11 Trendy Brands Fashion Insiders Shop Instead of Zara

First of all, no hate to Zara. At the height of my Zara addiction, I was placing orders on the site at least once per week, and while I've certainly slowed my roll, I still have an itch for cool, trendy, and wallet-friendly shopping finds that are always from the Spanish mega-brand. What can I say? I guess I'm having a bit of Zara fatigue. Based on my conversations with friends and co-workers, I get the sense that I'm not alone here. Do we all go through a bit of Zara burnout every once in a while? 

With that, I'm sharing the affordable labels that I've been turning to lately. The below are what I consider to be the best brands like Zara because they satisfy the same sartorial craving—on-trend, Insta-worthy, exciting—and, most importantly, because they keep me within the same shopping budget. Whether it's the cool basics at Pixie Market, the Insta-worthy prints at Paloma Wool, or the trendy shoes and bags Charles & Keith is always serving up, I rarely exit out of these sites without a virtual cart full of epic finds. Keep reading to shop my picks from each.

1. Gimaguas

Gimaguas was founded by two Spanish sisters, and the label is infused with a trendy but low-key vibe that makes each piece feel like something you want to throw on for a day at the beach and keep wearing to dinner afterward.

2. Musier

Want to dress like a Parisian fashion girl? It's simple: wear Musier. Founded by the perennially stylish Anne-Laure Mais, Musier oozes effortlessly cool with subtly sultry details like keyhole cutouts and midriff ties that have made the brand an editor favorite.

3. Paloma Wool

Paloma Wool might have started out as an under-the-radar indie brand, but the name has become synonymous with a certain set of city-dwelling Gen Z creatives who flock to the label for its artsy prints and creative knitwear.

4. Lisa Says Gah

If we're talking about affordable yet trendy labels, Lisa Says Gah pretty much takes the cake. The retailer has always been a source for cool independent brands, so it makes sense that its in-house label would be the ultimate source for one-of-a-kind finds.

5. Charles & Keith

The secret is out: Charles & Keith is every fashion person's trusted source for ridiculously affordable accessories. Each time I log on to the site, I find myself doing a double take at the prices. A pair of patent Mary Janes for $63? It feels too good to be true, yet it is, in fact, true.

6. Pixie Market

It can be hard to find modern tailoring that's not at a designer price point, but Pixie Market has your bases covered. Look here for elevated staples like oversize blazers, pleated trousers, and minimalistic knits. And act fast—the brand's new arrivals never stay in stock for very long.

7. JW Pei

Even if you hadn't heard the name, you've likely seen JW Pei's candy-hued bags at some point, whether on your Instagram Explore page or hooked under the shoulder of celebs such as Gigi Hadid and Emily Ratajkowski. The bags (and soon shoes!) are delightfully affordable at under $100 and come in the season's must-have shapes.

8. Source Unknown

I was on the fence about sharing Source Unknown. The Korean brand is my personal favorite place for a cheap fashion thrill, and well, I can't help but want to gatekeep it. But alas, it's too good not to share. 

9. Open Edit

When I heard Nordstrom was creating a new in-house brand of trendy staples, I was all ears. Seeing as Who What Wear readers can't get enough of the retailer, I had high hopes for Open Edit. And I'm happy to say it really delivered. With wearable takes on the latest trends, everything looks much more expensive than it should. Needless to say, I beeline to the brand on every visit to the site now.

10. Lioness

If you're looking to build out your going-out wardrobe without spilling your entire shopping budget, look to Lioness. At major retailers such as Shopbop and Urban Outfitters, you'll find shrunken tops, slinky dresses, and cool miniskirts galore.

11. Astr the Label

Last, but certainly not least, is Astr the Label. I make a point to look to this brand whenever I'm scrolling through Nordstrom since I know I'll always find something that's a wearable take on current trends.

For more affordable finds, see all my favorite under-$100 picks right now.