As a bargain fashion hunter with an eye for on-trend styles, I was instantly drawn to DressLily‘s flashy website touting chic dresses and swimsuits from just a few dollars. But as an experienced online shopper, I know flash sales and extreme discounts often seem too good to be true.
So over the past two years I‘ve ordered a ton of DressLily pieces with the goal of unraveling fact from fiction when it comes to this global fast fashion phenomenon. From flimsy bikinis to surprise home run party dresses, my hauls have run the full gamut from fashion fails to unbelievable deals.
Consider this your no-BS download on exactly what to expect when shopping one of the web‘s most controversial (and polarizing) brands. While quality control is dubious and ethical issues about the supply chain clear, scoring big savings on cute outfits is absolutely achievable armed with the insider tips I‘ve uncovered!
My Experience Buying from DressLily
As context, I‘m a 30-something marketing manager with a weakness for trendy clothes I can wear to weekend events, parties etc. I don‘t have a huge budget which drew me to DressLily‘s gallery of dresses mimicking designer looks for literally 1/10th of the usual price.
Over 20+ orders, I‘ve purchased dresses, swimsuits, shoes, jewelry and accessories. Generally sizing up 1-3 sizes due to the teeny Asian fit, prices averaged just $15 per piece including delivery.
DressLily Review: The Good
Killer deals on very stylish outfits – There‘s no denying DressLily offers access to incredibly flattering, fashion-forward outfits covering loads of events, seasons and dress codes at record-low prices. I‘ve scored sun dresses, clubwear dresses, wedding guest outfits and more that rivaled looks from Nordstrom or Revolve for literally 95% less spend.
Smooth ordering and delivery – Placing orders via DressLily‘s app is a breeze – just upload pics of items you want, select color/size preferences and checkout in 60 seconds via Apple Pay. Delivery timeframes are long at 4-6 weeks on average but free shipping kicks in at $50 spend. Packages actually arrived quicker than stated for me in Canada.
Some hidden gems – While quality control overall is questionable, some product tiers and specific items do impress for the silly low spend. I‘ve found certain lace and chiffon dress styles along with linen pants that look pricier than they are and withstand repeated wearings. Stud earrings, hair accessories and phone cases also seem decent quality.
DressLily Review: The Bad
Laughable sizing/fits – By far my biggest gripe is around disastrous sizing and fits, especially for bodycon and tight-fitting items. Dresses and tops are cut for flat-chested, straight up and down body types without an ounce of curves. I size up 3-4 sizes and even then need alterations for a flattering shape. Review size charts and details obsessively if you hope to get garments that actually fit!
Deceptive discount marketing – Those eye-popping "70% OFF!" tags are pure fiction designed to create false FOMO. Comparable items seem to perpetually sit around the various base price tiers of $10, $20, $30 etc no matter how frequently DressLily screams about deals or time running out. Don‘t fall for the manipulation – items likely cost under $3 to produce regardless.
Inconsistent quality -Reviews don‘t lie – DressLily‘s clothes and swimwear are very hit or miss when it comes to materials and construction. I‘ve scored fantastic lace cocktail pieces alongside wretched polyester sacks with bad stitching. Stick to natural fabrics that hold shape better and scrutinize photos to avoid obvious duds.
Questionable ethics – Perhaps the biggest downside is that rock-bottom pricing fuels nasty cycles of worker exploitation, trademark theft and environmental damage. But as consumers, we can move volume away from the worst offenders towards those showing transparency around fair wages and supply chain ethics.
Should You Buy from DressLily? Key Tips
Ignore fake discounts – Regardless of those tantalizing "LAST DAY 70% OFF!" countdowns, base prices for styles barely budge. Have a budget in mind and stick to it.
Always size way up – Reviews consistently warn most clothes and swimwear run crazy small. Size up 2 or even 4 sizes, especially if you‘re curvy. Still risks poor fit but at least you can return.
Scrutinize images – Zoom in on product shots to inspect fabric quality, stitching, structure. Reference video reviews to see items on real bodies.
Stick to natural fabrics – Cotton, linen, silk pieces tend to be better construction and drape vs poly blends.
Pay via PayPal – Should quality issues arise, having payment linked to PayPal supports the returns process.
Limit personal data – Share only essential info and pay via temporary virtual credit card to minimize risk of fraud.
Focus your dollars – There are clearly some gems to be found if you filter carefully. Equally plenty of flimsy fashion fails. Curate your collection selectively.
The Final Word
I won‘t sugarcoat it – shopping brands like DressLily requires researching exact items obsessively, setting expectations around imperfect quality and likely return hassles.
But in an era where fast fashion quality even from major mall brands is iffy at best, scoring trend-right looks for weddings, beach getaways, date nights and more at under $20 investment changes the game.
Approach DressLily by digging into their best-rated tier of items, pay via PayPal and size excessively up. Do all that and you‘ll likely unlock deals from this controversy-laden e-tailer too good to pass up!
