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Post by bwife on Jan 25, 2015 21:33:43 GMT
Back story: We are starting to plan my DD's 16th birthday, its not until sept. But we need to start buying stuff a little at a time. Her party is going to be at home, in the back yard, under a big tent ( at least this is the plan right now) She wants a long, some what poofy formal dress for the occasion and is planning on asking her friends to dress up as well.
So we have started looking at dresses. We stopped by the mall yesterday, the one she loved at Dillards was well over $200. DH and I are both in agreement that we are not spending $200 on a dress. So I started looking around on the internet today and came across TONS of dresses on ebay. Most ship from China or Hong Kong. Most of the sellers have good reviews ( some negatives of course, But I know that is going to happen when you are buying from a person that sells hundreds or thousands of items a week / month). And I know I have to be careful with shipping, Even though the price of some of the dresses only shows as $35 or $50, some of those dresses have a shipping rate of $50! YIKES! So we will of course make sure that we are getting the best deal. ( honestly looking to spend less than $100 since I know she will ONLY wear this dress 1x, for the few hrs of her party, She will never wear it after that!) She has a specific color in mind, So after doing some searching, it narrows it down to only 3 or 4 pages of items vs THOUSANDS if we had no idea what color.
So my question is have any of the peas ordered a formal dress from ebay that came from China or Hong Kong? If you did what was your experience? Was the color what you thought it would be? Did the dress fit a expected ( run to small, too big or just right)? Did the dress really look like what was pictured? Anything else you can tell me or add to this about buying one on Ebay?
FYI, my plan is to order larger than her size, if we need it taken in, I would rather do that, than have to mail something back
TIA!!!
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Post by rhhdk on Jan 25, 2015 21:47:32 GMT
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Post by kenziekeeper on Jan 25, 2015 21:55:45 GMT
I don't think I would do it. What about renting something from rent the runway?
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AllieC
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,060 
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Post by AllieC on Jan 25, 2015 21:58:32 GMT
My daughter is very petite and had ordered quite a few dresses from China. We've only had a disaster with one of them and I really think it was the style more than anything as it didn't fit right around the bust/back but it was boned so difficult to alter. Others we have bought have been amazing and definitely worth the "risk". Make sure you buy from someone that has thousands of feedback with positive comments.
Re re the fit - yes you are better ordered larger however many of the sites have very accurate measurements and we've found by measuring dd carefully and ordering accordingly, the size has been perfect.
Also be careful with fabric, taffeta IMO is a risk as it can be shiny, chiffon we've found has been very good in colour accuracy and quality.
We have also ordered from JJ's House mentioned above and been happy with what we ordered.
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Post by bwife on Jan 25, 2015 21:58:52 GMT
THANKS for that link! We are always looking for places to buy dresses, We had a hard time finding a Home Coming dress last year and she was so afraid that 3 other girls would show up with the same dress that she had on. Luckily that did not happen with her, But it did to her friend. |
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Post by padresfan619 on Jan 25, 2015 22:00:00 GMT
I'll just leave this here.  |
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Deleted
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Jun 11, 2024 20:49:30 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2015 22:01:43 GMT
Prom girl. Com
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Deleted
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Jun 11, 2024 20:49:30 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2015 22:02:25 GMT
And check the thrift stores.
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Post by bwife on Jan 25, 2015 22:02:47 GMT
My daughter is very petite and had ordered quite a few dresses from China. We've only had a disaster with one of them and I really think it was the style more than anything as it didn't fit right around the bust/back but it was boned so difficult to alter. Others we have bought have been amazing and definitely worth the "risk". Make sure you buy from someone that has thousands of feedback with positive comments. We have also ordered from JJ's House mentioned above and been happy with what we ordered. Thank you! My daughter is average height. She is about 5'5" now. The dress we are looking at has a lace top that goes over the shoulders, So my guess is that there would not as much boning in it as say a completely strapless gown would be. And yes, the sellers I am looking at all have at least a 99% feedback rating with thousands of feedback. That is why they have some negatives, because they sell so much, and I know you can not make everyone happy. |
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Jili
Pearl Clutcher
SLPea
Posts: 4,363
Jun 26, 2014 1:26:48 GMT
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Post by Jili on Jan 25, 2015 22:03:46 GMT
My dd has ordered 2 prom dresses from Etsy. They came direct from China and were quite reasonably priced. They arrived more quickly than I'd anticipated, and appeared as expected, too.
I was very nervous about the whole thing, but it worked out quite well. I would be sure to buy a style that can be easily altered. My dd needed a few alterations (take in a bit, hem) but this was not a problem.
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Post by imkat on Jan 25, 2015 22:05:05 GMT
My daughter ordered a homecoming or prom dress from someplace online in China. It worked out fine. A seamstress hemmed it and took off a fabric belt she did not want.
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Post by bwife on Jan 25, 2015 22:05:30 GMT
I'll just leave this here. lol. the dress looks similar in style. But its not the same color. And I dont think the lady in the green has the same body type as the chick in white. haha. |
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Post by chaosisapony on Jan 25, 2015 22:06:34 GMT
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Post by imkat on Jan 25, 2015 22:07:34 GMT
Per the photo, I would never order a wedding dress online from China, unless I knew I had enough leadtime to order a replacement dress locally. That's how I feel about a dress for a teenager -- there are always local options if things don't work out with an international order.
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Post by bwife on Jan 25, 2015 22:11:32 GMT
My dd has ordered 2 prom dresses from Etsy. They came direct from China and were quite reasonably priced. They arrived more quickly than I'd anticipated, and appeared as expected, too. I was very nervous about the whole thing, but it worked out quite well. I would be sure to buy a style that can be easily altered. My dd needed a few alterations (take in a bit, hem) but this was not a problem. I had not thought about checking on Etsy! Off to look! |
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Post by bwife on Jan 25, 2015 22:14:59 GMT
this is why we are looking now.... so that if we need a back up plan, we have PLENTY of time to find something.  And I am planning on ordering a larger size. she is usually a 8/9 So I figured at least a 12. |
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Post by cmpeter on Jan 25, 2015 22:16:36 GMT
No, I don't want to have to deal with alterations, poor fit, etc. We have good luck at Nordstrom Rack or there is a store in one of our outlet malls that has good deals (probably the same dresses from China), but at least you can try them on.
Oh my...that Huffpo article was wonderful!
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Post by mrsscrapdiva on Jan 25, 2015 22:39:54 GMT
A friend of a friend ordered a wedding dress from china and the communication was very poor back and forth because of language barriers and it took a long time to get to her, but sure enough it did come. She thought it was going to be her dream dress - hence why she ordered the one she did. When she got it and tried it one, decided it wasn't her dream dress and then went to David's Bridal where she found more of what she wanted. She was very specific that she wanted long sleeves and a certain cut.
eta: do you have a goodwill close by? I always see nice dresses there. Also craigslist people should start listing their used prom gowns soon.
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Post by cindyupnorth on Jan 25, 2015 22:41:38 GMT
We ordered my dd's last prom dress from china. I think it was goprom, or something like that. I was very nervous. We put in the measurements, and it arrived in record time. Way ahead of the stated time.It fit her perfectly. The only problem was some of the sewing was poor, like the hems were frayed, and not finished right. It had a lot of loose, pulling threads. I trimmed them, and they stayed together. ha. I did have to have it hemmed, and we put a bustle on it, as it had a part train. That's all we had to do. It was very reasonably priced though, and the design was spot on for the picture.
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Post by baslp on Jan 25, 2015 22:49:21 GMT
We did order one and it needed a lot of alteration a. I would not do it again.
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grinningcat
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,663
Jun 26, 2014 13:06:35 GMT
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Post by grinningcat on Jan 25, 2015 22:58:11 GMT
Buying from China or places like that almost guarantee that you will be buying an unauthorised copyright infringement that will likely be made of crappy material with crappy quality. I wouldn't do it as you are enabling illegal activity.
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Post by M~ on Jan 25, 2015 23:08:20 GMT
Punky got some new clothes!
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Post by ktdoesntscrap on Jan 25, 2015 23:17:25 GMT
my niece got a beautiful prom dress from China. She is tiny and had a tough time finding a dress in her size... ( She is 18 and often buys kids 10- 12 jeans) ]
The dress was perfect.
That said if it were me I would not buy the dress this early... my daughter would change her mind 4 times between now and then.
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Post by myboysnme on Jan 25, 2015 23:26:36 GMT
Just wondering if you are in the US if there is any way you would prioritize patronizing a business here? I am not against getting something affordable from the places you are looking, but with the lead time you have you should be able to find several options that will benefit local businesses, whether thrift shop or clearance rack.
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Deleted
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Jun 11, 2024 20:49:30 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2015 23:40:29 GMT
Could DD earn some money and get the dress that she wants? Maybe you could pay half, or whatever your budget is and she pays the balance?
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Post by peasful1 on Jan 25, 2015 23:54:46 GMT
Just wondering if you are in the US if there is any way you would prioritize patronizing a business here? I am not against getting something affordable from the places you are looking, but with the lead time you have you should be able to find several options that will benefit local businesses, whether thrift shop or clearance rack. Problem here is that clothes shopping is very much a large department store/national chain endeavour. Unique is almost non-existent. Over there? It's totally different. My daughter needed a big new suitcase to bring home all of the clothing she purchased on our trip to HK over the holidays. tens of thousands teeny little boutiques with unique designs from small designers at fantastic prices. Her peers are going gaga over the clothes she's been wearing to school since getting back. I can definitely see the draw to go outside US borders, especially if you are a size small. There is a whole world of fashion out there that just doesn't exist here. And I kind of laugh at some of these comments. I'm guessing they've never been to Hong Kong. |
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Post by Really Red on Jan 26, 2015 0:21:09 GMT
That article was FUNNY. My niece had everyone order their dresses from an Etsy site that came from Asia.
My girls' dresses were perfect. They were the only ones. There were two reasons for that. One, my girls are pretty slender - size 2 - and two, I didn't go with sizing, even though the sizing was awfully close to their actual sizing. I gave them the exact measurements. All the other girls ordered sizes.
The other dresses were salvageable, though, as they had big seams and hems. Good luck.
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Post by bwife on Jan 26, 2015 1:00:47 GMT
Just wondering if you are in the US if there is any way you would prioritize patronizing a business here? I am not against getting something affordable from the places you are looking, but with the lead time you have you should be able to find several options that will benefit local businesses, whether thrift shop or clearance rack. 1st, not many of our thrift shops around here carry dresses, Not in the area that we live. Goodwill and the Salvation army ship good dresses to other parts of the city where there are girls that actually need to find a 7.99 dress for their prom / homecoming / wedding. I could start looking in those areas, but that would mean time and $ for gas, that if I am going to spend to look for one, I might as well just buy one new. KWIM? And, if I do the thrift thing, she does not get to pick, she just gets what she gets. I dont know many 15 / 16 yrs old girls that this would fly. 2nd. Have you actually looked at a NEW dress at the store? The one that we purchased for homecoming at DILLARDS came from CHINA! And here, the only businesses that carry dresses in our price range are Large Chain Dept Stores. Any little boutiques are out for us, they are very overpriced for what they are offering, because they can not carry / sell the stock that large chain stores can, they therefore do not get the discount that large retailers get from manufactures. Otherwise, I would be all for supporting Local Businesses, I do it ALL OF THE TIME! She could save her $$ to buy the dress of her dreams, but she knows that would be a waste. She would rather DH and I cover her dress and she can save her money to travel. She is currently saving to go on a trip to TX with her GeoScience group at school and she is hoping to save for a 3 country trip in summer of 2017 with girl scouts. One Benefit of ordering from ebay is that she would have a few dresses to choose from like 10+ in her size / Color she wants. when we went to the mall yesterday, One store did not have anything in the color she is looking for, While Dillards had about 5. But only 3 of those were long. Thank you all for the replies. I think we are going to wait a few weeks and see what else the stores might get in for Prom yet ( most proms here are not until Late April / early May) So I know they will still get more styles / colors in. if we dont find anything then, then we will start looking more heavily at Ebay and Etsy for a dress. She found quite a few on there today that looked to be the color / style that she would like to have. |
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Post by bwife on Jan 26, 2015 1:04:10 GMT
Just wondering if you are in the US if there is any way you would prioritize patronizing a business here? I am not against getting something affordable from the places you are looking, but with the lead time you have you should be able to find several options that will benefit local businesses, whether thrift shop or clearance rack. Problem here is that clothes shopping is very much a large department store/national chain endeavour. Unique is almost non-existent. Over there? It's totally different. My daughter needed a big new suitcase to bring home all of the clothing she purchased on our trip to HK over the holidays. tens of thousands teeny little boutiques with unique designs from small designers at fantastic prices. Her peers are going gaga over the clothes she's been wearing to school since getting back. I can definitely see the draw to go outside US borders, especially if you are a size small. There is a whole world of fashion out there that just doesn't exist here. And I kind of laugh at some of these comments. I'm guessing they've never been to Hong Kong. We have never been to hong kong either. lol. BUT with that said, There are def. more choices in dress styles / colors on Ebay than are available from major chain retailers here. So, that is part of the draw to ebay as well. I did look up the jj site that someone else posted. there are a lot of nice looking dresses on that site too, So I have it book marked to re-visit later. |
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Post by bothmykidsrbrats on Jan 26, 2015 1:20:20 GMT
I have purchased 2 prom dresses for my niece from EBay / China. Both arrived early ,exactly as described, and fit perfectly. No one believed what I paid for them. The year I purchased her dress from David's bridal, she had a seam pull apart before the end of the night, and it was twice the price as the EBay dresses.
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And I am planning on ordering a larger size. she is usually a 8/9 So I figured at least a 12. 
