Kmart’s $28 dress draws crowd as near-dupe of $420 designer style

A $28 Boho Broderie Corset Mini Dress from Kmart Australia has become a talking point among fashion shoppers who say it closely mirrors the sell-out $420 For Love & Lemons Zofia dress. The Kmart offering, produced in a sunny yellow with a pink floral motif, has been described by several observers as an almost identical dupe, a contrast in price that has sparked social media buzz and store demand. The item has been highlighted by Australian fashion circles online, including a well-known Kmart-focused blogger, who framed the dress as an affordable alternative for those chasing the designer aesthetic. Early feedback from customers described the look as striking and the price as hard to beat, helping propel the dress into fast-sellout territory in multiple stores and online outlets.

In design terms, the two dresses share several cues that have fans taking note. Both are yellow-toned, feature a pink floral pattern, a pleated bust, a mini length, thick straps and a cinched waist, creating a silhouette closely aligned with the For Love & Lemons Zofia style. Yet, the Kmart version uses a more straightforward fabrication approach and lacks what For Love & Lemons emphasizes as its signature floaty, ethereal fabric. Observers point to the difference in material and drape that sets the budget piece apart from the designer label’s version, even as the visual similarity remains a central talking point. For Love & Lemons, the brand is widely known for high-quality materials and a broad portfolio that includes ready-to-wear, lingerie and swimwear, underscoring the gap between the two offerings beyond price.

Shoppers and fashion observers have amplified the dupe angle through social media, with the online impulse to compare looks and prices driving engagement. The buzz includes comments that the dress serves as an affordable option for those who cannot or choose not to invest hundreds on designer labels. An Australian fashion blogger known as Kmart Insider cited the dress as a budget-friendly alternative, adding a caption that suggested, in effect, that people can “look cute whether you save or spend.” Reports of quick stockouts followed as followers sought to secure the item before it sold out again, illustrating how quickly near-duplicate pieces can become hot sellers when paired with a strong social-media narrative.

This isn’t Kmart’s first foray into high-low fashion dupe territory this year. The retailer has previously drawn attention with a line of budget-friendly footwear that mirrored high-end silhouettes. In one موجant example, $25 Buckle Slingback Ballet Flats drew comparisons to Ganni’s Feminine Buckle Ballerinas. Observers noted subtle but meaningful differences: the Kmart version employs a single row of metal eyelets on each strap, whereas the Ganni design features two rows. The flats arrived in two colors, red and black, and were described by shoppers as comfortable and versatile, with some reporting stock depletion in several outlets as demand mounted. Social chatter included statements like, “The Kmart versions are amazing in these shoes… so good they’re selling out everywhere,” reinforcing the pattern of near-replica items driving consumer excitement.

Across both waves of items, the underlying dynamic remains clear: a broad appetite for affordable fashion that captures the look of luxury labels without the price tag. Retail watchers note that the rise of accessible dupes reflects a consumer base that values fast adoption of trends, willingness to switch between budget and premium pieces, and a social-media environment that emphasizes visual parity. Kmart’s ongoing strategy appears to embrace this demand by delivering pieces that resemble high-end designs, while clearly differentiating through fabric quality, construction and finish.

For Love & Lemons, the Zofia dress remains a sell-out item prized for its craft and material quality, serving as a reference point for what buyers associate with premium dressing. The juxtaposition with a budget alternative highlights the creative tension within contemporary fashion: the appeal of a look that mirrors high fashion while remaining accessible to a wider audience. As shoppers continue to compare dupe options, retailers may find that the market rewards both faithful reinterpretations and transparent distinctions in fabric, fit and finish.

In the end, the Kmart dress episode underscores a broader consumer trend: the pursuit of designer aesthetics at attainable prices, and the speed with which social media can propel a near-match into prominence. As the fashion cycle continues to accelerate, the line between budget-friendly trend pieces and high-end silhouettes remains a focal point for shoppers, retailers and the media alike.