Ralph Lauren v Morrisons
DO YOU consider fashion an essential or a luxury? For most of us, the likes of Saint Laurent and Prada are well out of our financial reach. But even the high Street nowadays can give you a shock. Since when did Zara get so expensive?! All of which leaves you pondering whether to buy those leather boots you’ve been eyeing up over paying for your gym membership. Or if you should snap up that gorgeous tailored coat with the money you’d meant to put aside for your next holiday.
Well, what if I told you that you could snap up designer lookalikes without sacrificing your savings. Even better, you don’t have to head to some jam-packed shopping centre to do so. Instead, you can simply pick up a fashion favourite while doing your weekly grocery shop.
Yes, supermarket fashion has had a serious upgrade in recent years, and they’re taking their inspiration direct from the catwalks. Pop into Sainsbury’s for a loaf of bread and you could walk away with a pair of Louboutin lookalike Mary Janes from tu for just £22.
A black bouclé jacket is an iconic wardrobe staple. But while a Saint Laurent offering costs £3,050, you can pick up its double at tesco for £22.50. Ok, the buttons may be a bit of a giveaway, but for that price you could go on the hunt for some vintage buttons at a thrift shop and sew them on yourself to elevate the style.
A camel coat is another classic, as everyone from the Princess of Wales to Rosie huntington-Whiteley can attest. Max Mara offers the holy grail of camel coats, and though it’s hard to match the structured silhouette and sharp lapels of their £950 coat, at a glance George at Asda’s formal longline coat will offer the same look for just £34. Plus it’s machine washable, so you won’t have to fork out for dry cleaning.
Last year we saw the rise of denim skirts, and that’s still the case in 2024. tesco’s F&F straight-cut style with a front slit, £19.50, would be tough to distinguish from fashion-forward denim label Agolde’s £310 design.
So next time you’re heading to the supermarket, pack an extra bag for life. You never know when you might stumble across a designer double . . .