8 Chic Outfits I Spotted On Instagram That are Easy to Recreate On a Budget

As Who What Wear’s fashion editor, I might know runway trends like the back of my hand, but I’m also a strong believer that you don’t have to fork out four figures on an outfit to get the designer look. Sure, there are some pieces that are well worth the investment (and some luxury bags will only increase in value), but when it comes to getting dressed for the everyday, you can find most wardrobe staples on the high street or in premium stores for the same kind of quality that luxury brands would charge almost four times more for. So why empty your account when your hard earned pennies could be working harder for you?

To prove my theory, I searched through social media for elegant outfits that look expensive, and set about finding pieces to recreate each look for less. Sound tricky? Believe me, it wasn’t—it’s getting easier and easier to find good quality pieces for less, and if you’re still sceptical, keep scrolling. Below are 8 affordable outfits I’ve pulled together (with a little help from Instagram’s best dressed) and you won’t find anything on this list for more than £150. Happy shopping.

1. Cardigan + Jeans + Basket Bag + Flip Flops

(Image credit: @anoukvye)

Style Notes: Spring, summer, even autumn, this is the kind of outfit that does it all. Cardigans have significantly upped their cool factor since the Noughties, and our favourite way to wear them is with laidback denim and an easy white tee. Anouk [pictured above] manages to take her off-duty look to polished new heights just by adding a basket bag in a luxe shade of brown, a reminder that black isn’t the only expensive-looking colour in the spectrum.

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2. Trench Coat + Shirt + Tailored Shorts + Ballet Flats

Style Notes: It feel too soon to talk about autumn, but a good transitional coat is well worth having in your arsenal for the end of summer too. Trench coats are a classic, but if you’re looking for something with less bells and whistles, a pared-back car coat is just as versatile, and as Brittany demonstrates, it looks office-ready with a pair of tailored shorts and easy flats.

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3. Knit Maxi Dress + Sandals + Suede Bag

Style Notes: Dresses are an easy instant outfit and there’s something the languid shape of a floor-length, long-sleeved knit maxi that always makes the wearer look well put-together. There’s no need to over-accessorise here—the drama of the dress does enough, and Tylynn’s minimalist approach to dressing [pictured above] is on my moodboard of “compliment-worthy looks that take 5 minutes to assemble”.

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4. Slip Dress + Oversized Shirt + Mini Bag

Style Notes: After spotting this simple styling trick on Instagram, I have been tying a shirt around my waist with just about very outfit since. Not only do you have another layer to hand in case you need it, but it’s also the perfect way to introduce a pop of colour to an otherwise monochrome fit. Try it the next time you’re getting ready and tell me it doesn’t make a big difference.

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5. White Shirt + Long Shorts + Matching Sandals

Style Notes: Head-to-toe colour blocking is always an effective way to boost the impact of an outfit, but no option more so than white, ivory and cream. Helpful then that all-white is perfect for heatwaves, and Marianne Smyth [pictured above] shows how to make loose layers like oversized shirts and baggy shorts still feel fashionable as well as functional.