Listen, the internet is *flooded* with Bottega dupes. I swear, every other influencer on Insta is hawking some “look for less” situation. The whole #bottegadupe thing is kinda outta control, tbh. I saw one reel comparing TJ Maxx finds with Target, and it got me thinking – what *is* the real deal? Like, are these bags actually worth the hype?
First off, Bottega Veneta? We’re talking *serious* money. Like, drop-a-down-payment-on-a-car money. I saw something about their Small Loop Camera Bag costing nearly $3,000. THREE GRAND for a bag? I mean, it’s cute, I guess, but my rent isn’t gonna pay itself, ya know?
That’s where the dupes come in. And honestly, TJ Maxx can be a goldmine. You gotta dig, though. It’s not like they’re gonna have a neatly organized “Bottega Inspired” section. You gotta rummage. And be prepared for questionable lighting and slightly chaotic vibes. But hey, that’s part of the charm, right?
I’ve seen some bloggers, and I think one article mentioned Madewell’s “The Puff” as a good dupe. It’s probably a decent starting point. But TBH, I’m more interested in finding a totally random, unbranded thing at TJ Maxx that just *happens* to have that woven-y, Bottega-esque feel. You know, the kind of thing where you score a total win and everyone asks where you got it and you can say, “Oh, just TJ Maxx, no biggie.” That’s the *real* flex.
The problem is… quality. Let’s be real, a three thousand dollar bag is probably much higher quality than a 20 dollar bag. You gotta ask yourself, is it worth it?
And speaking of quality… that’s the big question mark, isn’t it? With TJ Maxx, you’re rolling the dice. Sometimes you find a leather gem that lasts for years. Other times, you end up with pleather-y disintegration after three uses. It’s the gamble that keeps me coming back, I guess.
And Target? I mean, Target’s great for, like, everything else. But sometimes their “inspired by” stuff is a little *too* on the nose, ya know? Like, they’re trying *so* hard to be trendy that it just ends up looking… generic. Maybe that’s just me tho.
