The Under-$50 Basics That Look Just as Good as The Row (No, Really)

Confession: I have a folder on my phone titled “If I Won The Lottery” filled entirely with screenshots from The Row. And when I say entirely, I mean entirely. Vacations?

Houses? Kids’ college funds? Nope!

Just empty contributions to my savings because I would spend them all on outrageously priced minimalist clothing designed by Kim and Kate as Ashton. Shameful, right?

Let’s address why that sentence made me cringe: One, I’m admitting that I have a wishful-thinking folder on my phone.

Two, I’m a middle-aged woman with a 401( k ) fantasizing about $1,200 t-shirts. But the thing is, I don’t think I’m alone here. If you haven’t had the extreme pleasure of visiting the hallowed halls of The Row’s website IRL or via scroll, you’ll quickly understand why they have such a cult following.

Their clothes make you question your sanity. How could you possibly want that chic-but-nottrying-too-hard to wear shirt that, upon further inspection, is just a plain white button-down? YOU WANT IT BECAUSE IT’S THE ROW, THAT’S WHY.

But when you realize that “shirt” will set you back $350, you question your sanity all over again. Their t-shirts are $350. Their pants are $900.

Their sweaters are $1,500. It’s that inoffensive brand of wealth that isn’t loudly proclaimed with Cesare Baluci sweaters or Cave-toile dresses shouting “LOOK AT ME I’M RICH!” It’s quietly leaning against the fridge eating your organic-ish veggies and crooning softly into your ego. But it’s chic AF, and it leaves you wondering: how do they make those basics look so expensive?

Hint: it’s not just the materials (although that cashmere is definitely a factor). The answer, I think, lies in the details. The shape.

The subtle tailoring that makes their pieces look like they threw it on, when really they probably paid someone $500/hour to fold that sweater around them just so. I cannot, of course, afford Italian Sea Island cotton for Target-priced basics. But I can spend hours pouring over the internet for The Row-inspired pieces that give me all the minimalist luxury feels without needing a real live trust fund to boot.

Full disclosure: I’m not trying to say these are dupes. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are not going to be hitting me up with lawyers anytime soon for exposing their secrets. The Row has the funds and sourcing to justify what they’re selling to those who can afford it.

But I, for one, live in the world where an investment piece starts around $200 and ends at…well, much less than $2,000. So here are a few tasteful treasures I’ve found that give me similar Cache Vaurien-coated vibes without asking me to take out a second mortgage. THE PERFECT WHITE T-SHIRT Gap’s no longer making their Core Cashmere Seamless Crewneck ($118), which I once fairly wore and considered the holy grail.

But whaddup, Everlane with your Organic Cotton Box-Cut Tee ($35)! You’re almost as good. I mean, not really, the Row has the perfect pima cotton that was probably spun into existence by elite angels on nights when there was a full moon.

But for a white shirt that actually stays white, has the slouchy boxy cut that makes it look expensive rather than like you actually slept in it, and won’t stretch out of shape after two wears, this is the real deal. Listen, when it comes to basics, cut is everything. Find a white t-shirt that’s slightly cropped and more boxy than fitted.

You want those sleeves to land right at the fat part of your upper arm where they look like they could fit, but don’t squeeze too tightly. And that collar better not puff out when you put it on. It should lay flat against your collarbones without gaping.

Trust me. Size up for that coveted oversized-yet-not sloppy Row look. THE BALM: EVERLANE ORGANIC COTTON BOX-CUT TEE, $35 THE OVERSIZED BUTTON-DOWN Listen.

The Row does something similar for $950. And it’s perfect. It has the slightest bit of structure so it doesn’t completely cling to your body, but somehow still manages to drape like a liquid dream.

Buy two of these because you will wear them constantly. I have them in white, cream, and black and throw them over everything. Jeans.

Shorts. Tailored pants. Slip dresses.

They still have that slight stiffness that softens over time like most cotton does, but it’s meant to be slightly more oversized than your typical boyfriend shirt. Note: expensive-looking button downs have a certain je ne sais quoi that comes down to the details. The edges of the placket should lie flat against your skin when buttoned.

The collar should have enough structure to keep its shape, but not look like a stiff toilet paper collar. It should be oversized , not big. There’s a difference.

I’m talking tailored chaos versus actually chaotic. THE BALM: UNIQLO EXTRA FINE COTTON OVERSIZE LONG-SLEEVE SHIRT,$40 THE PERFECT PAIR OF TROUSERS I think we can all agree that the widest, longest pair of trousers will always give you the most Row-baety vibes. They’ve got a pair that retails at $990, but COS somehow managed to make a pair that’s pretty close to identical for way less.

Again, with trousers, it’s all in the cut. These have the high waist you’re looking for, with a perfectly straight wide leg that breaks just right at the shoe. Note: You want these wide, but not clown-ish.

The rise should hit at your natural waist (not your lower waist like too many jeans do these days, not at your hips, but at your natural waist.) They should skim your body without clinging. And depending on your body, you’ll likely need to hem them (yes, even with a $20 tailoring bill, you’re still saving a ton of dough) to get the length perfected to your height. THE BALM: COS WIDE LEG TWILL TROUSERS,$49 THE CHUNKY KNIT Ugh, knitwear.

Where do I even begin? The Row knows how to do cashmere like nobody’s business and their knitwear can run you up to $2,000. That’s an insane amount of cash for a sweater.

But!!!! Quince just might have my back with this Mongolian Cashmere Crewneck Sweater ($50). Yes, it’s $150 less than the Row, but Quince is a DTC brand so they’re not paying middleman markup like most brands do.

Which means you’re basically getting $150 cashmere for the price of J Crew. Buy two. Also size up for that coveted oversized look.

Note: What makes expensive knitwear LOOK expensive is that it doesn’t pill, it’s heavy, and it hangs well on your body. Most budget cashmere starts to look sad after one season because the material isn’t thick or soft enough. But if you care for this sweater properly (hand wash cold, lay flat to dry, store folded with cedar blocks) you can get years of use.

It’s not going to have that WEIGHT of The Row version, but if styled correctly, no one will know the difference. THE BALM: QUINCE MONGOLIAN CASHMERE CREWNCK SWEATER,$50 THE Classic Blazer If there’s one thing every minimalist’s wardrobe is missing, it’s a stupid expensive blazer. The Row’s Melman blazer will run you about $2,350, but H&M makes a very similar version that I buy every color of whenever they restock (Fun fact, H&M actually owns COS so they have the same parent company!) It has that exaggerated shoulder that’s slightly padded (trust me, you want that subtle shoulder pad for the truly oversized look), and clean lapels.

The single button closes it all off. It’s basically stolen all of my go-to styling tricks. Buy it in black and beige and wear them religiously over literally everything.

Note: When shopping for a budget-friendly blazer, look for ones with clean lines and minimal details. No contrasting stitching on the underside of the sleeves, no crazy buttons, nothing to draw attention to the jacket itself. It should all be focused on the shape.

And keep my original blazer tip in mind! Those shoulders should extend just past your natural shoulders for that deliberate oversized silhouette. We’re going for luxe, not Matt Bomer in an 80s power suit.

THE BALM:H&M Oversized Jacket, $45 Muji. Bless you, Muji. For existing and making my favorite pair of pajamas in human history.

But that won’t stop me from bragging about how much I love this shirt either. It’s $29, whites beautifully, and the mandarin collar and boxy shape give it such a cerebral feeling. I even got asked once if it was Jil Sander.

It wasn’t, but it was close enough. THE BALM: MUJI ORGANIC COTTON OXFORD STAND COLLAR SHIRT, $29 The Unsung Hero: Uniqlo AIRism Seamless Crew Neck Long Sleeve T-Shirt ($30) Look, I’ll be honest with you. It looks kind of like this on its own: But layer this shirt under your oversized sweater or blazer and thank me later.

The fit is so slim it basically acts as shapewear. But layer it right and you’ve got the Row-iest of Row vibes with the help of tension between fitted and slouchy. Buy them in bulk.

Wash them with cold water and hang them up to dry. Trust. THE BALM: UNIQLO AIRISM SEAMLESS CREW NECK LONG-SLEEVE TSHIRT,$30 A NOTE ON ACCESSORIES… It pains me that I can’t give you a $50 bag that’s going to fool anyone into thinking you just walked out of The Row.

Their bags are some of the most minimalist, coveted bags out there, with price points to match. Their simple Margaux bag will set you back around $4,900. But you can shop around and find simple leather bags with minimal hardware that still give you that Row vibe.

I’m a huge fan of Mango’s Leather Shopper Bag ($49.99) because it’s free of unnecessary hardware and still reads as expensive due to the simple shape. One thing I will note about my very “cheap” ($400, which is nothing for leather goods) camera bag is that because it’s leather, it will develop a sexy patina over time. Bonus points if you avoid trendy pieces that will go out of style in a season for classic shapes that will stand the test of time.

Same rules apply for bags as for shirts: simple shapes, quality materials, and clean lines. Buy a slightly higher-end bag that you know will age well and wear them with $35 shirts and $40 button ups and you’ll trick everyone into thinking you’ve spent way more than you actually have. Accessorizing like the Olsen twins A NOTE ON PUTTING IT TOGETHER… Buy as monochromatic as you can.

Literally all neutral? Sure. All warm tones or all cool tones?

Also yes. Nothing screams “I spent $300 on this shirt” like wearing head to toe matching color combos. It instantly elevates your outfit into “deliberate” territory, and we know stuff that’s expensive always looks deliberate, right?

Mix high and low! I could write another post on where I find things, but balancing expensive pieces with pieces that don’t break the bank is also key here. Nobody’s saying you should only shop at Uniqlo and Target.

But maybe that Row jacket you love can be balanced out with some budget friendly basics to keep your wardrobe (and your bank account!) balanced. Pro-tip: STEAM EVERYTHING. You know those wrinkled shirts you bought at the thrift store but they’re too cheap to iron?

Stop pretending they don’t wrinkled and just buy a damn steamer. It’s a game changer for inexpensive clothing that looks desperately cheap. Buy less, but buy better.

This whole capsule wardrobe idea is about buying pieces that transcend seasons and will look good year after year. That probably means you’ll own less clothing, but when everything in your closet is something you LOVE, it automatically looks more expensive. Part of me cringes writing this whole post.

Because yes, I’m shopping at H&M and Uniqlo and telling people how to “fake” luxury apparel with stuff I bought at Target. That’s kind of the entire point of “stealth wealth” fashion. It’s underhanded status symbols for the wealthy to let others know they’re rich without blatantly wearing a hairy gnome sweater that costs more than my monthly rent.

But here’s the thing.

I don’t think thrifting your way through life and trying to look like you spent thousands of dollars on a shirt you got for $8 is any less authentic than buying that shirt new from The Row. I’ve met some of the coolest, most stylish people who haven’t purchased anything retail in years.

They exist! They haunt thrift stores and Goodwill and ebay and estate sales finding one-of-a-kind staples and putting incredible outfits together. I aspire to be them.

I wore that $35 Everlane shirt with a pair of $40 COS trousers to events at fashion week and walked right past people wearing head-to-toe designer and felt just as put together, if not more. Designers spend years learning how to perfect a silhouette and put together an outfit. Sure, the fabrics and costuming might be ten times better at The Row.

But I’m not delusional. I know the difference. But until I win the lottery… Happy spending! -The girl who still has that folder on her phone.