By: Madyson Tang, Staff Writer
The price of originally branded items can come with a hefty price tag that not everyone can afford. That’s where the dupes come in. The lowered price of the dupes allows everyone to have a test of popular trending items.
Uggs have been a hit this fall and winter season. They are a cute touch to an outfit and perfect for wearing to school or at home. The price, though, is what leads people to Ugg dupes. The dupes allow for a similar look to the original branded item yet for a cheaper price. Dupes are a perfect way to have Uggs without the price tag.
E.L.F (Eyes Lips Face) Cosmetics is a beauty brand that dupes many of our favorite beauty products. The Dior Addict Lip Glow Oil is a product Elf has successfully duped the original item, creating the Elf Glow Reviver Lip Oil. This lip oil is a successful makeup product because it has a lightweight and non-sticky formula. Another product that has successfully been duped is the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter. The foundation comes with a price tag of $50.00, while the Elf Halo Glow Liquid Filter is only $14. The dupe being only $14 for a similar formula to the Flawless filter is what makes the dupe as popular as the original thing.
Lululemon is a popular brand that’s been popular for many years, causing tons of dupes of the product to be created. These dupes range in price from the Lululemon Scuba to their leggings and everywhere belt bags. Having trending items increases the amount of dupes created for a product.
Another example of dupes that’s been getting really popular is perfume dupes. The trend of perfumes becoming trending arises from many popular perfumes that have the same scent. The only thing truly different is the price of the perfumes. Like Sol de Janeiro, Jo Malone, and Chanel are some brands that have had popular dupes. Having perfumes that smell like the original item at a lower price attracts customers to the dupes.
A student at Mills who wanted to stay anonymous gave their opinion on dupes, saying, “Dupes are a fun way of getting the item that you want at a low price! They can be very beneficial to people who can’t afford the product yet get the same cute and stylish look.”
Copycat items can save a lot of money for those who can’t afford the real branded thing. However, they can cause overconsumption of products, putting a cost on the environment and the people who make the products we use. Having copycat items of products we love also causes the original company to lose profits having the same look or feeling as different brands on the market.
Popular trending items are what give dupes their hype. Having a cheaper option for items everyone wants gives everyone the opportunity to try out a product. Dupes can be amazing to those who can’t afford them, giving the same quality as the branded items with a cheaper price tag.
