Terms and Conditions
ONLINE ORDER
Returns
Our dresses are made-to-order in non-standard sizes and are therefore non-returnable. If you receive a dress with a fault, please allow us time to rectify and return the item to you.
Delivery Time
The majority of dresses take 2-3 months to deliver from the point of us having all the information we need from you e.g. colour choice, measurements, etc.
Colours
If you're unsure of the colour, please order a swatch first. Due to using different rolls of fabric, all colours are subject to slight variation. If you split any part of your order, we cannot guarantee that the colours will match. The colour of the lining fabric and cotton is chosen by us and won’t necessarily match the colour the dress. Net and tulle is dyed and the colour is unpredictable.
Why could my dress need alterations?
Other measurements such as upper bust, under bust, apex to apex, shoulders, cup size and shoulder to waist, are not taken. Dresses made to cover every single body measurement require several fittings and potential alterations - which is a service we do not offer.
Sizing
On receiving you dress(es) you feel that it has not been made to the measurements requested (allowing for a 2 cm margin either way) you must return the dress within 7 days. If you cannot do this, then we must make it 100% clear that there is nothing we can do. We would never send a dress out that we thought was incorrect. Our dresses are always measured by at least two people. WE WILL NOT PAY FOR ALTERATIONS OUTSIDE OF OUR COMPANY. On receipt of your dress we will measure it. If it's incorrect, we will alter is at our expense and return it at our expense. If not, we will return the dress at your expense.
We will make the bust, waist, hip and length of a dress to the nearest size in accordance with our size chart, i.e. Bust: size 10, Waist: size 12, Hips: size 14, Length: 150 cms.
It doesn't mean that we will be making your dress to your exact measurements. It's essential that you follow our measuring guide. If you ask a dress maker (or similar) to take your measurements for you, they must follow our guide - not their own. IF YOU DO NOT MEASURE YOURSELF, USE THE GUIDE, AND CHECK THE SIZE CHART, THE DRESS WILL NOT FIT!
Your dress may still need some alterations/adjustments once you receive it which is something that you need to take into consideration please. If you are more than a size between your bust, waist and hip measurement, you will almost certainly need alterations. Apex to apex, shoulder to apex, shoulder to waist, straps, low hip, bra size, are not taken into account. This is not a made to measure service.
Our dresses normally include cups. They are a standard size and not made to your specific bra cup size. The volume of the skirt is based on your height and hip measurement.
Zips: the zips on our dresses are typically YKK and sewn in securely. If you decide to have your dress made tight, or you gain weight from the time you were measured, the zip can pull apart.
Cleaning your dress
We advise spot cleaning our dresses. Please DO NOT dry-clean any dress with beading. Many dresses can be hand-washed in cool water (please call for advice). As there are many variations to our dresses, please call for advice on cleaning.
IN-HOUSE ORDER
Ordering Process
Either the full amount or an initial payment of 50% of the total order value will be taken on the order date. The remaining 50% must be paid within 4 months of the order date.
When we have ALL the information needed - measurements, design changes, colour, etc, we then place your order with our supplier. We will contact you when your dress is ready. From this point, you have 4 weeks to return for your first fitting - a storage fee of £15 per month will be applied for not returning within the 4 weeks.
Cancelling Your Order or Making Changes
If you wish to cancel or amend your order, please do so by e-mail or phone within 24 hours of placing your order. After this period cancelling will result in the loss of your initial payment, and you will still owe the outstanding balance. It is non-transferable to another dress/item. If your event is cancelled, you will still owe the outstanding balance. Dresses must be collected within 6 weeks of the event date stated on your order form. Regrettably, we are unable to sell your dress in our boutique A storage fee of £15 per month will be applied every month that your dress is stored after the original event date.
Measurements/Sizes
The bust, waist, hip and length of your dress will be made to the nearest size in accordance with our size chart, i.e. Bust: size 10, Waist: size 12, Hips: size 14, Length. This doesn’t mean that your dress will be made to exact measurements. Please remember this is a free service and only designed to get the dress closer to your size. Your dress will always need some alterations/adjustments, this is not included in the price. If you believe that your dress has been made to the incorrect measurements, please mention this at your fittings. If you have already collected your dress, then you need to return to our boutique. If you decide not to do this, then we will not refund you, partially refund, pay for alterations, or offer any compensation whatsoever.
Measurement taken outside of our boutique
This guide must be used: https://www.velvetbirdcage.co.uk/pages/how-to-measure. You will be fully responsible for any alterations that may be required if measurements are taken by yourself or any other independent party.
First Fitting - PLEASE BRING SHOES TO YOUR FITTINGS
Please remember that your dress is not 'made to measure' and will require some alterations. You may also change shape, change underwear, wear different shoes, etc. You are not obliged to have your alterations done by Velvet Birdcage. Dresses are only made to the nearest standard size. Alterations must be decided on the first fitting.
Your Fitter will explain which areas need to be altered and give you the costing for the alterations - which must be paid before they are carried out along with the final balance (if not paid already). Please bear in mind that the dress you tried on in our boutique may not be your size and therefore your dress may look different. The width of the ‘skirt’ will be proportionate to your hip measurement, not to the smaller or larger size dress that you may have tried on.
Additional Fittings
Your dress may still need some alterations/adjustments on your second/third visit which is something that you need to take into consideration please – especially as you may not be local to us.
Change in design/bespoke made dresses
We accept no responsibility if you would like to change a dress in any way from the original design, or have a bespoke design, and are not happy with either the design, how the dress looks, or fits. If you provided pictures and inspiration, we do not claim to have your dress made exactly as in the picture.
We do not accept any responsibility for a dress that may not be made as a “customer had imagined”. You may have to seek further alterations in order to get the dress looking just how you want it which will result in further cost to yourself. Drawings carried out during the order process are not working drawings. Every effort is made to get the dress exactly as the customer imagined, but changes may need to be made after each fitting.
Delivery Time Scale
Your dress will be ready on the approximate date given on your order form. Please remember, the estimated date is based on how long it will take for the supplier to make and deliver your dress. How much time you leave for potential alterations is entirely up to yourself.
Should the time frame given change we will keep you informed and all event dates are taken into consideration. PLEASE GIVE THE DATE THE DRESS IS NEEDED BY IF THIS IS EARLIER THAN THE EVENT DATE.
Delays
Occasionally/rarely, the manufacture of your item may experience delay. This can be for various reasons such as material shortages, import delays or higher than anticipated demand. We will, of course, make every effort to keep you informed.
General
Zips: the zips on our dresses are typically YKK and sewn in securely. If you decide to have your dress made tight, or you gain weight from the time you were measured, the zip can pull apart. If we have had to use pins to create rouching or folds, pin holes may be seen in the fabric.
Colours (including lining and cotton)
Due to using different rolls of fabric, all colours are subject to variation. The colour of the lining fabric and cotton is chosen by us and won’t necessarily match the colour the dress. Net and tulle is dyed and the colour is unpredictable – the colour will be as close as we can get it, but won’t be the same colour as the dress/fabric swatch.
