What stores (in the US or Canada) sell pretty/classic dresses like the below?
What stores (in the US or Canada) sell pretty/classic dresses like the below?
The above dress is from a UK store called Apricot. Similar stores might be Oasis.
I’ve seen stuff like it at New York and company, but they’re extremely hit or miss and pretty cheaply made outside of the top lines (though their collabs tend to be pretty good quality and I’ve had a skirt from them last a decade)
Anthropologie - very popular brand with some classics and some very bohemian/trendy dresses. Quality warning - usually cheaply made, I recommend reading reviews if the dresses are worth it because they can be pricey.
Madewell and J Crew - simple, preppy clothes not the best quality but they used to have great sales
Reformation - also very popular brand with lots of classic dresses in multiple patterns so you can find a style you like.
Aritzia - lots of classic styles in neutral and colorful fabrics.
Pretty sure all of the above stores are tied to fast fashion and slave labor/poverty wages etc. If that's something you are looking to avoid:
Avocado - smaller selection of classic clothes in simple colors that make it easy to pair pieces and put together outfits.
Elizabeth Suzann - well made staples, again less choice but will last longer and be a staple in your wardrobe.
Wolf and Badgar - not a brand but a site that aggregates and sells smaller designers clothing. Takes a bit more time to search through but they have some classics as well as crazy out there styles. You can sort by where the garment is made or other metrics like using ethically sourced materials and labor.
Did Anthropologie change in quality? They were always the most expensive store at the nice mall, and I wouldn’t have expected poor quality, but I haven’t seen one in probably a decade
They are still one of the most expensive stores. I believe they have multiple companies making their clothes, some of them are top notch. But as an internet shopper I have been bamboozled on a few occasions where the clothes were made of thin/lifeless fabric that did not look at all like they did on the model and after a few wears were showing signs of wearing thin or ripping.
The review community on their website is very active, though. A lot of people post their own photos of the garment on them and whether or not it feels like a waste of money. So, I just recommend browsing the reviews before making a pricey decision.