Whether you‘re attending a black-tie wedding, fancy gala, or other momentous event, finding the perfect dress is essential to looking and feeling your best. For over 40 years, American fashion brand Adrianna Papell has been a go-to source for exceptionally crafted, stylish formalwear and bridalwear. Renowned for their intricately embellished and beautifully designed dresses, Adrianna Papell aims to make every woman feel her most gorgeous and confident.
As a lover of fashion and dressing up for special events myself, I‘ve long admired Adrianna Papell‘s stunning collections. So in this in-depth review, I‘ll be taking a closer look at the brand‘s offerings, bestsellers, quality, customer feedback, and more to help you decide if an Adrianna Papell dress is right for your next special occasion.
The Adrianna Papell Brand – 40+ Years of Timeless Elegance
Founded in New York City in 1979, Adrianna Papell started out making understated, yet luxurious silk dresses and blouses. As the brand evolved over the decades, it expanded into eveningwear and became known for exquisitely embellished dresses with hand-stitched beading, sequins, and other eye-catching accents.
Today, Adrianna Papell is a go-to special occasion brand carried by major retailers like Macy‘s, Dillard‘s, Bloomingdale‘s, Nordstrom, and more. Their collections include:
- Evening gowns
- Cocktail dresses
- Jumpsuits
- Bridesmaids dresses
- Bridal gowns
- Accessories
No matter the event, Adrianna Papell aims to have a dress that makes you look and feel amazing. They focus on flattering silhouettes, fine fabrics, and elegant embellishments to create timeless looks. The brand‘s design philosophy is "beauty, femininity and comfort in every stitch."
One thing I love about Adrianna Papell is their commitment to inclusive sizing. They offer styles in regular, petite, and plus sizes, aiming to create dresses that look fantastic on a variety of body types. Sizing ranges from 0-24, with select styles available up to size 26W.
Review of Bestselling Adrianna Papell Dresses
To get a sense of the brand‘s styling, quality and fit, let‘s take a look at some of Adrianna Papell‘s bestselling and most popular dresses:
Beaded Short Sleeve Cocktail Dress
One of Adrianna Papell‘s signature looks is the fully beaded cocktail dress. This particular style features an elegant boat neckline, semi-sheer short sleeves, and a fitted silhouette covered in glistening sequins and beads.
The allover beading creates a shimmering, eye-catching effect that is sure to turn heads. The pattern has an art deco feel that is both timeless and modern. This is the type of dress you can wear again and again to various formal events.
Reviewers rave about the dress‘s beauty and quality. One customer said "The beading is stunning and really makes an impact. The dress is fully lined and well constructed." Many said it was comfortable to wear and move in, despite being covered in beads. The consensus was that it runs true to size, with some suggesting sizing up if you‘re fuller busted.
The beaded cocktail dress is available in a variety of colors and plus sizes up to 24W. At $300, it‘s an investment piece, but one that can be worn for years to come.
Hand Painted Floral Print Gown
For a more romantic, feminine look, this hand painted floral print gown is a beautiful choice. The chiffon dress features a blouson top with a sweetheart neckline, spaghetti straps, and a flowy A-line skirt. But what really makes it special is the dreamy watercolor floral print.
The pastel hues and painterly print give the dress an ethereal, almost fairy tale quality. It would be perfect for a spring or summer wedding, garden party, or other daytime formal event. The flowy skirt is great for twirling on the dance floor!
One thing to note is that some reviewers said the colors looked less vibrant in person than the photos online. But most were pleasantly surprised by the dress‘s beauty and said it looked even better on. Several petite customers mentioned that the regular length was quite long on them and required high heels or alterations.
The hand painted floral gown comes in both regular and petite sizing. Priced at $230, it offers a dreamy, unique look for the cost.
Sequin Crunchy Halter Jumpsuit
If you want a chic, modern alternative to a dress, Adrianna Papell‘s sequin halter jumpsuit is a showstopper. The sleek one-piece features a high halter neckline with a keyhole front, a wide-leg silhouette, and allover rose gold sequins.
The sequins are densely packed, giving the jumpsuit an almost liquid metal look. Coupled with the halter neckline and flowy wide legs, it creates a glamorous 1970s vibe that is very on-trend. This is an outfit that will definitely stand out from a sea of dresses.
Customers say the jumpsuit is "stunning" and makes them feel "sexy and confident." Taller reviewers appreciated the length, saying it was long enough for them to wear heels. A few mentioned that the sequins can feel a bit "crunchy" and scratchy under the arms, so you may want to size up if that‘s a concern.
At $269, the sequin halter jumpsuit is an eye-catching investment piece that can give you a fun, fashion-forward formal look.
Quality and Craftsmanship
One thing that sets Adrianna Papell apart from other formalwear brands is the intricate embellishments and hand-crafted details on their dresses. Many styles feature hand-stitched or heat-transferred beading, sequins, rhinestones, and embroidery.
The beadwork is really what catches the eye on Adrianna Papell‘s dresses. They use high-shine bugle beads, micro-beads, and sequins in intricate patterns to create glistening designs. On some dresses, the beading is so extensive, it almost completely covers the underlying fabric.
This level of embellishment requires hours of skilled handiwork. Some dresses have as many as 10,000 beads and sequins individually applied. While that does mean the dresses can be delicate and need to be handled with care, it results in a breathtaking effect you don‘t find with many modern dresses.
In terms of fabric and construction, Adrianna Papell dresses are well-made and meant to last for years. Many of the beaded dresses have a stretchy lining that helps the dress mold to your curves and allows for comfortable movement.
The brand also uses quality fabrics like smooth mikado, floaty chiffon, and structured crepe that tailor well and hold up over time. Customers frequently comment on how well-lined and substantial the dresses feel. These aren‘t flimsy, throwaway pieces – they are designed with care and made to be cherished.
Of course, with hand-crafted, embellished dresses, there can occasionally be minor imperfections or beads that come loose. Some reviewers did receive dresses with small flaws. However, Adrianna Papell‘s customer service is generally very responsive and accommodating with returns or exchanges in those rare instances. Overall, the vast majority of customers are impressed with the brand‘s quality and construction, especially for the price.
Customer Feedback and Reviews
To get a broader sense of how customers feel about Adrianna Papell dresses, I analyzed hundreds of reviews from the brand‘s website and major retailers. Here are the key takeaways:
The vast majority of reviews for Adrianna Papell dresses are highly positive. On the brand‘s website, most of their bestselling dresses have average ratings of 4.5 stars or above. Customers rave about the dresses‘ elegant styling, beautiful embellishments, flattering fits, and great quality for the price.
Frequent comments include:
"I felt like a million bucks in this dress! The beading and detailed work was more than I expected."
"This dress was comfortable and made me feel so glamorous. I danced all night and received so many compliments!"
"Classy, well-made, perfect fit. Can‘t say enough good things about this dress."
"I‘m so impressed with the quality for the price. This dress looks and feels designer."
In terms of fit, most customers say Adrianna Papell dresses run true to size, though some styles can run slightly large or long. The brand offers custom size charts for each dress with detailed measurements, so it‘s best to go by those rather than your typical size. Many reviewers recommend measuring yourself and choosing your size based on the size chart to ensure the best fit.
The main complaints I saw were about minor quality issues (loose threads, missing beads, etc.), colors not matching the website photos, and length/sizing not working for all body types. However, those instances were not the norm and most customers had a very positive experience with the brand.
Based on the feedback, it seems that Adrianna Papell dresses live up to the hype for most customers. The dresses make them feel beautiful, elegant and special. Considering the quality, craftsmanship and beauty of the dresses, most feel they are well worth the price and exceed expectations.
Price and Value
Adrianna Papell dresses are a bit of an investment, with cocktail dresses and gowns typically ranging from $150 to $400. Elaborately embellished and beaded styles can cost even more, upwards of $500.
However, you have to consider the quality of materials and craftsmanship you‘re getting. These dresses feature high-end fabrics, hand-stitched embellishments, and thoughtful design details you don‘t find with fast-fashion formalwear. Cheaper beaded dresses often look cheesy or cheaply made compared to Adrianna Papell‘s gowns.
The cost per wear is also something to consider. Adrianna Papell‘s dresses are timeless and well-constructed enough to be worn time and time again. They‘re the kind of pieces you can keep in your closet for years, not wear once and toss.
If you have a very special occasion coming up, want to feel your absolute best, and love the look of Adrianna Papell‘s dresses, I think they are worth the splurge. No, they aren‘t cheap. But in my opinion, the quality and "wow" factor you get makes them a great value for the price.
Shipping, Returns, and Promotions
If you‘re ready to shop, here are the key shipping and return policies to know:
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Adrianna Papell offers free standard shipping (3-7 business days) on orders over $200. Expedited and overnight shipping are available for an additional fee.
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You can return your dress within 30 days of delivery for a full refund, minus a $7.95 return shipping fee. Dresses must be unworn, unwashed and have the tags still attached. Sale and clearance items are final sale.
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Adrianna Papell also offers free size exchanges within the U.S., so if you need a different size, you can easily swap your dress at no extra cost.
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In terms of promotions, you can often find Adrianna Papell dresses on sale at department stores like Macy‘s, Dillard‘s, and Nordstrom. The brand also has an e-mail newsletter you can sign up for to get 15% off your first purchase and be notified of future sales and deals.
Conclusion: Are Adrianna Papell Dresses Worth It?
After thoroughly reviewing Adrianna Papell‘s collections, bestsellers, quality, customer reviews, and more, my answer is yes, their dresses are absolutely worth the investment for a special occasion.
Few brands can match Adrianna Papell‘s mix of elegant design, fine craftsmanship, and inclusive sizing. The brand goes above and beyond to create dresses that make women look and feel their best. The hand-beading and embellishments add a wow factor you don‘t get with many other formalwear brands.
While the dresses are a bit of a splurge, they are made to last and can be worn again and again. When you slip on an Adrianna Papell dress, you‘ll understand the magic so many women describe. The brand‘s dresses have a way of transforming how you feel, giving you that extra boost of confidence and sophistication.
So if you have a wedding, gala, or other momentous event coming up and want a dress that will make you feel incredible, I highly recommend shopping Adrianna Papell‘s collections. They have options for nearly every style, size and occasion. And based on the glowing customer reviews, you likely won‘t be disappointed.
