My Summer Goal Is Polished—30 Finds That'll Get the Job Done for Less Than $150
Every season, I like to come up with an overall look that I can center my wardrobe and outfits around. I have a tendency to get ahead of myself, so if I don't set up some guidelines, my closet could end up going in 100 different directions by the time the season comes to a close. This summer, I've settled on a general theme of polished pieces, ensuring that elegance and sophistication reign supreme in my buying decisions. After overspending in the winter and spring, I'm planning on achieving this aesthetic on the cheap this summer, with every item on my wish list ringing up to at no more than $150.
To get the ball rolling ahead of summer's June 20 start day, I spent roughly four hours scrolling through every affordable retailer, from Zara to H&M to Nordstrom, and handpicking the most expensive-looking and refined pieces from their selections. Ahead, check out 30 discoveries that I believe perfectly fit the bill, from a test-driven $40 halter top that looks way more expensive than it is to Zara eyewear that could easily be designer. And those are just the highlights.
I recently tested out this ribbed halter top from Zara, and my co-worker thought it was Khaite—that's how good it is.
I'm counting on this H&M smocked-waist midi skirt going viral and selling out by mid-June.
I just got this balconette bikini in cream and love it. The black is next on my list.
Shop the matching '90s No-Tie String Bikini Bottom ($20).
Say yes to capri pants this summer.
I know this is technically a cosmetics bag, but I think it makes for the cutest and most durable summer mini purse.
This sweater is the perfect level of cropped. Trust me—I've worn it.
If I see another person wearing this dress, I'm going to freak out. I need it desperately.
I'll never say no to new 501s, especially when they're white and it's almost summer.
I've been searching every Reformation in NYC for this skirt, but it's sold out at all the stores—it's that good.
This Dissh vest could easily cost five times this price, and I wouldn't blink an eye.
These are beyond comfortable, and they'll fit in even the most cramped of suitcases.
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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