What Mama Wore: eShakti Dress Review

Anyone else get an itch to update your wardrobe every now and then?  Since having Little, I have been intentionally updating my closet.  I’ve taken out things I haven’t worn in years and added things that I love.  I almost always shop second-hand and clearance racks, but I keep an eye out for clothes that fit well, are comfortable, and are versatile.

I love pieces that I can dress up or down.  Bonus if I can wear it to the park with Little and to dinner in the evening.  I was recently contacted by eShakti, an online clothing store, about a review.  I’ve got several events coming up this spring, so I was excited to try a new dress.

If you have never heard of eShakti, I encourage you to take a look.  They specialize in custom pieces for sizes 0-36.  Essentially, they have TONS of styles to choose from – and EVERY single item can be tailored to your own measurements and specifications.  They can customize not only the size, but also the style of the dress for you.  Love the dress, but wish it was longer – say so.  Perhaps you’d prefer a different neckline or sleeve length.  No problem.  eShakti provides space on every order form for any notes you want to provide.  The order form is simple and easy to understand.  For more on how it works, see here.  They also have a great selection on their sale page!

Choosing the style is the hardest part.

I chose the Graphic Print Lace Trim Empire Shift Dress pictured below.  I loved the print on the dress and that it looked like I could dress it up or down depending on the occasion.  It also has pockets, so that was a big plus to me.  (Don’t worry though, you can request no pockets if you prefer.)

Initial Thoughts

The dress arrived neatly packaged in about 2 weeks.  I took for granted that it would take longer for the dress to arrive since it was custom made rather than off the rack.  I’m happy to report that it was worth the wait though.  I really like how it turned out.

I was surprised by the lack of stretch in the dress.  It literally has no stretch.  It said so right in the item description, but I had forgotten about it.  I read that it was cotton material and I skipped the rest.  It also looks longer in person that it did online.  I selected above the knee and entered my height, but I found that it comes down right to my knee.  I’m actually glad of that in hindsight.

The Details

My favorite part of the dress is the lace trim.  How pretty is that?  It’s navy and white and goes all the way around the neckline and both sleeves.

You can tell that it is really carefully put together.  The dress is certainly a great quality.  It’s also machine washable which is a plus!

Overall Dress Review

Overall, I am really pleased with my experience with eShakti.  The customer service was really helpful and great to work with and the online order form was straightforward.  If you have a hard time finding dresses that fit well or that are your style, I think that eShakti has lots of great options that could work for you and I would recommend giving them a try.  Below are my tips for a successful shopping experience with eShakti.

How to Have a Great Experience with eShakti

1. Choose a style you are familiar with. Because it’s an online store, you don’t have the opportunity to try pieces on before you buy.  I recommend finding a style that you know works for your body and going with it.  You’re going to give them your measurements, but if you don’t love how you look in a full skirt, you probably won’t be happy even with a perfectly fitted full skirt.  I’m just saying.
2. Read the item description carefully. Not all dresses have wiggle room.  I expected my dress to have at least a little bit of stretch, but I failed to read the description that quite plainly stated, “no stretch”.  The items are well described in terms of what to expect from the material, but it’s up to you to read it carefully.
3. Get good measurements.  Don’t just guess.  If you have trouble getting measurements, or you are unsure, have a friend help you or stop by a local tailor.  This is the best way to be sure the dress you order will fit.
4. Keep in mind the shipping time.  Because these dresses are custom made, they take longer to arrive than online orders from other retailers.  You don’t want to wait until the last minute to place an order.
5. Don’t hesitate to contact customer service.  I got helpful quick responses each time I contacted customer service and I read several similar reviews from other bloggers in doing some research.  It seems like the service team really values your opinion and wants you to have a pleasant experience.  Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

Have you ever ordered from eShakti before?  What are your thoughts about ordering customized pieces for your wardrobe?

 

 

*I received this dress for free in exchange for an honest review.