Evening or party dress: how to find yours at a sensible price
Start with the date of the event, not the style
Evening and party dresses are needed for a particular day, and it is the timing that most often lets people down. Tailoring to order takes weeks, while a ready-made dress from stock can be received in a few days. So in your request, write the date of the event and the date by which you need the fitting.
You also need spare time for alterations: shortening the hem, taking in the corset, adding cups. A tailor does this for an extra fee, and it is worth finding out the cost in advance.
What to put in your request
- Occasion – farewell party at school or college, wedding, gala evening, office party.
- Style – mermaid, A-line, slip, corset, ball gown, with a slit or open back.
- Length – floor-length, midi, mini.
- Size – S/M/L or bust, waist, hips and height.
- Colour – powder pink, emerald, burgundy, black.
- Fabric – satin, chiffon, velvet, sequins, lace.
- Condition – new or worn once.
- Brand or designer – if you have one in mind.
- City – for fitting, pick-up or delivery.
- Budget.
Example: “I'm looking for a powder-pink corset dress, floor-length with a slit, satin, size S, height 170 cm, for a farewell party on 20 June. Montreal, a fitting is needed. New or worn once. Budget up to $200.”
New, worn once or rented
A dress worn to a single event often costs noticeably less than a new one and looks almost the same. But check whether it was altered, whether there are make-up stains around the neckline and whether the cups or the corset lacing are intact.
Renting makes sense when you need the dress for one evening, but it doesn't work if you want to change the cut to suit you. Ask what the deposit is and what happens if the fabric is damaged.
How to compare offers
Before ordering, ask whether the seller will send a video of the dress in motion: it shows how the fabric falls and whether it is see-through in light.
Compare by the same criteria: size with measurements, fabric content, lining, whether cups are sewn in. Thin chiffon and satin crease easily, so ask how the dress is packed and whether steaming is included in the price.
How it works on BlaBlaPrice
Create a request with a description and an example photo, and sellers answer with offers: price, timing, fitting, delivery. They see their place among the others, so they improve their terms. The best-value offer is shown first, with reviews of the seller next to it, and contacts are opened only to the one you choose. For details see “How it works”.
For your look, also see everyday dresses and outerwear.
