A few years ago, there was a dress credited with skyrocketing Skims to mass popularity (well, okay, maybe the fact that the company was founded by Kim Kardashian helped). The $80 Soft Lounge Long Slip Dress went viral for its flattering shape and easy silhouette — "Skims dress" trended on TikTok for years, with one of the top-liked videos gaining over 5.8 million likes.
I've never been that big a fan of the Kardashians' brands. In truth, I generally tend to be skeptical toward celebrity-headed brands. But, with thousands of people on the waitlist at the time and consistently sold-out drops, I wanted to know what I was missing out on.
Luckily, I managed to get my hands on the viral dress a few years ago when a department store had a restock. But then, I started to notice TikTok videos crop up where users had found similar styles for a fraction of the price, and given that it's my job to write about style trends, I knew I had to compare them.
So, I tried the $24.99 Amazon version that I kept seeing people link to, and I put it to the test against the real deal to see if the cheaper alternative lived up to its claims.
Trying on the SKIMS dress
Trying on the viral SKIMS dress.
Mollie Davies/Insider
When I pulled it out of its packaging, I was stunned. It looked absolutely tiny, and I thought that there was no way it would fit me. But, the super soft ribbed fabric is extremely stretchy, and it fits almost like a giant sock. Hugging my body, but not restricting it, the fabric felt like a naked dress.
I loved how it was easy to layer up to take it from casual to fancy. Something I was initially concerned about was whether it would be too fancy for everyday wear, but when paired with more casual pieces, it was easy to style accordingly. And although not see-through, it's worth wearing seamless underwear, because the dress is extremely figure-hugging.
At 5'8", I quite often find dresses difficult to be long enough, but this skims the floor perfectly.
I didn't want to admit it, but I may just be a Skims convert after this.
Trying on the Amazon dress
Trying on the Amazon AnotherChill Lounge Slip Dress.
Mollie Davies/Insider
The affordable alternative on Amazon costs just $24.99. There are over 6,000 reviews for the dress, with 73% at 5 stars.
The dress arrived in much less luxurious packaging than the Skims dress, tightly packed in a plastic bag, and not carefully folded up in tissue paper. But I sort of expected that for the price I paid.
On first glance, the dress was also very thin in size, and was pretty similar to the Skims dress, but didn't feel as high-quality on first touch. The straight neckline and slight mermaid tail bottom were both practically identical. But the spaghetti straps weren't adjustable, as they were on the Skims dress.
I was pretty excited to wear the dress, as I'd never found a dress that was as universally flattering as the Skims dress. And if it could be found for a fraction of the price — even better. I pulled the dress on, and instantly felt a similar hugging experience that I did with the Skims dress. But, it was clear that it wasn't quite as supportive as the original.
During the first wear, I noticed that the Amazon dress was more see-through, and didn't offer the same sort of comfort and security as the Skims one. Their silhouettes are indistinguishable, but the Amazon one felt slightly thinner and less stretchy. So, it's clear where the quality falls a little behind, which is to be expected with the price.
Differences in sizing, colors, and materials
The Skims slip dress (right) is emblazoned with the logo and has a ribbed texture, while the Amazon alternative (left) is more non-descript jersey material.
Mollie Davies/Insider
Skims:Nine size options from XXS to 4XL, with six colorways. Made from 91% Modal fabric and 9% elastane. Material has a ribbed finish.
AnotherChill Amazon:Size options range only from XXS to XL, and color options vary by size. Made from 95% polyester and 5% Spandex. Material is flat with no ribbing.
The bottom line: Skims wins for quality, but the Amazon dupe is a solid alternative
Although both dresses are flattering and very versatile in terms of wearability, the superior quality of the Skims viral dress makes it worth every extra penny, in my opinion. But for those looking to spend less, the Amazon alternative will give you the same overall aesthetic with a few trade-offs in material feel and quality.
The post I tried a $25 Amazon version of the popular $80 Skims dress, and they look nearly identical appeared first on Business Insider