30 Under-$150 Finds That People Will Whisper "Chic" at Every Time You Wear Them
There's nothing more satisfying than getting a compliment on the street from another woman. If you're into fashion, you probably put a lot of thought into what you wear, so to be recognized for that means something. Plus, it just feels good. Because of that, I'm always thinking about what items will garner compliments in the back of my head when I'm shopping. Even if it's a simple pair of jeans or a classic blazer, my mind goes straight to whether or not it has the subtle details and qualities that'll win me a compliment or two while I walk up Madison Avenue or down Mercer Street.
I've always been so intrigued by what makes an item noticeable and what doesn't, so to put my years of shopping for compliment-worthy pieces to the test, I set out to find a whole heap of them. To make the challenge even trickier, I put myself on a price limit of $150. Below, shop the 30 discoveries I made along the way, from capri pants to pops of red.
I recently got my hands on a pair of these Donni capris, and wow, they're so flattering. The material is stretchy but also firm enough to feel like real pants instead of thin leggings, and the ribbed fabric is extremely elevated.
I can't stop thinking about these $50 thong kitten-heel sandals from Nordstrom. Gimme.
At first, I saw this balconette bikini in black and was seconds away from buying it, but now that I've seen this color, I think it's the one for me.
Shop the matching '90s No-Tie String Bikini Bottom ($23).
This skirt is giving Marni and Prada vibes, and I'm 100% here for it.
Big earrings will always be a good idea, especially when they cost less than $50.
I own the black suiting version of this vest, and the fit is 10/10. I love this summery denim option so much that I just might put in a personal order.
Relaxed white trousers are essential in the summer, and if you need any styling inspo, just look to the chic inhabiters of Milan and Paris.
These look just like the sunnies Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy used to wear.
This is the ultimate white button-down shirt. No one does it better than Ralph.
Levi's Baggy Dad Jeans are some of the best jeans I've tried on in ages. The fit is just the right amount of relaxed.
Celebs such as Sofia Richie Grainge, Laura Harrier, and Jasmine Tookes are frequenting flat mules like this Schutz pair.
I love how luxe this beach tote is. I'd absolutely carry it for more than just a seaside excursion.
This low-rise linen pencil skirt has been in my Reformation shopping cart for far too long. I need to just order it already.
This simple, thin shoulder bag from Zara reminds me of all the old '90s Prada bags in my The RealReal cart.
For an easy dress that can go from the tennis courts to dinner with a few easy accessories, go for this pickleball dress from Norma Kamali. The color is just an added bonus.
With mixed-metal earrings like these, you can play around with your other jewelry without fear of clashing.
This $58 Madewell belt is blowing up online. I have one and would give it more than five stars if such a rating existed.
I love how subtle and chic these red flat slides from Massimo Dutti are.
I used to never be a raffia-bag person, but this one feels more elevated than others I've seen.
This is the kind of no-stress frock that you'll end up wearing once a week in the spring and summer.
My finger is hovering above the purchase button at Zara because of this top. I just love how structured it is.
I've lost count of how many Who What Wear editors own these viral Free People barrel jeans.
Eliza Huber is a New York City–based fashion editor who specializes in trend reporting, brand discovery, and celebrity style. She joined Who What Wear in 2021 after almost four years on the fashion editorial team at Refinery29, the job she took after graduating with a marketing degree from the University of Iowa. She has since launched two monthly columns, Let's Get a Room and Ways to Wear; profiled the likes of Dakota Fanning, Diane Kruger, Katie Holmes, and Sabrina Carpenter for WWW's monthly cover features; and reported on everything from the relationship between Formula One and fashion to the top trends from fashion month, season after season. Eliza now lives on the Upper West Side and spends her free time researching F1 fashion imagery for her side Instagram accounts @thepinnacleoffashion and @f1paddockfits, running in Central Park, and scouring eBay for '90s Prada and '80s Yves Saint Laurent.
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