Stores Like Akira: 12 Going-Out Fashion Alternatives Worth Trying
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About Akira
Founded
2002
USA
Ships to
US
Sizes
XS-XL
Editor-reviewed
Every recommendation read and refined by hand
Honest tradeoffs
Drawbacks listed, not hidden
No paid placements
Brands cannot pay to be ranked
Walk into an Akira on State Street or Michigan Avenue and the pull is immediate: a wall of body-con dresses in wet-look satin, faux-leather blazers cut sharp enough to wear over nothing, the sequined slip you buy Friday afternoon for Saturday night. For years Akira was the fitting room that actually understood Chicago going-out culture — the club uniform, the birthday dinner fit, the outfit that photographs well under bad lighting. The curation was the whole point. You weren't drowning in ten thousand SKUs the way you were on the fast-fashion sites; someone had already picked the good stuff.
The trouble is geography and math.
Unless you live within reach of a Chicago-area store, Akira is basically a website now, and once it's just a website it competes head-to-head with everyone else's website — often at prices that sit noticeably above the going-out brands shipping the same silhouettes for less. When the statement dress costs more and the physical curation isn't in front of you, the reason to stay narrows fast. The alternatives below split into two camps worth knowing: the trend engines like Princess Polly that turn out the exact micro-trends Akira stocks, faster and cheaper, and the elevated occasion labels like House of CB that make the structured bodycon feel worth the splurge.
The trouble is geography and math.
Unless you live within reach of a Chicago-area store, Akira is basically a website now, and once it's just a website it competes head-to-head with everyone else's website — often at prices that sit noticeably above the going-out brands shipping the same silhouettes for less. When the statement dress costs more and the physical curation isn't in front of you, the reason to stay narrows fast. The alternatives below split into two camps worth knowing: the trend engines like Princess Polly that turn out the exact micro-trends Akira stocks, faster and cheaper, and the elevated occasion labels like House of CB that make the structured bodycon feel worth the splurge.
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12 brands
The 12 Best Alternatives to Akira
1
Princess Polly
Est. 2010
Gold Coast, Australia
Sizes 0-24
$
cheaper
Chasing the exact micro-trends Akira stocks, faster
The closest match for Akira's going-out and micro-trend energy, updated constantly with dresses, sets, and event pieces aimed squarely at the 20-something Saturday-night shopper.
Pros
- Restocks trends weekly so you always find the current silhouette
- Strong going-out and event dress selection
- Generally cheaper than Akira for similar looks
Cons
- Quality is fast-fashion tier, not built to last
- Sizing runs inconsistent across styles
2
Lulus
Est. 1996
Chico, California, USA
Sizes XXS-3X
$
cheaper
Occasion dresses across a range of formality
A deep well of occasion and going-out dresses at accessible prices, from cocktail bodycon to wedding-guest styles, covering exactly the events Akira dresses you for.
Pros
- Huge occasion-dress range including bridesmaid and wedding-guest
- Reliable US shipping and returns
- Better value than Akira for formal pieces
Cons
- Less club-forward than Akira's edgier statement pieces
- Mega-catalog can feel unfiltered
3
House of CB
Est. 2010
London, UK
Sizes XXS-XL
$$$
pricier
Elevated corseted bodycon worth the splurge
Structured, corseted bodycon and going-out glamour that reads more expensive than Akira — the upgrade pick for someone who wants the statement dress to actually fit like couture.
Pros
- Built-in corsetry and structure that flatters
- Fabrics feel far above fast-fashion
- Signature going-out glamour aesthetic
Cons
- Significantly pricier than Akira
- Sizing skews small and structured
4
Showpo
Est. 2010
Sydney, Australia
Sizes 2-20
$
cheaper
Trend dresses and coordinated sets
Australian going-out label with a strong dress and matching-set game at mid-fast-fashion prices, hitting the same trend beats Akira does.
Pros
- Great matching-set and co-ord selection
- Inclusive of curve sizing
- Affordable for the trend turnover
Cons
- International shipping times can drag
- Quality varies by piece
Visit Showpo
Full guide: Stores Like Showpo
5
Tobi
Est. 2007
San Francisco, California, USA
Sizes XS-XL
$
cheaper
Cheap club and night-out dresses
Flirty, club-ready dresses and bodysuits at low price points, echoing Akira's going-out core for a shopper watching the budget.
Pros
- Consistently low prices with frequent discount codes
- Strong going-out and bodysuit selection
- New arrivals refresh often
Cons
- Fabric and construction feel budget
- Limited size range
Visit Tobi
Full guide: Stores Like Tobi
6
Revolve
Est. 2003
Los Angeles, California, USA
Sizes XXS-XL
$$$
pricier
Designer going-out pieces and event dressing
The influencer-driven going-out marketplace carrying elevated statement dresses and event fits — where Akira shoppers trade up for named designer labels.
Pros
- Curated multi-brand mix of premium going-out labels
- Excellent editorial and styling inspiration
- Fast, reliable US fulfillment
Cons
- Prices run well above Akira
- Size range thins out for many labels
7
Oh Polly
Est. 2015
Liverpool, UK
Sizes 0-16
≈
similar
Cut-out and structured party dresses
Bold, cut-out, structured party dresses that go harder than most fast-fashion — the birthday-dinner statement piece Akira built its rep on.
Pros
- Dramatic, well-constructed party dresses
- Signature cut-out and corset detailing
- Strong occasion and birthday-fit selection
Cons
- Sizing skews small and unforgiving
- Premium pricing for the tier
8
White Fox Boutique
Est. 2013
Sydney, Australia
Sizes XXS-XL
≈
similar
Instagram-forward trend dressing
Instagram-native going-out and loungewear brand with the same trend velocity and photogenic bodycon Akira leans on.
Pros
- On-trend going-out and set selection
- Strong brand aesthetic and social presence
- Regular drops keep inventory fresh
Cons
- Ships from Australia with longer transit
- Quality can be hit or miss
9
Meshki
Est. 2013
Sydney, Australia
Sizes XXS-XL
≈
similar
Sculpted, flattering going-out staples
Sleek, sculpted going-out staples in ribbed and satin fabrics that flatter — a step up in fit from typical fast-fashion, close to Akira's better pieces.
Pros
- Fabrics feel more premium than most trend brands
- Excellent sculpting bodycon fits
- Cohesive, elevated aesthetic
Cons
- Higher prices than budget alternatives
- Limited size extension
10
Fashion Nova
Est. 2006
Los Angeles, California, USA
Sizes XS-4X
$
cheaper
Rock-bottom prices on bold club fits
The fastest, cheapest engine for club-night statement fits, matching Akira's boldest silhouettes at a fraction of the price.
Pros
- Extremely cheap with constant new drops
- Wide size range including curve
- Bold, club-ready statement pieces
Cons
- Quality is bottom-tier fast fashion
- Ethical and labor practices heavily criticized
11
Verishop
Est. 2018
Los Angeles, California, USA
Sizes XS-XL
$$$
pricier
Curated contemporary going-out labels
A curated multi-brand shop with a strong contemporary going-out edit — the browsing-with-a-point-of-view experience that Akira's in-store curation used to offer.
Pros
- Genuinely curated across contemporary brands
- Higher quality than fast-fashion peers
- Strong emerging-designer selection
Cons
- Pricier than Akira
- Less purely club-forward
12
Superdown
Est. 2016
Los Angeles, California, USA
Sizes XXS-XL
≈
similar
Revolve looks at a lower price
Revolve's younger, cheaper sister label built for exactly this shopper — trend-driven going-out dresses without the designer markup.
Pros
- Revolve-adjacent aesthetic at lower prices
- Fast, reliable US shipping
- Strong going-out dress and set edit
Cons
- Quality below Revolve's premium labels
- Size range on the narrow side
Cheaper going-out fits than Akira
If the pricing premium is what pushed you out, Princess Polly, Showpo, Tobi, and Fashion Nova all deliver the same club and event silhouettes for less. Princess Polly is the closest trend-for-trend match; Fashion Nova is the rock-bottom option if you just need one photogenic dress for Saturday. Expect fast-fashion construction — buy for the night, not for years.
Worth the splurge: elevated bodycon
When you want the statement dress to actually feel expensive, House of CB and Meshki lead on fit and fabric — built-in corsetry, heavier satins, sculpting that photographs well and holds up. Oh Polly sits between them for dramatic cut-outs. These cost more than Akira but read like they cost more than they do.
Curated multi-brand shopping
Missing the edited-for-you feel of an Akira store? Revolve, Verishop, and Superdown replace physical curation with strong editorial edits. Revolve is the influencer-driven premium option, Superdown its cheaper sibling, and Verishop leans more contemporary and design-forward if you want something less club-uniform.Which Alternative Is Right for You?
Leaving Akira over price? Start with Princess Polly for the near-identical trend turnover at lower cost, or Tobi and Fashion Nova if budget is the whole story. Want the statement dress to feel like an occasion rather than a fast-fashion gamble? House of CB and Meshki are the fit-and-fabric upgrades, with Oh Polly for the boldest cut-out pieces. If what you actually miss is walking into a store where someone already picked the good stuff, Revolve and Verishop rebuild that curated experience online — Superdown if you want Revolve's aesthetic without the designer markup. Frequently Asked Questions
QWhy is Akira more expensive than other going-out brands?
Akira positions itself above mass fast-fashion with stronger boutique curation and a physical retail footprint in Chicago, which adds cost. Online, that premium becomes harder to justify against sites like Princess Polly and Showpo selling similar silhouettes for less, which is why many shoppers switch once they're buying from the website rather than the store.
QWhat store is most like Akira for club and going-out dresses?
Princess Polly is the closest match for trend velocity and going-out selection at a lower price. For a more elevated, sculpted look, House of CB and Meshki are the upgrades, while Oh Polly nails dramatic cut-out party dresses.
QCan I shop Akira if I don't live near Chicago?
Yes, Akira ships nationally through its website, but without the in-store curation the main draw is diminished. If you're shopping online anyway, alternatives like Revolve, Verishop, and Superdown offer comparable or stronger curated edits with faster, more reliable fulfillment.
QWhich Akira alternatives carry curve and plus sizing?
Fashion Nova and Lulus have the widest ranges, with Fashion Nova going up to 4X and Lulus to 3X. Princess Polly and Showpo also extend into curve sizing, whereas Akira and more structured brands like House of CB run smaller.
QWhere can I find better-quality statement dresses than Akira?
House of CB leads on construction with built-in corsetry and heavier fabrics, followed by Meshki for sculpting bodycon and Oh Polly for structured party dresses. Revolve and Verishop offer premium multi-brand options if you want designer-level quality for special occasions.
Our Verdict
The Best Akira Alternative For You
Leaving Akira over price? Start with Princess Polly for the near-identical trend turnover at lower cost, or Tobi and Fashion Nova if budget is the whole story. Want the statement dress to feel like an occasion rather than a fast-fashion gamble? House of CB and Meshki are the fit-and-fabric upgrades, with Oh Polly for the boldest cut-out pieces. If what you actually miss is walking into a store where someone already picked the good stuff, Revolve and Verishop rebuild that curated experience online — Superdown if you want Revolve's aesthetic without the designer markup.