I Found 5 Insanely Cool Fashion Gems on Amazon (and They're All Under $60)

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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.

The Drop Phoebe Long Sleeve Turtleneck

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(Image credit: @indyabrown)

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 so restrictive that wearing it feels like wearing a straitjacket. Considering the price and the softness of the fabric, it is worth every penny. 

Amazon Essentials Lightweight Crewneck Cardigan 

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(Image credit: @indyabrown)

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.

Goodthreads High-Rise Slim Straight Jean

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(Image credit: @indyabrown)

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 and 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.

The Drop Greta Fitted Square Neck Sweater Bralette

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(Image credit: @indyabrown)

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 bottoms. 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.

The Drop Avery Square Toe Sandal

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(Image credit: @indyabrown)

I've wanted a pair of simple double-strap sandals forever, but for one reason or another, I 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 cost 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!

Up next: Cue the Excitement: 26 Epic Floral Dresses to Wear All Season Long

Fashion Market Editor

Indya Brown is a fashion editor, stylist, and writer living in Los Angeles. While going to school at Columbia University in New York City, she got her feet wet in the fashion industry interning at Elle magazine, Harper's Bazaar, and New York magazine's The Cut. After graduating in 2016, she joined The Cut as a fashion assistant, eventually working her way up to fashion editor. There, she worked on a multitude of projects, including styling inbook feature stories for New York magazine's print issue, writing and pitching market stories for The Cut, and serving as fashion lead for The Cut's branded content. While New York has been her home for over 10 years, she moved to Los Angeles in the midst of the pandemic in 2020 for a new chapter. Now she is a fashion market editor for Who What Wear, focusing on emerging designers, rising trends on and off the internet, interior design, and BIPOC creatives and brands. Aside from her duties as a fashion market editor, Brown is also a freelance stylist and writer, working on national print and video commercial campaigns for Sephora, The Independent, and Cadillac. Her bylines also include Harper's Bazaar, Vox, and The New York Times. But once the computer goes down and the emails turn off, she's likely eating her way through Koreatown, hunting down vintage furniture, scoping out new outrageous nail designs to try, or taking a hot cycling class.