Since she can understand the concept of marriage, every little girl dreams about her perfect wedding. Either it is going to be sunny or rainy, at the beach or somewhere in the mountains, the perfect wedding for a girl is all about the dress.
Since early times designers have tried to create the most astonishing and diverse wedding dresses to please the capricious young ladies looking for perfection. The problem that appeared today is that of money. You have from where to choose from, but you cant afford anymore to buy what you actually like. In order to make brides happy, companies offer from time to time, discount wedding dresses. This means that they decrease the price for a period of time to certain models of wedding dresses. Consequently, the bride who was so sad that she didnt have enough money to buy that 800$ dress, can become happy with the discount wedding dresses offer. She can buy the dress at an affordable price.
Discount wedding dresses always make brides happy. And the best part is that you can find discount wedding dresses not only in the dress shop around the corner, but also within high companies that sell designers creations. Which bride wouldnt be happy? And though we are talking about discount wedding dresses, they are available in different styles and designs. Their variety offers lots of possibilities from which the bride may chose the one that suits her best. Either you decide for a traditional model or a more fashionable one, you can surely have the possibility to pick one of the discount weeding dresses. Most of the shops and companies offer a variety of models and fabrics from which you can choose from in order to feel unique in the most important moment of your life.
If youre looking for a dress compatible with your wedding location, you can surely find one between the discount wedding dresses. And if you didnt find it yet, do not despair. There are also sites that can help you throughout your wedding and, most importantly, in finding the perfect dress. You will find lots of discount wedding dresses also on the internet. Dont stay upset because designers themselves offer discount wedding dresses. It is the moment of your life and you have the possibility to make it the way you want it.
Always remember that off-season periods imply discount wedding dresses so be aware and go shopping before the wedding season. You will definitely have more chances in finding what you want. Moreover, you will feel no pressure related to the money you spent. You had a good deal. The existence of discount wedding dresses made you feel comfortable and happy because you found what you wanted at an affordable price.
You have to be a fabulous bride. Everyone is going to have their eyes only on you. This is the day of your dreams and youre shinning because you have the wedding dress you always wanted from discount wedding dresses. You feel no pressure. You are confident and happy.
Aside from a wedding dress, one of the most important gowns a girl will wear in her lifetime is a prom dress. A hallmark event in a teenagers’ life, the prom has gone from a sweetheart’s soiree at the local high school gym to an over-the-top bacchanal often hosted at high-end hotels or in school gyms that have been transformed, using elaborate and expensive themes. And yet, as the years go by, the crucial element of the prom remains the same: the prom dress. From Essentials: Guide to Spring Dresses
Significance 1. A prom dress is a status symbol and a way to express individuality. A one-of-a-kind, custom or designer dress announces that the wearer sits at the top of the social ladder. Dresses also signal what ‘clique’ a person is in, whether it be a black, vampire-like gown for the Goth girls or a Jessica McClintock strapless number that is the choice of many girls in the popular posse. History 2. While some researchers pinpoint the first prom as early as the late 1800s, they became an official stamp on American culture in the 1950s. In the Eisenhower Era, prom dresses were designed to accentuate a girl’s hourglass figure. Ballerina-length skirts, usually made from tulle or lace, fanned out from nipped waists. Heart-shaped bodices brought the breasts front and center while swan-like necks were usually left bare. As for the dresses themselves, the palettes leaned towards pastels, making the dresses symbols of innocence. A perfect example of the quintessential prom dress of the 1950s was inspired by Edith Head’s strapless gown that Elizabeth Taylor wore in “A Place in the Sun.” The boned bodice and white tulle skirt with green satin became the prom inspiration for teenage girls everywhere. Time Frame 3. The Ladylike Look of 1960s Proms The Ladylike Look of 1960s Proms The prom dress of the 1960s were slimmed down a bit. No longer were skirts billowing tulle and satin creations. Dresses were often straight, making the body look slender, with fabrics that ranged from taffeta to satin. Necklines were rarely low and there was a monochromatic look that added to the natural elegance. The prom dress of this era took a cue from Jackie O and strove toward ladylike silhouettes. Despite the revolution that was boiling under the surface of the youth culture, prom dresses continued touting the feminine. Identification 4. The 1970s prom dress deviated slightly from the look of the 60s, with less emphasis on elegance and more on a sense of bohemian casualness. Monochromatic dresses were still popular, and skirts were still often long and billowy to complement the Farrah Fawcett hair. To get a picture of the 1980s prom dress, one need look no further than the Molly Ringwald film oeuvre. Scanning the prom scene in “Pretty in Pink” shows that the prom gown of the 80s was sometimes short and sometimes long, but almost always with puffed sleeves, sweetheart necklines and bright colors. The dresses of the 80s correspond with the cultural mood, as proms took on a larger-than-life status and became the set piece of many teenage movies. In some ways, the ruffled shoulders and necklines of the grandiose dresses reflect this trend. Types 5. A Modern Take on the Empire Waist Dress A Modern Take on the Empire Waist Dress Today’s prom landscape is harder to define. Some fashion soothsayers predict there will be a return to the Elizabeth Taylor hourglass look, others declare that the 1980s over-the-top fun will be reintroduced into the mainstream. Regardless of what the style oracles think, the prom dress of today is a versatile creation, with a few simple guidelines that differentiate the cuts. “Empire Cut” Think Jane Austen. A dress with an empire cut has a high waistline that generally cinches just below the bust. “Sheath” This is a dress for the daring and the confident. (Think of the ivory snug number that Angelina Jolie wore when she won an Emmy for “Gia.”) This dress is ideal for tall and slim figures, but might not make the best choice for girls who want to dance. “Tea-Length” A throwback to the 1950s ballerina look, this is a knee-length or shin-length gown for girls wanting to show a little leg on the big night. “Bouffant Gown” The name says it all. This type of prom dress has a Cinderella flair to it, with a rayon or silk skirt that reaches the floor. The bodice is a snug corset. Theories/Speculation 6. What will the Prom Dress of 2009 look like? “Daring Prints” Not for the wallflowers, (unless the wallflower is looking to make a splash), but one trend is prints. Nothing subtle—cheetah print dresses offset with rhinestones or wild floras paired with glittery eye make-up. “Short Not Long” Perhaps inspired by the wardrobes found on the Gossip Girls, 2009 is gearing up to be the year of the flirty, fun and sassy dress, one that is comfortable for dancing. “Celebrity Inspired” While channeling celebrity style is nothing new, the upcoming year promises to be particularly in tune with Hollywood red carpets. The lemon-yellow cocktail dress Reese Witherspoon wore at the 2007 Golden Globes gives the appropriate “girls just want to have fun” vibe. On the opposite end, the waterfall-length silk satin dress Kate Hudson wears on the poster for “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” is another inspiration for those who appreciate its long, elegant Grecian look.
spring prom dresses from http://www.weddinggownswholesale.com/spring-prom-dresses-p-4099.html This spring prom dresses is the most popular this year, Make you become the focus of the ball in it. Fabrics we used include satin, chiffon, taffeta and organza. The color for this kind is pink, or can be made in custom size, color, desogn, all our dresses are personally tailored for you. If you are interested in this product, please kindly contact us! What a wonderful Mermaid Wedding Dresses ! One of our newest additions this season! It has its unique design and can be made as customer requirement! Fabrics we used include satin, chiffon, taffeta and organza. We can make any color for you according to your requires. The more you buy, the lower price you will get!
Love is one of the most powerful and moving feelings or emotions that one can feel. It cannot be achieved not unless two people are mutually expressing it. If this love continues to flourish, no one could ever separate them and they are inseparable. This is the time that feelings must be sealed in a union. That union of two people is the total description of the wedding beauty. Being married to someone that you feel you can strongly share your whole life with where you can cherish, respect, understand, and serve one another is the total package of the marriage. But we won’t discuss about how marriage can be long but how the wedding should take place.
How do you make your wedding a reality and not just a dream? You have to get the best of the services of the Wedding Services Directory. You just need to visit and browse on their website and you will know what kind of theme you would need and they would adapt that on the location where the wedding will be celebrated. Of course, most of the time, wedding is being held on the local area of the bride and the groom. Make arrangement with them. Plan what would be the wedding dresses that the bride would wear.
The traditional ones, bride uses to wear one for the ceremony and at the reception, there is another piece which would culminate the wedding celebration which is part of the wedding marquee hire. It actually depends on the arrangement of the bride and the groom. It depends on the package that they have selected. Along with that, you have to include the most important part, which would serve as a tangible evidence of vows and everything about the marriage. From the time that you have pre-nuptial shots down to the last detail of the program, this must be captured perfectly through the expertise of the wedding photography services of the same group.
As the vows have ended and the contract for the wedding has been signed, the celebration will continue. Wedding Car Hire will assist them and take them to the wedding hall or wedding reception to be with their precious loved ones, parents, friends, and colleagues who have taken their part to witness the solidarity and union of the two people. As both of you hold hands together inside the car, you would feel that it is not a dream that the wedding has been done where celebration of years will come.
As you conclude that day with a feast from the wedding catering, which all couples are doing as part of the wedding, you could now relax and take a deep breath and enjoy every detail of the succeeding program for you and your spouse. It will only happen once in your life, but cherish it as if that is the first and last gift that you could give to each other. Let this day be memorable as you include the Wedding Services Directory that would assist you in planning your wedding according to your local customs and traditions that suits perfectly for both of you.
The secret of how to choose the cheap Wedding Dresses and gowns
Cheap Wedding Dresses and wedding gowns do not mean a compromise on quality!The wedding dress and gowns is very important as it is every one’s dream to look like a princess. This is because of that most of the brides ges married only once in their lifetime.
The wedding dress has sentiments attached to it, so it becomes special. At the wedding ceremony, every onewants to have glimpse of the bride and the groom, so brides-to-be feel it is important to look their best. Often, the non cheap price of wedding gowns and dresses causes brides to sideline other important bridal things,like hairstyle, footwear, handbags etc.So you should consider to choose the cheap wedding dress and gowns.
Whichever fashion you choose, the wedding dress consumes a large portion of the wedding budget. Usually all the designers applaud the uniqueness and exclusivity of their silk and satin dresses. However, you feel frustrated when you see the designer collection with a heavy price tag attached.
Don’t be!So many shops offer sale of their prized collection around the year. Some shops even offer discount price on Boxing Day. This can be a good opportunity for brides-to-be or their families and friends to shop for the cheap wedding dresses and gowns.
Some online stores also offer good deals by allowing you to visit their picture gallery. You can check the availability of various sizes and buy cheap wedding dresses and gowns there. Asking your guests to let you use their wedding dresses for your wedding day is not a bad idea too. Used hand wedding dress or gowns stores can also be a wonderful option for those who don’t believe in spending big money just for a single dress. Most people buy or sell their wedding dresses at these stores.
Some shops also offer this kind of service on internet. If you are convinced about buying a second-hand wedding dress eBay can also be an option however, you need to be alert while shopping as the product displayed might be different from the one, available for sale.
Everyone knows that unqiue wedding dresses can make a big hole in the pocket. Although, a wedding dress is a valued possession but spending a large chunk of your resources on a wedding dress that would be worn for a single day often doesn’t go well with everybody. However, it is up to you whether you want to go for unqiue wedding dresses or buy cheap wedding gown and dress.
All brides dream of exotic wedding dresses. Unique wedding dresses can be tough on the budget. Read why cheap wedding dresses and gowns are the best option to save your cost and time.
The other day I was surfing the Internet looking for a dress appropriate for a prom party. Wow! Would you believe the availability of such a wide range on the web space? There are numerous sites on the net where one may surf for a dress for ANY occasion. There are sites offering prom dresses, evening gowns, heritage style gowns, clubbing dresses, wedding dresses, maternity dresses, Hollywood style dresses… you name it, its there. These sites may be accessed from any computer, so one has the luxury of convenience of space and time.
These shopping websites display dresses from many countries and designers as well. So one is really flooded with choices. So sitting in Yorkshire, you have the luxury of checking out prom dresses not only in the UK, but also USA, Canada, Australia, even India. Again, most reputable designers choose to have their own websites so should you be in the market for something really exclusive and expensive, you may access any of these. One might even strike on a struggling designer, hoping to break in on the fashion trade, whose dress may be just the perfect one. Check out and decide the prom/clubbing dress of your choice very carefully considering the label’s measurement chart. Stores and designers have their own parameters for measurements, so size 10 at one may be size 14 at another.
One might fear that buying on the net is fraught with complications. But it’s really easy. One must ensure that the site has a secured payment gateway before one orders a prom dress from there. Also check out the site’s policies on delivery and returns. That’s really important. Most of the UK sites will deliver within the UK at no extra cost and within a week. However, if one is choosing from a label based abroad, one must allow for the time lag in delivery. Secondly, most stores and sites online, have very generous return policies provided the dress has not been used. Online stores even pitch in with alterations, so take into account all this extra time you might need. Many online sites offer significant discounts to their customers since they save on the costs of a physical store. So what are you waiting for – go online and buy the dream dress of your choice!
Grassy Johns is a leading ezine article writer on online purchasing of Designer Dresses. She writes informative articles on evening gowns, Black dresses and Girls Dresses etc. Visit Cubeandstar.com for more information about designer girl’s dresses.
Get Your Prom Dress Before the New Year!-spring prom dresses
It’s barely autumn, and the winter holidays seem to be a long way away. You are getting into a routine of back-to-school: homework, tests, friends, activities, and sports. With the possible exception of college planning, next spring is probably the last thing on your mind. Why should you start thinking about a prom dress when the prom is so far away?
It is not well-known by most prom-goers, that the best selections are found prior to the New Year. Prom dress manufacturers are already shipping dresses to the stores in October for the upcoming prom season. By the time the prom magazines hit the news stands in December, many people will already have placed orders for the most popular dresses. How do they come across these new designs that have yet to be in the magazines? People start searching online. As soon as manufacturer photos become available, it’s no surprise to find many internet prom dress retailers adding new styles on their websites in early October.
You might say, “The prom is months away in May! Isn’t March enough time to find a prom dress?” If you are not wanting anything in particular, the answer is yes. If you have your heart set on a particular style or color, you may be disappointed if you wait.
Why would they vanish in this way? This is because prom dresses are a very seasonal product. Manufacturers cut a certain number of dresses intended for the following spring season in late summer, and they start shipping them to stores in October. Based on initial sales, the manufacturers will tailor the more popular styles starting in February or March. By then, the stores have pending orders for these styles. Production of more prom dresses stops after this happens. No one wants unsold prom dresses sitting in their warehouses all summer! It is possible that some styles may be suitable for homecoming in fall, but most of the time, even they are not available until at least summer.
Many schools have winter formals in December, January, and February, which is why the most popular dresses could be sold out or on back order that early. Because prom dresses are on the racks early, many of them are purchased for these earlier events. Also keep in mind that prom-dress makers sell worldwide, not just to American consumers. Many online prom dress retailers sell globally, as well. The competition for the most popular dresses is intense.
An additional reason to purchase now, is that prom season is starting earlier on the calendar. Proms may be held as early as February in some parts of the country. Simply because your prom is in April or May doesn’t necessarily mean that everyone has so late a prom. There are even some proms that are held as early as mid-December! It’s amazing – every April, we end up dealing with disappointed customers who can’t find “their” dress, because they don’t realize that the prom magazines they are carrying around were published in December (five months ago).
If you wait until the spring to buy a prom dress, you will have to accept whatever style or color remains available. If you are picky or prefer a more popular style, you should consider shopping in November and December. If you are still uncertain on what to wear, begin looking online and through magazines in early October, to compile good dress ideas. When you find the perfect style, don’t hesitate. Snatch it up, before your competition does!
For the scoop on finding a prom dress, Nancy Fallat is an insider. She runs Find My Prom Dress and has experienced the agony of many teens not being able to buy their first choice because they waited. Shop early and conveniently as Find My Prom Dress has dresses organized by designer, color, and even style such as quinceanera jewelry.
spring prom dresses from http://www.weddinggownswholesale.com/spring-prom-dresses-p-4099.html This spring prom dresses is the most popular this year, Make you become the focus of the ball in it. Fabrics we used include satin, chiffon, taffeta and organza. The color for this kind is pink, or can be made in custom size, color, desogn, all our dresses are personally tailored for you. If you are interested in this product, please kindly contact us! What a wonderful Mermaid Wedding Dresses ! One of our newest additions this season! It has its unique design and can be made as customer requirement! Fabrics we used include satin, chiffon, taffeta and organza. We can make any color for you according to your requires. The more you buy, the lower price you will get!
JoJo meets Graziella at the Betsey Johnson store in SoHo to go prom dress shopping for the Ultimate Prom. For more on the Ultimate Prom visit: www.mypromstyle.com -
Prom Dresses are delicate and often expensive items of clothing so once you’ve bought yours you’ll want to do everything you can to take care of it. There are a number of tips and tricks to ensure that your prom gown is kept in the best possible condition. So with just a little forethought and effort you can take the best care of your prom dress before, during and after your prom.
Before you prom
Before you prom you need to take steps to prevent any creases or damage occurring to your gown. Most reputable prom dress retailers will provide complimentary garment bags with their prom dresses. Failing that you can purchase garment bags from supermarkets and many online retailers.
First, hang your dress inside a garment bag. You will need to hang it somewhere high enough so that the skirt isn’t touching the floor (or is only just touching). The place you hang it needs to ideally be a closed space such as a wardrobe. You should make sure that the place you choose to hang your prom dress isn’t damp and doesn’t get exposed to smells (e.g cooking smells).
You may be tempted to try your dress on a few times but try to resist for two reasons. Firstly, prom dresses are very delicate items and the more you take them on and off, the greater the risk that beading will become lose and even fall of. Secondly, the longer you have your dress out of its garment bag, the greater the chance is that it will become damaged by a tear or spill. By all means do a trial run with all your shoes and accessories, just don’t sit/walk around in your dress afterwards! Thirdly, if you’ve worn your dress too many times then by the time prom comes around it won’t feel as special.
Should your prom dress become creased before your prom, you can always seek the advice of a professional dry cleaner.
When you’re getting ready
When it comes to prom night, if you put your dress on first you risk accidentally marking your dress with product. Apply your make up and style your hair before you put your dress on. You should be especially careful with body lotions and temporary bronzers as these can transfer from your skin and cause marks to appear on prom dresses.
If you’re wearing perfume then exercise caution. Many of the beads and crystals on prom dresses could be tarnished if they get perfume on them. As such, perfume should be applied when you’re still in your underwear. Spray two squirts in front of you at chest height and then walk through it.
Put your prom dress on at the last possible moment (leaving enough time to have photos taken before you leave). Princess style prom dresses take a little extra care to put on and you will need a helping hand. The best way to put this kind of gown on is to unzip or unlace it and then put it on from above. You should stand with your arms in the air while a friend lifts it over your arms and head.
Importantly, always wash your hands before touching your gown.
During your prom
It’s worth bearing in mind that a prom dress is actually quite a delicate piece of clothing. There is an increasing trend to arrive at prom in the wackiest way possible, but you should be careful to consider whether your arrival method risks damaging your prom dress. Prom dresses are made for sitting, standing and talking and not much else! So be careful to not do anything to athletic in yours.
Should spill anything on your gown during prom then don’t panic! Remove any excess but don’t try and remove/rub the stain as you will only make it worse. Dry cleaners have a much better chance of removing stains from prom dresses if no-one else has tried first. Most importantly don’t worry about it, it’s not worth letting a stain on your prom gown spoil your evening!
After your prom
You may wish to have your prom gown cleaned after your prom, in order to keep it in the best condition. You should approach a professional and reputable dry cleaner who has experience dry-cleaning prom dresses. They will then be able to advise on which process to use.
If any damage has been caused to your dress (e.g. loose beading) you may wish to have this repaired before you store your dress. Search online and check your yellow pages for details of local seamstresses who is able to mend prom dresses
Once your dress has been dry-cleaned you should store it back in its garment bag. As prom dresses tend to take up quite a lot of space, you may not wish to keep it in your wardrobe. You can line a large box with a bin line and place your dress inside (the bin liner will help keep moisture away from your dress). Carefully package your dress up into a large box and store it under your bed, in the spare room or in the loft.
Prom dresses hold such previous memories and with a little care you can make sure that yours will last forever.
*** RESOURCE BOX MUST BE INCLUDED – PLAIN TEXT VERSION ***
About the author:
Victoria Ward is the Managing Director of Prom Royalty, an exclusive label specialising in prom dresses, ball gowns and evening dresses.
Plus Size Prom Dresses: Choose One that Suits your Style!!
Prom Night is an important occasion in everyone’s life. Every girl wants to look beautiful, gorgeous and to leave everlasting impression on Prom Night. Owing to variety of prom dresses available in stores, finding a perfect prom gown for prom is not that difficult now.
Finding plus size prom dress was little tedious earlier but not any more. If you are looking out for a perfect plus size prom dress but not getting the choice and style that you want then have a look at some of stylish plus size prom dresses. Plus size prom dresses are trendy and fashionable and sure to woo on that special night.
Check out Stylish Plus Size Prom Dresses:
One Shouldered Plus Size Prom Dress
Plus Size Prom Dresses are available in variety of styles like one shouldered prom dress, strapless prom dress, prom gown, polka dot prom dress and many more. Just choose a perfect prom dress along with a gorgeous hairdo from top prom hairstyles, use makeup tips for prom and get ready to woo every heart.
Plus Size Strapless Prom Dress
All size with several designs, just make proper measure of your body. Stores like Nordstrom.com offers great variety of dresses. Owing to different colors and styles and utilizing Nordstrom Promotion Code for savings, you will surely not stop yourself from ordering one special dress.
Polka Dot Plus Size Prom Dress
A perfect prom dress thats complement your style and body type is very important. Key to look stunning on prom night is finding a prom dress that suits your body type. For that you have to measure your size and height and be updated with latest fashion trends. With perfect Prom dress you will look pretty and stunning and Prom night moment will get locked forever in your memories. So, get ready for prom, choose a perfect prom dress and rock the party!!
Tony, is an associated author with website CouponAlbum. He asist his team to write some money saving articles on coupons blog.
Tony did his Ph.D. from the Honolulu University, Hawaii. After completing the doctral degree, Tony joined Hewlett Packard as an Design Engineer. He left HP in 2004 to do independent consulting and then in 2006 started couponalbum to help people save money.
Do you want the best wedding dresses? Do you want the best wedding dresses, but don’t want to pay expensive prices? In this article, we will look at how to find cheap wedding dresses, and whether it is a wise option to go with. In this article, you will soon discover the answers to these very important questions: * What Are Cheap Wedding Dresses? * Are Cheap Wedding Dresses Better Than Buying Normal Wedding Dresses? * How To Find Great Cheap Wedding Dresses * What Are Cheap Wedding Dresses? When we hear the word cheap, we think that it is flawed in some way. The truth though is that cheap wedding dresses are dresses like normal wedding dresses, however, the difference is that they are cheaper. The essence then becomes price, rather than quality. You can buy the latest designer dresses as a cheap wedding dress. It is just that we are looking at the price, and price savings. Getting the best deals then is the point of all this. * Are Cheap Wedding Dresses Better Than Buying Normal Wedding Dresses? Cheap wedding dresses are dresses which are cheaper than the recommended retail price of wedding dresses. So there is no difference between a normal wedding dress and the one that is a cheap wedding dress. There are some points to remember. Sometimes the cheap aspect has certain things to be aware of. It may have been on display. It may have been purchased and returned. It could have flaws, etc, but in most cases, it is just a process of finding a bargain. It all comes down to your needs. * How To Find Great Cheap Wedding Dresses We have looked at what are cheap wedding dresses, and whether they are any different than normal dresses. We have found that they are same thing, however with one difference. That difference is that we are looking for cheaper prices. Now this is a process which requires research. Many people will visit a local wedding store, and buy a wedding dress from the selection available. However, there is another option, and that option is to extend the range! Going to several stores allows you to find the right wedding dress at better prices. However, this is not like buying an iPod, each store will not have the same things. Instead, you likely will need to look at similar wedding dresses. So one in one store may have a dress, and in another it may have the same looking dress, but made by two different companies. So the matter can be resolved on the best price or the best looking one. The way to fully find what you want and get the best prices, is to go online. There are many wedding stores online, and prices are amazing. So take a look and find the best wedding dress at the best prices possible. Have your cake and eat it!
Prom Dresses From Overseas Auction Sellers: Five Things You Need To Know
Browse online auction sites and you’re sure to be amazed by the number of bargain prom dresses being advertised. However many people fail to factor in shipping charges, customs duty and VAT before purchasing a gown and end up with a prom dress which costs more than they expected. In addition to this, buying overseas may make it harder to get a refund if you receive a gown that does not match the description.
The purpose of this article is to highlight some of the things to bear in mind when buying prom dresses from overseas auction site sellers.
1. They may be making money on the shipping charge, not the purchase price
Does the price of the gown seem too good to be true? Many sellers offer a very low price on prom dresses and make their money from charging very high shipping charges. They do this because they know that many consumers will focus on the purchase price, treating the shipping price as an incidental cost. In some cases, by the time you’ve added on shipping costs, you can end up paying more than three times as much as you expected.
What to do: Many people focus on the bargain purchase price and try to put the postage price out of their mind. When ordering a prom dress from overseas the cost of shipping becomes part of your cost of purchasing the item. Always check the postage price and calculate the total amount that ordering this dress will cost you before making the decision to buy.
2. Overseas Prom Dresses will cost you 30% more than you think
If you’re importing a prom dress into the UK from a county outside of Europe you will be charged VAT and Customs Duty by HMRC if the amount you pay (for the item, shipping included) is over £70. VAT and Customs Duty are calculated based on the shipping and purchase cost. Once added on these taxes will normally increase the price of prom dresses by around 30%. This means if you pay £50 for the dress and £70 for delivery the total you will end up paying will not just be £120, it will be close to £160.
What to do: Contact HMRC for advice on how to work out the VAT and customs prom dresses attract.
So let’s say you receive a gown and wish to return it. What are your options with regards to prom dresses which don’t fit or don’t meet their descriptions?
3. It will cost you money to return the Dress
If the factory agrees to let you return your prom gown then don’t forget that you’ll be the one who has to pay out for international postage to send it back to them.
What to do: Ensure that you bear this risk in mind when purchasing your gown
4. You may find UK law unenforceable
What happens if the factory refuses to allow you to return an item? If you were buying from a UK seller you have the options of contacting Trading Standards or taking the seller to small claims court. However, while UK law is enforceable in the UK, you may find it very difficult to enforce if you’ve bought prom dresses overseas.
What to do: Be aware of the risks involved; the greatest protection you have are therefore the threat of negative feedback or using a protected payment method.
5. Raising a dispute may not be successful
If worse comes to worst and the seller won’t refund your money for a dress which doesn’t match the description then you have two options. You can either threaten the seller with negative feedback or (if you’ve used a secure payment method) you can raise a dispute. However do bear in mind that such disputes are often difficult to settle and it is by no means a guarantee that you will definitely get your money back.
Buying prom dresses overseas from online auction sellers not only has hidden customs and VAT costs, it also has inherent risks. Be aware that buying abroad often means paying high shipping costs, customs duty, VAT and can affect your ability to return an item with which you are not satisfied. With this in mind you will be in a position to make an informed decision about whether the costs and risks involved in buying from an overseas seller make it a good option for you.
*** RESOURCE BOX MUST BE INCLUDED – PLAIN TEXT VERSION ***
About the author:
Victoria Ward is the Managing Director of Prom Royalty, an exclusive label specialising in prom dresses, ball gowns and evening dresses.
