I bought 6 of Amazon Canada's under-$50 viral dresses — here are the ones I would actually recommend
Are these ultra affordable dresses worth your money? I share my honest thoughts.
A few weeks back, I purged my closet and donated several dresses that no longer brought me joy. The best part about getting rid of stuff is that you feel less guilty about treating yourself to something new — it's simple math, really. When I set out to revamp my wardrobe, I wasn’t looking to spend a fortune, so I took a look at some of Amazon’s bestselling dresses for inspiration. I couldn’t decide on just one, so I ended up adding six different styles to my cart. Everything I chose is under $50, so I figured, why not?
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WEACZZY Summer Dress Women
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GRECERELLE Cross V Neck Summer Maxi Dress
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Midi Corset Dress
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MOLERANI Sleeveless Button-Down Dress with Pockets
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MOLERANI Floral Print Scoop Neck Dress
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Famulily V-Neck Dress w/Half Flare Sleeve
I was most excited about this corset dress, but did I love it when I tried it on? And what about this floral maxi dress? It has over 15,000 reviews, but did it live up to the hype? Scroll below to see which Amazon dresses have earned a permanent place in my closet, whether for my next summer party or vacation.
What I bought: WEACZZY Summer Dress
What I like about it: The moment I tried this on, I knew it was a keeper. It falls right at the knee, and the soft spandex/rayon blend hugs my figure in all the right places. It's easy to dress up with a pair of heels and a stylish blazer or throw on over your bathing suit for a day at the beach. I ordered it in a small which was perfect as it fits true to size. The empire waist and pleats make it a great choice for when I'm feeling a bit bloated but still want to wear something cute.
Room for improvement: It does wrinkle and it's also a little sheerer than I thought, so you definitely want to be mindful of your undergarment selections when wearing.
What other shoppers are saying: This dress has an average rating of 4.1 stars from nearly 800 reviews. Shoppers agree it's "true to size," "flattering," and say it "drapes beautifully."
The versatility, length and side pockets are what drew me to this fun frock.
- Versatile
- Has pockets
- Can wear with tights in cooler weather
- Easily wrinkles
- Not totally opaque, so be mindful of your undergarments
What I bought: GRECERELLE V-Neck Maxi Dress
What I like about it: This maxi is a fun choice for a night out or a summer wedding. I like the sash, which gives it a bit more of a refined look. My favourite detail of the dress is the cute ruffled capped sleeves. The 95 per cent rayon fabric feels great on and doesn't cling to the body, which is perfect on those hot summer nights. I ordered this wrap dress in a small and it was a little big on me.
Room for improvement: This dress wrinkles so easily! For that reason alone I would hand wash it, anything to cut down on the wrinkles. Also, as it's shorter in the front, it does ride up a bit when you sit down, which I don't love.
What other shoppers are saying: Shoppers call this maxi "so comfortable" and say it's "flattering and forgiving." Another reviewer is impressed with how much "boob room" the dress provides, saying that if you are "chesty," this is the dress for you.
This dress is cute, but it wasn't the most flattering fit on my frame.
- Cute capped sleeves
- Fabric feels good on
- It wrinkles so easily
- Runs large
What I bought: Courecrop Midi Corset Dress
What I like about it: This cheap corset dress was the one I was most excited to order. The length is great, falling a little below the knee. The corset is surprisingly comfortable even when tied tight. This polyester dress is not stretchy and it runs true to size.
Room for improvement: I so wanted this dress to be a winner for me, but alas, it was far from it. I'm 5'5" with a short torso, and this dress didn't fall quite right on my frame. The slit up the front was also a little too high for my personal taste. I know I am slim, but the corset still didn't seem to do anything to "snatch" my waist.
What other shoppers are saying: One reviewer called this dress "very flattering," going on to say that the fabric is "light and flowy" and "perfect for summer." Another said that it "fits true to size" and is "amazing quality."
The midi length of this lightweight dress makes it a great choice for any occasion.
- Great length
- Side zipper allows for easy on and off
- Not great for people with short torsos
- The quality of the dress isn't the best
What I bought: MOLERANI Sleeveless Button-Down Dress
What I like about it: I could live in this soft and stretchy dress all year long. It falls rights below the knee, is easy to put on, and the front pockets are the best. The decorative brown buttons down the front? Perfection. I accidentally ordered a medium, and I'm glad I did. It fits great and the looser size is great for throwing on over my bathing suit or to run errands in the morning.
Room for improvement: As I mentioned, I accidentally ordered the medium, so it's a little baggy in the underarms, but I think if I had gotten the small, that wouldn't have been a problem.
What other shoppers are saying: "The dress fits great and is very comfortable," says one review. They also said the "soft" dress "feels good on." Another customer said that this "great" dress is "very forgiving," while another person called the dress "flattering" and "comfy."
I could see myself wearing this dress with tights and high boots through fall.
- Falls right below the knee
- Cute decorative buttons down front
- Available in a ton of different colours
- I would have liked it better if the pockets were on the side instead of in the front
What I bought: MOLERANI Maxi Dress with Pockets
What I like about it: This maxi dress is my top choice dress for casual comfort. I don't care what mood I am in; the second I put on this virtually wrinkle-free dress, I am revived. The hidden side pockets are great and I find myself reaching for this dress over others I own. It's flattering and runs true to size.
Room for improvement: I'm 5'5" and I ordered a small and it fell right at my ankles. I can imagine if I were any shorter the dress would be too long.
What other shoppers are saying: Dubbed the " most comfortable dress" by one shopper, the maxi has earned over 15,000 reviews on Amazon. It's "beautifully made" and "true to size."
This ankle length dress is such a flattering and fun maxi dress.
- True to size
- Flattering fit
- Hidden side pockets
- It's very long, so shorter people be warned
What I bought: Famulily V-Neck Puff Sleeve Dress
What I like about it: If you are looking for a low-maintenance dress that gives you a polished and professional look, this is it. The fabric doesn't wrinkle easily, and it's super easy to clean.
It's also great for travel. Just take it out of your suitcase and let it hang in the closet for a bit and voila, your dress is ready for a night on the town.
Room for improvement: The only reason I am not giving this dress five stars is that I wish it was a little longer. What can I say? Below the knee is my preferred length for warm-weather dresses. It also runs a little big. But this one still scores an A, just not an A+.
What other shoppers are saying: Of its 1,300 reviews, over 800 shoppers give this knee-length dress a perfect five-stars. One person said this "great dress" looks "just like the picture" and "fits true to size."
This adorable dress is great day or night and perfect for travel!
- Fabric doesn't wrinkle easily
- Can be worn all year long
- Easy to clean
- It runs big
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
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