This Old Navy dress looks just like a J.Crew style that's 4X the price
I'll be the first to admit that I'm a J.Crew addict. I place at least one order at the retailer every month. I'm proud to say that I'm Gold status in their rewards program (which comes with free expedited shipping on every order, by the way) and if I had to guess, more than 50% of my wardrobe is from J.Crew.
Now, as much as I love the brand, I can acknowledge that sometimes the prices are a bit out of reach. I usually stock up during sales (like right now, when tons of summer items are 50% off and markdowns are an extra 60% off), but every once in a while there's a style I'm eyeing that doesn't get discounted. Recently, it was this beautiful floral print fit and flare midi dress.
Shopping expert Caroline Moss dubbed this the "dress of the year," so what more do I need to say? "It's the kind of dress that slots perfectly into real life — whether you’re running late to a meeting, grabbing coffee with a friend, or realizing you forgot to buy a gift on the way to a birthday dinner," Moss wrote about this dress. "It's comfortable, flattering, and doesn’t require shapewear, strategic layering, or a complicated bra situation."
Shoppers at Old Navy are equally as complimentary; it currently has more than 800 five-star ratings.
"As a mom trying to get her figure situated after having her second baby, this dress is perfect! So flattering! Need every color!" one fan shared.
Another added, "I wore this yesterday to a work event and got so many compliments! Fits well, it's comfortable and cool for warm weather. Nicely made with a fully lined skirt."
When it comes to dresses, the midi silhouette is my absolute fave. At 5-feet, 5-inches tall, this length hits right between my knee and ankle and the style looks good with both heels and flat sandals alike. I was especially fond of this J.Crew pick because of its floral print; the colors are a bit unexpected so it feels extra special. I could keep listing all the reasons I love this dress, but the fact remains: $198 is too pricey for me.
At almost $200, I couldn't justify spending that much on one dress, no matter how much I adored it. So, I went in search of a lookalike. After scrolling through endless frocks on countless websites, I came across this Fit & Flare Sleeveless Midi Dress at Old Navy. The price? $45.
Old Navy isn't one of my go-to stores for clothing, so before taking a chance, I read the reviews. Shoppers who purchased the dress didn't just like it — they loved it!
"I always get compliments when I wear this dress," one customer started their review. "[It is] flattering style and true to size."
Another person wrote, "The dress is perfect. It's very sexy in a modest way. It can be dressed up or casual. It [also] has pockets."
As I read more and more rave reviews, I was convinced this dress was worth a shot. I ordered it in two colors and anxiously awaited its arrival. As soon as it was delivered, I immediately tried it on and was pleasantly surprised. Yes, it's as good as shoppers say it is. The material is nice quality, the midi silhouette is flattering and there are so many ways to style it.
If I had to gripe about one thing, it's that the dress is a little tight in the chest area. There is elastic at the back which helps, but it's still snug.
Some other Old Navy shoppers agree with the slight fit issue. "This was a nice dress, but the linen blend had no stretch at all," one person explained. "I had to return it, but a bigger size may have been better."
So, am I happy with this Old Navy lookalike? Yes, absolutely! I've had the dress for just a month and I've already worn it three times. Will I continue to stalk the J.Crew style in hopes it goes on sale? Also, yes.
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
