As influencer and TikTok culture pushed products to cult status, the dupe (short for duplicate) craze was born. It started as an attempt to find alternatives that were cheaper, or at least available. But today, dupes have taken over the originals, proving savvy shoppers will buy just about anything – except, perhaps, the real thing. Here, the marie claire team reveal their favourite dupe scores.
The OG: Selena Gomez Retrofête earrings
The Dupe: Etsy
“Within a minute of seeing Selena Gomez’s personalised Retrofête alphabet earrings in a Rare Beauty ad, I was influenced. I sourced the actual pair online and was ready to pay $181 (per earring), only to discover that my initials, S and S were sold out. I waited patiently on the waitlist for about two months, with no luck, so I did what all fashion-savvy ladies do – I turned to TikTok for help, where I discovered a world of sparkly dupes. I decided to go with the Etsy option, which looks identical to the original, with no wait time and ended up costing me a total of $30.” – Samantha Stewart, Fashion Features and Lifestyle Editor.
The OG: Skims
The Dupe: Glassons
“Countless TikToks were singing the praises of the Skims classic tee, and I knew I needed it. Unfortunately the tee is so popular, I spent six months on a waitlist until my savvy shopper best friend pointed me in the direction of Glassons, where they stock a replica. Bonus – it was quite a bit cheaper too.” – Bree Player, features editor
The OG: Chanel Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream, $91 at Myer
The Dupe: Milk Makeup Matte Bronzer, $39 at Sephora
“Whilst little can compare to my beloved Chanel Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream (a staple in my routine since high school), there’s been periods I’ve had to forgo repurchasing said Bronzing Cream in the name of being “economical”. In these (dire) times, I’ll opt for Milk Makeup’s Matte Bronzer instead. Costing a cool $39 (half the price of Chanel’s), the creamy soft formula is both pigmented and easy to blend. Although the Chanel offering (and it’s sunkissed, glowy warmth) has me in a life-long chokehold, Milk Makeup’s version will do me in a pinch!” Francesca Hartley, Beauty Writer.
The OG: Hermes Oran sandals
The Dupe: Nine West
I’ve been eyeing off the Hermès Oran sandals for an upcoming Europe trip (they’re the ultimate “quiet luxury” sandal, but at $1,155, there’s not a chance in hell I can afford them and flights to Italy). Luckily, Nine West has an almost identical pair for $159 – and no one is going to be looking that closely at my feet, anyway. – Alex Bruce-Smith, Editor (Digital)
The OG: Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz
The Dupe: L’Oreal Paris Brow Artist Skinny Pencil
There’s nothing better than a skinny, pigmented and non-chalky eyebrow pencil, but for a long time the high street just didn’t cut the mustard. Now, however, I’ve recently become obsessed with the L’Oreal Paris Brow Artist Skinny Pencil, which really reminds me of the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz. It’s over $20 cheaper and makes for a great option when the Anastasia one is out of stock. Plus, it’s a lot nicer on the purse strings. – Cassandra Green, Senior Writer
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