The truth behind my Australian Fashion Week outfits: I faked multiple designer looks with Target buys under $70 – and no one knew

When I strutted into Australian Fashion Week wearing a sharply tailored dark grey suit, knee high snakeskin boots and statement gold earrings, I felt unstoppable.

Compliments flowed freely. ‘You look amazing!’ said one. ‘Is that Camilla and Marc?’ asked another.

Little did they know my entire outfit cost less than $200, and every single piece was from Target Australia – we’re talking head-to-toe.

Not designer. Not borrowed. Just clever styling, budget finds, and strutting into Australia’s trendiest week of the year with a whole lot of bravado.

Did I want to go to designer boutiques to play dress-ups and splash out on luxury, expensive frocks for the occasion? Of course I did. I’m a millennial woman living in Sydney, working in media and a die-hard Carrie Bradshaw fan – it’s hard not to. 

However, my quick realisation of the cost of living, a recent house move, and the expense of fixing a leaky bathroom – my credit card said it was hard no.

This year, I decided to put fashion’s biggest myth to the test: that you need to drop thousands to look the part.

I wore nothing but budget-friendly, off-the-rack pieces for the entire week and still served high fashion. And judging by the reactions, no one suspected a thing – or maybe they were looking at themselves too much to even care.

Fashion Week used to be about the clothes on the runway, however now, it’s as much about the street style outside.

It’s become the unofficial Olympics for influencers, where the competition isn’t just fierce, it’s calculated. The goal? To be papped by street style photographers, reposted by fashion pages, and, of course, to create viral content for Instagram.

Amidst the chaos of big sunglasses, exaggerated silhouettes, and borrowed designer looks, it was oddly refreshing to show up in outfits that were truly mine. Styled, bought, and worn with intention.

I was there for work and reporting, which was such a luxury, I’m well aware. But Fashion Week is about self-expression, and I found it incredibly empowering to express my style without needing to spend a fortune or chase trends.

Target’s current collections are bursting with elevated tailoring, on-trend silhouettes, and luxe-looking details that made mixing runway vibes with real-world prices ridiculously easy.

From bubble hems that rival Aje, to drop-waist dresses that could pass for Anna Quan, I discovered just how versatile – and stylish – budget fashion can be.

And only one of these outfits I bought brand new – the other two were Target pieces I already had in my wardrobe.

Bonus points on the savings for me.

The Power Suit Moment 

Let’s start with the look that had the fashion crowd doing double takes.

On Day Two, I slipped into a Preview Belted Blazer ($70) and a Lily Loves Tailored Wrap Mini Skirt ($35), both in a steely grey, fully lined and amazing quality.

Paired with faux snakeskin Evie Kitten Heel Long Boots ($60), a neutral Panini Snakeskin Shoulder Bag ($25), and Angled Drop Earrings ($6), I felt polished and ready to sit front row at Aje.

The total of this entire outfit? $196.

The Bubble Dress

Another standout moment was my white $30 Bubble Hem Corset Mini Dress from target, which I’d purchased over six months ago and dug out from the back of my cupboard.

It had people convinced I was wearing the Aje Violette Bubble Hem Dress – a designer frock that retails for a jaw-dropping $495.

The resemblance was uncanny, with the same voluminous silhouette, flirty hemline, and cotton fabric.

I styled it with my oversized pair of black Celine sunglasses, a Target cream over-sized blazer (also from my wardrobe), my Marc Jacobs cross-body bag, and of course, the snakeskin boots because they were so incredibly comfortable.

The Drop-Waist Dress  

I ran to Target late last year to nab this $60 Drop Waist Midi Dress because it looked like an exact dupe of the $550 Anna Quan Drop Waist Maxi Dress.

I was patting myself on the back when I also pulled this style together for Day Three look for Australia Fashion Week. No one would know, right?

Clean lines, effortless drapes, and understated elegance – it screamed quiet luxury, and I felt like a look plucked from the pages of Vogue.

It’s a bonus that the bodice is elasticated and was so comfortable for sitting, standing and (literally) running between shows for 10 hours straight.

Fashion Week can feel intimidating. It’s a place where the unspoken rule is ‘the more expensive, the better’. But I felt the opposite.

Knowing I could hold my own among influencers, editors, and stylists in outfits that cost less than a pair of designer socks? That felt empowering.

There’s also something deliciously subversive about rocking an under-$200 outfit in a sea of thousand-dollar labels and getting just as many, if not more, compliments.

It proves that style doesn’t come from a price tag; it comes from confidence, curation, and knowing how to dress for you.