Oh dresses... They're such a sight to behold but still quite uncomfortable for me to wear.
Although! I have muster enough courage recently to go out and about in a dress a few more times than usual (which is typically never).
My dress "collection" is minuscule. I have a total of 2 by the time this Fall season hit so I was pretty excited when I saw the opportunity from eShakti.com to add to my closet.
Since I don't really know my preferences for dresses yet, I typically like to try a bunch of them on before making a purchase. With eShakti everything is virtual so it made my decision pretty difficult. Nonetheless I was determined to make a choice because the customization option they offered really intrigued me.
Even though I don't have many dresses, I have tried many on in stores before. Often times my usual size would be too tight for my body, especially around the waist and tummy area, yet the next size up would be too loose. If the sizing was right, the (back) length was usually compromised because of my rather big derrière. When at the worse, all is wrong.
I was hesitant on providing my own measurements for fear of inaccuracy but I was also unsure whether the site's "Medium" or "Large" would fit me better. After much thought I found a tape measure and recorded away.
eShakti has a plethora of dresses, tops, skirts, and even jackets - ranging from retro to classic to modern styles. (Pulling most of my fashion vocab here!) I browsed without a concrete idea of what I was looking for but ultimately decided on the Keyhole Front Colorblock Poplin Dress. The dress has a simple yet unique enough design for me. Since this was a custom piece that would ideally fit my body the best, I decided the dress I chose should at least be something I could wear often.
Other than the custom measurements, I also chose to personalize the length of the dress and went with the "Above Knee Length". At the time I ordered there were four color options: Black, Navy, Red, and Green. It seems that it varies depending on the fabric they have in-stock. If there is a dress you like but aren't too smitten with the color range, perhaps wait a bit to see if new ones appear.
I had almost forgotten that I placed the order request. The mail came more or less a month later. According to their website's About Me all pieces are made to order. Plus, my dress came all the way from India. These would explain the long wait time for the package to arrive. It isn't too handy if you're looking for something right away, but if you want or need a custom piece for a future date do plan ahead.
My dress did fit certain areas of my frame nicely with a few things that could have been better. The chest area felt a bit loose. My waist and tummy area has enough room for me without having to suck things in but since I subconsciously do that anyways it was roomy there as well. Other than those measurement errors that I probably made, I would have liked the skirt of the dress to be a tad shorter as well. The length didn't seem to go too well with the partially-revealing top portion. (But that could just be me.) However, this particular style doesn't offer any length shorter than "Above Knee".
One thing I was not really expecting was the fabric. Now I can't say this for all of their selection, but the fabric on my dress in particular was on the thinner side. It also felt stiff yet it held a lot of wrinkles (if that makes any sense). This material wouldn't have been something I would pick out to try on if I saw it in a store. The pleats in my dress made it a little difficult to straighten out and "tidy" the skirt.
I really appreciate the, pretty much hidden, pockets. They are very handy and I wish that more dresses/skirts that can have such a feature do have it. It isn't just small coin pockets either, it's roomy even with my hands placed fully inside.
For anyone who is interested in ordering from the site do keep in mind that most of their selection is on the pricier side, with most items running $50+. (This is just the price for a piece sans any customization.) If you would like to provide custom measurements and/or custom neckline, sleeves and length, there is an additional charge of $7.50 overall. There is a tiered shipping price system which increases with your order total. There does seem to be a discount/coupon for first-time purchases. I am not too sure of how frequent other future deals will be but I would assume that there might be coupons offers as well.
This was definitely a pleasurable experience. It might not be necessarily my first pick for my next dress purchase but it is nice to know that an option like this exists. Plus, now I have a better idea of how to measure myself for future custom orders here or for any site that offers such a feature.
The hunt for more perfect dresses continues!
Quick question: Would the length of this dress look better shorter?
I am debating whether or not to ask my mom to alter it for me.
*Disclaimer: This piece was provided to me by eShakti.com for free to review. Everything I have stated is my honest opinion and written as objectively as possible. I was not compensated in any other way.
