Mermaid Prom Dress @KnockOffNightmares/Facebook.com
Finding the right outfit for any special occasion can be a tricky task, but when it comes to dresses it’s even worse. The latest fashions are often priced incredibly high, so it’s understandable that some might look for a similar style elsewhere to save a few dollars.
But, as we’ve seen time and time again, knock-offs are never as good as the real thing. In fact, some dresses bought online are so awful that they should never see the light of day, regardless of whether they’re from AliExpress or elsewhere. These buyers learned the hard way so you don’t have to.
1. Pink Rhinestone Gown
Original Dress Price: $1,056.00 to $1,738.00 USD
Original Made by: Terani Couture
Knock-off Purchased at: AliExpress
Knock-off Purchased for: $30*
Rhinestones have been a staple of prom dresses across the world for decades. You may think that they stopped being fashionable back in the ‘80s, but this trend was just heating up then. These days, almost all gowns have these inexpensive faux gems painstakingly sewed on – but that doesn’t mean they look like a million dollars.
Pink Rhinestone Gown @BridesBeware/Facebook.com
In this case, an unsuspecting buyer thought she was getting the perfect peach colored fairytale gown from Ali Express. What turned up was a different story altogether. She wanted Cindy Crawford chic, but she got Cyndi Lauper. Then again – what do you expect for $30?
2. Cowl Back Gown
Original Dress Price: $300 to $500*
Original Made by: Katie May
Knock-off Purchased at: everyday-dresses.com (now defunct)
Knock-off Purchased for: Unconfirmed, but ultimately too much
A beautiful cowl back gown with a high neck can be the perfect way to mix elegance with fashion. High-end versions of this style of dress can go for as much as $500, but what happens when other retailers want to recreate them and market them at a much cheaper price?
Low-Cut Back Gown @cooperkay22/Twitter.com
Unfortunately, even Costco wouldn’t stock this version. While we don’t know exactly how much the knock-off retailed for, we do know that it wasn’t worth a single dime. Is it form-fitting and stunning? No. Is it fit for the bargain bin? Absolutely.
3. Mermaid Prom Dress
Original Dress Price: $200*
Original Made by: Hebeos
Knock-off Purchased at: Wish
Knock-off Purchased for: $80*
Mermaid themed dresses have been growing in popularity over the years, with many prom goers opting to choose a gown that’s full and colorful. When done right, it’s a style that can really turn heads. When it’s down wrong, it still turns heads – but for the wrong reason.
Mermaid Prom Dress @KnockOffNightmares/Facebook.com
This full-skirted waterfall dress costs around $200 originally, but why buy something at full price when you get it from a Chinese seller for less than half the retail value, right? This buyer learned the hard way that it never pays to be cheap. Instead of Disney’s Ariel she looked a little more like Flounder.
4. Beaded Prom Dress
Original Dress Price: $300-$400*
Original Made by: Abiyefon
Knock-off Purchased at: Dress That (now defunct)
Knock-off Purchased for: $100-$150*
At first glance, this stunning ivory gown looks like it ticks all the boxes. The original design, from Turkish designer Abiyefon, probably does. It has a great neckline and a stunning focal belt that offers just the right amount of sparkle.
Beaded Prom Dress @victoriaalaw/Twitter.com
But, shoppers love a bargain – and if they can get something much cheaper elsewhere, they’re going to try that first. Who wouldn’t? Sadly, what turned up was a pink and purple disaster that could easily be mistaken for a costume from Comcast’s hit ‘60s show, I Dream of Jeannie.
5. Lace Wedding Frock
Original Dress Price: $1595*
Original Made by: Winona Bride
Knock-off Purchased at: $400-$600*
Knock-off Purchased for: Etsy
Not every bride wants to wear a huge dress on their wedding day. Some opt for an understated lace number that’s more in keeping with the simplistic style of the ‘50s. This gorgeous two-piece lace and cotton wedding dress is originally from bridal retailer Winona Bride.
Lace Wedding Frock @Daily Mail / Pinterest
At $1595 a pop, the now discontinued gown proved to be a firm hit with many – but not everyone. One buyer thought she was getting a similar version for much less, but got a little bit of a shock. On the plus side, the Etsy purchase could always be repurposed as a net curtain.
6. Sheer Jeweled Dress
Original Dress Price: $219*
Original Made by: Jovani
Knock-off Purchased at: thepromdresses.com
Knock-off Purchased for: $100 to $120*
Jovani is a tried and trusted designer that makes tons of immaculate dresses. If it’s good enough for the ladies of the Real Housewives of New York, it’s good enough for us! The original gown is both fashionable and chic, with plenty of dazzling gems and a flowing skirt.
Sheer Jeweled Dress @hannnahhnicolee/twitter.com
One Twitter user shared the absolute disappointment she felt when she ordered what she thought was an exact replica. What arrived was a thin piece of material with some very strange detailing in the chest area. What’s more, it wasn’t that cheap either at around $100. Buyers would find a better dress at Target.
7. Cocktail Mini Dress
Original Dress Price: $1,450 to $2,850*
Original Dress Made by: Justin Alexander
Knock-off Purchased at: AliExpress
Knock-off Purchased for: $63.58 – 68.94*
Justin Alexander’s on-trend ostrich feather bridal gown was the envy of many when it was released as part of one of his collections a few years ago. The dress designer knows how to get a slice of the $54-billion-dollar US wedding industry pie. But, as with anything that becomes popular, there’s always a copycat waiting in the wings.
Justing Alexander Knock-Off @KnockOffNightmares/Facebook.com
Ali Express thought it would jump on the bandwagon and try to create a feathered fantasy of its own…but as this picture tells us, they fell drastically short of the mark. For around $65 you could get this interesting bridal look – if you don’t mind having to hide the photos for all eternity.
8. Celtic Style Gown
Original Dress Price: $1,799.00*
Original Made by: Alfred Angelo
Knock-off Purchased at: eBay
Knock-off Purchased for: $60*
When Alfred Angelo came up with this celtic inspired wedding gown, it was the perfect dress that many brides had been waiting for. While the style may not be to everyone’s taste, the price was definitely palatable at $1,799.
Celtic Style Gown @BridesBeware/Facebook.com
A knock-off version of the dress soon popped up on popular auction site eBay. The picture made a million promises but the goods came up drastically short. The cheap satin material looks more l
9. Royal Lace Wedding Dress
Original Dress Price: $300 to $500*
Original Made by: Victoria’s Queen
Knock-off Purchased at: eBay
Knock-off Purchased for: $75 to $100*
When Kate Middleton and Prince William tied the knot in 2011, every blushing bride-to-be wanted a lace wedding dress that imitated Kate’s stunning gown. The Duchess’ spectacular outfit was designed by head of the multi-billion-dollar luxury fashion house, Alexander McQueen.
Paper Towel Roll Wedding Dress @BridesBeware/Facebook.com
Other brands flocked to imitate Kate’s dress to keep up with the demand, but many didn’t have the billions (or the talent) to do it justice. In this case, one eBay seller tried to knock off a recreation of Kate’s dress by Victoria’s Queen. Needless to say, you won’t be seeing royalty wearing this one any time soon.
10. Pink Belted Dress
Original Dress Price: $400 to 600*
Original Made by: David’s Bridal
Knock-off Purchased at: AliExpress
Knock-off Purchased for: Unconfirmed
Whether you’re looking for the ideal dress for a prom or a wedding, it’s always important to go for a flattering fit – and a flattering color. Pale peaches and nudes have been a popular choice for a while now, which is probably why someone thought it would be a good idea to purchase this embellished gown from AliExpress.
Pink Belted Dress @sealedwithakissbridal.blogspot.com
We don’t know exactly how much the poor customer paid for their “dream” dress, but they got more than they bargained for. Not only was it a garish shade of pink, but the belt was made of pink and silver sequins. Whatever it cost, it wasn’t worth the stitches.
11. Little Black Dress
Original Dress Price: $60*
Original Made by: Dear Lover
Knock-off Purchased at: AliExpress
Knock-off Purchased for: $60*
Not every dress that turns out to be awful is a knock-off of a previous design. In some cases, it’s just bad from start to finish. The origins of this sleek black dress can be traced right back to AliExpress in 2013, but unfortunately one buyer found the finished product to be a little misleading.
Little Black Dress @KnockOffNightmares/Facebook.com
What should’ve been a neatly made little black dress turned out to be less than flattering. The bodice is so ill-fitting that the only thing holding it up is a wing and a prayer. You can get tons of worthwhile things on AliExpress, but this dress isn’t one of them.
12. Green Ombre Gown
Original Dress Price: $500*
Original Made by: Sherri Hill
Knock-off Purchased at: Wish
Knock-off Purchased for: $100-$150*
Finding the perfect outfit for any special occasion is hard enough, but teenagers across the globe are under extra pressure to find something original for their proms. No one wants to turn up to the biggest event in high school history wearing the same thing as someone else.
Green Ombré Gown @toribrodiexo/Twitter.com
Mint green ombre might be a little risque for some, but this $500-dollar Sherri Hill design struck the right chord with one buyer when they found a knock-off on Wish for a fraction of the price. As you may have guessed, the Wish version made the customer look more like an upturned ice cream cone than a stone-cold fox.
13. High Slit Dress
Original Dress Price: $160*
Original Made by: Shillas
Knock-off Purchased at: N/A
Knock-off Purchased for: N/A
Like we’ve seen before, not every bad dress is a knock-off. Deceptive advertising proved to be the downfall of now defunct UK-based website Shillas.co.uk. The brand promised customers “made to measure” dresses, only to be called out in a national newspaper when they delivered nothing of the sort.
High Slit Dress @KnockOffNightmares/Facebook.com
16-year-old Chloe Bradley bought a $160-dollar dress from the website, thinking she would be the belle of the ball in a pale green dress with an embellished high neck and thigh high split. What she got was a dark teal, poorly made gown that was sent from Hong Kong.
14. Silver Neckline Gown
Original Dress Price: $400*
Original Made by: Nina Canacci
Knock-off Purchased at: eBay
Knock-off Purchased for: $80*
Nina Canacci has been designing gorgeous evening wear for quite some time now, but there’s one thing that happens when you get to the top: copycats start coming out of the woodwork, thinking they can capitalize on your success. It’s a gown eat gown world out there.
Silver Neckline Gown @KnockOffNightmares/Facebook.com
This gorgeous Canacci dress is figure-hugging and painstakingly made at a retail price of around $400. So, when one buyer saw the photo on eBay, they probably thought they were going to get something that at least resembles the . How wrong they were, from the sequin top to the see-through bottom.
15. ColorBlocked Dress
Original Dress Price: $60*
Original Made by: Shein
Knock-off Purchased at: N/A
Knock-off Purchased for: N/A
Shein first started popping up on social media s a few years ago. Fashion lovers didn’t know what to make of the brand that offers seemingly fashionable items at rock bottom prices. Some buyers have great success with their purchases – but others don’t.
Color Blocked Dress @KnockOffNightmares/Facebook.com
What should’ve been a long, flowing maxi dress perfect for a summer wedding or a spring event fell drastically short of the bar in this case. Was it just a terrible fit, or was the product really that bad? We’ll never know – but a picture speaks a thousand words.