Please note: This post contains affiliate links. You can learn more about my product selection process here.
Butter yellow may be the color of season, but gingham is about to be the print. (Elle said so.) The checked pattern has been creeping into my subconscious as of late in the form of rompers, capris, tops and dresses, and I thought I found the perfect gingham dress specimen in Reformation’s tomato red-and-white Sora dress ($248). But that was before Hollister gifted me with its smocked bodice mini.
At $35, not only is the Hollister version a whopping $213 cheaper than the Reformation lookalike (!), I actually like it better. It fits more snugly, it’s more comfortable and it has a few hidden *extras* that the Reformation dress doesn’t have.
Before you riot over Reformation’s highway robbery, I should mention that there’s a reason it’s so “overpriced.” The company is aiming to make 100 percent of its fabrics from recycled, regenerative or renewable materials by 2025.
This little gingham beauty, for instance, is made from 100 percent linen, which the brand loves for its renewable flax and low water footprint in comparison to cotton.
Reformation also releases small collections to avoid waste and focuses on renewable energy and water efficiency during production. Unfortunately, as The Roundup points out, all of those environmentally responsible practices translate to—you guessed it!—a bigger gouge on your wallet.
I love mother Earth and all, and this splurge looks absolutely fantastic on Taylor Swift and Emma Roberts, but truth be told, the fit has never felt completely right on me. The waist and hips are fine, but the straps, which are designed to fall from your shoulders, drape a little *too* gently—to the point where they’re just uncomfortable. I don’t have a large enough bust to keep tension on the straps, so this piece ends up just hanging uselessly in my closet, which is a real shame.
Hollister’s “save,” by contrast, fits like a glove. The smocked bodice means the top actually stays up (even without the removable straps), and the “skirt” has built-in shorts that are supremely comfortable.
And honestly, when you style them the same (I added my Staud palm bag for a pop of contrast), you can barely tell the difference between the two, despite the contrasting necklines.
The Hollister one even has pockets, giving it another little edge over the Reformation pick.
Though I do wish the Hollister version, which is made from a blend of polyester and elastane (neither of which are particularly kind to the environment) was at least recycled polyester and would be willing to pay a bit more for the sustainable upgrade, its pros means I’ll actually wear it on repeat. That’s a lot more than I can say for the Reformation dress—and the most environmentally friendly approach of all is rooted in wearing things you already own.
As for the splurge? I’ll be Poshmarking it to give it a new life somewhere where it will actually be appreciated. Win-win?
Which dress is your favorite? Tell me in the comments below!
Xo, Nicole
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