My Thoughts on Designer Bag Dupes

A Chloe Nile Dupe

Happy Friday! Today’s blog post is a topic I’ve been meaning to discuss for a while. It has been inspired by my new bag purchase. If it is not obvious then I bought a dupe for the Chloe Nile bag. I had been lusting after it seeing it online and on my favorite bloggers. Now I wasn’t sure about getting a dupe of a popular bag but I took the risk. It isn’t quite an exact replica as the ring on this bracelet bag is a full circle and I think the original folds in half. I’ve never seen it in person so I’m sure but looking at pictures there are similarities and differences between both. So for today’s post I just thought I would give my opinion and talk about my recent bag purchase and try to justify it to you.

Designer vs. Dupe

This is a pretty deep topic. I’ve been thinking about this for a while. I have been saving my money and putting every dime I can into my savings. Recently I’ve been considering what I can do with the money I’ve been saving. For one I could save it for future travels, or two I can save it for a designer bag I’ve been lusting after. I’ve always wanted a designer bag and felt if I could afford one then I would buy myself one. Then I realized I should save for a down payment to my own home. There is just so much I’m trying to save for but one of these days I will have to make up my mind in which option I should go for.

Then one day while at the mall I saw this bag. It was staring at me and it was like I saw it somewhere before. At the time I didn’t know what it looked like but I loved the style of it. After getting home I went on to my Bloglovin’ feed and saw that exact bag. I was shocked that I squealed and woke my sleeping puppy up next to me. It looked exactly like the bag I just saw. It was like fate. I spent the next few weeks lusting after it. I even added it into my latest Pay Day Wish List.

Over those few weeks since I first saw it, I had a ponder over it. I wasn’t sure about it. I mean I loved the bag and the style was so pretty and was my aesthetic in a bag but a part of me didn’t seem too happy. I had an internal debate with myself. If I buy this bag will it look like I had a fake? Did it look like I was just a try hard? Can someone tell it is fake? Will this affect my fashion blogger image if I buy this instead of the original? I was stressing out whether it was a good idea or not.

I then proceeded to do some research. I read blog post after blog post of others who had a dupe and had no thoughts like me. They were fine with it. My opinion then changed when I went back to that department store again. I went to the place where I saw it and they only had a black one, an orange and a green. I wanted the classic tan color and I knew it wasn’t meant to be then. I went downstairs to another section and again fate struck and there on the stand was this bag. Without hesitation I had the saleslady get brand new stock and it was the last one. She wrapped it up in a dust bag like it was the original and handed it to me. I was so overjoyed. I never had a bag crush until that moment. It was mine! I couldn’t wait to shoot with it but the bloody horrible got in my way. When I finally did I was so happy. If you can’t tell I had so much fun shooting this outfit because of the bag.

Now my thoughts on designer vs. dupe. After having this bag for about 2 weeks now, my initial experience with it I can say that I’m quite happy I got this bag in the end. As you can see I was worried about it but now that I own it I don’t know why I was. It wasn’t as bad as I was expecting and I’m quite enjoying this bag. It has become my everyday bag and I can’t wait to use it when I go out. I know it will be my autumn essential.

My Tips For Designer Dupes

Try it out

There’s nothing wrong with trying it. I like the style so I can see how it works with different outfits I have. Stick with the saying that you can’t hate it if you don’t try it. I reminded myself this when I was buying it.

Don’t be afraid

Like me just don’t. Try not to let anyone influence you against it. If you want to try out the dupe or just pick up the dupe and not buy the original then do you boo!

Work it & Be confident

It is how you style it. So what if it doesn’t have that signature logo on it. If you are proud and work it then there is nothing wrong with it. I honestly don’t think I would know the difference and it is how you carry yourself. I tried to not think that it wasn’t the real thing and felt happy with it so that shows and will count.

Saves Money

The most important is that you might be saving yourself money from not getting the original first. I paid a fraction of the price and if something happens o it I won’t feel too bad about it. I mean I love it and would not want to lose this bag but I won’t feel like I wasted my money. Also with trying out the style I can see if it would be worth my money in the future.

Summer to Autumn Transitional Outfit

My outfit I paired with my dupe bag is my attempt at transitioning my wardrobe from summer to autumn. I’m starting to bring in different colors and steer away from the bright colors like my normal hot pink and other colors like that. I just got this top from H&M and I love it. I am loving the ruffles on the sleeves and they are so flattering. I think I plan on buying this top in every color it comes in as I love this top so much. There is a white version and a black version and think they will be great to add in as a autumn basic piece I can wear with a lot of things. Next I love adding my chambray skirt as a transition piece. It looks great for both seasons and my favorite thing in my wardrobe. I just wish I can find another one. As for accessories, I just keep it basic with my stone heart pendent necklace that looks nice with anything and for my earrings I wore my bow ones as I didn’t have a matching colored bow for this top so I had to throw in my signature bow in somehow. Then my bracelet goes with the earrings with the white pearl and gold bow charm. Of course we have my Chloe Nile dupe bag which this blog post is all about. Last piece is my favorite shoes at the minute. If I want to dress up an outfit these are my go to footwear. The suede is so on trend and they are the perfect nude as well as a perfect height for me so they are still comfy and easy to walk in. My lipstick has been one I’ve been reaching for every time I want a lip color which is the Sleek Matte Me in Birthday Suit. It’s my ideal pinky nude and looks great with anything I wear. It’s definitely a favorite but I’m excited to bring out the berries and dark vampy shades again as the season is changing.

| top: H&M, skirt: Forever 21+{similar}, bag: SM Accessories {original & dupe},
shoes: SM Parisian Plus, earrings: H&M, lipstick: Sleek Matte Me Lip in Birthday Suit |

By the way, if you want to see this outfit in motion then I filmed a Curvy Style Diary which is a series on my Youtube channel where I film a mini outfit of the day. I brought it back and really missed doing them. So you can watch it here or above!

Those were my thoughts on that topic. I’m glad I got to get that out there. I loved the bag and glad I have it now. I do have a few other similar bags but not a full on dupe like this one. I have a similar bag to the Chloe Drew as well I realized. I think if I do ever invest in a designer bag I feel like Chloe would be a brand I would invest in. Actually as I am writing this I have been a bit naughty. I went to another department store and found another Chloe Nile dupe that looks even more like the real thing as it has the folding bracelet ring. I’m sure you will see it in a blog post soon as well. I decided to buy it and now have this tan and a cream to choose from. So there is that and I can’t wait to use it and get more use out of this tan one. I guess that is it for this blog post. I hope you enjoyed this and let me know if you like topics like this and also your thoughts on the subject as I would love to know your point of view. Do you agree or are you against with designer dupes? Leave it in the comments! Also have a lovely weekend everyone!

What are your thoughts on dupes of designer bags?