Our reviewers evaluate products and services based on unbiased research. Top Consumer Reviews may earn money when you click on a link. Learn more about our process.
Wednesday, March 19th
Founded in 1937 as a hosiery and lingerie store, Windsor began with the mission "to create an oasis that inspires and empowers women." In 1957 Windsor expanded its purview to special occasion dresses. With continuous growth, the company joined the online retail space in 1998 and currently has over 200 national brick-and-mortar stores. Windsor is renowned for its affordable range of clothing, shoes, dresses, and accessories, and an impressive number of prom dresses.
Simple browsing experience
Browsing Windsor is simple and fun. The purple and white color scheme makes it easy to find what you need at a glance. The prom section is highlighted at the top navigation bar, so you don't even need to hunt for it. Once you've gotten to the prom section, you can filter your options by size, color, price, style, accents, length, and more. On top of that, Windsor allows you to leave unfiltered reviews with notes about fit and any other thoughts you might have about the dresses. Checking out other customer's comments may help you to guide your purchase.
A dress for every aesthetic
Windsor's collection includes an impressive 931 prom dresses, showcasing a variety of colors and styles. Many of the dresses offer at least 2 color options and sizes from XXS to XL or US0-US15. You can find 622 full-length styles and 228 short or mini dresses at Windsor. With popular styles like mermaid, bodycon, and ball gown, you can find a dress that fits your aesthetic on Windsor.
Prices from $9.97 to $299.90
So, what about Windsor's pricing? To compare it with our other retailers, we looked at the same three dress styles at each store: A-lines, ball gowns, and mini dresses. We've also found the most and least expensive dress. Here are the results for Windsor:
Free shipping on $75+
Windsor has a competitive processing time of 1-2 business days before shipping. In busier times, like peak seasons, processing times may stretch to 3-4 days. In terms of shipping times, you can expect economy shipping to be anywhere from 5-8 business days. If your order is $75 or more, the shipping is free and any order under that threshold has a shipping fee of $5.99.
Free returns if you live near a Windsor location
While Windsor's general return policy is 30 days, the policy for Special Occasion and Formal Dresses is a little different. For your prom dress you'll have a 14-day window from the original purchase ship date to make a return. Windsor offers three return options: you can return the item to any store location for free, use Happy Returns at a Return Bar location for $4.95, or mail your return to Windsor with a prepaid label for $7.95.
Reputation shows concerning practices
At the time of this review, Windsor lacked a Better Business Bureau rating, and unfortunately, the reviews from third-party review sites don't offer many positives. Complaints encompass issues with low-quality items, poor customer service, and dresses that fell apart when they arrived. There are also complaints about lengthy shipping times and orders that never arrive at all. With an average rating of 2.2 stars out of 5, Windsor's reputation needs a lot of work before it earns a higher rating in our review.
Poor-quality dresses aren't worth the price
Waiting forever for a dress only to find out the quality is poor or the item is falling apart isn't how you want to spend your prom season. For this reason, Windsor gets a lower rating in our review. While the pricing is great, you're getting what you pay for. While the selection at Windsor keeps it from being in the bottom three, it's still not a favorite for prom season. If you're looking for a reliable retailer, check out some of our top-rated options instead.
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!
Select any 2 Prom Dress Stores to compare them head to head