6 Expensive-Looking Outfits I'm Re-Creating on the Cheap

I'm sure I'm not the only one who has big plans in mind for the second this period of quarantine is over, but I might be one of the few who is actually pre-planning outfits to wear once I'm allowed to see my friends again. To find truly fresh outfit ideas, I always sift through my saved photos on Instagram, and while doing so recently, I noticed that a lot of the looks I bookmarked had a particularly expensive-looking vibe about them. It was clearly my goal to re-create each of these looks in some way or another, but this time, I decided to shop out each item with budget-friendly price tags only.
Ahead, enjoy scrolling through six expensive-looking ensembles that can actually be re-created quite affordably, and I have all the shopping to prove it. With items from some of your favorite affordable retailers, this roundup is sure to encourage you to do a little extra digging the next time you want to re-create an outfit you see on Instagram because trust me: Putting in the work is worth it.
I was looking for a way to liven up a simple white dress, and this look proved that apparently, a gold belt and strappy sandals are all I really need.
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I wasn't sure that a laid-back yet tailored summer look was possible, but this easy tank and faux-leather shorts look proved me wrong.
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There's nothing I love more than a relaxed, oversize suit, so the second I laid eyes on this one, I knew I had to re-create it. I couldn't find one with this exact dusty hue, but to be honest, I am not hating the bright blue one that I found below.
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Any dress that exposes a little bit of my back is a winner in my book. Since it's difficult for me to not wear a bra, I was pleased with this similar(ish) Zara dress that I found that dips only a little in the back.
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It's unclear when we will all be back in our offices, but the second we are, I plan on experimenting with expensive-looking color palettes like this one. It's tailored, it's exciting, and it can be re-created on a budget.
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This might be an unpopular opinion, but summer leather is a trend that I plan on supporting (hopefully beyond the confines of my own home) next season. This outfit should be able to convince you if you feel differently.
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Lauren Eggertsen is currently the editorial director of Who What Wear and has worked at the company for over nine years, where she started as an associate editor and has since worked her way up. Lauren has worked in the Los Angeles and New York Who What Wear offices but currently calls L.A. home. Here, she leads and manages Who What Wear's editorial team and oversees all editorial content. Lauren's role also includes helping to set the fashion direction for all original photo shoots and often styles many celebrity cover shoots, including big names like Kaia Gerber, Normani, and Sabrina Carpenter. She has also attended multiple fashion weeks, including New York, London, Milan, and Paris, where her style has been featured on sites such as Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, and Elle.
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