LURAP Custom Clothing Review

*I received the following product for free in exchange for an honest review here on my blog.

I DO NOT receive any financial compensation if you click on the links provided or make a purchase from the company.

A couple of weeks ago I was contacted by a representative from a company called LURAP (L-ove UR  Ap-perance). They asked if I would be interested in reviewing a garment from their website,

I was thrilled with the opportunity and hopped over to their site right away to see what they were all about.
The company boasts that they have sizes 0-36w and you can customize any piece for a minimal fee so it fits you.
If you've been around the blog here for a while, you might remember last year I was contacted by a different custom clothing company and offered a garment custom made for me.
You can find that full review on my blog, but let's just say I wasn't impressed (after receiving two dresses that were too big...)
Maybe that's why I was so thrilled with another opportunity here to have something made to fit ME.
That's the problem a lot of us have is finding something that actually FITS.
Something we don't have to alter.
After searching the website for a bit I made a choice.
The dress I choose is called Draped Midi Dress (pictured below on the left, that is the stock image from their website to show you what kind of fit I was EXPECTING to receive, and on the right we have the dress I ACTUALLY received).
Disappointing.
I will get into the details on that in a second.

I had picked this dress for a couple of reasons; I know the holidays are coming up in a few short months and I will be further along in my pregnancy. I know we've got a few events to attend, and I wanted to have something pretty, comfortable, flattering, and that I can dress up.

From the waist down the dress is wrapped, and the fabric is a cotton jersey. This would give the dress a chance to stretch a little over my expanding belly.

It's also machine washable, so, you know...super plus there.

The company was easy to work with and responded to emails pretty quickly.

I also sent my EXACT measurements and I asked to make the sleeves a 3/4 length instead of full length, and I excitedly waited.

A few days later I received the following email from the compay:

"Hi Michelle

We received an update from our design and manufacturing team that the hip size given by you was 32". Is it correct? According to them it should be around 36". Please confirm asap."

I was surprised they would say my measurements 'should' be larger, but I responded to the email saying the measurements I had sent were correct. I also asked if there was a reason for that, but I never received a response.

To be honest I was a little worried, and I was right...

About a week later the dress arrived. (Which was pretty fast timing, since it was coming all the way from India).

I threw it on right away, and as you can tell from the pictures...it didn't fit right.

From the waist down it's perfect. Even the length is right on, which I was surprised with because I am pretty short.

However, what is going on with the top half??

I sent them MY measurements, what in the world am I supposed to fit in all of that extra fabric??
It honestly looks like I am wearing a bath robe, and not in a good way of it being comfortable and snuggly, but in a way where it's too big and isn't flattering...

 I sent the following email to the company:

"Hi, 

Yes, I have received the dress. From the waist down it fits perfectly, but from the waist up it is much too big. Did something happen that you are aware of with the measurements? I know you sent an email asking if my hip size was right because the design/manufacturing team had thought it should be bigger...was there another issue as well?

Thanks,

Michelle

I then received this email:

Hi Michelle,

I got back to the designing team with your concern and what they say is:

“

Hello,

I looked into the matter and spoke to the quality and manufacturing department. We found out that the garment has been checked twice before sending and are according to the measurements given to us. As according to image, it is supposed to be loose in the front (not so fitted)."

The weird thing is that my dress looks like it has almost like lapels down the front, whereas the stock image looks as if the fabric is just gathered.
But, that was it with communication.

Obviously I'm not thrilled with the final product.
The fabric is comfortable, and like I said before, the length is good as well.

However, I will have to alter the top half of the dress.
Luckily for me I'm pretty sure I can make it work, but I don't feel that I should be even needing to consider that.

When a company says they will take your measurements and make the garment fit YOU, then it should FIT.

To conclude, if you are looking for a clothing item and need it to fit you properly, unless you're willing to take the risk of it needing to be fixed, I would look somewhere else.

I'm curious though, what's been your experience with custom clothing websites?? Am I the only one having these troubles?

Hope this review was helpful, thanks for reading!

*UPDATE: Apparently not everyone appreciates an honest review. After this post was published I received the following email from LURAP

Hi Michelle,

Firstly, it has been unprofessional on your behalf not to let us know that you have published the blog. We work with hundreds of bloggers and we have never seen anything like this. 

Regarding the garment, you could have let us known before writing such a pathetic review. The measurements that you had given does not coincide with any size. Before becoming a fashion blogger, try to gather some sense of fashion. Anyways, Keep the garment and be happy. Thanks but no thanks for your blog.

To be honest I was very surprised by this email. Especially the part where they said "the measurements that you had given does not coincide with any size." 

Um...of course they don't coincide with any size! They are MY measurements for MY body.

I sent the following reply.

I actually did email you and tell you the post would be up that week and it was. That is how I have worked with other companies in the past and never had a problem.

Regarding the dress, I did tell you it didn't fit. You boast that you will do 'custom sized' garments for your customers, and that's not what I got. Of course my measurements don't coincide with a size, that's why I sent you my measurements, so the dress would actually fit me and not just be a size. If you don't actually customize the garment for your customers then don't advertise that you do.

This was an honest review from me and I stand by it 100%.

I wanted to include this updated information as a warning to let you know what you might have to deal with if you decide to work with this company.