Signature — Local services in Washington

Our prom dress shopping experience was very disappointing. On our first visit, we found a gorgeous dress. It was a size 4, however, and my daughter is usually a size 2. In addition, there was a 1-inch rip in the zipper area. I asked the saleslady to order a new one in the right size. She informed me that the dress was discontinued, but that she could sell me this floor model for a very good discount and that she could have the dress altered (for free) to fit my daughter and that she could also fix the rip. The saleslady measured my daughter and pinned the dress herself.

She promised it would be ready in one week. It was not ready for more than 2 weeks. When we finally went for a second fitting, I found the rip was still there and the zipper was faulty. The saleslady pinned the dress for the hem and again promised that the rip would be fixed. She failed to inform me that there would be a charge for the hem, and she never quoted me for the hem.

On our third visit to Signature, the dress still fit poorly. The bodice was simply too big, and the waist too small. The zipper was still faulty. They refused to refund my full payment. At this visit, they informed me that I owed $80 for the hem and will owe additional money (undetermined) to fix the fit issues. This time, the shop owner Gilda pinned the bodice and said they would let out an inch at the waist. I told them the saleslady promised that the dress would be fixed to fit my daughter and that it was dishonest of them not to honor their promise. Gilda told me they don’t have in-house tailors and they have to outsource the job and has to pay those tailors. She also said the saleslady “did her best” in measuring my daughter. In my experience, dress shops have in-house tailors who personally measure the clients. Sorry, but I am not paying for a non-tailor who “did her best”.

By this time, both my daughter and I are so disheartened and frustrated by the situation, that I asked my husband to come in for the FOURTH visit. While the bodice fit this time, the waist was still too tight. And the rip was still there and the zipper was still stuck. A different saleslady, a sweet Spanish-speaking lady (didn’t get her name) helped out this time. She was actually helpful and the only bright spot in this saga. She knew that we needed the dress by the weekend and personally fixed all the issues and steamed the dress so we could take it home that day. She seemed like the only experienced seamstress/tailor in the whole shop.

The dress now fit and the last issue was whether we would pay for the additional alterations. After a lot of discussion, we agreed to pay for the hem, but not the other alterations. I still think it was shabby of them to spring on us the price of the hem after the fact, but we were so exhausted that we just wanted to be done and take home the dress. Gilda also tried to overcharge us on sales tax for the alterations. Sketchy!

TL/DR Don’t shop here. Out-sourced tailors bad. Spring extra charges without notice.

PS—any 5-star review may be influenced by the 10% discount given in return for a...

I am not one to leave negative reviews, but after my pathetic experience at Signature Dresses, I feel obligated. I paid for a mother of the bride appointment for my mom to pick out a dress to wear to my wedding. We were excited to go, and chose this store based on the variety of MOB dresses on their website. Instead, this experience ruined our weekend.

When we arrived the owner seemed nice when she thought the appointment was for me (28 yr old size 4 female). When she realized it was for my mother (62, size 14) she spoke to her for less than 5 minutes about what she was looking for, pulled the ugliest dress in the store for her to try, and then told us we had to wait for a dressing room to open, and she would let us into one when it did. We waited about 20 minutes until the owner asked how the dresses were fitting. We still hadn't been let into the fitting room at this point.

As my mom was trying on the gowns, after we were allowed into a room, I asked if anyone could clip her into them so she could get a better idea of the fit (the straps were all very long on her). I was told no. We were ignored the rest of the time we were in the store. As we were leaving the owner gave me her card and said I could order whichever dress she liked online. She never took my mother's measurements and made a scoffed comment about how she is certainly bigger than anything she would carry in store when I asked which size she would need to order.

It was clear we were not welcome in this store from the beginning, and the owner does not cater to anyone besides petite prom dress shoppers, yet she advertises other services and CHARGED me for this "appointment". I am appalled by the whole experience and how she made my mom feel less than and unwelcome.

She could have said from the beginning that she did not carry the sizes we would need and refunded me the appointment fee. Instead she treated us like an inconvenience and mocked us for even thinking that we could shop there. I hope no other brides fall for this money grab. There are plenty of better places to go...

I'm leaving this review on behalf of my client and myself. I am a wardrobe stylist, and I brought my pageant client to this gown shop to find a gown for her upcoming competition.

My first impression was that the selection was fairly small, and the size range seemed very limited, considering that they didn't have my client's size in store for any of the items I pulled. I found this unusual because she's only a size 6. My client also expressed to me that she has not received any update on the status of her gown that we ordered on 10/30/2022. We were told by the sales associate that it should only take a few weeks. As I leave this review it's been over a month and a half. Due to the poor communication, we have decided to pull an alternative gown for her competition.

I am also disappointed by the behavior that was displayed by the male employee that works at this shop. When I briefly introduced myself to him, he was very short with me. I asked him if they had specific items in stock, he cut me off and said, "I don't do that" and told me that the sales associate that hasn't come in yet will answer my question. I was confused by his statement because it was only fair to assume that anyone working behind the counter of a store, should be ready and willing to assist with any basic customer service request. I got the sense that he felt my client and myself were unimportant, and the request was beneath him, especially because he had no issue assisting another customer in the store.

To add to the already underwhelming experience, during a discussion I was having with the sales associate the male employee asked me in a very condescending tone "are you even old enough to do pageants?" The lack of professionalism was astonishing. I will never understand how anyone in business could be so arrogant that they are not only offer poor customer service but make ageist comments towards their customers.

I will not be recommending this shop to any of my clients in the DMV, nor will they get any future...