I bought this dress for taking on a cruise and i used it for a Christmas party. I got many compliments from complete strangers I sew and I know that I would barley have been able to buy the fabric and notions for what this cost. Excellent construction and received it in a timely manner. This is the fourth dress that I have bought from this company and I have always gotten exactly what I ordered and I've been pleased every time. I order a custom fit and I never need to alter it. I have never tried to return a dress so I can't speak to the problems that people have complained about. I do wonder if some of the problems people have is not correctly measuring before ordering or not having the imagination to realize that a dress in size 20 isn't going to look the same as it does on the model. I have a pretty good idea of how certain styles work with my figure so I avoid the ones that I know won't flatter me.
I have a few suggestion if you are serious about getting a good fit. First, go with the custom fit. The extra cost will more than make up for the alterations you many have to make. Second, measure very accurately. Get a friend to help. Don't add or subtract an inch thinking that you need to get the right fit, They get it right if you send in the correct measurements. Finally, If you are planning to buy an expensive dress or wedding dress, find one in a similar cut in the $100 range. In the world of wedding dresses $100 isn't much to pay to be sure that it fits the way you expected. And you get an extra dress.