As you may have noticed, we preach a lot about what under-$100 items to buy. With so many great affordable pieces out there, why pay more on certain types of fashion items? Since the beginning of the year, we've written approximately 100 (I honestly lost exact count) stories about affordable fashion items, and naturally, we can't buy all of them, but there are a handful of affordable items that we have bought over the past two months.
With incredible brands like H&M and Zara, and the gold mine that is Amazon, it's not hard to sneak some of them into our own shopping carts when making product selections for all of those affordable shopping stories, and we couldn't not share which ones make the cut. With that, keep scrolling to shop every under-$85 item we've actually bought this year, plus a few extras.
"I love the pretty lilac color of this super-simple sweater. (Hot tip: I've noticed this color on A LOT of retailers right now, so it's safe to say it's very on-trend.) When I'm feeling lazy, which is often, there's nothing else I want to wear but a sweatshirt and jeans, and this version is cute enough for a casual office."
"For the longest time, I couldn't be convinced that I needed more sunglasses. I wore the same pair every single day. Now I'm coming around to the whole idea of switching up sunnies based on your outfit, and these are my favorite new pair in my rotation."
"White tights rule, and I've ordered these twice now. Here's some inspo about how to style yours."
"I've bought this bra three times now, as Amazon has kindly reminded me. It's the comfiest bra I've ever worn in my 22-plus years of bra wearing. It's very nearly like I'm not wearing anything at all. My non-Boody bras in my drawer have gotten jealous at this point. Bonus: It's sustainably made!"
"This one is pretty simple: Bella Hadid wears black and white headbands, so I bought black and white headbands. It also happens they are excellent for resuscitating weird hair days. Just brush your hair back, use a little dry shampoo, and let the headband do all the smoothing of the front bits. This is practically a party pack, so you can share with your friends too."
"It's not often you can find a really nice-fitting, quality blazer for under $50, so when I stumbled upon this chic and luxe-looking beige blazer from H&M, I had to get my hands on it right away! I basically live in blazers, and this is unquestionably one of my new favorites this season."
"I'm really into relaxed tailored trousers right now (a trend we saw in full force on the spring runways). This polished pair from Topshop is so easy to wear with heels and sneakers alike."
"I basically live in joggers because I work from home often. But luckily for me, they've become a fashion-person staple as of late as a cool alternative to leggings."
"My favorite trend right now is white socks and loafers. As a result, I've been stocking up on fresh white crew socks. A staple for me."
"Lately, I've found myself favoring pants to jeans most days, and my latest obsession is these $40 cropped flares from Zara (seen here). They feel like leggings but look so much more polished."
"While my exact dress isn't on Zara's site anymore, this one hits on all the same main points—puffy sleeves, mini length, billowy shape—and most importantly serves as a canvas for some creative layering. I'm partial to layering a printed turtleneck underneath."
"When I saw this beautiful pink button-down shirt at the H&M Studio Collection preview, I knew I needed to get it in my closet ASAP. For as 'boring' an article of clothing as an Oxford shirt, the fuchsia color and crinkled texture really elevate and make it into something special. I can already imagine wearing it buttoned up to the collar with a pair of sculptural earrings."
"I own this sports bra in every color. I find that it's perfect for all kinds of workouts and is beyond comfortable."
"This wool cardigan is one of my favorite winter pieces right now. I bought the infamous set pretty much everyone owns now, and I wear it all the time. It's warm and the perfect amount of cropped."
"I've been wearing these Splendid turtlenecks for years, but always replace mine with a fresh one each year. It's the staple I wear at least once a week."
"I pretty much live in Matteau's stunning pieces on vacation. It's hard to pick a favorite from their collection but I can't live without this plunge bikini top—it's the ultimate seasonless swimsuit."
"These long denim skirts are such a trend for spring, so I was very excited to find a perfect one for $35. I love the way it looks with a T-shirt and sneakers, and everything from the high waist to the clean, classic wash is spot-on. I can see this selling out very soon."
"I take issue with a lot of white shirts out there as they're often too stiff and uncomfortable, but this one looks completely effortless and versatile. I've been wearing it with everything from miniskirts to sweatpants (yes, seriously)."
Shop More Under-$85 Gems
FYI: Everyone is swapping short shorts for long ones.
These leggings are the full package—comfortable, affordable, flexible, and the perfect amount of compression.
This perfect dress deserves a place in your spring wardrobe.
The perfect pants to have on hand for that awkward spring-to-winter transition.
Introducing your new favorite little white T-shirt.
One of the best things about 2020 thus far is that sweatpants are actually a trend.
Next up: how we decide what to wear in under 30 seconds.
