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.
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For over a century, Nordstrom has been a top-notch fashion retailer. With a variety of attractive clothing, shoes, and accessories for men, women, and kids, Nordstrom is a powerhouse in the world of department stores. Since its establishment in 1901, the company has been dedicated to excellent service, and this dedication has transformed Nordstrom from a modest Seattle shoe shop into the prominent fashion retailer it is today. Nordstrom now serves customers in over 350 Nordstrom, Nordstrom Local, and Nordstrom Rack locations, as well as through online shopping.
Easy browsing and helpful filters
Finding the prom section is pretty easy. All you need to do is check under the Women's section and then under the Shop By Occasion header, there's a section specifically for prom. Once you're there, you'll see an array of modern dress styles. You can easily filter them by the speed of shipping, size, color, brand, discount, how easy the fabric is to care for, and more. The listings themselves have color details before you even click through, so you can see the different options for each dress at a glance.
Solid variety but no minis
There are 155 different prom dresses to choose from at Nordstrom. These include knee-length, midi, and floor-length styles. However, we noticed there weren't any mini-dresses included in the prom section. But you will find most of the traditional styles like A-line and ballgown dresses here. There were 136 dresses in the floor-length category, offering plenty of picks for your upcoming prom.
Prices from $49.99 to $598
To compare Nordstrom's pricing with our other retailers, we looked at the same three dress styles at each store. We looked at A-lines, ball gowns, and mini dresses, but since Nordstrom didn't have any mini dresses in the prom section, we left that one out. We've also found the most and least expensive dress on the virtual rack. Here's what we found at Nordstrom:
Tailoring starts at $50
One benefit to shopping at Nordstrom is the company's impressive tailoring initiative. You can have any item customized - whether it's from Nordstrom or your personal wardrobe. You just need to schedule an appointment for an in-person tailoring session to have your prom dress expertly fitted. With rates starting at $50, a Nordstrom specialist will visit your home to mark and measure the dress. The $50 fee will be applied to cover any alteration costs for your prom dress.
Free shipping and returns
At Nordstrom, no matter what an item costs, you can enjoy complimentary shipping and hassle-free returns with every order. Free shipping goes everywhere in the US including Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. The free standard shipping option is always available, and you can find the estimated delivery date on each product's page and during the checkout process. Plus, for a quicker and more convenient experience, you have the ability to buy online and pick up your order in person at a local Nordstrom store.
Impressive open return policy
Whether you shop in-store or online with the company, returning items is a breeze with Nordstrom. A prepaid shipping label will be sent to your email for you to print at home. If you don't have a printer, no worries - just show your QR code at an eligible USPS or FedEx location, and they'll print the label for you. Returns are typically processed within 10-14 business days, with refunds following 3-5 business days after processing. There is no listed time limit, but Nordstrom states that it will accept items back even without a receipt if you're willing to take store credit for the item's current sticker value.
Mixed reviews expected for large corporations
Like other department stores in our review, Nordstrom is a popular retail location with so many customers that there are a lot more complaints about it than for some of the smaller prom dress retailers. It pretty much comes with the territory of being a massive country-wide retailer. However, the good news is Nordstrom has a solid "A-" rating from the Better Business Bureau and a 3-star average from third-party sites like Sitejabber. The reviews swing back and forth between praise like "best service ever" and complaints about shipping and refunds.
Best shipping policy
There are a lot of benefits to shopping for prom dresses at Nordstrom. While the selection is about average, the return policy is flexible and you can score free shipping on every order, which stands out among Nordstrom's competitors. While there aren't any mini dresses in the prom section, there are other areas of the site if you're set on a mini dress for prom. Given the solid "A-" rating and the competitive price range, Nordstrom earns a high rating in our review of prom dress retailers.
Continued from above...
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.
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:
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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