Designer Dupes: cringey knock offs or smart buys?
how my perspective has changed since becoming a mom
They say dress for the life you want, not the life you have. I get it in theory. But now that I’m a mom, I think it’s kind of silly advice. Unless I have a full-time nanny, being a toddler mom means marker stains, grass stains, popsicle stains... basically anything that might soil my clothing (not limited to bodily functions) probably will. Sure, I’d love a stain-free life. But in reality, that would mean not being a mom to my adorably cute but oh so messy toddler son.
So I’ve started dressing (and shopping) for the life I actually have. And yes, that now includes designer dupes.
I’ve been sitting on this post for a while. Then I saw
(a very popular fashion writer here on Substack) admit she bought a faux Fendi. I loved her breakdown of the handbag morality scale: the “good person” buys the real thing, something secondhand, or a non-trendy bag... and the “bad person” buys an exact replica that’s almost real but not quite. I also loved her SATC reference because to be honest, that episode is always what I think of, too, when I hear designer bag knock off.
After rewatching the scene with Samantha at the Playboy mansion, I tried to find that House of Gucci clip where Aldo Gucci explains fakes versus replicas. But apparently even Meta thinks fake = immoral:
Anyway, I didn’t hit see results. You can if you want. Or just watch the movie. It was really good.
Back to dupes.
Hi, I’m Sydne, and I bought a Goyard dupe. And honestly? I’m not just okay with it. I’m super happy with my decision.
When I was pregnant, I asked all my mom friends about their favorite diaper bags. The answers were all over the place, from practical but cute Dagne Dover backpacks to more trendy Beis totes. I ended up going with a combo that worked incredibly well for me that first year: a mini diaper bag plus a normal tote. Specifically, this diaper fanny pack. I’m so bummed the small business had to close their doors. If you’re pregnant or need a gift for a friend, I highly recommend getting one of the last ones online (on sale for half the price).
For my tote, I went with another family run brand. I used (and still love) the Gigi New York Teddie tote. The embossed leather was water (and milk) resistant and it still holds up against my son’s sticky hands and mysterious stains.
But I kept seeing Goyard totes, including the green one I wanted on my friend when she came to visit. She’s successful, doesn’t have kids, and just like I did before becoming a mom, she treats herself to designer pieces she loves. She wore her Goyard on our beach walk, casually slung over her shoulder with a workout set. And I really wanted one of my own.
I thought back to a different friend in LA, who used both a Goyard and a Fendi as diaper bags. She recommended both designer totes to me when I was pregnant. See? I told you it was possible to have children and dress for the life you want. But yes, she had a full time nanny.
In theory, Goyard is practical: their lightweight canvas is coated and water resistant. But the totes also are around $2,000 for pre-owned (you can only find the originals in store). Even if I had the extra cash (I don’t), it just doesn’t make sense to me to spend that much on an everyday bag while my everyday life consists of running after a toddler. So I put my Goyard fantasy away with others.
But then, when searching for a beach totes before our trip to Mexico, Google somehow read my mind, like it always does (cookies can be so creepy sometimes!). Suddenly, under $200 dupes were everywhere. Lululemon, Aldo, Sam Edelman, Guess. I ended up ordering the Guess one in green. It arrived the night before we left and I’ve been using it non stop since.
Is it obviously inspired by a Goyard? Sigh, yes.
Is it within my single mom budget? At $128 (now marked down to $96!)? Hell yes.
Translation? I never think twice about tossing it in the grass while my son chases squirrels. I don’t care when he spills a full bag of cheddar bunnies inside. I don’t flinch at loose markers or crayons. And the best surprise? The pouch detaches into a mini bag that fits a diaper, wipes, keys, mini SPF, and lip gloss (basically all my must-haves for a quick run to the dog park).
Not having to worry about babying my bags lets me focus on the most priceless thing: my baby. He’s not really a baby anymore, and I know when I blink, he’ll be a teenager. Maybe then I’ll get another designer bag.
But it probably won’t be a Goyard. Another friend who splurged on the real Goyard in Paris said she was disappointed with how it held up for everyday life. So we’ll see what I’m eyeing in the next decade. For now, I’m eyeing my boys, not my bags.
Loved this Sydne! 💖
I love a dupe!! I always say- everyone do whatever they want!!