Online Knock Off Websites

Re: Online Knock Off Websites

• itzMS member

  

  January 2013 edited January 2013

  Agreed with PP.
  
  It's not so much the designers that is the issue. It's the quality.
  
  A few months back, a bride posted real pictures of a knock-off dress she received and it was just horrible.
  
  Why not buy a used dress?
  
  Or, David's Bridal does have some really pretty plus-size dresses for under $200. They're not "designer", but who can really tell anyways if you look great in it!
  
  What style are you considering?

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• Grozikn

  

  January 2013

  I considered that until I read a lot of bad reviews and articles against it. I am on a tight budget too. I bought my dress from a bridal consignment shop that went out of business. Got it for $150, absolutely nothing wrong with it, and it's an Oleg Cassini that sells for $1200 (also got veil for $50). I was also checking out The Knot Classifieds and craigslist... sometimes people buy a dress and end up changing their minds. I would recommend against the knock off site. You would be taking a gamble and if it comes out bad... you would just be out more money and still need a dress.

  

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• lyndsay782 member

  

  January 2013

  Truthfully, due to my larger size and short stature, I've always had bad luck in the used clothing arena.  David's bridal has some that are in my $300 and under budget, its just that the knock off ones have some that are so much more, well "blinged out".  I don't want to spend $179 and be out the money, because that's just stupidity.  I guess I'll give David's a shot and juggle the budget a little...

  

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• heroeswearbrown member

  

  January 2013

  more bling = more money.
  
  seriously consider consignment or buying used online. I found my gown on craigslist for half off retail from a girl who bought it and wound up going with something else. I'm not short but I am plus sized. But I would highly highly highly recommend trying a gown on before deciding it's the one.
  

  

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• Grozikn

  

  January 2013

  There are plenty of plus sized blingy dresses out there, I am sure you will find an amazing one that you an afford! I am not plus sized... and got a fab blingy dress. But during my searches I saw plenty of beautiful plus sized gowns
  
  Good Luck!!

  

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• itzMS member

  

  January 2013 edited January 2013

  Buy a plain dress, and bling it up with an awesome sash! If you have pictures of dresses you like, post them here and we'll be able to help you find affordable options.

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• sunnilove member

  

  January 2013

  ive seen the horror stories and ive also seen a handful of brides, ive known personally who used thoes ebay stores from china, and personally i literally am thinking of doing the same i would rather try and find a dress for 140$ obviously i know its not going to be perfect, it wont look EXACTLY like the photo but know that using thoes sites i realize my expectations needs to be a little lower, i risk a chance sure, but i also could end up with a gorgeous dress like 6 of my friends did using thoes store, honestly their dresses looked so good i never wouldve guessed they used thoes china ebay stores, i wouldve thought they bought them in a bridal store. they looked well made, felt well made, there was no difference that i could tell,

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• lyndsay782 member

  

  January 2013

  In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_attire-accessories_online-knock-off-websites?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:15Discussion:5cf07de6-b62f-4d23-bc6a-7c6cdff06924Post:48253e1a-a325-47de-9e89-fc3c29b66c00">Re: Online Knock Off Websites</a>:
  [QUOTE]ive seen the horror stories and ive also seen a handful of brides, ive known personally who used thoes ebay stores from china, and personally i literally am thinking of doing the same i would rather try and find a dress for 140$ obviously i know its not going to be perfect, it wont look EXACTLY like the photo but know that using thoes sites i realize my expectations needs to be a little lower, i risk a chance sure, but i also could end up with a gorgeous dress like 6 of my friends did using thoes store, honestly their dresses looked so good i never wouldve guessed they used thoes china ebay stores, i wouldve thought they bought them in a bridal store. they looked well made, felt well made, there was no difference that i could tell,
  Posted by sunnilove[/QUOTE]<div>
  </div><div>That's kind of what I'm hoping might happen.  I will try a David's Bridal first and see where to go from there.  If they really don't have anything in my budget that will work for me, I have an extra option.  It's actually good to hear that not everyone has a horror story. 
  
  </div>

  

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• Kyra5257

  

  January 2013

  I bought a prom dress from an online dress store last month,and received great service, especially when I accidently gave them the wrong measurements. The customer service noticed it and got in touch with me a day after I made the order! The only issue I have is that I ordered a burgundy color while the dress color turned out to be different from what I expected. Apart from that, I very satisfied with the online shopping experience! If you really want to buy a dress online, make sure you have your measurements professionally taken according to their measuring guide. And check the color with them in advance. Color varies by fabric. Good luck!

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• Barbiiieee member

  

  January 2013

  Right now is a good time to buy from DB, because their semi annual $99 sale is on until I think the 14th. They also have an outlet section on their website, that had loooootttts of affordable options. Check out the clearance racks at department stores... they have lots of sparkly white dresses on sale right now. What style dress were you looking for? Look at these "blingy" dresses I saw on the DB website:
  
  http://www.davidsbridal.com/Product_A-line-with-Beaded-Embroidered-Metallic-Bodice-9V9364_Outlet-Outlet-Bridal-Gowns
  
  http://www.davidsbridal.com/Product_Satin-Side-Drape-Gown-with-Beaded-Bodice-9SAS1212_Outlet-Outlet-Bridal-Gowns
  
  http://www.davidsbridal.com/Product_Soft-A-line-Chiffon-Spaghetti-Strap-Empire-9SAS1228_Outlet-Outlet-Bridal-Gowns
  
  http://www.davidsbridal.com/Product_Rhinestone-Sequin-Chiffon-Dress-9INT1061_Bridal-Gowns-Shop-By-Size-Plus-Sizes
  
  http://www.davidsbridal.com/Product_Rhinestone-Sequin-Chiffon-Dress-9INT1061_Bridal-Gowns-Shop-By-Size-Plus-Sizes
  
  The quality of beading and crystals on those knock off dresses look terrible. I have a friend who bought a dress off a knock off site, and she basically threw away her money because she couldn't wear it, and she also couldn't get a refund. She ended up paying double her dress budget, because she had to buy two gowns. I would be to afraid of that happening.

  

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• heather8610

  

  January 2013 edited January 2013

  Yeah, I have silmilar online shipping experience to you. I bought a prom dress online last year and paid by Paypal. It is the low price that made me take a shot. I chatted with the customer service a lot before making the order. The dress turned out to be a perfect fit for me except it is a bit longer. Considering the price I paid, I don't regret!
  
  <a href="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/images/store/14/12/2e261542-ce42-48b6-acc3-4156a85e509f.large.jpg" title="Click to view a larger photo" class="PhotoLink"> <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/images/store/14/12/2e261542-ce42-48b6-acc3-4156a85e509f.medium.jpg" alt="" /></a>
  
  In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_attire-accessories_online-knock-off-websites?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:15Discussion:5cf07de6-b62f-4d23-bc6a-7c6cdff06924Post:48253e1a-a325-47de-9e89-fc3c29b66c00">Re: Online Knock Off Websites</a>:
  [QUOTE]ive seen the horror stories and ive also seen a handful of brides, ive known personally who used thoes ebay stores from china, and personally i literally am thinking of doing the same i would rather try and find a dress for 140$ obviously i know its not going to be perfect, it wont look EXACTLY like the photo but know that using thoes sites i realize my expectations needs to be a little lower, i risk a chance sure, but i also could end up with a gorgeous dress like 6 of my friends did using thoes store, honestly their dresses looked so good i never wouldve guessed they used thoes china ebay stores, i wouldve thought they bought them in a bridal store. they looked well made, felt well made, there was no difference that i could tell,
  Posted by sunnilove[/QUOTE]

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• Barbiiieee member

  

  January 2013 edited January 2013

  Heather and Kyra are vendors, I'm pretty sure, since their posts include links.

  

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• lovesclimbing member

  

  January 2013

  I debated going with one of the chinese sites but I ultimately decided not to.  They had such horrible return policies and the grammar was atrocious.  I decided it wasn't worth it because I was on a budget and didn't want to risk spending double the money when I had to buy a second dress.

  
  

  I got my dress through simplybridal.com.  They also have their dresses made in China, so I've heard, but they are a legitmate company with real stores in the US and they allow you to return the dress if you do so within 30 days.  It was beautiful.  Yes, it had to be altered quite a bit because I didn't try it on first but I had a really good, really affordable seamstress who did an amazing job.  You can have the dress made to your measurements as well.  I didn't have them do that because it cost more and, like I said, I had a really good seamstress lined up to do the alterations.

  
  

  Anyway, the dresses are very affordable.  They have a number of styles available for under $100.  And they don't carry anything over $800.  And there are lots of "blingy" ones available.

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