You’ve worked hard getting your degree, and now you finally get to graduate. Congratulations! You have accomplished something incredible, and all that’s left to do is find a dress worthy of the celebration. After all, when you take off your cap and gown, you want something truly remarkable underneath to celebrate in.
Nowadays, you can find hundreds of thousands of pretty items online for every size, style, and price point. But that’s part of the problem: There are too many options, many of which are straight-up scams or much poorer quality than the product photos let on.
That’s why we’re here to equip you with some helpful tips for graduation dress shopping online. By the end, you should know exactly what to look for so you can buy a dress worthy of your academic accomplishment!
Know Your Measurements
Taking your measurements is the single most important thing you can do before you buy a dress online. First off, forget your usual size; it doesn’t mean much when you’re shopping across so many different brands and retailers. Instead, grab a flexible tape measure and note the following to cover all your bases:
- Bust: Measure around the fullest part of your bust.
- Waist: Measure around the narrowest part of your torso.
- Hips: Measure around the fullest part of your hips and butt, with your feet together.
- Length: Measure from the top of your shoulder down to where you want the dress to hit.
- Underbust: Measure right under your bust.
- Shoulder width: Measure across the tops of your shoulders.
Ensure your tape measure is level for each of these measurements.
Every brand you look at should have a “size guide” on each dress listing. Open it and match up your measurements with the ones listed to find the brand’s recommended size for you. If you don’t fall neatly into one category, check the reviews to see if the dress runs large or small, and go from there.
Read the Reviews With a Critical Eye
Speaking of reviews, those are where you want to focus a lot of attention. Honestly, before you even check to see if the dress fits, you should verify that it at least has decent reviews. That way, you can avoid wasting time contemplating a scam or a dress from a usually reliable retailer that just missed the mark.
Check the Photos First
The most important review feature to look for is photos. The images a brand uses to sell a dress are almost always professionally styled and lit. The model is typically taller and slimmer than the average person, and the dress is often clipped, pinned, or altered in ways you can’t see. That’s why customer photos are much more accurate to dress’s actual fit and quality. Many sites let shoppers upload photos with their reviews, and that’s where you want to spend your time.
Look for Details Beyond Photos
Now, not every website allows for photo submission, or some listings don’t have photo reviews yet. In that case, look for detailed reviews that mention sizing accuracy, fabric quality, color accuracy, and how the dress held up after being worn.
Pay attention to the negative reviews too. One bad review can be an outlier. Five bad reviews saying the same thing is a warning.
Know That No Reviews Isn’t Always Bad
It’s always safer to buy a dress with reviews, but that’s not always possible. The dress could be a recent launch, or the retailer just might not pursue getting reviews from their customers. No reviews doesn’t mean the dress hasn’t been bought or isn’t good quality, but it does make purchasing it riskier.
Pay Attention to Fabric Descriptions
Fabric makes a huge difference in how a dress looks, feels, and photographs on a big day, so you want to make sure your gown has a detailed product prescription. It should list a specific fabric and ideally break it down by type, such as “silk satin” (Silk is a textile; satin is a weave). If the product description just says “satin,” it’s probably a polyester blend, but the brand wants you to assume it’s silk.
Read the Return and Exchange Policy
Before you fall in love with a dress, read the fine print. Some online retailers have strict no-return policies. Others charge restocking fees or only offer store credit. These restrictions can work out fine, but you just want to be aware of them before you hand over your card number.
Budget for Alterations
Another helpful tip for graduation dress shopping online is to budget for alterations. Even when a dress fits well off the rack (in this case, out of the box), it probably won’t fit perfectly without at least minor alterations. Hemming is the most common adjustment, especially if you’re petite or buying from a brand that cuts for taller figures. Taking in the waist or bust is also pretty standard.
Budget an extra $50 to $150 for alterations, depending on how much work the dress needs. If you order online and the dress arrives a size too big, that’s not necessarily a dealbreaker. A good tailor can do a lot with the right fabric, and you’ll end up with something that fits like it was made for you.
Order Early Enough To Allow for Shipping and Adjustments
Online shopping for graduation comes with a timeline. Standard shipping can take one to two weeks, and if something goes wrong with your order, you’ll need time to exchange it and wait for the replacement to arrive. Add in time for alterations, and you can expect at least four to six weeks of lead time from the moment you click “Place my order” to the moment you’re ready to walk. If you’re cutting it close to your ceremony date, look specifically for retailers that offer expedited shipping or guaranteed delivery dates. Don’t assume standard shipping will get there in time.
The Best Approach: Browse Online, Try in Person
Online shopping gives you access to hundreds of styles, but there is no replacement for seeing and feeling something in person before you commit. For the best experience, visit a formal and wedding gown boutique like Alexandra’s Boutique. We provide expert fitting guidance and a curated selection of styles. You can browse our inventory online, note the styles you love, and then come in to try them on in person. That means no DIY measurement-taking and crossing your fingers when you order. When you visit us, you can feel 100 percent confident that the dress you buy is worthy of your graduation ceremony.
