These Under-$100 Nasty Gal Pieces Caught My Attention, So I Decided To Try Them

Ever since Sophia Amoruso first started the brand in 2012, Nasty Gal has been a poignant memory of my early adulthood. It was like a prelude to the wave of Instagram brands we see a lot of now—where buying into the biggest social media-driven trends is only a matter of opening an app. As a college student on a shoestring budget, Nasty Gal was a regular part of my wardrobe—especially when club-hopping was on the agenda. Then, through a series of unfortunate events, the company went bankrupt in 2016, and later became another retail arm of Boohoo’s fashion empire. Since its demise, I admittedly kind of forgot about it. A slew of trendy, affordable fashion brands launched in the meantime, and I started to look elsewhere. But as shopping became a part of my daily routine as a market editor, Nasty Gal became a name that repeatedly blipped across my radar again. In the years since I last shopped the site, it’s undergone a  transformation—the selection has become more “adult” with more timeless staples, and the brand has revved up its offerings with the addition of timely collaborations (celebrity stylist Maeve Reiley’s collab was the most recent). Ultimately the refocus from teeny bopper fashions to more elevated trends compelled me to give it another chance and to see if its another brand I should add to my current shopping rolodex.  To give me (and all of you, of course) an idea, I ordered a bunch of items and gave them a test run. For my honest thoughts and a review of which finds came out on top, keep scrolling.

I’m calling this jacket the crown jewel of this entire haul. Why? Because literally the second I put it on, the compliments started rolling in. Even my trend-savvy coworkers thought it was an expensive shearling jacket. The faux leather is so buttery soft, and the construction is so good that it looks way more expensive than it is. I’m so head over heels for this jacket I’ve even contemplated buying a second one as a backup. In short, I can’t recommend this enough (especially since it’s now less than $90).

I’ve been obsessed with exposed seam clothes for a bit, so once I spotted this dress on the site I clicked on it immediately. The material although not the softest, is surprisingly thick and I didn’t find it necessary to wear a slip at all. So far I’ve worn it out to weekend brunch with friends, on a dinner date, and to a few work events, with no complaints. Of the haul, this dress ranked high on my list of favorites. 

Being a curvy girl I take a deep breath every time I try a new pair of pants from a brand I’m unfamiliar with. Honestly, I had low expectations before I slipped these on, but wow was I impressed. The quality rivals some of the best affordable faux leather pants I’ve tried, and I definitely appreciated the added stretch. I usually don’t go for light-colored leather, but I’ve been wearing these non-stop.

I really didn’t need another leather trench coat, but what can I say? I’m obsessed. I will say that this one is unlike any other I own due to its padded shoulders. The addition of an exaggerated shoulder gives this trench a more designer feel, adding structure to an otherwise unstructured piece. The faux leather on this coat is a little shinier than genuine leather but in the right shade (I’d recommend brown) it can pass for a more expensive piece.

I’m all for cozy sets right now, and a shrug-dress combo seems like a perfect pairing for looking elevated without an actual waistband. Ultimately you’d never guess this was only $33 just by how comfy and soft the knit material is. The slit is a little high, so be prepared to show off your best pair of boots or heels. 

There’s always a time and place where a cool suit is necessary, so I ordered this with the intent of it being my go-to laidback event outfit. Both the pants and blazer run more oversized than the standard so keep that in mind if you end up adding this to your closet. I love that I can wear each on their own as separates or together for a cool-girl combo.

Simple tailored pants are a huge thing right now, but finding the right pair is not as simple as it seems. While I appreciate the high waist on these, I came away wishing the material was a little more structured like a pair of suit trousers. The placement of the pleats also wasn’t my favorite, but I wonder if sizing up could eliminate the problem of the gathered pleats. All in all, these are solid for relaxed days when you want to look a step up from wearing sweatpants.

When I ordered this I was convinced that this would be the perfect going-out top for chilly nights, and I wasn’t disappointed. It’s almost crazy that this is only $14 on sale right now— from the construction to the material and pattern vibrancy, this top is a bonafide winner.

I notoriously have a love-hate relationship with rigid denim (they are tricky for curvy bodies), but I cannot sing the praises of these jeans enough. Even on my thick thighs the vertical colorblock pattern didn’t look warped or weird as patterns on jeans sometimes can, and they fit so comfortably at the waist. Based on this, I’m already plotting the matching jacket.

A number from stylist Maeve Reilly’s recent collaboration, this dress features an exposed open back. One of the features I appreciate most about this dress is the juxtaposition between the saucy back cut-out and the modest high neckline—it’s a little risque but in the most understated way possible. If you have curves you’ll love the slinky and stretchy material as it hugs your body without being too constrictive. This piece also gets points for the vibrant color.

Next up: These Cult Pieces Are Officially Instagram Famous, and They’re So Good