When we talk about where to find the best affordable, trend-forward finds on the internet, a few usual suspects show up on that list: Mango, Zara, & Other Stories, etc. But let’s take a moment to welcome an unexpected player—Amazon. Turns out, the online emporium is good for way more than shopping for affordable basics and kitchen supplies. I’ve been looking for a few budget-friendly items to spice up my everyday outfits and found just what I needed in the form of stylish separates from Amazon’s The Drop, Goodthreads, and Essentials collections.
As an experienced Amazon shopper, I expected to spend hours trying to find things that I loved (who has more SKUs than Amazon?), but actually, it was surprisingly easy. I ended up ordering a breezy knit halter, dressy heeled sandals, a lightweight cardigan for all the seasonal layering, jeans, and a joyful printed second-skin top—with each coming in at under $55. After test-driving and styling them in several different outfits, I’m giving my unfiltered review on them. Below, read my thoughts on each piece and keep scrolling to see how I styled my new fashion finds.
I’ve been on the second-skin top train for a minute, so I know a good version when I see one. I was definitely surprised by how fashion-forward and bold this print was. What I like most is that it is clingy, but not too restrictive that wearing it feels like a straitjacket. Considering the price and the softness of the fabric, the price tag is worth every penny.
Thank mother nature that it’s finally warm enough to break out the lightweight cardigan. You could call me an expert cardigan shopper (I buy way too many), and this one certainly ranks up there. This shade of minty green instantly caught my eye as it’s perfect for spring, and I haven’t stopped wearing it in the L.A. sunshine since. No, it won’t keep you extremely warm, but if you’re into the cardigan-as-a-top style, the thinner knit is ideal.
These jeans were easily the biggest surprise of them all. As I said before, buying denim for my curvy shape is no easy feat–most pairs I end up testing don’t flatter me at all. I’ll admit the denim snob in me didn’t have high hopes for a $46 pair of jeans, but these really had amazing stretch that instantly molded to my body. I ordered mine in the authentic blue wash and the coloring is almost identical to more expensive pairs in my closet. These jeans were definitely a win for Goodthreads, and I’m eager to try more styles from the collection.
Summer knits are my thing, so this top definitely checked all of the boxes for me. The square neckline adds to its trendiness, but overall it’s still simple enough that I can style it with any bottom. I wore mine with black high-waist trousers, and I think I found my perfect spring ‘fit. Some advice: size down if you can as it’s not a super clingy knit.
I’ve wanted a pair of simple double strap sandals since forever, but for one reason or another never got around to buying them. The pair I originally wanted were two to three times the price, so I was quite jazzed that these were way less than I expected at $50. My feet are slightly wide, so I appreciated how generous the straps fit without feeling too tight. I wore them while out walking for over an hour and had no complaints!
