At the beginning of this article, I confess that I have a folder on my phone called “If I Won The Lottery.” Inside, I keep screenshots of clothing from The Row. I don’t save pictures of homes, trips, etc. Only clothing. That may sound silly, especially since I am a 401(k)-owning adult. However, I do not think I am the only adult that has this type of fantasy.
The Row is a clothing company that makes the types of pieces that cause you to wonder if you have lost your mind for wanting something that looks like a completely normal white button-down. They sell a $350 t-shirt, $900 trousers, and $1,500 sweaters. The Row embodies that particular type of stealth wealth that whispers, rather than yells. The fabrics used by The Row are of the highest quality. The cuts are precise. When you wear a piece of clothing from The Row, you appear to say “this old thing?” as if you carelessly threw it on. In reality, the ability to pull off the effortless, “oh this old thing,” requires a trust fund.
Or does it?
Over many years, I have studied The Row’s aesthetic with the fervor that most people study possible partners or moles. As such, I have come up with a theory. What makes the pieces of clothing from The Row look expensive is not only the quality of the materials (although the Italian cashmere certainly helps). It is the proportions. The details. The silhouette.
As someone who cannot afford to spend $300 on a t-shirt or $1,500 on a sweater, no matter how well it fits, I have spent years searching for affordable pieces that mimic the aesthetic of The Row.
My salary as a fashion editor affords me the opportunity to purchase designer pieces every now and then. However, even I cannot justify spending three months’ rent on a cashmere cardigan, no matter how beautifully it hangs. Therefore, I have become a type of minimalist luxury detective. I search for alternatives to designer pieces that provide the same aesthetic hit without the financial regret.
Before I begin listing affordable pieces that provide the same aesthetic as the pieces of clothing from The Row, I want to make it clear. I am not saying that these affordable options are equivalent in quality to the pieces from The Row. The Row uses high-quality materials and craftsmanship that justifies their higher prices. I am saying that I have found affordable options that provide the same aesthetic.
Here are five affordable basics that provide the same aesthetic as The Row:
First: the perfect white t-shirt. A perfect white t-shirt from The Row costs approximately $350. It is made of the best pima cotton in the world. The cotton is grown by fashion angels. Or maybe it is just that the cotton is so good that it makes you wonder if you are dreaming. Regardless, the cotton is the best. However, I have found that Everlane’s organic cotton box-cut tee ($35) provides almost the same visual experience. The slightly boxy cut. The heavy weight of the cotton. The way it hugs your skin instead of clinging to it. All of these elements contribute to the idea that the tee was designed with intention, not accident. The collar doesn’t stretch out after two wear. The colour remains white. Are the two tees identical in quality? No. But when styled properly, no one will notice the difference but a fashion editor.
When choosing a white t-shirt, choose a slightly cropped, boxy silhouette. The sleeves should fall at the correct point on your upper arm. The neckline should sit flat on your collar bone without gaping. I buy mine a size bigger to get the perfect slouchy-but-not-sloppy look that is the foundation of the wealthy minimalist aesthetic.
Second: the oversized button-down. The Row sells an oversized button-down for approximately $950. The oversized button-down has the perfect amount of structure while also drape like liquid fabric dreams. However, Uniqlo’s extra fine cotton oversized long sleeve shirt ($40) is a surprisingly similar substitute. I have owned this shirt in three colours. I wear it every day. I wear it over jeans. I wear it as a light jacket. I wear it with tailored trousers. I wear it over slips. The cotton is stiff, but softens immediately after washing. The oversized cut is designed to be oversized. There is a distinction between a large shirt and an oversized shirt. The oversized button-down is the difference between looking like you are wearing expensive minimalist clothing, and looking like you just picked up whatever you could find in the mens department.
The things that make an expensive-looking button-down, expensive-looking, are the details. The placket should lay flat. The collar should have just enough structure to maintain its shape without appearing stiff. The overall proportions should look intentional rather than accidental. This is not just a large shirt. It is an oversized shirt. The line between looking expensive and looking like you dressed yourself in the dark is thin.
Third: wide-leg, full-length trousers. The Row offers an oversized wide-leg trouser for approximately $990. However, COS has perfected the high-street version with their wide-leg twill trousers ($49). The high waist. The perfectly straight wide leg. The way they break just above the shoe. These details create the perfect slouchy-but-tailored silhouette that is the hallmark of the aesthetic.
To create this look, find trousers that are wide, but not clownish. Find a rise that falls at your actual waist (your lower waist, your hips, your actual anatomical waist). The trousers should hug your body without clinging. The length should be tailored to your height. Yes, you will likely need to hem them. However, even with a $20 alteration job, you are going to end up with pants that look at least 10x more expensive than what you paid.
Fourth: knitwear. I have struggled the most to find true budget substitutes for knitwear. The Row’s knitwear is made of the finest cashmere. The pieces are priced accordingly. The Row’s cashmere pieces cost up to $2,000. However, Quince’s mongolian cashmere crew neck sweater ($50) is a surprising close to the quality of the Row. If you size up to create an oversized look, the Quince sweater is almost indistinguishable from the Row sweater.
There are three elements that define expensive-looking knitwear. The first element is that the knitwear should not pill. The second element is that the knitwear should weigh heavily. The third element is that the knitwear should hold its shape. Budget cashmere often looks sad after one season. However, with proper care (hand-wash cold, dry flat, store folded with cedar blocks), the Quince sweater will last you for at least two seasons. Will it have the same substantial hand feel as the Row? Probably not. But when styled properly, the Quince sweater will have the same visual impact as the Row sweater.
Fifth: outerwear. A slightly oversized blazer is a staple of the wealthy minimalist wardrobe. The Row sells an oversized blazer for approximately $2,350. However, H&M’s oversized jacket ($45) is a great, budget-friendly substitute. The slightly padded shoulders. The clean lapels. The single-button closure. The H&M jacket has all of the characteristics that define a blazer that looks expensive. I have purchased this jacket in both black and beige. I wear it constantly. Over jeans. Over slips. With tailored trousers.
The trick to finding a budget blazer that looks expensive is to look for clean lines and minimal detailing. No contrasting stitching. No decorative buttons. Nothing that draws attention to itself. The focus should be solely on the silhouette. Additionally, pay attention to the fit of the shoulders. They should extend slightly past your natural shoulder for that deliberate oversized look. Avoid the 1980’s power suit silhouette.
Sixth: accessories. I have become quite zealous about recommending Uniqlo’s airism seamless crew neck long-sleeve tee ($30). The second-skin fit makes it the perfect base layer under oversized pieces. It creates the proprietary tension between fitted and slouchy that defines the aesthetic. The seamless construction means that there are no lines interrupting the clean silhouette. I have purchased multiples of this tee. I wear them every day. Under everything. All winter.
In terms of accessories, the high/low mix is perhaps most evident to the trained eye. The Row produces some of the most desirable minimalistic bags. They produce them in limited quantities. They charge accordingly. The Row’s classic margaux bag sells for approximately $4,900. While I have not been able to find a $50 alternative that would deceive anyone, Mango’s leather shopper bag ($49.99) has a similar aesthetic to the Row’s.
Mango’s leather shopper bag is characterized by extreme simplicity. No logos. Minimal hardware. Clean lines. High-quality materials. While you may be able to find affordable leather bags that will develop a nice patina over time (as long as you avoid anything too trendy or decorated), saving up for a mid-range leather bag ($200-400 from a reputable brand like Cuyana or Polène) may be worth it. A quality leather bag paired with $35 t-shirts and $40 button-downs will elevate your entire look.
Styling Secrets.
While the above-listed basic pieces are inexpensive, there are ways to style them to make them look anything but.
Monochromatic Dressing.
Wearing the same colour family head to toe is the most effective way to make your clothing look expensive. I’m not suggesting that you have to dress entirely in beige (although, that is very Row), but creating a cohesive colour story either all cool tones or all warm tones instantly makes your outfit look intentional, therefore more expensive.
Embracing Unusual Proportions.
Another way to make your clothing look expensive is to wear clothes with unusual silhouettes. The wealthy minimalist aesthetic often combines a loose-fitting top with tight-fitting bottom or wide-leg pants with a fitted top. By combining deliberately unusual proportions, you are sending the message that you are making intentional choices with your clothing, rather than just putting on whatever is in front of you.
Proper Care Matters.
Budget clothing can look expensive if you take care of them. If you properly care for your clothing no pilling, no fading, no wrinkles you will look like you have money. Spending money on a fabric shaver, learning the best way to wash the different fabrics you have, and using an iron or steamer to remove wrinkles, will help ensure that your budget clothing looks like designer clothing.
Minimizing Accessories.
Finally, minimizing accessories is the final step to creating a look that is expensive. The Row’s aesthetic is never about accessorizing. A simple gold necklace or a pair of architectural earrings are sufficient. The focus should be on the clean lines of the clothing, not on distracting visual elements.
