31. Lace Mini Dress
Original Dress Price: $5*
Original Made by: AliExpress
Knock-off Purchased at: N/A
Knock-off Purchased for: N/A
When buying anything online it’s easy to get swept away by the appealing price tag. A dress that looks nice but costs just $5 could seem like a win-win situation, but alas – all that glitters is not gold. Or, in this case, dresses that look like they fit probably won’t.
Lace Mini Dress @KnockOffNightmares/Facebook
One customer bought this bargain dress from AliExpress, only to discover that it was better suited to her dog. The white summer dress fit the pup remarkably well, but even the dog doesn’t look over the moon with her new outfit.
32. Cleopatra Signature Gown
Original Dress Price: $400*
Original Made by: Style Temple
Knock-off Purchased at: FabWoman
Knock-off Purchased for: $50*
TV personality Stephanie Coker looked so drop-dead gorgeous in her floor-length silver gown from Style Temple that businesses couldn’t duplicate it fast enough. In this case, FabWoman decided to market their very own version of Stephanie’s outfit, even stealing her picture to advertise it.
Cloepatra Signature Gown @KnockOffNightmares/Facebook
So, what turned up? Rather than shades of grey gorgeousness this unsuspecting customer got maroon madness. This knock-off is so far removed from the original that it’s painful to look at. If you’re going to copy something, surely getting the color right is the first step?
33. Sheer Jeweled Gown
Original Dress Price: $4,100*
Original Made by: Nala by One Day
Knock-off Purchased at: Villeist
Knock-off Purchased for: $100*
It’s only natural that attending a ball means buying a new dress, but it’s always better to buy from a respected brand. Or, you might fall prey to low prices and high expectations, just like this poor Villeist customer.
Sheer Jeweled Gown @KnockOffNightmares/Facebook
“Bought this “gown” for a ball and was super excited that it arrived on time because I wasn’t expecting it to,” wrote April Dempster in a Facebook post. “But apparently I’m one of the few people who didn’t realise the advertised photo was in fact a very expensive bridal gown.” The original design is by One Day and retails for over $4,100.
34. Mint Illusion Sweetheart Gown
Original Dress Price: $300*
Original Made by: ABC Fashion
Knock-off Purchased at: Beckydress
Knock-off Purchased for: $100*
Mint green may be a slightly more unusual choice when it comes to prom dresses, but there’s always a place for pastel colors in the world of fashion. Several customers have fallen in love with ABC Fashion’s $300-dollar design that promises to flatter curves and turn heads.
Mint Illusion Sweetheart Gown @KnockOffNightmares/Facebook
One now defunct website called Beckydress sold their own version of the dress with very little success. While they managed to pry money from unsuspecting buyers, they delivered something very different. It’s a shapeless blue expanse that leaves everything to the imagination.
35. Strappy Cutout Bodycon Dress
Original Dress Price: $6.99*
Original Made by: DressHead
Knock-off Purchased at: N/A
Knock-off Purchased for: N/A
Imagine shelling out $6.99 of your hard-earned money on a dress that you think will be the perfect Saturday night outfit, only for it to look like a Band Aid gone wrong. Cut out dresses can be hit or miss anyway, but this design from DressHead fell at the first hurdle.
Strappy Cutout Bodycon Dress @Wardrobe_7/Twitter
There’s nothing appealing about walking into the bar looking like a mummy gone wrong, so this is a huge lesson to be learned. If it looks too good to be true online, then it probably is. Stick to the sales at trusted retailers and you won’t be left red-faced.
36. Burlap Sack Dress
Original Dress Price: $10*
Original Made by: AliExpress
Knock-off Purchased at: N/A
Knock-off Purchased for: N/A
Can we take a moment to ask ourselves who thought this design would be a sure-fire win? Maybe it’s just us, but there’s nothing about this dress that seems even remotely appealing. The original version looks just as much like a burlap sack as the knock-off does.
Burlap Sack Dress @KnockOffNightmares/Facebook
It’s hard to say what the problem is. The AliExpress design isn’t all that thrilling to begin with. The dress might be a solid disaster but on the plus side, you could use the material to line window boxes or carry potatoes, so all is not lost.
37. Emerald Ball Gown
Original Dress Price: $100*
Original Made by: EveryTimeFashion
Knock-off Purchased at: N/A
Knock-off Purchased for: N/A
You can’t go wrong with emerald green, just ask Dorothy Gale. It’s a stunning color that has stayed popular across the decades, but when you’re expecting to serve up mermaid realness and get ‘80s tablecloth, it becomes way less acceptable.
Emerald Ball Gown @KnockOffNightmares/Facebook
One poor high schooler ordered her dream prom dress from EveryTimeFashion but got an almost entirely different gown.There’s no shimmer and shine but plenty of tears and tantrums when it comes to this one. It’s a fail for the history books that won’t be forgotten in a hurry.
38. Gold Sweetheart Peplum Dress
Original Dress Price: $300*
Original Made by: Terani Couture
Knock-off Purchased at: AliExpress
Knock-off Purchased for: $65*
Terani Couture is a tried and trusted designer with a solid customer base. It’s not hard to see why when they come up with stunning floor-length gowns like this. It’s just as easy to imagine an A-lister wearing this on the red carpet as it is to imagine it being worn to a prom, or even a wedding.
Gold Sweetheart Peplum Dress @KnockOffNightmares/Facebook
But, while the picture on AliExpress promised to turn the wearer into a Golden Age Hollywood goddess, the reality was all dodgy tailoring, bad cutting, and plenty of creases to boot. No one is accepting any Oscars in this.
39. Colorful Bridal Gown
Original Dress Price: $150*
Original Made by: PromGirl
Knock-off Purchased at: RoseGal
Knock-off Purchased for: $30*
Some people go for over-the-top princess dresses for special events that are embellished with rhinestones and have full skirts, but that style isn’t to everyone’s taste. This shopper decided to go for a beautiful white gown with watercolor detailing, but understandably, didn’t want to pay a lot for it.
Colorful Bridal Gown @KnockOffNightmares/Facebook
For just $25 they got something that looked just similar enough to the picture to be slightly passable, but the gown was made from cheap polyester and was still unwearable. The only good thing about this purchase was the price, and even then it was a certified rip-off.
40. Jeweled Purple Gown
Original Dress Price: $200*
Original Made by: Panoply
Knock-off Purchased at: ShortBlackCocktailDresses
Knock-off Purchased for: $75*
A nice pink dress is always a good way to go if you’re not sure what to wear as the color is timeless. You’re unlikely to look back in years to come and regret choosing pink as it’s always in fashion. Sadly for one buyer, all they were left with after purchasing this monstrosity from ShortBlackCockatilDresses was regret.
Jeweled Purple Gown @BridesBeware/Facebook
What arrived wasn’t a pastel dream like the pictures suggested, but a bright cerise gown that was as ill-fitting as it was terribly ugly. The embellished bodice was finished in rhinestones in Pepto Bismol pink. There’s nothing redeeming about this outfit.
41. Long Chiffon Bridesmaid Dress
Original Dress Price: $75*
Original Made by: eBay
Knock-off Purchased at: N/A
Knock-off Purchased for: N/A
It’s a crying shame, but there are plenty of underhanded sellers on eBay that are just looking to make a quick buck. One bride got the shock of her life after shelling out for several bridesmaid dresses from the seller Fashion House 2000.
Long Chiffon Bridesmaid Dress @BridesBeware/Facebook
While the original design looked lovely, what turned up was completely different. Not only was the quality poor but the dresses didn’t match as they were entirely different shades of pink. What’s more, the customer didn’t even receive a full refund!
42. Pink Rose Wedding Gown
Original Dress Price: $400*
Original Made by: Ronald Joyce
Knock-off Purchased at: LastMinuteEvents
Knock-off Purchased for: $125*
There would’ve been a time when the knock-off version of this Ronald Joyce design would probably have been deemed acceptable. Unfortunately for brides purchasing from LastMinuteEvents, that time was several decades ago.
Pink Rose Wedding Gown @KnockOffNightmares/Facebook
No one wants to look like a merlot-stained meringue these days, so it’s always going to be a definite no. The original dress is still an acquired taste, but no one can deny it’s impeccable design and high-quality. It’s a shame the copy isn’t quite as well done.
43. Emerald Shoulder Pad Dress
Original Dress Price: $1,000+*
Original Made by: Gucci
Knock-off Purchased at: DHGate
Knock-off Purchased for: $60*
Some people swear by the dresses they’ve purchased from online seller DHGate, while others say that the gowns leave a lot to be desired. In this case, the company based this emerald green design on a dress by Gucci.
Emerald Shoulder Pad Dress @KnockOffNightmares/Facebook
It’s not hard to see why buyers flocked to buy it, seeing as it’s a much cheaper version of a high-end dress. The only downside is that DHGate’s version is shapeless, lifeless, and lacks nearly all of the same features that make the original gown spectacular.
44. Beaded Coral Dress
Original Dress Price: $300*
Original Made by: Mack Tack
Knock-off Purchased at: Serendipity Prom
Knock-off Purchased for: $95*
Imagine buying this prom dress thinking it was going to bring your vision of a coral-chic look to life, only to discover it’s a living nightmare. This dress may not be the worst we’ve seen, but it’s not going to win any prizes, either.
Beaded Coral Dress @KnockOffNightmares/Facebook
The original Mack Tack version is gorgeously tailored and wonderfully made, but the knock-off just doesn’t come anywhere near as close. It’s badly made, the waist is all wrong – and do we even need to mention the rest?
45. Black Trumpet Mermaid Dress
Original Dress Price: $125*
Original Made by: eBay
Knock-off Purchased at: N/A
Knock-off Purchased for: N/A
At first glance the design of this dress looks like something Angelina Jolie might wear. It’s black, wonderfully designed, and has just enough detail to make it stand out from the rest. So, considering just how chic this eBay dress looks – how did it end up so bad?
Black Trumpet Mermaid Dress @KnockOffNightmares/Facebook
It looks like the makers of this dupe decided to take inspo from the original design instead of copying it fully. Almost nothing matches, from the pattern to the neckline and the shape of the train. Worse things have happened, but only barely.