10 Splurges I Want to Make and the More Affordable Alts I Might Buy Instead

I know the year has only just begun, but boy, have I already racked up a healthy list of items I want to invest in. At the start of each year, I like to sit down and catalog all the major purchases I want to make from interior décor to beauty and wellness investments, travel plans, and yes, fashion items. I mostly do this so that when it comes time to celebrate a milestone or simply treat myself, it's something I've already vetted. Even though we're just nine days into 2024, my list of luxury fashion buys is taking shape. I've been eyeing every one of the below 10 buys for months (and in some cases, years), so I can say with certainty that they're more than a passing whim.

But as much as I would love to hit order on all of them right this second, the reality is that my wallet and my taste are two different sizes. On the one hand, I should just wait and save up for what I really want, but on the other hand, the less expensive alts I've uncovered are honestly just as good. Whether you're shopping on a budget like me or just curious which items are making my splurge list, continue for the 10 fashion investments I'm itching to make and several more budget-friendly options that achieve the same look.

Ask anyone on our fashion team—I've talked about buying these Miu Miu slingbacks for months now and on multiple occasions have gotten very close to doing so. My closet is in desperate need of a pair of classic black pumps, and I love that the baby buckles and dramatic straps add a little something extra here. On the F/W 23 runway, they were paired with thick contrasting socks, a styling idea that makes the fancier heels feel utterly casual. 

It's overly talked about, but it's true: Every closet needs a great cashmere sweater. To me, nothing embodies low-key luxury more than a crewneck knit from The Row. A crewneck sweater can be worn an endless number of ways and in every season of the year, so I'm convinced this is a splurge worth making. Plus, this shade of cool gray is the neutral every fashion person is wearing right now.

No doubt 2023 was the year of the belt, and the outlook for 2024 is looking pretty consistent. I, for one, am thankful for the movement because it shone a light on my need for a quality leather belt. It's this Saint Laurent pick with a square clasp and discreet branding that has my heart. It's classic, but the hardware makes it feel directional and cool.

Wardrobe.NYC and Hailey Bieber successfully created my dream coat. With its strong shoulders and ultra-structured shape, it's the kind of piece that I could easily see becoming the only one I reach for throughout many winters to come. For that reason, I've convinced myself that the price tag isn't so bad once you consider the cost per wear. Can you say girl math?

Everyone and their mother is after Alaïa's embellished ballet flats, and I'm proudly one of them. I mean, just look at how beautiful they are. The crystal-covered shoes continually selling out in all colors and iterations, so even though my budget is the real reason I haven't bought them yet, I'm telling myself it's because of their limited availability. Luckily, the internet is rife with alternates.

The Khaite Danielle Jeans have been on my wish list the longest, and I think that speaks volumes. My editor friends can't stop singing their praises, and everyone I've seen wearing them looks so good, which I credit to their ultra-high-rise and slim-fitting straight-leg shape. Those who own them say that nothing quite compares, but I've sourced a few styles below that check similar boxes.

This may seem a tad niche, but the striped shirt from Bottega Veneta's F/W 23 runway is regularly on my mind. I know it's a leather shirt made to appear as cotton-poplin, but it's put the thought in my mind of owning a button-down with similarly delicate pinstripes. 

Everything Ferragamo is doing right now is so good. While I have plenty of its new-season shoes and bags on my wish list, it's these boots coated in glossy patent leather from the S/S 24 collection that I can't stop drooling over. On the runway, they were styled with a billowing beige trench coat, and I can't stop thinking about how genius the combination of the sleek boots and big utilitarian coat is. 

I turn 30 this year (eep!), and I'm planning on investing in a really nice watch to celebrate the milestone, specifically, the Cartier Panthère. I adore the delicate, jewelry-like chain and the small face that can easily be worn among a stack of bracelets or styled solo. Nothing comes close to it in terms of look or history, but given that it's far from a casual purchase, I've pulled a few watches with similar jewelry-inspired bands.

Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy was a style icon for many reasons, and one of her signature looks included a simple tortoiseshell headband. Sophie Buhai's aptly named acetate style is the closest replica I've seen to Bessette-Kennedy's and comes in a range of solids and tortoise prints. It's been idling in my Ssense cart for weeks now.

Opening Images: @threadsgen; Wardrobe.NYC

This story was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.