Yes, I'm a self-proclaimed fashion snob and, yes, I'm currently obsessing over Walmart's flattering fall looks. (Jeanine Edwards/Yahoo)
When I was younger, I'd shop for clothes just about anywhere — I wanted trendy items and I wanted them cheap. As I got older, though, I've become more discerning. Some might even call me a clothing snob! I swore off fast fashion long ago and have been known to spend $150 on a pair of jeans. It's all about quality and timelessness, I've convinced myself. Rather than buy inexpensive pieces that I need to constantly replace, I save up and splurge on high-quality finds I can wear for years and years to come.
But working as a shopping editor comes with its temptations. While I'm not easily compelled to shop for clothes beyond my set of go-to stores, the reviewers at Walmart are convincing! Every once in a while, I stumble upon a shirt, jacket or pair of shoes that people are raving about and I wonder if it's really as good as they say. Clothing at Walmart? Could I do it?
I caved earlier this month during Walmart's big Holiday Deals event. The already-low prices were even lower, so how could I resist just giving a few pieces a try? If everything was awful, I could easily return the items to the store near my house.
Before buying anything, I had a set strategy for purchasing clothing from Walmart. It was simple: avoid third-party sellers and only buy items that were shipped and sold by Walmart. Fortunately, that wasn't hard because Walmart has a bunch of really good in-house brands including Scoop, Time & Tru and Free Assembly. And that's not even counting the Sofia Vergara and Jessica Simpson clothing lines.
With a clear plan, I spent a Saturday morning shopping for clothing on the Walmart app. I started by simply adding anything to my cart that looked cute. I wound up with over $300 worth of clothing and decided that was too pricey for a first purchase. So I narrowed my selection down to $136, completed my order and hoped for the best. Below are my thoughts on all the clothing I bought at Walmart.
Scoop Women's and Women's Plus Scuba Knit Trouser Pants
Even though these pants went viral on TikTok, I was convinced they were going to be returned as soon as I unwrapped them. They don't look like anything special when you hold them up. In fact, they look big and shapeless and I had a feeling I wasn't going to like them. But something magical happened when I put them on — they made me look taller and slimmer! Plus, the material is soft and they hang nicely. I was surprised at how much I liked them. While I initially ordered these pants in black and olive green, I went back for the dark brown, too, after trying them on.
J.Crew is one of my absolute favorite retailers, and this cardigan gives me big J.Crew lady jacket vibes, but for a fraction of the cost. It comes in six perfect-for-fall colors and it's super versatile. In addition to wearing this sweater over dresses in the traditional cardigan way, it also works buttoned up with jeans and trousers.
"This is a well-made cardigan that is comfortable and easy to wear. It will make you look put together without a lot of effort," wrote a five-star fan.
One last time for the record: Don't underestimate Ree Drummond's style savvy. This bright and bold maxi dress is one of the standout styles for fall. It'll look great in holiday card photos, but it's also perfectly dressy enough to wear to a party. Just add heels and dangly earrings and you're ready to turn heads.
Shoppers are already raving about this stunning style by Jessica Simpson, giving it 4.5 out of 5 stars. One happy customer wrote, "I love this dress. I get compliments each time I wear it. I'm short and it's hard for me to wear long dresses. This is one of two [dresses] (besides my wedding dress) that I have ever felt great in."
Another person commented, "I love this dress. It's simple and great for a Saturday night out or church on Sunday. It runs true to size and is very comfortable. [It's made from] quality fabric and has reinforced seams for big busts."
Run, do not walk, to Walmart to score this chic and flattering trench coat while it's on sale for less than $15. It's available in classic black and leopard print in sizes XS-5X. Some sizes are already sold out, so don't wait a moment longer. If you're like the other 78 shoppers who gave this topper a five-star rating, you won't regret this purchase.
Hundreds of shoppers give these pants five stars and many have commented that the fabric is a decent dupe for Lululemon's popular scuba material. That feels like a stretch to me — the Walmart option is pretty thin compared to my Lulu scuba hoodie — but that's completely reasonable, given the $19 price tag. These pants are worth the money and have an incredible slimming, leg-lengthening effect that I love. I'm only 5'4", but I feel like I look so much taller and leaner when I wear these trousers.
Perfect for holiday parties or a date night, this versatile satin midi dress is a must-own. It's available in four colors up to a size XXL and I'm not the only person who adores it. "I bought this on a whim and thought I'd try it but likely need to return it. I was wrong!" one shopper wrote in their review. "It's lovely, classic. It lays flat and doesn't sit on any lumps or bumps. I can't wait to layer this with a chunky sweater or long blazer. It's extremely versatile and for the price you can't go wrong!"
I will say, this piece gets mixed reviews from Walmart shoppers. Among the chief complaints? It's heavy and stiff. Well, that's exactly why I like it. I wanted something that felt like it would hold up over time and this fits the bill.
Here's the review that convinced me I need this perfect satin maxi skirt in my life: "This skirt is so good. It looks so expensive and is high quality for a very inexpensive price. It fits true to size and can be dressed up or down."
Now you want it too, right? It's less than $20 and available in sizes S-XXXL — go for it!
Do I need another pair of jeans? Probably not. Are these fan-favorite Walmart denim trousers currently at the top of my wish list? You know it. People who've purchased them say they're comfortable and stylish — some have even gone back for a second pair.
"These jeans are amazing!" one customer raved. "The denim is soft and has great stretch — good for those of us with a booty. The waist sits right below the belly button and does not pull down the butt crack when you sit down. Great quality and lots of compliments."
Like most people, I have more black blazers than I know what to do with. But an olive green one? That seems like a worthy closet investment when I want to mix things up. I like that this one is made from a soft, stretchy material so it won't feel uncomfortable. The slouchy sleeves are also a plus to achieve that perfect laid-back yet polished and professional balance.
It also comes in cream, gray, red, navy and, of course, black if you're looking for a different shade.
Sofia Jeans Double Breasted Trench Coat
This classic trench coat went on sale during Walmart's Holiday Deals event earlier this month, so I couldn't resist giving it a try. Shoppers who'd already purchased it gave it rave reviews, so I thought what the heck? I'm happy to report, it's incredible. The material looks so much more expensive than it is and the fit is perfection. I'll be wearing this throughout the fall and into early winter.
Scoop Sleeveless Crew Neck Satin Midi Tank Dress
Okay, this is the one piece I'm most obsessed with from my Walmart haul. The dress is amazing! It fits so well, the satin material isn't cheap or thin at all and I know I'll be able to style it so many different ways. One note: the neckline is pretty high. If you're sensitive to having things constricting you in that area, you may consider passing on this style. Otherwise, I'm in love with it and hope Walmart makes it in other solid colors.
Jessica Simpson Phoebe Maxi Dress
I'll admit, this floral print dress isn't exactly my style. It's a bit more boho than I normally dress, but I wanted to see how it looked in person. The verdict? It's a winner! It hangs beautifully and has a lining so it's not see-through. It's the perfect piece for when you want to feel pretty and feminine.
Time and Tru Button Down Corduroy Shacket
Shackets feel very trendy to me, which is why I've avoided buying them for so long. But when I spotted this $25 corduroy style in a gorgeous shade of autumnal orange, I gave in. What the heck, right? Turns out, I'm totally a shacket person. I've been wearing this piece with tees and jeans and I love the look — so much so, that I also ordered the olive green one.
One last note about my online shopping experience at Walmart — I spent enough to get free shipping and it was top-notch! I placed my order on Saturday morning and by Sunday afternoon I'd already received one of my items. And I'm not even a Walmart+ member! My order shipped in multiple packages; everything arrived within a week or so.
With one successful Walmart fashion shopping trip under my belt, I have no shame admitting that I've already gone back for more. And I have a few other items waiting in my cart. Here's what I'm eyeing for my next Walmart clothing order.
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
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