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Decemberđ I had been searching for the perfect statement piece for a major event scheduled in the summer of 2025. đđ âď¸
I had been searching for the perfect statement piece for a major event scheduled in the summer of 2025. I wanted something truly uniqueânot just another cookie-cutter dress pulled off a department store rack. My style leans towards the elegant and timeless, and while I loved the playful and vibrant look of some of the companyâ ready-to-wear pieces, like the gorgeous floral pattern of the
Sexy Strapless Vintage Dress
, I had a specific silhouette in mind that required customization. My biggest pain point was finding a place that could translate a complex vision into reality without compromising on quality or elegance. Initially, I saw several promising comments about the staff, which drew me in. For instance, Shirley Wang noted, "Really great service!!!", and others mentioned specific helpful staff members. I walked into the company hoping for that personalized, high-touch consultation required when commissioning a gown that would cost well over a thousand dollars.
The initial in-store consultation felt surprisingly transactional. I presented my design inspirationâa detailed picture of an elegant, classy gown. The representative was friendly, but the consultation lacked the collaborative spirit I expected. There was virtually no discussion about fabric weights, textures, or specific construction details. This lack of creative input instantly made me uneasy. The final step solidified my anxiety: I was asked for a large, cash-only deposit. Although I went through with it, this felt like an immediate red flag, echoing the exact concerns raised in a harrowing review I later found online. The person taking my order was not the seamstress, and my detailed vision felt filtered and simplified through a middle person, increasing the chance of the very miscommunication I was trying to avoid.
The subsequent months were filled with anxiety rather than excitement. When the call finally came in May 2025 for my fitting, I drove to the shop with a knot in my stomach. I was worried that my vision had been lost in translation. My fears were not just realizedâthey were amplified tenfold. Finding this detailed account from Yaya Santa confirmed that my negative experience was not an isolated incident, but a systemic flaw in their custom order process. She wrote:
"I normally donât leave reviews, but I felt it was important to share my experience so others can make an informed decision. While I understand that not everyone can be pleased, when youâre spending over $1,000 on a dress, thereâs a basic level of service and professionalism you expectâand unfortunately, that was not my experience. Red flag #1: They require a cash-only deposit, leaving you with no protection if things donât go as planned. Red flag #2: The person taking your order is not the one making the dress. Your vision is filtered through a middle person, which increases the chances of miscommunication. Red flag #3: I sent a clear color photo of the dress I wanted, and it was printed out in black and white on low-quality paperâbarely visible and certainly not detailed enough to work from. After placing the order, we were told weâd get a call in May for a fitting. There was no discussion about fabric options, no creative input, and no collaboration at all. On the day of the fitting, a seamstress was present and casually mentioned that when creating a dress based on a photo that they didnât design, the result would be a "similar" versionânot an exact replicaâbecause certain details or materials might not be available. This important disclaimer shouldâve been communicated up front, at the time of the order. It would have saved a lot of frustration. To make matters worse, the color of the dress was also wrongâit didnât match the shade we initially selected. When the dress was brought out, I was honestly confused and disappointed. It looked nothing like what I had envisioned, and I was surprised they werenât embarrassed to present it as the final product. Do your research â lesson learned. This shop clearly excels at making bold, revealing dresses, and if thatâs your style, you may have better luck. But if youâre looking for something more elegant, timeless, or classy-sexy, this may not be the place for you. Photos of the design I wanted and received are posted and shared below."
"I normally donât leave reviews, but I felt it was important to share my experience so others can make an informed decision. While I understand that not everyone can be pleased, when youâre spending over $1,000 on a dress, thereâs a basic level of service and professionalism you expectâand unfortunately, that was not my experience. Red flag #1: They require a cash-only deposit, leaving you with no protection if things donât go as planned. Red flag #2: The person taking your order is not the one making the dress. Your vision is filtered through a middle person, which increases the chances of miscommunication. Red flag #3: I sent a clear color photo of the dress I wanted, and it was printed out in black and white on low-quality paperâbarely visible and certainly not detailed enough to work from. After placing the order, we were told weâd get a call in May for a fitting. There was no discussion about fabric options, no creative input, and no collaboration at all. On the day of the fitting, a seamstress was present and casually mentioned that when creating a dress based on a photo that they didnât design, the result would be a "similar" versionânot an exact replicaâbecause certain details or materials might not be available. This important disclaimer shouldâve been communicated up front, at the time of the order. It would have saved a lot of frustration. To make matters worse, the color of the dress was also wrongâit didnât match the shade we initially selected. When the dress was brought out, I was honestly confused and disappointed. It looked nothing like what I had envisioned, and I was surprised they werenât embarrassed to present it as the final product. Do your research â lesson learned. This shop clearly excels at making bold, revealing dresses, and if thatâs your style, you may have better luck. But if youâre looking for something more elegant, timeless, or classy-sexy, this may not be the place for you. Photos of the design I wanted and received are posted and shared below."
Seeing the dress they presented to me, I shared Yaya Santaâs exact confusion and disappointment. The color was off, and the cut was fundamentally different from the photo reference I had supplied. Like her, I felt there was a massive disconnect between my elegant vision and the final product, which looked cheapened and poorly executed. The seamstress present also offered the "similar, not exact replica" disclaimerâa piece of critical information that should have been mandatory during the initial consultation, not sprung on me at the fitting. While others, like Kelly Johnston, had great experiences finding ready-to-wear items and praised staff, for those seeking nuanced, high-level custom design, the company did not deliver.
My overall assessment of the company is complex. For shoppers looking for stylish, affordable, and readily available pieces, as dejtoumanie Diabate mentioned, they have items that "fit my budget," and the staff can indeed be "Super helpful." For instance, I noticed several beautiful off-the-rack options, which are likely why Andrew Ched, who had a poor experience, received an apology stressing their desire to "make every visit a positive one." However, if you are looking to spend upwards of $1,000 on a complicated, custom, high-end dress requiring meticulous detail and collaborative designâespecially if you aim for something elegant and timeless rather than bold and revealingâI cannot in good conscience recommend their custom service. The high-stakes nature of the cash deposit combined with the severe risk of miscommunication makes this an outcome that is too frustrating and costly to gamble on. Here's more info regarding jackets and blazers for ladies review our web-site. Stick to their pre-made selection if you visit.
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