The Expensive-Looking Dress Brand I Buy When I Want to Fake a Designer Look
I'd like to think I have many shopping hacks up my sleeve, but faking an expensive-looking party look is one of my best-kept secrets. Knowing what to look for in terms of materials and silhouettes is one thing, but in terms of brands, there is one I have been gatekeeping until this very moment. The brand I always turn to for those designer-looking dresses is Norma Kamali. No, this brand is not under the radar by any means, but it's one that people seem to be surprised to hear me gush about when they ask for recommendations for a cocktail, black tie, or party dress.
The price points are extremely reasonable with my favorite styles often ringing in at around $175. The dresses are timeless, comfortable (seriously, so comfortable), and always look triple the price. Would I like to splurge on a Versace dress for some of my upcoming holiday events? Of course. But sadly that is not in the budget for me at this time in my life and luckily, Norma Kamali dresses give me the same designer look and feel for a much more approachable price point. Below, I rounded up 18 of my favorite Norma Kamali dresses for you to shop here featuring a variety of colors and styles that are perfect for all your party dressing needs and beyond.
Metallics are finally making a comeback and I am so here for it.
I normally hate shirt dresses, but I love this one.
One more metallic beauty before you go.
Next: I Tried on 15 Pairs of Cult Designer Shoes—These 4 Are Worth the Hype
Lauren Eggertsen is currently the editorial director of Who What Wear and has worked at the company for over eight years, where she started as an associate editor and has since worked her way up. Lauren has over 10 years of experience in the fashion editorial space, starting her career with internships at Marc Jacobs, Marie Claire, and The Zoe Report, where she was later hired as their editorial assistant. Lauren has worked in the Los Angeles and New York Who What Wear offices but currently calls L.A. home. It is here where she leads and manages Who What Wear's fashion team and oversees all day-to-day editorial content and large tentpole moments. This includes all of the runway, trend, and shopping-driven content that ultimately helps to build a strong brand reputation within the industry. Lauren's role also includes helping to set the fashion direction for all original photo shoots and often styles many of the celebrity cover shoots, including big names like Kaia Gerber, Normani, and Kristen Stewart.
She has also attended multiple fashion weeks, including New York, London, Milan, and Paris, where her personal style has been featured on sites such as Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, and Elle. She prides herself on discovering and supporting small brands and on her knack for a good vintage shopping find. When she isn't working, she enjoys researching and dining at reputable restaurants around both her neighborhood and the globe.
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