Things to Consider When Prom Dress Shopping Online
Planning to purchase your prom dress online? Here you will find tips for navigating the world of prom dress sizing online, as well as advice for returning or exchanging your prom dress. With over 20 years of experience selling dresses online, PromGirl has developed information to guide you, making your online prom dress shopping adventure effortless.
HOW CAN I FIND THE PERFECT PROM DRESS ONLINE?
Finding the perfect prom dress online involves choosing your ideal style and size, but first thing's first! Before you can pick your perfect prom dress, you'll need to find the perfect online prom dress site for shopping. Check on the site's authenticy to make sure that the seller is an authorized designer dress dealer and not a counterfeit dress site. If you know you can safely shop on the site, it's time to start narrowing down your choices. Consider your favorite colors and styles and how they complement your body type. Once you've got a few favorite prom dresses picked out, it's time to get to the nitty-gritty details.
WHY AND HOW SHOULD I CHECK MY PROM DRESS SIZING?
One of the biggest questions about buying a prom dress online that you can't try on is, how do you know what size to order? Well, the answer is to know your measurements and to use the provided size charts. Checking your prom dress sizing in advance can save you time and money in the long run. Hoping to minimize the need for prom dress alterations or exchanges? Using your bust, waist, and hip measurements, as well as the website's sizing tool or size chart, you can find your ideal size prom dress for the specific designer style that you are considering. For more detailed tips and a how-to video walkthrough on sizing, check out this Prom Dress Sizing section of the Prom Guide.
CAN I RETURN OR EXCHANGE MY PROM DRESS?
For online prom dress shopping, be sure to explore the return and exchange policies before making your purchase. Many designer dress sites have a very limited timeframe for returning prom dresses, if they allow returns at all. There is often a restocking fee for returns, although some sites will waive this fee if you are simply exchanging your unworn prom dress for another size or a style of equal value. Check with the company in advance to confirm the timeframe for an exchange, as some online prom dress sites will require that they receive the dress back first before processing the new item. If you are returning your prom dress for a refund, keep in mind that it can take some online prom dress sites weeks to process your return before providing you with a refund. Knowing the return and exchange policy rules and timeframes in advance can help you choose the best site for making your online prom dress purchase with ease.
HOW QUICKLY CAN I GET MY PROM DRESS ONLINE?
Let's face it. Once you find your perfect prom dress, you want it to arrive quickly! No one likes to wait for such an exciting package to arrive. Getting a prom dress quickly online is going to depend upon the availability of the item and the shipping method you choose. The fastest way to get a prom dress online is to purchase one that is in stock. Styles that are in stock are hanging up in inventory, ready and waiting to be shipped directly to you! Dresses in stock can typically ship out within a day or two, so you'll receive your dress much faster than if a special order needs to be placed with the manufacturer. It's best to shop early for your prom dress, since the later it gets in prom season, the harder it is to find an online prom dress site that still has your dress in stock.
When a dress is not in stock, don't panic! There is still a chance that you can special order your dress, but you will have to make sure that it can ship to you in time for prom. If placing a special order is an option for the dress you chose, the website will provide a future ship date. This future ship date is the earliest date your dress will be available to ship out to you. Think "pre-orders," like for books or movies that haven't been released yet. No matter how badly you want to enjoy them sooner, you have to wait for them to be ready. When deciding if the future ship date will have your dress arriving in time for prom, don't forget to add in the shipping time as well! How quickly you receive your prom dress after the future ship date provided would be determined by the shipping method (ground shipping, next day, etc.) that you choose for the order you placed. This means that if you pay for expedited shipping, the dress will still ship out to you on the provided future ship date and then be delivered within the shipping timeframe that you purchased. The expedited shipping method simply helps get you the dress the quickest way possible after the future ship date arrives.
Place your online prom dress shopping order as early in the season as possible for more available options in stock or with early ship dates. That means, if you find a dress you love, buy it! If it's later in the season and you're in a time crunch, it's best to choose a prom dress that is in stock and available for a quick shipment so that you won't have to worry about a future ship date cutting it too close to the big night.
Shopping online is a process that can be the height of convenience for those of us in areas with limited retail shops or jam-packed schedules, or it can be the perfect way to land yourself a one-of-a-kind prom dress that stands out from the sea of department store picks. Whatever your motivation, it's important to do your homework in advance to streamline the process and ensure that you have your dream dress in plenty of time before the big night. As with most women's clothing, sizing can vary by designer when it comes to prom dresses, especially when you also consider dress style and body type.
Eliminate the stress and up the convenience factor when you order your perfect prom dress online. By preparing yourself before purchasing, you are sure to save time and money when you find the perfect prom dress size, minimizing the need for costly prom dress alterations. Planning for prom dress shipping times, as well as returning or exchanging your prom dress, allows you plenty of time to spare for figuring out your prom dress sizing, determining your ideal color and style, and coordinating your accessories. Bring the fitting room experience to your home when you purchase your perfect prom dress online.
