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That Time I Bought a “Designer” Bag from China and My Friends Couldn’t Tell the Difference
That Time I Bought a “Designer” Bag from China and My Friends Couldn’t Tell the Difference Okay, confession time. Last month, I was scrolling through my feed, drowning in envy over this stunning, minimalist leather tote bag. The brand? Some impossibly chic French label with a three-figure price tag that made my bank account weep. I’m Chloe, by the way. I live in Portland, Oregon, and I work as a freelance graphic designer. My style is what I call “practical chic” â I love clean lines, quality fabrics, but I also have a mortgage. My budget is firmly middle-class, which means I’m constantly negotiating between my love for beautiful things…
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My Chaotic Love Affair with Chinese Fashion Finds
My Chaotic Love Affair with Chinese Fashion Finds Okay, confession time. Last Tuesday, I found myself staring at my closet, a half-drunk oat milk latte in hand, feeling that familiar pang of “I have absolutely nothing to wear.” This wasn’t about a lack of clothesâmy Brooklyn apartment is testament to thatâit was about a lack of new clothes. The thrill. The problem? My budget, post-rent and pre-paycheck, was screaming at me. That’s when I did what any self-respecting, slightly desperate fashion enthusiast would do: I fell down a rabbit hole of Chinese e-commerce sites at 2 AM. I’m Chloe, by the way. I write copy for a sustainable skincare brand…