Princess Polly has captured the hearts (and wardrobes) of Gen Z and Millennials with her perfectly curated collection of trendies, feminine, and effortlessly cool Australian-inspired fashion. From ribbed basics and viral mini-dresses to flawless two-piece sets, her beauty is undeniable. However, as much as we love the look, price tags can add up quickly, and waiting for international shipping can feel like an eternity with stores like Princess Polly, especially when you need that specific outfit for the weekend.
Good news? The world of online fashion is vast, and numerous phenomenal options offer a mix of trending styles, quality basics, and Instagram-worthy items — all at great prices and with lightning-fast shipping options.
This comprehensive guide provides in-depth information about the best budget-friendly stores, such as Princess Polly, ensuring you stay ahead of the curve without emptying your wallet or waiting weeks for your goods.
The Big Three: Fast, Affordable, and Trendy Global Retailers
When you need Princess Polly beauty quickly and cheaply, these major players have the inventory, logistics, and consistent sales to deliver.
1. ASOS: The Trend Superstore
ASOS is not just a brand; It is a massive online marketplace that offers hundreds of brands, making it the ultimate destination for variety.
- The Princess Polly Vibe: ASOS excels at replicating a diverse, trend-driven aesthetic, offering everything from soft loungewear and oversized shirts to flowy, flowy going-out dresses. You can easily find Australian-cool style here, often from brands that have a similar design philosophy.
- Budget Benefits: ASOS offers a huge price spectrum. By focusing on their own-brand line (ASOS designs) or filtering by price, you can find dresses that look like Princess Polly for up to 50% less. They also make consistent, large-scale sales.
- Shipping and Speed: As a global retailer with multiple fulfilment centres, ASOS offers highly competitive shipping options. Their express shipping is reliably fast, often delivering within 2-4 business days to major markets, making it an ideal solution for urgent purchases.
2. Nasty Gal: Edgy, Affordable, and Always on Sale
Originally an eBay store, Nasty Gal has evolved into a powerhouse known for its slightly girly, festival-ready, and vintage-inspired items — all while being incredibly affordable.
- Princess Polly Vibe: While Nasty Gal leans more toward a “baddie” or rock-and-roll aesthetic than Princess Polly’s softer, feminine look, there is significant overlap, particularly in structured corsets, statement outerwear, and bold mini-dresses. They are excellent for finding fun prints and party apparel.
- Budget Benefit: Nasty Gal’s regular prices are already below Princess Polly’s average, but the real savings come from their continued sales. It’s rare to shop at Nasty Gal without seeing sitewide discounts of 50% to 70%. Never pay full price.
- Shipping and Speed: Now owned by Boohoo Group, Nasty Gal benefits from optimized logistics. They offer various expedited shipping tiers, making them a fast option, especially in the US and UK markets.
3. Cider: Curated Trends with Express Delivery
Cider is a new, social-media-savvy brand that has exploded in popularity by offering highly curated, niche beauty collections (like “Y2K,” “Cottagecore,” and “Dark Academia”) at very low prices.
- Princess Polly Vibe: Cider is a strong match for Princess Polly’s playful, trendy side, especially its knitwear, two-piece sets, and viral dresses. They are adept at copying current micro-trends seen on TikTok and Instagram.
- Budget Benefits: The ciders’ price points are significantly lower than Princess Polly’s, placing them firmly in the highly affordable category. Their use of “pre-order” and demand-driven manufacturing helps keep costs down.
- Shipping and Speed: Cider has invested heavily in fast shipping. While standard delivery times can vary, they consistently offer reliable express shipping options that get products from their distribution centers to North America and Europe surprisingly quickly.
Australian Alternatives with Global Speed
Since Princess Polly is an Australian brand, many consumers look for that distinctive, laid-back yet glamorous Australian boutique aesthetic. These stores share that heritage but are often just as fast for international delivery and offer slightly more competitive pricing, especially during sales.
4. White Fox Boutique
White Fox Boutique is another Australian stalwart, highly popular among influencers and known for its fashion-forward, statement pieces.
- Princess Polly Vibe: White Fox is excellent for event dressing – think bodycon dresses, bold colors, and great sets for nightlife and parties. They share Princess Polly’s love of simple, chic resort ensembles and elevated basics.
- Budget Benefits: Prices are generally the same as or slightly lower than Princess Polly, making it a good option if Princess Polly is out of stock. Keep an eye on their frequent promotions and clearance sections.
- Shipping and Speed: White Fox offers free express shipping at reasonable limits to many international locations (like the US), which can be a big advantage over the cost of standard shipping from other international sites.
5. Hello Molly
If your favorite Princess Polly items are her vibrant party dresses and wedding guest outfits, then Hello Molly is perfect for you.
- The Princess Polly Vibe: Hello Molly specializes in occasion wear, including flowy maxi dresses, structured cocktail dresses, and feminine silhouettes that are spot-on for events, graduations, or a nice dinner.
- Budget Benefit: The prices of their dresses and sets are often slightly lower than those of Princess Polly for a comparable style and quality level. They also have a sale section easily available at the shop.
- Shipping and Speed: Hello Molly offers express shipping to many countries, often with a relatively low minimum spend for free shipping, making it fast and affordable for last-minute event costume needs.
The Fast Fashion Giants: Trend Replication at Unbeatable Prices
For sheer volume of trends, speed, and extremely low pricing, these global giants are unmatched, although it is important to shop strategically due to size and quality variation.
6. PrettyLittleThing (PLT)
PLT is a major force in fast fashion, offering massive inventory and constant trend updates.
- Princess Polly Vibe: PLT is adept at instantly replicating almost every viral trend, from Princess Polly’s viral trousers and knit tops to the seasonal color palette.
- Budget advantage: PLT is significantly cheaper than Princess Polly across the board. They’re constantly running sales, often up to 50-70% off.
- Shipping and Speed: PLT’s logistics are highly optimized. They offer a range of fast shipping options, including next-day delivery in major markets, ensuring you get your fashion fix almost instantly.
7. Boohoo
Boohoo is a core component of the UK-based fast-fashion marketplace, which focuses on affordability and quick-market styles.
- Princess Polly Vibe: Similar to PLT, Boohoo has a huge range that mimics most of the current trends. Their focus is on high-volume, quick-turnaround fashion, making them a great source for basics, jeans, and casual separates that match the PP aesthetic.
- Budget Benefits: Boohoo operates with deep, consistent discounts. This is the place to stock up on trendy, low-commitment goods.
- Shipping and Speed: Like its sister site Nasty Gal and competitor PLT, Boohoo offers fast, reliable instant shipping globally.
The Elevated Affordable Options: Focus on Basics and Fit
These retailers offer high-quality basics and key items that share Princess Polly’s elevated, put-together look, often at good prices and with solid domestic shipping infrastructure (especially in North America).
8. Lulus
If you appreciate the high-quality, sophisticated, and feminine side of Princess Polly’s collections, especially for dresses, then Lulus is a great choice.
- The Princess Polly Vibe: Lulus is known for its charming, curated collections. Although they don’t jump on every micro-trend, their timeless pieces (like cocktail dresses, jumpsuits, and sandals) are a reliable choice for quality and fit.
- Budget Benefits: Lulus offers great value. Although it is not the cheapest on the list, the price-to-quality ratio is arguably the best. They often offer discounts and great sales sections.
- Shipping and Speed: Lulus is generally reliable for fast shipping, often offering free shipping over a certain threshold and providing excellent domestic US shipping times.
9. H&M
H&M is a classic choice for affordable fashion that manages to incorporate the most popular high-end runway trends.
- Princess Polly Vibe: H&M’s diverse collections — especially their splits and seasonal trend sections — are great for finding the structured blazers, knit vests, and distinctive color palettes that define the Princess Polly aesthetic, but at a more accessible price point.
- Budget Benefits: H&M is known for its low prices, wide selection, and great infrastructure.
- Shipping and Speed: With established local delivery in most countries, H&M shipping is generally fast and reliable, offering easy returns and quick turnaround.
🛍️ Your Guide to Budget-Friendly Shopping Success
To successfully shop at stores like Princess Polly without spending money or waiting a long time, implement these strategies:
1. Prioritize Express Shipping Requirements
Before making a ‘purchase’, check free shipping limits and the cost of express/expedited shipping. Sometimes, adding a small, inexpensive item to reach the free Express limit is cheaper than paying for standard shipping.
2. Master the Discount Hunt
Sales of Princess Polly’s options increased:
- Student discounts: Brands like ASOS, Nasty Gal, and sometimes PLT offer generous student discounts (10% to 20%) through platforms like Unidays or Student Beans.
- Newsletter Signup: Sign up for the AlwaysOn email newsletter for an instant 10% to 20% discount on your first purchase.
- Sale Section Filter: Go straight to the “Sale” or “Clearance” section and use filters for size, style, and low to high price.
3. Know the Quality vs. Price Trade-Off
Understand that although these stores are budget-friendly, quality can vary, especially with ultra-fast fashion retailers (PLT, Boohoo, Cider).
- Investment pieces: For items you need only a little (like denim, quality knitwear, or professional blazers), stick to ASOS, Lulus, or H&M.
- Trendy pieces: For items that will only be “in” for one season (like a specific color cutout top), ultra-affordable sites are perfect.
By combining the trend-matching power of these options with smart shopping strategies, you can maintain the chic, contemporary style that Princess Polly loves, keep your wallet happy, and most importantly, have your perfect outfit ready for the weekend with fast shipping.