I totally meant to post this when I got the dress on Wednesday, but I’m the sort of unreliable that comes from vodka-soaked gummy bears.
The dress I got custom made fits perfectly. However, there was no attempt at matching the lace pattern in the dress skirt, which is a panel cut. The 100% cotton texture is wonderfully cottony. The sleeve are a little bit poofier than they come across as in the sample photograph, but a wedding dress is allowed to be princess-y.
My order ought to have shipped yesterday, but didn’t.
Leiko, we’d love to see a picture if you want to post one!
Update: My June 6 order shipped Friday June 22. It landed in Leipzig, Germany on Sunday, was in the UK on Monday, Cincinnati on Tuesday, and today (Wednesday) an attempt to deliver was made, but I’ll have to leave a signature for it. Dung Beetle, I’m sorry yours is taking so long! Maybe because you got a discount, they aren’t rushing the shipping? My order was delayed, but all I got was an email saying so.
Say yes to the dress!
The boxes were delivered to my doorstep yesterday. They both fit well. I wore one of them to work today and got three compliments, two doors held open for me, and one query as to whether I had a job interview today.
Of course, that may say more about how I usually look than about the dress itself.
troubledwater, which ones did you get?
I’ve already decided that I won’t send mine back (if it ever comes). I’d hate to have to mess around with their customer service department. If it doesn’t fit, I’ll have it altered. If it REALLY doesn’t fit, I could have it altered for my daughter.
My order finally came! I never got a shipping notification, but I finally called them (the rep was very nice and helpful) and they told me how to get a tracking number from DHL. The dress is a reasonable fit, nice fabric, nice pockets. Yay!
So I guess that’s a happy ending. If eShakti had Zappo’s-level customer service, I would probably start collecting a little eShakti wardrobe…as it is, I would consider ordering from them again someday.
I’m raising this zombie, since it’s a short thread and starting a new one seems pointless.
Based having read this thread when it first appeared on this thread (I’m not much of an impulse-buyer I guess) and other mentions around the web, I have ordered two dresses from the site in the past few months. Very happy with both, especially since I fine-tuned my measurements after the first one.
The first I bought was this one: https://www.eshakti.com/Product/CL0027044/Shawl%20collar%20large%20check%20dress in a different color. It’s lined and very nicely made with good sturdy-yet-soft fabric. I had to adjust the buttons a bit due to excess cleavage, but it was a simple fix. I wish the waistband was a little lower for such a full skirt, but I think that’s a personal taste issue not a problem with the dress, and I solve it by belting it below the waistband to elongate the bodice. Not a deal-breaker by any means. The second one is this one: https://www.eshakti.com/Product/CL0027415/Chevron%20pleat%20chambray%20dress. It’s not lined and lacks pockets, but it’s lovely and lightweight for summer. I may add patch pockets if I find a nice complementary fabric, since I hate wearing pocket-less dresses to work. The shoulders of this one sit sort of low for my liking, but I was happily surprised to find it has bra shields, so hooking those on keeps it in place.
Shipping was fine for me, got them each within two weeks of order, but bearing in mind the bad stories I’ve heard I wouldn’t buy from them for an event with a deadline. I will definitely be getting more dresses from the site, though I will need to wait a season or so to justify another one in my budget.
The two pieces of advice I’d give for someone wanting to check it out (besides the shipping-time caution) are:
Measure carefully! Get a friend to help if possible and really read the site directions, then do each measurement 2-3 times to make sure you’re getting the right one.
Also, don’t pay full price. They seem to always have at least one ‘new customer’ special, plus 2 or 3 other specials going that are easy to find on the website, the company facebook page or by just googling “eshakti coupon code.” Currently they have a huge referral thingy going that gives new folks $40 off a first order (with a kickback to the current customer who refers). A ton of the codes for this discount are up on the various coupon code sites (find by googling, I don’t want to put up kinda-spammy links), and my mom and sister have both used mine with success in the past week.
Pretty! I had the high waistband issue too, but I wear my dress with a bolero jacket and it looks more balanced.
I just now found the bra loops. :o
I ordered from them a couple years ago. I needed some hot weather clothing in November when all the stores, even the online ones, only carried dark winter things.
The timing was critical and everything did arrive. I talked to someone in customer service and he was very pleasant and helpful.
However, the quality of the clothing leaves a lot to be desired. I ordered 5 dresses. The material was very poor quality and the stitching thread broke, the overlocked seams would unravel, the cloth started to give way at stress points, etc. after a few weeks of wear. Mind you, I was washing these dresses by hand and hanging them out to dry.
These are disposable clothes. If you need out-of-season clothing or something fun for occasional wear, then this is the place, but don’t expect them to last.
That’s a shame. So far I am liking the quality of my dresses, but I’ve only washed them twice each, worn 4-5 times each, so I haven’t had a chance to see them really tested.
I put the quality on par with maybe the nicer stuff at the Gap or Talbots, personally, which tracks with the price point. I’m hoping to get 4-5 years of wear, we’ll see if that’s way too optimistic…
A thought: What kinds of fabrics were the dresses you got? My two have been 100% cotton, I wonder if that makes a difference? I’m hesitant to buy blends or synthetics without seeing them in person.