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Lulus Review

Saturday, January 18th

2025 Prom Dress Store Reviews

Lulus Review 3.5 Star Rating

Lulus

3.5 Star Rating
  • Priced from $19 to $166
  • 890 prom dresses in stock
  • Full-length and short dresses
  • One-stop shop for dresses (bridal, prom, and more)
  • 10-day free returns
  • "A” rating from the BBB

If you're looking for a huge selection, high-end looks, unique styles, and a prom dress you'll never forget, hop on over to Lulu's ASAP. Lulu's stands out as a fashionable and sophisticated brand offering high-end clothing. Since its website debut in 2005, Lulu's has become a go-to destination for those seeking elegant gowns, stylish shoes, trendy swimsuits, chic jackets, fashionable pants, accessories, and more.

Easy to find dresses with customer photos to compare

Getting started on Lulu's is simple even if you don't immediately see a "Prom” tab on the top navigation bar. If you click under formal, you can easily find the prom category waiting for you. Once you've found the dresses, you can start filtering by size, color, price, style, neckline, sleeve and dress lengths, and popular options like "Prom [Current Year]” or "New In Prom''. Transparency is a feature of Lulu's, allowing shoppers to leave honest feedback on and photos of their purchases. While not all prom dresses have customer reviews, many do, offering insights into size accuracy and color representation, through star ratings and customer photos.

890 prom dresses in stock

The selection of prom dresses at Lulu's is huge. At the time of our review, there were 890 styles to choose from. Many of the dresses are available in multiple colors, and Lulu's offers sizes ranging from XXS to US10. You can find A-line, mermaid, bodycon, trumpet, tulip, and two-piece cuts, but ball gowns were notably missing from the prom section. 878 of the dresses were full-length styles while 13 of them were high-low. While we thought there weren't any mini dresses at Lulu's, we found them in a separate category from the main page. If you want to see the 408 different mini prom dresses, you'll want to click on "Short Prom Dresses'' in the Formal tab.

Best Prom Dress Stores

Prices from $19 to $166

To compare the costs at each prom dress retailer, we looked at three different dress styles at every store. Unfortunately, Lulu's doesn't have ball gown styles, so we could only get pricing for A-lines and mini dresses. We've also found the most and least expensive dresses to get an idea of the complete price range. Here's what we found at Lulu's:

  • A-line dresses: $79 to $166
  • Ball gown dresses: Unfortunately, Lulu's doesn't offer any ball gowns.
  • Mini dresses: $19 to $119
  • Cheapest dress: Sealed With a Kiss Red Ruffled Bodycon Dress (Red) for $19
  • Most expensive dress: Most Beautiful Day Ivory Multi Floral Print Organza Maxi Dress (Ivory) for $166

2-day shipping

Lulu's distinguishes itself with its swift shipping process for prom dresses, which are not made-to-order. With a processing and shipping time of 48-72 hours, Lulu's promises prompt delivery. The checkout experience includes a shipping estimator tool that factors in warehouse processing times and your location, offering an accurate delivery date and occasionally free shipping (though this depends on current promos and specific items). Lulu's doesn't offer tailoring, so you don't have any extra manufacturing time to factor in.

10-day free returns

To send back an item to Lulu's, make sure it's in new condition - unworn, unwashed, and all vendor tags attached. If you postmark your return within the first 10 days after receiving it, you get free return shipping. But if it's more than 10 days after delivery, there's a $4.99 shipping fee, and a $1.49 restocking fee per item will also be deducted from your refund. You have up to 30 days to make your return, after which it won't be accepted in any condition.

Best Prom Dress Stores

Mixed reviews raise questions on quality

Lulu's currently holds an "A" rating from the Better Business Bureau, which reflects its commitment to excellence. However, on third-party review sites, the reviews are more mixed. While customer testimonials on Lulu's site highlight the high-quality apparel, excellent customer service, and reasonable pricing, reviewers on other platforms say otherwise. Customers have been sent the wrong dress and Lulu's has refused to send the correct item. Other customers complain that many of the more expensive items on the site feel "cheap” and don't live up to the price tag.

Good for discounts, but misses the mark for customer service

For anyone searching for the best place to shop for prom dresses online, Lulu's has tons of dresses to look through. However, despite its popularity, it is missing ball gown dresses which is surprising given its 800+ dress inventory. On top of that, the concerns from reviewers also raise some questions about the quality of the fabrics. This, plus the concerns about returns and customer service knock Lulu's down the rankings a bit compared to its more trustworthy competitors. So, despite the lower-than-average prices, Lulu's gets a good rating in our review.

Where Can You Find the Best Prom Dresses?

The quintessential high school experience, prom, is one of the most exciting moments for teenagers across the US. This event is so well-known, it's become a pop-culture icon in TV shows and movies: international students even know about the US prom as something key to American high school life. It's a time when students can dress up, feel like royalty, and dance with their friends and, of course, their date.

One of the biggest parts of prom (and one of the most exciting) is the quest for the perfect dress. Prom dresses hold a special place in the hearts of many teens. You can use them to make a striking fashion statement and enjoy the black-tie feeling you've seen on the red carpet. Whether you're looking for a glitzy number that feels like something from a James Bond film, or a princess-style ball gown that makes you feel like a heroine in your favorite fantasy novel, the variety of prom dresses out there is extensive.

The Best Prom Dress Stores Compare Prom Dress Stores Compare Prom Dress Store Reviews What are the best Prom Dress Stores Best Prom Dress Store Reviews

Prom Dress Store FAQ

For teenagers, prom is usually the most formal dance put on by a school or other organization. This means that the dresses worn are fancier than you might wear to other special occasions. Prom dresses are usually long, fitted, and might have glitter or other details to make it elegant. Typically, a prom dress stands out much more than a dress you might wear to another dance or day-to-day.
To choose a prom dress, first identify what style you want. It might help to browse photos on different websites to get an idea of what's out there. Do you want it to have a high or low neck? Should it be strapless? What about the shape of the dress? There are so many unique styles out there, so if you narrow down some basic features you want in a prom dress, it will be much easier to find! Also, keep your budget in mind to help filter through your options.
The sky's the limit when it comes to prom dress designs. You'll find strapless dresses, short sleeves, long sleeves, high necklines, low cut, long, or short prom dresses. Some of them have slits in the skirt and some are bedazzled with rhinestones. Prom dresses come in all colors, so you can be sure that there are many options out there that you'll love. The hardest part will be deciding which one!
Prom dresses usually range from $100 - $800. Although that is a big price range, it is not hard to find prom dresses on the lower end of that scale between $100 and $300. Sometimes dresses need alterations, so if you choose to either have the prom dress retailer or a seamstress make adjustments to the dress, this will be an added cost to bear in mind.
Some retailers give options for prom dress rentals, but it is becoming rarer. A long, fancy, formal gown worn for an entire night can easily be damaged and might only last a few wears. Buying a new prom dress ensures that it is in perfect condition and fitted exactly to your body type. If you're renting a dress, you won't be able to get any alterations done and it might be harder to find your ideal fit.
Of course! You do you! There are other formal occasions in one's lifetime that merit wearing a fancy, beautiful dress. This might be a wedding, formal dinner, other dances, or let's be real - just for fun! If you find a prom dress you love, you can also find other occasions where you'll be able to show it off.
To clean your prom dress, pay close attention to the label and/or instructions that come with your order. Most of the time, prom dresses will need to be dry cleaned. You'll almost never be able to put a fancy dress in the washing machine. Depending on the material, you might be instructed not to dry clean, but just to do spot washes on areas that need some touching up. When it comes to prom dresses, handle with care!
You have a couple of options when it comes to getting the perfect fit for your prom dress. Of course, you'll want to order a size that you'll feel comfortable in. If your prom dress arrives much too big or too small, hopefully the retailer you purchased through allows for refunds or exchanges. Because prom dresses can't always be made to fit every possible length, bust, or width, it is not uncommon to get alterations after you've bought your prom dress. You might be able to get alterations done through the retailer or find a seamstress near you to make some tweaks. Small alterations can ensure that you get the perfect fit that is both comfortable and flattering.
Compare the Best Reviews

Continued from above...

While in the old days, you'd wait to grab a bunch of friends and navigate crowded local dress stores (or get kicked out of them if you don't have an adult over 18 with you!), you can find your dress in a much quieter (and low-stress) environment these days. Online shopping introduces a world of possibilities.

Today, you can explore unique options from the comfort of your home. Most companies allow returns so you can still try on the dress and get your "wow” moment with your friends before you commit to your favorite gown. You can find long, short, tight, fluffy, long lace sleeves, or strapless. If you can picture it, there's a dress out there somewhere with your name on it.

Whether you're shopping at a bridal store, discount store, or department store, there are tons of retailers that offer prom dresses. Some sites even offer tailoring or custom services that allow you to get that like-a-glove fit. But with so many options out there it can be hard to decide where to spend your time browsing.

To help you out, we put together some criteria that can narrow the field:

  • Quality. Quality is extremely important when it comes to prom dresses. There are plenty of discount sites, but are they using high-quality fabric? Can you expect the fit to be true to size? Check and see if the site offers original designs versus copycat gowns from other designers, and browse customer reviews to see if the quality in real life matches the pictures online.
  • Selection. No matter what your personal style is, having a wide selection at your chosen prom retailer is essential. Having a wide range of options helps you make sure that you can find your dream dress. So make sure your favorite cuts are in stock and ready to ship in time for your perfect night.
  • Return policy. Since dresses are so personal, you'll want to be able to return your prom dress if it doesn't fit the way you want. The uncertainties of online shopping require a flexible return policy, especially with something as important as your prom dress. Keep an eye out for free return shipping and flexible return windows to know you're going to be supported by the retailer.

To make sure your prom is extra special, Top Consumer Reviews has reviewed and ranked the best online prom dress stores out there today. We hope this helps you find the perfect dress that fits flawlessly, lets you feel confident and beautiful, and makes your memorable night out one you look back on fondly for years to come. Happy shopping!

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