this or that | when to splurge and when to save on the dupe + a special $500 target gift card thank you giveaway

this: bamboo arch bag | free people dress | rattan bag

that: bamboo arch bag | free people dress | rattan bag

everyone’s favorite segment this or that, is back! today i’m comparing some of the the season’s hottest items. and you wouldn’t believe it, but the second item being compared is the exact same dress! literally, the exact same dress, same brand, same colors, just completely different prices from different retailers.

the first item we’re going to discuss is the insta-famous cult gaia bamboo arch bag as shown in the photo above. this item was constantly sold out last spring. there were numerous restocks and near immediate sell outs each and every time. it was no surprise that the bag made an appearance again this spring season, and guess what.. it is selling out again!

this year however, there are tons of dupes floating around. i picked a near identical dupe from a reputable retailer, with a much lower cost. i’m a little torn on which to steer your towards, so i’ll give you pros and cons of both. i personally, am sticking with the original, cult gaia bamboo bag because i travel quite often and wanted to ensure that the quality of the bag would uphold the rough and tough baggage claim. i also know that i will get tons of use out of my bag, so i wanted to ensure it was going to last for a while.

the dupe would be a good option if you would only wear the bag a few times or on special occasion. if you don’t fully love the design, but want to give the trendy piece a try, the dupe is great option if you are not ready to commit to the full price of the original.

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photo credit: here

now onto our second item, this free people dress. this will be short and sweet because, well… it’s the same item just a different price. the lower cost item is from last season’s line of free people’s spring dresses. they re-made the dress because it was a hot ticket item, but there aren’t any noticeable differences in the re-make. therefore… choosing that and saving a pretty penny is definitely the way to go.

 

 

our third item is another “it bag” for this spring and summer season. when it comes to handbags, i tend to always lean towards the splurge for a few reasons.

1. i always buy a handbag that i know i will get a lot of wear out of and want to last for years on end.

2. a handbag has a very important job. it holds all of our your valuables, so you want it do be dependable.

3. i can admit to being rough with my handbags, so durability is very important to me.

for those reasons, i would say go for the splurge and make the investment on this gorgeous rattan circle bag. again, if you’re wanting the bag for a trendy seasonal piece or budget does not allow for the original, then going for the dupe is a sensible option!

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shop this or that

 

xoxo | jasmine

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