Buyer's Checklist: What to Look for When Purchasing a Boutique Dress for Women

Buying a boutique dress is an exciting experience. It gives you the chance to own something unique and stylish - a dress that upgrades your look and underscores your personality.

Why is a Dress from a Boutique Different?

So, what sets a boutique dress for women apart from other dresses? Typically, a dress from a boutique is designed exclusively for customers, and is made with high-quality materials and unsurpassed details. To ensure you make the best choice in a dress, refer to the checklist below to give you a clearer idea of how to make a selection.

1. Understand Your Purpose When Choosing a Mini Dress, Midi Dress, or a Maxi Dress Design

Before you make a decision for a boutique dress, you need to understand its purposes. Will you need a casual style dress or a formal dress? Can you double it up for leisure or formal occasions? Should its design reflect classiness or simplicity? You don't want to overdress for an occasion, nor do you want to play down your look too much either.

The above questions can give you a clearer perspective on what to choose in boutique dresses and clothing.

Casual Dresses - Choose from More Flowy Maxi and Midi Dress Styles

Opt for light fabrics in the summer, like cotton or jersey, that breathe well when worn in the heat. They should also allow for easy movement. So, you need to find dresses that are comfortable and less restrictive.

Since casual dresses are meant for everyday use, embellish them with common accessories such as scarves and hats and fun jewelry. You can choose a floral print or a favorite color like turquoise - if that's your favorite hue.

Choose what you prefer or what feels as well looks good on you.

Formal Dresses - Luxury Maxi Looks

Choose luxury materials like silk, satin, or velvet - because these fabrics give an outfit that rich and sophisticated look. These fabrics add a posh feel but don't overemphasize the look. For example, don't go overboard by adding too much lace work, sequins, beads, and other adornments. Doing so can transform your appearance from stylish to gaudy.

You can find great choices in formal boutique looks at April Blooms or Sisters the Label online. Just looking at these sites will give you a good idea of how to add the wow factor when you're choosing dresses to wear.

2. Select the Right Color for You

Think about what colors work best in your wardrobe. What color tends to draw you to it - orange, magenta, turquoise or mint? Or do you like the practicality of a black dress?

This is important to consider when choosing shoes and other accessories as well. While variety is the spice of life, we all tend to migrate more to certain shades when building a wardrobe.

Choosing a Color that Matches Your Skin Tone

Make sure the color of the dress works with your hair color and skin tone as well. While warm skin tones favor an orange or coral hue, cool tones look great with dress colors such as mint or lilac.

What are the Colors Most Women Can Wear?

If you're not sure what to choose in a dress color, there are a handful of colors that usually look good on most women. These colors are dark purple, teal or turquoise, soft or pale pink, or brighter versus darker shades of red.

Also, white and black dresses are usually suited for most women, regardless of the color of their hair.

3. Define Your Budget

The price ranges of boutique dresses vary greatly. Therefore, setting a budget will enable you to focus on finding what suits your pocket without necessarily going broke in the process. Remember alteration charges, shipping fees and other related expenses should also be factored into what you're willing to spend.

4. Research Boutique Brands

Get familiar with the various brands.

What is the Right Brand for You?

Take a close look at the more popular brands available.

Well established brands produce high quality products as compared to their lesser-known competitors.

Looking at a brand's reputation may give you more of a clue about how good or bad their dresses might fit. You won't run into this problem if you choose an online boutique such as April Blooms, which vets its dresses and brands carefully.

Go through customer feedback as well. Review testimonials, so you can learn more about fit, style, and overall satisfaction.

5. Consider the Fabric or Material

Selecting the right material plays a major role in determining whether your dress will wear well and if it will look stylish. Let's look at some popular materials.

Fabrics to Consider When You Shop

Cotton

This type of material feels soft against skin while allowing air circulation, thus making it suitable for casual wear during the summer months.

Silk

Being lightweight makes garments made out of silk quite comfortable, especially when worn during summer evenings.

The material also gives dresses a sophisticated look, needed for formal occasions like weddings. Silk looks great in any color, whether you choose white, green, navy, or pink.

Linen

Linen is a great material, whether you wear it in the winter or summer. It's a great insulator and a classy fabric as well. It wicks away moisture, keeps a woman looking crisp and stylish. A linen mini dress or romper is the ideal summer style.

Polyester Blends

Polyester is known to be tough and wrinkle-resistant, though it does tend to retain heat because it lacks breathability. During the summer months, it's best to confine wearing the fabric inside in air-conditioned buildings. Polyester blends come in polyester and cotton of 65% and 35% or 50% and 50%, or polyester with cotton and rayon of 50% and 25% and 25%, respectively.

Nylon Blends

This type of material represents a strong elastic, usually used in designing tighter-fitting outfits - meant to cling and show off a woman's shape and curves. Even with its snug fit, nylon also lends to easy mobility. When nylon is mixed with polyester, it becomes less stretchy, although it increases in durability.

6. Pay Attention to Fit and Size

Another important thing to consider is the fit and size, as different brands follow different sizing charts. Therefore, accurate measurements always matter when shopping for boutique dresses. For instance, take the measurements for your bust, waist, and hips. Also, consider your height. Or, ask a customer service representative if a brand's fit is true to size.

Getting a Tailored Fit or Complimentary Design

More often than not people usually want to look taller or slimmer. That's why you need to tailor your design to your shape and height. While some women rock a square neck, other women look great in a sleeveless dress or a tie midi dress. An orange floral print looks great on women with darker skin and a white floral midi dress is an ideal choice for women with a warm tone whose height ranges average to tall.

Some women's figures look great in a knit maxi dress while other women look better in a romper style, a denim material, or a more feminine lace design. A boutique style allows you to make the most of your individuality or self-expression.

7. Evaluate the Quality of Workmanship

You'll need to assess the quality of the dress, once you receive it, if you order it online.

Seams

Well finished seams, such as over-locking French bound seams, show that great efforts were made during the production process. This ensures the hem will stay intact longer and the dress is more durable. Straight seams should never pucker, which denotes shoddy workmanship.

Fastenings

Make sure your zipper glides smoothly and that fastens securely as well. Also, the buttonholes should be reinforced, especially on a fabric like denim.

Hemlines: Mini Dress, Midi, Dress and Maxi Styles

Mini Dress Styles

Creates a young and peppy energy.

Midi Dress Designs

Adaptability that works in all events. Great for all ages.

Maxi Dress Looks

Grants a graceful and flowing appearance. Looks the best on taller women.

8. Check Versatility: Plain Color or Floral Dress - Mini Dress, Midi Dress, or Maxi Dress Style

Look at how dresses can be styled with different accessories and footwear. For example, cute dresses that are versatile may have a floral print or convey a style, such as a black midi dress, that is suitable for different occasions and ages.

An online dress boutique should offer trendy dresses that can be dressed up or down with maximum use from your wardrobe.

Discovering the Perfect Dress in a Mini Dress, Midi Dress, or Maxi Dress Style

When you find a floral maxi dress or sweater dress--even a tiered dress--that you can wear for various occasions--you've indeed found the perfect dress. Whether you spot the garment as part of a final sale or at its regular price, this type of dress will serve you well over time.

9. Don't Forget the Accessories For Your Mini, Midi, or Maxi Dress

Scarves or Shawls

These items can add a layer of warmth and style, whether you choose to wear them with a floral print mini dress or cute boutique dresses made of denim. You can also make use of them with cocktail dresses or even long sleeve dresses. They look great as well with Boho dresses and V neck sleeveless dress styles.

Jewelry

Make the outfit pop with statement pieces or keep a floral print simple with delicate pieces of jewelry.

Footwear

Heels: For when you want to feel fancy at formal events, or you want to show off your legs.

Flats: Best for casual wear where comfort is key. Use flatter heels with a babydoll mini dress or other styles of short dresses as well as a romper for the best effect.

10. Review Return & Exchange Policies for Boutique Dresses for Women

Ensure you understand the boutique’s return and exchange policies before making any purchase of a maxi dress, midi dress or mini dress styles. Ideally, they should allow you enough time to send back an item if it doesn’t meet your expectations or does not fit properly.

Also, remember that some amazing prices are found at final sales. Keep this in mind as you shop for that ideal orange floral print or sweater dress style in your favorite color of navy, pink, or green.

11. Consider the Sustainability and Ethics of Women Dress Brands

In light of environmental consciousness around fashion today, opt for stores that take into account sustainability as well as ethical business practices. For instance, trendier garments that are worn 5 or less times use 400% more carbon emissions than garments worn 50 or more times each year. 

These types of considerations mean a lot - not only to the wearer but to the environment.