Last-Minute Holiday Shopping? The Best ‘Luxury for Less’ Dupes for Gifts That Feel (and Look!) Splurgy
Discover smart strategies to spot steals on luxe labels like Tory Burch and Lululemon
With prices rising, most of us are looking for ways to find bargains. But that doesn’t mean we have to give up life’s little indulgences! There are plenty of ways to treat yourself this holiday season without breaking the bank. We spoke with shopping experts to uncover the best ways to get luxury items—from beauty and fashion to home décor—without paying full price. Keep reading for their top tips!
Score posh beauty products
Whether you’re in the market for a curling iron, face cream or mascara, it’s easy to find bargains on high-end beauty brands and tools when you have what is in effect, an entire Sephora at your local CVS, says lifestyle expert Lora McLaughlin Peterson. One example: “Without question, the L’Oréal Voluminous Lash Primer is the best—for just $10! I’ve tried them all and wasted money thinking something from a fancy department store would perform better—and none has.”
And if you’re looking for a skincare product, here’s good news: Dermatologist Fayne Frey, MD, promises there’s no correlation between the cost of a moisturizer or sunscreen and its effectiveness.
Pro tip: Dr. Frey advises looking at the product’s active ingredients. If you need a cleanser with salicylic acid, for example, check ingredients on both high-end and drugstore brands. If they contain the same amount of salicylic acid, they’ll work the same way—and you’ll save more!
Find high fashion for less
The best way to save on name-brand fashion is to buy secondhand, confirms consumer expert Andrea Woroch. You can find brands like Louis Vuitton, Tory Burch and Zara for up to 80 percent off at sites like The RealReal, THE OUTNET and Poshmark. “I saved 30 percent on a fabulous Chloe Small Marcie woven bag I was eyeing for years,” she says. “I bought it secondhand from The RealReal, and I’ve been wearing it nearly every day since the summer.”
Some retailers even offer their own products secondhand—like Lululemon’s Like New section, where you can score apparel for 40 percent off. Eyeing a specific item? Woroch’s tips can help you find them for much less:
Time it right
The newest trend on social media is flash sales (promotions in which stores give deep discounts for just a few hours). The best way to be alerted is to sign up for store apps. Some retailers use texts to announce flash sales—and many offer discounts of up to 20 percent for signing up.
Track the lowest prices
Download the Karma app. Set an alert for the product you want, and the app will let you know when it goes on sale.
Snag high-quality ‘dupes’
Do a quick search on Amazon or Target using the brand name and product, along with the word “dupe” (duplicate) to see if there are low-cost lookalikes.
Save on elegant home décor
Three easy steps to scoring furnishings for less? Search sites like Facebook Marketplace and Offerup.com for designer brands, set alerts for the items you’re looking for and be quick to message sellers, encourages Nicole Marino, a lifestyle transformation coach.
For example, you can get Restoration Hardware mirrors, Pottery Barn beds and Serena & Lily rattan chairs for a fraction of retail if you’re fast with pickup. Case in point: A quick search on Facebook Marketplace for the Restoration Hardware Cloud Sofa brought up 10 options—all for thousands less than the original $8,000 price!
Also smart: “Some of the best bargains come from Amazon, Marshalls and World Market,” adds Marino. Think: plush throws, velvet pillows and sophisticated vintage-style bar carts that instantly elevate a room’s vibe.
This article first appeared in the September 29 issue of Woman’s World magazine
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