I tried recreating Sofia Richie’s wardrobe on a budget with Target and Zara finds – my trick makes basics look expensive
ONE A-lister has taken the reigns from Hailey Bieber to become this season’s style trendsetter.
After Sofia Richie’s grand wedding to Elliot Grainge in the South of France, the 24-year-old’s elegant fashion sense went viral on social media, leaving more women wanting to dress as classic and lush as her.
Being the fashion obsessor I am, I felt obligated to try piecing together mod looks inspired by the new Mrs. Grainge.
As the daughter of Lionel Richie and Diane Alexander, Sofia’s no stranger to the public eye, especially alongside her siblings Nicole and Miles.
But as of recently, her visibility has only increased with her wedding being labeled as “the event of the summer.”
Over the years, she’s carved a career path in design, business management, and modeling through her eponymous label and relationships with big-name brands such as Chanel and Michael Kors.
The celebrity’s style has landed on a mix of trendy and timeless.
Most of her looks consist of traditional Chanel pieces with pops of colorful and abstract accessories like statement earrings and structured bags.
She’s chic and simple but also contemporary. Sofia is the moment. But Chanel dresses do not come cheap.
Luckily, Sofia’s quiet luxury style approach can easily be replicated with basics in your closet — saving you from buying her designer to look lavish.
For those embarking on European excursions, attending weddings, vacationing in the Hamptons, or just looking to upgrade everyday outfits, I crafted five looks that match Sofia’s expensive taste for cheap.
Before thinking about outfits, I needed the right mindset — beauty-wise.
I emulated Sofia’s soft, natural glam with a light layer of makeup focused on complexion and a slicked-back bun.
The It-girl is often seen with her hair parted down the middle or gelled back, and recreating this look instantly made me look richer.
But she rarely dons more than a coral blush and bronzer combo.
For all five fits, I went with a classic black ballet flat.
Sofia will switch between a pointed-toe kitten heel or her Chanel flats but unfortunately, my shopping budget hasn’t allowed me to acquire either, so I went with what I had.
The important part to remember with Sofia’s shoe choice is she’s far from a stiletto or platform girly.
Her sandals may have a little height, but for the most part, her length is natural.
My first outfit was motivated by the newlywed’s love for one French fashion house.
Each of Sofia’s wedding dresses was exclusively designed by Chanel. In fact, the entire weekend was.
Whether it was the traditional high-collar lace gown worn during the ceremony or her welcome-party colored patchwork mini bag, there wasn’t a moment made without Chanel.
So, without spending thousands on the brand’s luxury items, I honored their influence on her style by crafting a black-and-white look.
I wore a long white dress with a black floral choker I already had from Zara.
My dress was the $60 Midi Top Coat Dress, while the floral choker was $12.
The accessory was a nod to Chanel’s white flower insignia.
For my second outfit, I recreated Sofia’s honeymoon aesthetic (seen at the top of this article).
I styled an oversized blue-and-white striped button-down as a dress to mimic one of Sofia’s beach day looks.
Although mine was Zara’s $50 Striped Menswear Style Shirt, a similar one can be easily found at the thrift store in the men’s section.
Team it with a cute pair of flats, a woven tote, and a fun pair of sunglasses — you’ll look like you just got married in the South of France.
The third and fourth outfits were meant to capture Sofia’s tendency to gravitate toward opulent floor-length dresses.
Any solid color dress will do, but the material is everything.
I stuck with two pieces that had a satin or silk finish to make them look more high-priced than they were.
My black maxi dress was the $25 A New Day Women’s Slip Dress from Target, while the yellow slip dress I grabbed from a closet clean-out in New York.
Slip dresses are one of the easier wardrobe staples to find at discount shops in the lingerie section.
A crochet or linen gown will achieve more of the “coastal grandmother” trend, while a satin piece adds the necessary posh feel needed to replicate Sofia’s style.
Her outfits are minimal, making sure not to go overboard with too many accessories.
The few items she wears at once are statements, whether it’s for their fabric, shape, color, or size.
One key point to follow is to use basics with details that add contrast to the entire ensemble, as I did in my fifth outfit.
I fastened only a few buttons of a long white collared shirt and layered it over a pair of matching ribbed wide-leg pants to achieve that perfect balance of trendy and timeless.
Even if you’re summer plans are limited to regular weeknight dinners and days in the park, there’s no reason why you can’t look sumptuous doing so.
Sofia’s fashion taste may have a European influence, but she’s showing out all over the map — and now so will I for far less, I may add.