The Best Designer Dupes on Amazon, From Bottega Slides to Loewe Boots

Even shopping-addicts and clotheshorses can start to feel overwhelmed by the chaotically quick trend-cycle universe we currently hold consciousness in. With so much media to consume, and the sheer volume of items that can be bought with the click of a button or the tap of a screen, it’s completely justified to want to give up and invest in a roll of burlap to make your own garments. But, as much fun as it sounds to go off-grid and live the hobbit lifestyle, we still have obligations—Zoom meetings, happy hours, birthday parties—that require us to look our best. 

So, if you’re tired of forking over half your paycheck for a pair of shoes to wear to your partner’s college roommate’s wedding that you’ll maybe get three other wears out of, then just stop, take a deep breath, and hold my hand as I guide you gently down the endless lazy river that is finding quality—yet affordable—clothing on Amazon. There’s everything from your favorite name brands for cheap like Carhartt, Champion, and Dickies, plus insanely good designer dupes—like sunglasses that you don’t have to cry over losing, and trendy sneakers you don’t have to go into debt to cop. 

Fasten your seatbelts, and keep your arms and legs inside the vessel as we enter the Tunnel of Love-ing the way you look. The best part of this journey is that you won’t have to worry about your purchases showing up that look nothing like you expected (which we know happens with other discount sites). We’ve combed the online wilds for the best options, and worst case scenario: You can simply return them with no headaches (hallelujah for Prime). 

Jawn-Lord Staples

A Prada-inspired shirt

Prada is always in style, IMHO, and this camp shirt went semi-viral on the internet after a slew of hot fashion-gods (Pusha T, Jeff Goldblum) were seen sporting it. A bold print in a classic, boxy shape is always a good idea—whether you’re more of a  Tony Soprano or Hunter S. Thompson type. With this killer dupe you can afford to spring for the bold, colorful option as you’re only paying $20. 

For fans of Orlebar Brown and Aimé Leon Dore

These soft, knit, cotton and poly-blend polos and button downs give serious “Don Draper on his day off” vibes. They’ve been popping up all over my Instagram feed lately, especially on Throwing Fits, so it's safe to say this is one trend you should hop on now, before it blows all the way up. 

Essence of Gucci sweater

OK, this sweater is loud for sure, but there is a time and a place for a graphic knit, especially when layering up during the fall or when you wanna look stylish, but not formal, for a dinner out. So, go ahead and take a little (affordable) risk.

Sk8tr boi classics

Everyone I know with great style has at least a couple pairs of Dickies in their arsenal. They’re timeless, cheap, and come in a boatload of colors. They can be worn casually, or on more formal occasions—a job interview or brunch with your new fling’s folks—and the only thing you’ll have to decide for yourself is how many times to cuff them. 

Vintage tees

A staple of most fashionable peeps (and a mainstay in celebrity wardrobes) is the perfect distressed, authentic tee. But the real deal from decades past can run a couple hundred bucks, and we don’t exactly have the cash to throw at a threadbare piece of cotton. Amazon has a ton of graphic tees with original artwork from your favorite bands, sports teams, you name it—all for very reasonable prices. After a few washes, no one will be able to tell that it’s not an ancient family hand-me-down.

A varsity jacket

Never underestimate the power of a statement piece. You can get away with wearing basically the same thing everyday, if you pare down your wardrobe to some core basics, and switch out bolder accessories, such as an excellent jacket. While trends come and go, classic styles like varsity and bomber jackets never really disappear, so you can bank on being able to wear them for more than just one season. 

A Patagonia-esque fleece

In the Pacific Northwest, and certainly in other regions of the United States, we call it “PataGucci” because of how sought after (and pricey) these kinds of comfy fleeces are in colder climates. This G.H. Bass & Co. fleece is just as crunchy-chic and cozy as the real thing, but way more affordable.

Champion shorts

If you haven’t heard—five-inch shorts are the new hot-guy inseam length of choice. These extra-comfortable, poly/spandex pairs from Champion have a basket liner so you don’t have to worry about your sausage and peppers making a surprise appearance, and come in neutrals as well as some funky tie-dyes. From the court to the coffee shop, these are perfect for any summer hang. 

Chore coat

In the market for a classic, goes-with-everything jacket that’s great for transitional weather and truly can be dressed up or down for any occasion? The answer is the chore coat. Snag one in classic Carharrt brown if you lean more towards an earthy vibe, or black if you're more the white-and-gray type. I’ve even seen someone totally pull off a black chore coat in lieu of a tuxedo jacket—absolute steez.

Gold Casio watch

Ditch the Apple Watch and elevate any outfit with this gold Casio. It’s waterproof, uber-stylish, and has everything you could want from a basic watch, aside from tracking your fitness goals. You’ll survive without counting your steps for an evening, especially when you look this good, we promise.

For the Femmes 

Skims

I don’t know about you, but every time I decide that I want to grab something from Skims, it’s sold out. Thankfully, I can avoid another shopping trip filled with heartache (and save some sweet moolah) by grabbing these alts that reviewers swear are just as good.

A very Miu Miu skirt

Low-rise bottoms are officially back, along with many other early Y2K trends, whether you like it or not. You can choose to resist, or you can choose to ride the low-rise wave. Either way, we’ll leave this Miu Miu dupe right here for you, and for under $25, you won’t have to feel guilty about getting rid of it when it goes back out of style.

Sleeper pajamas

If you didn’t grow up wanting a pair of fancy silk pajamas to drink chocolate milk from a wine glass in, then, what did you dream of? Cosplay as Audrey Hepburn is Breakfast at Tiffany’s for a quarter of the price of the originals—more money for the fancy oat milk and cocoa powder you’ll be whipping up for your bedtime cocktail. 

​An exercise dress

If an exercise dress could talk, it would say, “I’ve got a tennis match at 8:30, but we’re still on for brunch at 11,” and they’re all over everyone’s pinterest boards this summer. With a built-in bra and shorts, these one-pieces take all of the fuss out of getting ready, and who wants to fuss when they're facing a triple-digit forecast?

Ian charms

While not ingestible, each one of these eclectic pearl charm chokers is slightly unique, made with handmade glass beads, and a mix of freshwater and faux pearls—so no one will be able to tell it’s not the real thing.

Designer Shoe Dupes

Shearling “Ugg” Boots

Say what you want about them, Uggs are an elite shoe. Why wouldn’t you want to feel like your feet are being enveloped by warm, fuzzy clouds all of the time? Don’t let the fact that it’s scorching out now make you forget about how freezing you were last winter. Scoop a pair of these coveted—and wallet-friendly—lookalikes and save those toes next season.

Amina Muaddi slingbacks

If you weren’t aware, these are the “it shoe” of the moment. Maybe you’ve started to notice flared heels on every single shoe hitting the market lately—well, it all started with Amina Muaddi. I would die for a pair of her shoes, but don’t have any events to justify spending a thousand dollars on one (ridiculously chic) pair of heels. Thankfully, these dead ringers from Amazon come in 12 colors, and absolutely fill the void. 

Bottega slides and boots

It’s a Bottega world and we’re just living in it, babes. It seems the sandal of the summer is this woven leather number from our timeless, Italian fashion overlords. It’s the hot, luxury brand on everybody's lips—especially Bia. The woven leather provides extra cushioning (no pinched toes), and one ecstatic reviewer claims they are, “literally perfect and identical to the actual $1250 shoes at Neiman’s for the summer.”

At this point there have been so many copies and iterations of this boot, no one is going to expect you to be wearing the real ones, but these dupes look pretttyyyy, pretty, pretty good, and you won’t have to worry about mucking them up like you would if you paid full retail price for the OG version.

Loewe all-weather boots

If the Bottegas are a little too flashy for your taste, go with a monochromatic lug sole instead. This style is classic enough that you’ll be able to wear it for a few seasons, without feeling like you’re a throw-back, and it’s actually pretty clutch to have a bit of a platform when trudging through puddles or slush. 

Versace mary janes

Ooh yes honey, these platforms are hot with a capital H. These are a major throwback moment, to the heyday of the supermodel. Catch celebs including Beyonce, Tracee Ellis Ross, sporting these sky-high babies, and no “Lisa Rinna starter pack” would be complete without them. Now you, too, can strut down the sidewalk like it’s your runway, in 14 different colorways, with rubber soles for extra security. 

Birkenstocks

Truly everyone and their grandpa has a pair of Birkenstocks, so if you’ve yet to commit because of certain styles’ higher price tags, you can get a nice pair of look-alikes, with or without vegan-shearling, for almost half the price. I’m buying them in every color so I can look chic at the dog park every dang morning. 

Yeezy slides

Kanye may be on a planet all his own, but he made some heavenly cushioned slides, so we have to thank him. Don’t waste your time and energy on resale sites or high-stress drop dates to your calendar—just cop this eerily similar pair right here, that one five-star reviewer calls “the closest looking dupes for the Yeezys that I've seen, and I got everybody fooled haha.” Solid. 

Balenciaga Sneakers

This style is nothing new, but the reason it has such staying power is because it's basically like getting to wear your socks in public without the dirty soles or (warranted?) public scorn. This version comes in a ton of colors and several different “sock” lengths and textures so you can customize your look by getting a few pairs.

Designer Handbag Dupes

Judith Leiber

We stan a quirky, over-the-top, rhinestone moment! (Just say: Fuck it, hamburger purse.) While we would love one of Judith Leiber’s bedazzled miniatures, we sadly cannot afford the nearly $6,000 price tag. So, this absolutely perfect stand-in will do for all our Park Avenue cocktail party needs.

Bottega

We’ve already established the absolute death grip that Bottega seems to have on the fashion world right now, but as the designer director, Daniel Lee, who is responsible for this renewed fascination recently parted with the brand, it’s safe to say these styles will become even more popular and iconic. 

Cult Gaia-inspired accessories

Acrylic accessories never really go out of style. They pop up every decade in different arenas—fashion, home decor, jewelry—and Cult Gaia has been making unique handbags in the material for ages. “I absolutely love this bag,” commented one satisfied reviewer. It is so different that every time I use it, someone stops me and asks about it.” If you’re not thrilled at the prospect of everyone being able to see what’s in your bag, add a little silk liner to your cart for some privacy. 

Designer Sunglasses Dupes

Celebrity shades

If you’re not familiar with Persol, you’ve probably seen the cult-famous brand so many times without knowing it. Steve Mcqueen notoriously wore nothing but Persol 714’s for decades, making him, and great style, synonymous with the label. More recent fans of the brand include Jay-Z, Ryan Gosling, and Anthony Bourdain.

Sunshine queen Céline

These Céline shades are another celeb fave for dodging the paparazzi in style. But if we ever did invest in a pair, we’d probably be too scared to wear them out of the apartment for fear of leaving them in the restaurant bathroom or the back of the Uber. So we found these Amazon sunnies that are just as chic and dramatic, for the next time you run into that one ex on the street.

Reflect the haters like Kim K.

The wraparound design of these Balenciaga-esque shades make them a sporty, summer essential (or a year-round one if you live in a sunnier area). They have a UV-protective coating and high surface area coverage, shielding your eyeballs from harmful rays. They’re also durable and easy to just toss in your bag and forget about until your next parasailing excursion. 

Please remain seated as our fashion journey comes to an end. I hope you feel exhilarated—and don’t forget to visit the gift shop upon exiting the ride.

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The Rec Room staff independently selected all of the stuff featured in this story. Want more reviews, recommendations, and red-hot deals? Sign up for our newsletter.