A Closer Look at the Best Empire Waist Velvet Dresses

These picks came from Zara, Hannah and Ellie, who each chose the one they'd happily wear themselves. That's the whole test really. Would we buy it, would we wear it more than once, and does it look like the photo once it arrives? We skip anything that looks cheap up close, cap how many pieces come from any one shop, and keep the list fresh as stock changes. We earn a small commission if you buy through our links, it never costs you more, and it never decides what gets picked.

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