I Proved It—Everyone Thinks These 39 Old Navy, Gap, and Zara Items Are Designer
I like designer things. You know what doesn't? My wallet. If I'm being really honest with myself, that's my own fault. I've been shopping a bit too much in 2025, often finding sneaky ways to convince myself that I should invest in high-end pieces instead of saving on more affordable alternatives. But I've come to the end of the road, and if I want to keep shopping, I have to find a way to cut some zeros here and there. Fortunately, after doing some "research" on Gap's, Zara's, and Old Navy's websites, I realized something. Everything looked so designer, making my job suddenly very easy.
From statement thong sandals—heeled and non-heeled—and boho dresses to suede jackets and statement tote bags, everything chic that you could possibly want for summer 2025 is waiting for you at Zara, Gap, and Old Navy, and it'll cost you significantly less than if you bought everything designer. To make your affordable shopping even easier, I collected the best pieces from each retailer and dropped them all below.
Zara
My coworkers and I talk about this dress a lot. It belongs at Amangiri.
You'll wear this easy white dress again and again.
Big thank-you to brands like Kallmeyer and Bottega Veneta for making plaid feel fresh again.
I'm a sucker for good white jeans.
I keep seeing this dress styled with pants on Instagram.
Gap
A fun alternative to white linen pants.
Yes, you need to buy the entire Gap x Dôen collection.
Old Navy
If genie pants have a number one fan, it's me.
Yes, culottes are back.
Eliza Huber is an NYC-based senior fashion editor who specializes in trend reporting, brand discovery, and the intersection of sports and fashion. She joined Who What Wear in 2021 from Refinery29, the job she took after graduating with a business degree from the University of Iowa. She's launched two columns, Let's Get a Room and Ways to Wear; profiled Dakota Fanning, Diane Kruger, Katie Holmes, Gracie Abrams, and Sabrina Carpenter; and reported on everything from the relationship between Formula One and fashion to the top runway trends each season. Eliza lives on the Upper West Side and spends her free time researching F1 fashion imagery for her side Instagram accounts @thepinnacleoffashion and @f1paddockfits, watching WNBA games, and scouring The RealReal for discounted Prada.
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