nobody’s business. I’ve purchased and re-purchased Factory’s classic ballet flat for years - it’s polished, inoffensive and basic enough to pair with just about anything - but I recently bought a pair of their new leather loafers in light gray during a 40% off promo, just to shake things up a bit. They’re a gorgeous color, incredibly comfortable and versatile.
I badly needed new workout gear - especially while moving, I realized that my leggings have absolutely passed their prime, and I’m getting really sick of the “oversized white V-neck Hanes cotton T” approach. I got rid of legitimately everything in my workout drawers and replaced it with Old Navy’s leggings - high rise, 7/8-crop, and full crop. I’ve been a long-time devotee of Target’s basic C9 sports bras, so I bought a rainbow assortment of those, and also purchased a few new yoga tops at both Target and Old Navy. To cap it all off, I had a promo code for Nike and got myself an utterly obnoxious pair of Frees - they’re the most heinous shade of neon coral, they’re comfortable as sin and they make me incredibly happy every time I wear them.
Old Navy in particular has been running insane promos lately - in addition to totally redoing my gym gear, I also bought a couple fresh pairs of pants (all I wear to work, I swear, is their ankle-length Pixie pants in a variety of colors, usually with a buttondown and sweater layered up top because I am oh-so-boring.).
Another entire category of clothes I sorely needed a refresh on was underwear, ooh OOH. Victoria’s Secret did a promo for buy 2, get 1 free bras, and 5 for $25 underwear, and yours truly literally threw out all her old undergarments and did a full refresh. And THAT is all you need to know about that, you creepers. ;)
I don’t know if I can call it cheap, but Anthropologie just did an Anthro Day 25% off weekend and I went NUTS. I really love longer pullover sweaters, and this one is the perfect combo of cozy and lightweight (I bought it in the emerald green, because I’m currently obsessed with that color). I also treated myself to a gorgeous silk top for Tuscany, because, really, why not?