I love a good mindless scroll as much as the next person — but I stopped in my tracks when someone in one of my Facebook groups asked about the Amazon dresses that made them feel amazing. Amazing, really?!? This concept intrigued me, because I know firsthand that certain pieces at the Bezos Boutique make me feel anything but. Yahoo editors, including yours truly, recently tested various bestselling dresses and bared our souls (and busts and tummies and arms) to the world. I'm still recovering.
So yes, I absolutely despised the ones I tried — and so did my husband. ("What is that?" he asked as I modeled a striped bedsheet, basically, that made me want to crawl into bed and never leave.) With birthday shindigs, barbecues and bottomless brunches on the horizon (just sayin'), I need flattering frocks, and I need them NOW.
This Facebook post was so popular that people flooded the comments with "following" (it annoys me too) because who doesn't want a dress that reels in the compliments? There are some really great options here and all are on sale; I already bought two!
I love the flirty cap sleeves on this airy A-line beauty, which somehow feels both sweet, with the ruffly tiers, and sassy, thanks to the ample v-neck. Shoppers report that the smocked top is stretchy, which the well-endowed will appreciate.
I'm a sucker for red but it comes in nine colors, including this pretty pale pink that would be lovely at a wedding or this light blue that one creative consumer "used for a Wendy from Peter Pan Halloween costume." Bring on the pixie dust.
Besides having a name that makes my heart sing — here, Merokeety! here, Merokeety! — this crew-neck sheath is kinda purrfect, and multiple people in the Facebook thread said they have and adore it. The tie defines your waist, the pockets keep your phone close at hand when you don't feel like bringing a purse and the stripes are nautical style perfection.
"Most flattering dress in the world," said a shopper who's not at all dramatic. "Like wearing pajamas out and about, yet looking EFFORTLESSLY put together."
The reviewer went on to say: "You can tie the belt as tightly as you want to show off your waist. Tie it loose after a buffet. Tie it tight when you're feeling fabulous. It's fantastic."
Our senior style writer Rebecca Carhart picked this as one of her favorite waist-flattering dresses. "Cute, comfy and feminine, this gingham bestseller's A-line silhouette creates a subtle hourglass-like look," she said. Shoppers promise that the smoked design is satisfyingly stretchy.
Amazon reviewers agree, with one reporting: "the fit is flattering, and the material feels great. Adding a belt gives it an extra touch of style by defining the waist." Love that tip!
Psst: It looks eerily similar to the Ellie Nap Dress from Hill House that's a hefty $178 (!!).
Cruisers are going hog wild for this, reporting that it's lightweight, breathable and slimming (important for those all-you-can-eat buffets!). I'm not a cruiser, but I am a snoozer, so I appreciate that it's breezy and soft and amenable to daily naps (multiple people said it's comfy enough to sleep in). The dress is unique in that the top has horizontal stripes and the bottom vertical, and the payoff to all those lines is nothing short of magical: "It's very slenderizing. Makes my waist look tiny," said a pleased patron.
This buyer was also smitten: "If you have a square body shape like me — meaning no curve at the hips, this dress is for you! The tank-style top provides the illusion that you have slight curves when the dress flares at the tummy." I'm sold.
I love the square neck on this swingy frock, and the fact that it has pockets seals the deal for me. The back is smocked, so it's easy to pull on and off, and even those on the shorter size report that the length works swimmingly with flip flops.
Because my ego appreciates praise, I like that this reviewer said it was a "compliment getter." They went on to say: "This is such a great dress. Quality material, just the right length with a sexy flow. T-shirt-like material that is so comfortable yet sexy at the same time. It’s not sheer and has just the right amount of weight without being heavy."
Another key factor: It has "thick straps that cover your bra," said this practical purchaser, who added: "Comfy. So cute. I have worn it to a wedding with nice shoes and accessories. I have worn it to a baseball game with Birkenstocks. I have worn it to work with a blazer. It is so versatile. My favorite dress of the season!"
You'd think with a name like Btfbm, this satin number would suffer the fate of all the other Amazon clothes with crazy sounding monikers and fade into obscurity. But the hottie has made an impact on thousands of shoppers (a rose by any other name would smell as sweet?). It's really lovely and drapes like a dream; actually, it kind of REMINDS me of drapes, but in a good way. And it has lots of flattering features like ruching to camouflage the tummy and a tie to define the waist.
Said a shopper: "I bought it when I was heavier and when I took the weight off, I bought a second one in a smaller size — that is how much I love it! The material is nice quality too, not thin and cheap like some dresses you get online. Great find!"
The person in my Facebook group who recommended this lovely ensemble wore it on Easter and I get why — it's like spring in fabric form! I could also see it for a summer wedding or garden party (do people really have those?!). The ruffled shoulders will make you feel like you're all tied up in a bow. I'm a fan of the sweetheart neckline and the wide waistband for some definition. There are 10 other floral designs, but I'm into this the most.
"I'm so in love. It's simple yet girly. Flowery but not gaudy," said a romantic. "My girls, who grew up watching the original Enchanted A LOT, call it 'The Giselle'. None of my other dresses have merited a nickname. They want one. I want one in every color."
Still haven't found a little black dress worthy of taking up precious closet real estate? I love this one — it's so chic with the high neck and asymmetrical hem, and I could see wearing it to a work event or a party where you want to stay "classy." It's hand-wash only, which is annoying, but hey, you can't win 'em all.
I was wondering if it may feel constricting, but shoppers say otherwise, like this reviewer: "The material is nice, like a business suit material, but is stretchy and comfortable. As someone who is tall (5'9) and has an awkward middle area (thanks, kids), I am so happy to find a dress that is beautiful, tasteful and actually looks GOOD on me... with the help of shapewear, of course."
Here's a sassy style people are strutting their stuff in for everything from dinner dates to formal events. I love the shoulder situation and the length — not too short, not too long.
"Beautiful dress. Hid my 'mom c-section' pooch very well," reported a five-star fan.
This shopper agreed: "I do have a belly pooch but it was not noticeable in this dress." I like how they weren't shy about saying where it was from, either: "I bought this for a formal wedding and received so many compliments. I happily told everyone who would listen that it was from Amazon and cost less than $50. The material has enough stretch that it clings in all the right places but isn’t too tight."
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