Etymology: The “dupe” is an invention of the internet. Back in the early 2000s, there were fewer high-quality beauty products and when they sold out, cosmetics enthusiasts would take to online forums to share alternatives or duplicates—“dupes” for short. By the time of the 2008 recession, however, “dupe” came to refer specifically to cheaper alternatives to sought-after brands. The term has since been popularized by money-conscious TikTok content creators (and is often spelled “doupe, ” “doup” or “doop” to reflect This story is from Kinfolk Issue Fifty Buy Now Related Stories Arts & Culture Issue 51 WORD: CRINGE A foray into the awkward. Arts & Culture Issue 49 Word: Zeitgeber A new treatise on time. Arts & Culture Issue 48 Word: Kaloprosopia A word that celebrates the masks we wear. Arts & Culture Issue 47 Word: Döstädning A Swedish solution to the mess of death. Arts & Culture Issue 46 Word: Wintering When to withdraw from the world. Arts & Culture Issue 45 Word: Explication An explanation to end all explanations.
