We Got Rid Of 50% Of Our Clothes In A Fit Of Organizational Rage And These Are The Only Cheap Pieces We Kept
by The Candidly Team
Here’s the truth. Now that we’re 40-something, we strongly prefer buying quality, lifetime pieces to plasticky crap we’re gonna have to replace once a year.
And so, when we finally got round to spring cleaning our closets, it was a real moment of reckoning with our pre-40 selves - you know, the ones who did buy plasticky crap. The ones who couldn’t seem to reason that 3 on-sale Target sweaters cost just as much as the one investment sweater we reeeeally wanted and would be keeping right now instead of dumping 3 pilling Target sweaters in the giveaway pile.
Aside from being wasteful, it’s also just very depressing to have stacks of clothes we don’t want to wear. Does that not mean we have all the money in the world to spend on designer clothes? Of course, not. It just means having to be more selective - finding the affordable pieces that are just as good as their overpriced counterparts.
After shopping in our own closets, we came up with 11 . Yup, 11 inexpensive pieces we wouldn’t dare part with. We love and wear each one of them as much today as we did in the months after bringing them home.
And here they are:
1. These $50 Jeans That Look Great On Our Butt
Quince Bella Stretch Wide Leg Jeans
We have written many words about Quince jeans. Already, the brand has been making wonderful cashmere, leather, and silk pieces at prices we can actually fathom, but when they dipped a toe into denim, we had no idea they would be this good. The jeans are so stretchy and comfortable and flattering that we’ve bought almost every style they make. Their wide-leg is one of our favorites, but be warned, they sell out soooo often that it’s really worth it to preorder. Consider it a gift to your future self.
Price: $50
2. This Gauze Button Down We Live In All Spring
J.Crew Factory Gauze Button-Up Shirt
We wear button-downs anytime we want to instantly look 5X chicer. They’re classic and they make you look styled, even just with jeans and sneaks. There are brands making versions of a gauze button-down that are charging 3X as much. This one is soft and airy, and the fit is perfect. We wear it instead of a dumb t-shirt in warmer months.
Price: $35
3. This Chic Wedge That Keeps Selling Out
J.Crew Factory Canvas Espadrille Wedges
Anytime we try to write about these wedges, they seem to sell out before we hit publish. It’s annoying, but we also get why. Yes, the price is obviously very low, but the style is so European and chic. The wedge makes it stable and supportive, and it works with all jeans, pants, skirts, and dresses. Point is, if you’ve been looking for a shoe like this, be quick.
Price: $49.50
4. This Truly Perfect Midi Skirt We Have In 4 Colors
Oops, here’s another thing you’ve heard us talk about over and over. But we’ve spent decades chasing an A-line midi skirt that skims our hips, butt, and thighs yet sits smoothly on our waist without looking too poofy. This skirt is perfectly proportioned and an amazing alternative to more exposing shorts and trickier dresses in spring and summer. We actually can’t stop buying it in new colors every time they come out.
Price: $60
5. This Most Flattering Tank We Own That Happens To Be $15
Tanks are an underrated staple of a really strong wardrobe. They’re a critical base layer and a way to balance all our wider-leg or flowier bottoms. However, they need to have this exact neckline and this exact ribbing to be their most flattering. We don’t make the rules. It’s just one of those things we’ve learned in 30+ years of trying on tanks. We first bought this one years ago when Aeries were in every mall. And we’re so pleased they’re still selling it, because you don’t mess with perfection.
Price: $15
6. This Packable Hat That Looks Good On All Face Shapes
J. Crew Wide-brim Packable Straw Hat
Is it cheating that this hat is affordable because it’s on sale? But aren’t those actually the best “affordable” pieces out there - the ones good enough to cost a lot but that end up charging much less? Plus, we love a sun hat don’t have to treat like precious china for fear of bending it. This one is packable and soft which is great for travel, but also has a shape that looks gorj on everyone who tries it.
Price: $56.50
7. These Trousers That Nip The Waist
Madewell The Harlow Superwide-Leg Trouser in Brushed Twill
We own the original, wide-leg version of these pants in many colors, but the superwide leg is even drapier, even more Diane-Keaton-meets-Katharine-Hepburn chic, and we also just love how long they make our legs look. We wear them with fitted tops, tees, and tanks, which gives us an addictively good silhouette. Again, they’re wildly on sale right now in camel and black, so if you want to try them, move fast.
Price: $45 (with code)
8. This Dream White Tee
We complain about dumb t-shirts all the time (even once already in this article), and if you want to read in more detail about why so many t-shirts, get it wrong, go HERE. Or you can just be like us and stick with this one. The length is exactly right. The material is whispery and soft and not too thick or thin. It’s the t-shirt we reach for any time it’s not in the hamper. We’re honestly not sure why we don’t just replace all our white tees with more of this exact one.
Price: $39
9. This Reversible One-Piece That Fits Shockingly Well
Skays Reversible Floral One Piece Swimsuit
We are not known to buy swimwear on Amazon, but this suit looked so chic and so good on the real people in real photos in comment, we took the plunge and tried it out. The print is exactly like the pictures. There are more in more colors and patterns and all are reversible by the way. Most importantly, the fit is amazing. No tugging or puckering on the torso. Full bum coverage without you looking like your 90-year-old grandma. We honestly can’t wait to pack it the minute we go anywhere with a pool.
Price: $37
10. This Essential Straw Tote We’ll Never Ever Part With
Aerie Oversized Woven Straw Bag
We use this at Farmer’s markets and beach trips and park picnics and also just to contain all our kids’ crap on sunny days when we’re going pretty much anywhere. It’s imperative that it’s big. Other than that, we see no difference in spending $30 than spending $230.
Price: $35
11. These Earrings That Are A Rare Mix Of Minimalist And Statement
We love a unique piece of jewelry that speaks to us but still comes off as understated and not at all costume. These earrings are more of a recent purchase admittedly but already we’ve racked up wild amounts of compliments and worn them to so many things.
Price: $58
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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