banana mine came in on Monday and I've been petting it softly with a creepy smile ever since but it's sooo pretty I've been too scared to take it out yet 
. Curious to know what colour yours is like, mine was somewhat darker then I remembered and how it photographs, but it's a great light sand colour.
Proper, I know I probably come across as someone who splashes the cash a lot but I'm actually a major cheapskate who has a lot of restraint to hold out for things. My focus on designer pieces for myself mostly has to do with a conscious choice to wean myself away from fast fashion and I've been trying for the most part to buy things made in Europe exclusively. I don't think it's necessary to spend that much but it'll take more effort to seek it out. I was always taught to check the care label first, before the price tag and I still feel it's a good guide. I have a mental inventory of what I feel something is worth, so you'll rarely see me buy anything full price at Zara, it just isn't worth it most of the time and I have no qualms leaving it behind.
Uniqlo for whatever reason doesn't work for me, but COS used to be the brand that made up the bulk of my wardrobe. These days, however, their smallest size is just too large for me mostly, I'll still look but rarely buy, unfortunately. I think as long as you're not set on something very specifically a bit of an exhaustive internet search and the patience to wait things out until sales can bring things closer to reach. I have massive wishlist administrations to keep an eye on things for the sales and I basically just stow away a budget for when I need it as I tend to buy a lot in a short period of time and then nothing for quite some time. Those in between phases are also helpful because it helps signal what you're really missing, and what you don't really need as you seem to be doing fine without it.
Leather pants, you need a good fit so eBay and Vestiaire Collective are pretty much out on account of limited or no return possibilities. Yoox is a good place to look, I've seen them go under a 100 euros on there, but you're more likely to get that price in summer than winter. You can select material and size and you'll see plenty of options. Stick possibilities at all price points in your dream box there, prices drop continually with time and they do at least 2 offers every week. Currently it's an additional 30% off a selection, usually, it's 15-20-25% but it adds up towards the end of the season. Shipping is often free and returns always are but you have to have the nerve to wait it out and get to a price you're comfortable buying at and not set your hopes on something too much either as it can just sell out. The brand '8' is, I suspect, their own brand and they're the leather leggings that drop down the lowest and from the pictures, they look quite good.
I can't comment on faux, I personally don't like them as the one time I tried them on I had a thermal meltdown. I don't react well to synthetic fabrics so it was just really unpleasant and I'd say my reaction is atypical. From an aesthetic POV, there is a difference in how they look and fit, leather just does something extra, it's minor but it's there. On the budget end the H&M real leather ones are quite good at around £250, I believe. H&M does do codes so it's worth keeping an eye on those, especially if you're a club member so you may be able to get them for under 200.
I used to have two pairs of these and these coated skinnies from Comptoir des Cottoniers (actually I still have them, they're just too big) and people continually thought they were real leather, especially when they aged and creased just like real leather would. I had them in brown and black but it was the brown especially that fooled a lot of people, the army coloured ones are a bit of a gamble but they could turn out to be quite special. They're in the last chance section, an outlet of sorts so sizes vary, from memory they're about half price at £45 and £50.
And since we're talking more sensible prices, I did tease this bag brand that did good value for money that had me reconsidering my minimum price rule and then promptly never mentioned it again. It's Le Parmentier, they seem to only be sold on an Italian site, Forzieri, (reputable, sell designer handbags pretty much exclusively, always with an interesting discount). The brand sounds French but they're Italian. There's a bit of a disclosure though, they're heavily inspired by other designers, the current selection has a version of the Chloe Nile and others, Maison Margiela, Proenza Schouler Hava tote, Aquazurra, Loewe Barcelona, Celine totes and what I'm heavily contemplating a version of the Celine Trotteur which is no longer being made and I still regret never getting. I usually have massive issues with the inspired by handbag brands, specifically the US diffusion brands like Rebecca Minkoff, Kate Spade, Micheal Kors, etc. as they compete in the same arena of actual designer bags but at a slightly more competitive price point whilst using poorly treated labour in China and cheaper materials and finishes. So the only reason I make an exception with this brand is that they're all under 200 euros so they're more competing at the upper high street level than in the designer arena, and they're made in Italy in calfskin. In the world of handbags, France and Italy are King when it comes to manufacturing and you don't generally get calfskin (one of the nicest skins, albeit a bit more delicate) as the entry level bags, it'll be goat or sheep skin and the next tier up is calf then followed on by the exotics. Cow's is usually only seen in the vegetable tanned sturdier type of bags. I mean, I haven't seen them in real life, they may very well be shit IRL but from the pictures they don't appear to be awfully finished.
I should probably point out they're not direct imitations, they're differentiated enough (for the most part) that they wouldn't be mistaken for the real thing, some like the Loewe Barcelona are probably too recognisable but the Chloe Nile (Pic 3) version really is a nod to it rather than overly familiar.
Code SVP18 gives 20% off, it says the offer is limited but the percentage will only drop further with time. They pretty much give at least 20% off at all times on that site.
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