Buying a prom dress online can look like a bargain, but the checkout price is rarely the final cost. Most gowns are made to standard sizes, so even with careful measuring, differences in height, bust, waist placement and torso length often mean the dress arrives needing work: hems are too long, bodices gape or pull, straps sit wrong, and waistlines land in the wrong place. In the UK, alterations such as hemming (£30–£80), taking in (£40–£100), bust tweaks (£30–£70), straps (£15–£40) and corsetry or bodice reshaping (£60–£150+) commonly add £100–£250. Rush fittings close to prom can push costs higher, turning a £180 online dress into a £370 spend. Specialist seamstresses matter because prom dresses use boning, layers and delicate finishes that can be ruined by poor work.
MK Prom’s in-house team knows each style, spots fit issues early, and plans minimal alterations, saving money, stress and last-minute panic while delivering a dress that feels truly perfected. Online isn’t always cheaper; fit matters most too.