15 More Substack Writers On Their Affordable, Longterm Fashion Favorites
Let's talk about favorites for the long haul
Last time we did this, lots of you let me know you wanted more. So, more you shall receive. I’ve started thinking…
“Would I (hypothetically) buy this item for $200 and do I plan to keep it for 5 years"?”
…as a prompt when shopping on eBay or Vestiaire. It’s important to interrogate our shopping habits, but especially on weeks like these, to recognize that shopping can feel like the most readily available coping mechanism when things feel out of control. Don’t be hard on yourself. Make a cup of tea. Stare out the window for a minute. Call your friend who also works weird hours and take a lap around the park. We’ll be ok. And the vintage Angès B. snap cardigan will still be there when you get back.
Here’s a Dôen dress I bought on sale maybe nine years ago. The total was $180 or something. That was half of what I was charging to shoot family photos in Des Moines over the summer during college breaks. To this day, I love wearing it for events or dates and love that the pattern makes it easy to play into black, red, or even turquoise. Let’s get into a pile of picks from writers I adore.
Ruby Redstone,
“I got this dress when I was fifteen--so I've had it for fourteen years. Damn! It came from Shareen Vintage. She used to have the most incredible vintage shop right off of Union Square. There was no dressing room, which the shop navigated by instituting a loose 'girls only' policy. My mom and sister and I all loved it, and we went all the time. It was essentially just a way to play dress-up in a gorgeous apartment. I think it was probably $80, which felt like a huge spend at the time. (I mean, that's a full week's work when you're working a minimum wage after-school internship!). But I loved it and immediately felt like it was special. I wore it for the first time on Christmas that winter, and there was this huge snowstorm. My best friend and I ended up snowed in at this amazing Christmas party, probably sneaking drinks in our Courtney Love-inspired tattered dresses and clunky heels, and I remember thinking oh yeah, this dress is magic. It had already proved its worth.”
Here’s a stunning 1920s vintage dress on eBay under $100.
TBH all my picks feel boring compared to Ruby’s iconic find. This Simone Rocha slip is begging to be layered with; it’s $350 on TRR.
A Claire Pettibone slip for $150 on Poshmark with sweet details.
Ali LaBelle,
“One of my favorite purchases of the last decade is probably this Toino Abel bag I bought in 2017. They were only selling on Etsy back then, and I bought one of their classic boxy-shapes for just $76. (I just found the receipt!) Now they sell for a little more through their own e-com shop, but they're still pretty affordable as far as bags go. My straw bag collection overfloweth but this is the one I wear the most thanks to its classic, ladylike shape—I like to wear it in place of a structured leather handbag in the colder months to mix things up a little bit.”
Match Ali (and who wouldn’t want to?) in this bag from the brand.
Here’s one for $100 on Poshmark.
You know I resist a little lucite. This bag is very structured, which can be hard to find in a basket bag. And its $75.
Kellyn Loehr,
“I lost my signature specs about five years ago—old Karen Walker sunglasses I customized with clear prescription lenses at LensCrafters. Knowing my chronic inability to keep track of anything, I’ve never been one to splurge on glasses. But then I stumbled on these UNIVIS frames on eBay for $9.99, and let me tell you, they’re my favorite so far. My secret move is to add a fade to the lenses for extra vintage flair—it cost me $60, but it makes them feel way more expensive than they are. I’m a huge fan of hunting down old frames and popping in new lenses—it’s the perfect way to look unique without the existential dread of losing or breaking your specs.”
Editor’s note: This is why eBay people are my favorite people. I, too, have done this exact song and dance with glasses, and am always delighted by the custom result.
Copy Kellyn and shop the exact eBay store that seems to be overflowing with incredible specs for $10. These are Oscar de la Renta!
These Karen Walker glasses for $133 are a great place to start.
Statement glasses your thing? I wish more people wore these.
Jessica Kirby,
“It's hard to believe it was 9 years ago, but I scored the most amazing Saint James breton while I was in Block Island for my cousin's bachelorette. We popped into The Glass Onion before heading home and there was a small pile of Saint James shirts in the middle of the store. I spotted this incredible french blue/white stripe shirt, it was a men's large (I think?) and it was $90 (on sale from $160). I love wearing oversized shirts and tops. It's so soft and this incredible thick cotton that's not stiff, it's almost like a shirt/sweater hybrid. It's one of the few things in my wardrobe I keep in rotation year round. I live in Vermont so we have a long winter, but I can layer it over a turtleneck or under a big comfy cardigan. It's perfect over a bathing suit at the beach and great with jeans and sandals in the spring. Now that I think of it, it's probably one of the oldest things I own and wear regularly. And it's still in perfect condition.”
Here’s a $45 Saint James blue striped shirt from eBay.
I love this vintage Saint James sweater for $100.
And here’s a very nautical take on Saint James for $100, too.
Katie Sturino,
“My Bean Boots from LL Bean have been a winter wardrobe staple in my closet for years. I have always been obsessed with Maine and knew these boots are essential for Maine locals. But I was really pushed over the edge to buy a pair after seeing Gwyneth Paltrow style them on goop. Since then, I have worn them winter after winter, especially now that I have a place in Maine. I feel like a true local when I rock them!”
These are the kind of shoes you’ll wear forever. And they’re under $150.
Here’s a little more of a fashion-forward pair from Eddie Bauer.
Perhaps a vintage style with buckles is more your speed? These are $50.
Sarah Shapiro,
“I'm someone who only buys clothing I love, I think about it a lot before I purchase, and I keep it for a long time. My style doesn't change year over year. The piece I chose is one of those items where it all came together for me - in Zara. It rarely happens when I shop there. I had dinner planned with a bunch of friends and I had a feeling people would get a little dressed up and I felt like I had nothing to wear. So I popped into Zara the day before with zero expectations, saw this dress hanging, bought it on their end of season sale for maybe about $60 (I can't find the charge on my cc) but I bought it in January 2019. I have now worn this dress for so many events. I am forever looking for another version of this dress but it feels like a unicorn to me. Perfect midi dress, fits well, and I love the tiniest detail of inset lace on the sleeves. To this day if I don't know what to wear, this is the answer.”
I’m pretty new to ME + EM, but I’ve been really impressed by their dresses. This one is no exception and feels like the kind of thing I’d wear all the time if I had a real office job.
Merlette makes some of the best dresses. This one is secondhand on eBay for $100.
Ok vintage Dolce & Gabbana for $350!
, Plant Based
“I know, I know — we're not supposed to be shopping from fashion places like Z***. However, I've had some items in my closet from them that have lasted me well over five years, so I think that cancels out the "fast" part of fast fashion. This romper is one of those pieces. My best friend came over after a "mental health shopping spree" in LA Live (random) and immediately handed me this romper, explaining that as she was buying one for herself, she thought I'd need one as well. She was right.
Obviously, that story is a huge reason why I treasure this piece, but also the fact that it strikes the perfect balance of sophisticated and playful. It works for dinner on a summer evening, a professional meet-up, a family event, you name it. It's my go-to wardrobe chameleon."
We’re all Alex Mill jumpsuit fans here.
This is $75 and I think Katie would look so cute in it.
, Let’s Party
“I bought a pair of Frye boots at a Buffalo Exchange in LA in 2019 for I want to say $40ish that I have worn to death. I recently took them to a cobbler who gave them an incredible glow up. Will be ready for another 5 years easily! From the Era's Tour to the latest EV salon, these boots can do it all!”
Tiktok failed to load.Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser
Secondhand Frye boots are EXPENSIVE thanks to their resurgence on Tiktok +. These are under $200, which feels like a good price at the moment.
You could go straight to the source, but it’ll cost you $500.
This pair from Frye is $80, which feels a lot more realistic.
Aja Frost,
“I bought this skirt from Anthropologie in college, so it's over a decade old. My style's become a lot more androgynous since then — but when I want to feel feminine, I'll pull it back out. It's surprisingly well-made and has a nice heft/swing to it. And the pattern always makes me smile.”
This pick immediately made me remember my Tibi midi skirt obsession from 2015. This one is $40!
And then there’s a more minimalist take from The Row secondhand for under $400.
Aliza Sir,
“I used to live in Washington, DC and my office at the time was just down the street from an Urban Outfitters. This was around the time (maybe 2017 or 2018) when Urban Outfitters hadn't quite flamed out yet — so having one around the corner (after growing up in a town that didn't get an Urban until I was — gasp! — graduating high school) was still kind of exhilarating. I wandered in there one day after work and was immediately drawn to this yellow, linen-material, wrap dress. Little did I know it would be one of the most worn and sustainable pieces in my closet! It's gotten me through many an anxiety-prone moment and helped me feel confident at times when I 'hated' everything else in my closet. As evidence, I present two mirror selfies: first, from a work conference in 2018, and second, about ten days post-partum for my son's baby naming ceremony in 2022. It's like the sweatpants of dresses!”
A dress to take you a hundred different places from The Great.
A silk wrap dress from La Ligne for $100 on eBay? Yes.
Michele Ouellet,
“I just checked the order date on these pants and it was Nov 2019! They are J Crew snake print pants that I got on sale for $55! I've packed them on almost every trip I've gone on since then and they are perfect "personality pants" to spice up a suitcase of basics.”
If you’re a 26, here’s a matching pair for $10.
Well, if you’re a 29, here they are for $23.
And if you’re in the market for a brand new pair of J.Crew statement pants, might I suggest these from the Christopher John Rogers collab?
Kate Arends,
“My partner and I bought each other his-and-hers A.P.C jackets on Valentine's Day the first year we were married. They are navy, wool, and classic. Both jackets are on heavy rotation ten years later and have held up beautifully.
Here's the picture he took of me the day we bought the jackets at BlackBlue in 2015. It was love at first wear.”
This APC jacket is $238 from Vestiaire. I bought Christian an APC jacket from eBay that I steal constantly.
His jacket is pretty similar to this APC one and was around the same price: $150.
Jake Bell,
"I scoured eBay for these late deadstock 90s era Levi's 505 orange tabs all the way back in 2018. They literally came vacuum sealed, never worn before. I basically wanted a straight fit, simple jeans that could be worn with anything. And over the last 6 years I quite literally have. As much as I try to not get too sentimental, these jeans really were there for so many monumental moments in my life, and at this point you can tell. After hundreds of washes, they faded from a dark blue to a perfect light wash and this past Summer I blew out both knees running around New York. I have always had a ton of jeans, whether it be raw denim from APC or the naturally dyed Our Legacy Workshop jeans, but these remained my go-to pair for their perfect fit which hovered just above the shoe so satisfyingly. I wore them with low-profile sneakers and a vintage tee, loafers and an equally worn-in oxford shirt, or with a simple cashmere sweater draped over the shoulders when it got chilly. While the knee blowouts are a bit too much for me now, I am going to hang on to these forever."
Here’s a solid pair for $70 on eBay.
Excellent fade on these for $100, also from eBay. Look for listings that have free returns until you get a sense of what your size is in vintage Levis.
Elissa Suh,
“I bought a Maria Cornejo black viscose caftan for $87 on The Real Real in 2016 and still reach for it in the summer. I just change up the shoes depending on how casual I want to look. A few years ago I wore it to a bachelorette with Salomons.”
Same brand as Elissa’s, but this one is $136.
If there’s one thing COS is going to always execute on, it’s a caftan under $150.
It’s this pick and the next from TRR for $98.
Nora Henick,
“I bought this shirt at a sidewalk sale in 2019 in the East Village, where I was living at the time. It cost $5, and it makes me feel like the lead in a '90s romcom. Over the years, it’s gotten a lot of wear, and I’m not sure if I’ll ever be ready to part with it. I’m excited to see what the next five years with it will bring.”
Here’s a STUNNING Alexander McQueen bodysuit for $85.
Use ERIKAV10 for 10% off this Clyque tshirt. I love their bodysuits.
The knots on this $125 secondhand Totême shirt are so cool.
Thank you for reading Long Live. It means so much to me. You can shop my favs here, follow along on Instagram + Tiktok, and shop my Notion template. Get matched at EV Salon. And if you want to partner on a future Long Live, email evan@communite.co x
Obsessed! I want to read 100 of these. Truly the very best finds are usually some random, inexpensive (relatively) item that just ends up being a hero.
I love the variety. Thank you for inviting me!