About Ever Pretty

Ever-Pretty sells occasion wear, and its particular strength is the bridesmaid problem: several dresses in the same shade, in several different sizes, ordered at once without a bridal boutique budget.

Occasion wear, sorted by event

The catalogue is organised around events rather than trends: evening gowns, bridesmaid dresses, wedding guest outfits, mother of the bride and formal separates. Colour is the main filter, and the palette is deep enough that a party of bridesmaids can be matched properly rather than approximately. Sequin, chiffon, tulle and satin dominate the fabric mix, with styles that lean classic rather than fashion-forward.

Ordering for a wedding party

Dye lots can vary slightly between production batches, so if several dresses need to match exactly, order them together in one transaction rather than adding people later. Have everyone measured on the same day rather than relying on the size they usually buy, since occasion dresses are cut closer than everyday clothes. Order early enough to allow one round of returns and re-ordering, and remember that most floor-length gowns are made long deliberately, on the assumption they will be hemmed to the wearer's height and shoes.

Reading a size chart properly

Occasion dresses are sized to bust, waist and hip measurements, not to a single dress size, and the largest of the three measurements is the one that decides the size. Taking in a dress is straightforward for an alterations tailor; letting one out is often impossible because there is no spare seam allowance. When measurements fall between sizes, sizing up is the safer error.

Timing, returns and the fine print

Allow more time than feels necessary. Between delivery, a fitting, possible exchange and alterations, a dress ordered a fortnight before the event is a gamble. Check the returns window and whether return postage is charged before ordering multiple sizes, and note that made-to-measure or customised items are usually excluded from returns entirely.