21 Under-$40 Pieces That Are Surprisingly Elegant
If you have yet to figure out fashion's biggest hack, we'll let you in on the secret: Style can't be bought. While on the surface, that might seem to indicate that true style comes down to an innate sense of creativity and taste, it also implies that great fashion isn't relegated to high-end designers. There's no premeditated price tag that can ensure a chic outfit.
Sure, we all wish we could stockpile our closet with designer digs, but a high-low mix is often key to achieving your own original look. And having a keen eye for sussing out the best cheap buys will keep your style and your bank account thriving.
Below, we've compiled a list of 22 surprisingly elegant pieces priced at $40 and under. Prepare to look polished as hell for less than your bottomless brunch.
Pack this breezy dress for your next vacation, and throw it on when you're ready to trade in the beach for a walk around the city.
Skip the basic tees, and give your look a polished touch with a puff-sleeve top.
Our fingers are crossed that we can pull off this satiny top even half as well as @monroesteele.
Barrettes are cute, but it's time to stop sleeping on embellished hair ties.
Whether you pair it with some strappy kitten heels or a set of Doc Martens, this skirt will instantly add a refined yet stylish appeal to any look.
These retro-inspired pedal pushers will be your favorite pants of the summer.
Girl With a Pearl Earring? Now you can be the girl with insanely affordable pearl earrings.
This wrap-front sweater ticks all the boxes for simple, sweet, and chic.
Summer trends we're still not over: the little white top.
These fun, printed mini bags are the perfect size for carrying around your essentials.
Add an instant pop of color to any outfit with these bright-orange slingbacks.
The summer frock of your dreams.
Give your trusty gold hoops a break in exchange for a fun beaded pair.
Thankful for Nordstrom's Half-Yearly Sale. This discounted top is practically a steal.
Next up: 41 stylish items you can find on Amazon.
Ray Lowe is a contributing editor forBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing . She's spent the last decade living in New York, but now that she professionally works from home, she's slowly been going back to her roots by splitting time between NYC and L.A. A year ago, she left a four-year stint as a fashion editor for Refinery29 to explore the freelance life. Nowadays, she does just about everything from penning online articles (forBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing , Refinery29, Elle, Cosmo, and many more) to writing scripts, styling, and finding ways to fuse her love for both Disney and fashion. Her main beat is fashion (trends, emerging brands, affordable finds, you name it), but you may find her dropping in with a beauty story every now and then. As for her personal style, she'd best describe it as a balanced blend of basics and contemporary trends, often with a dash of Mickey Mouse thrown in for good measure. In her spare time, she can be found coddling my pets (a French bulldog and a rescue cat), curating travel itineraries for her friends, scrolling through Instagram for up-and-coming brands, and watching so-bad-they're-good films.