Term

Special order

A special order is a dress ordered from a maker for a customer rather than bought from existing stock, often with stricter return terms. Because the dress is made or shipped for you, shops may treat deposits and orders as non-refundable and cannot restock it. Before paying, ask for the expected arrival window in writing, what happens if the dress arrives late or flawed, and what is non-refundable. Build extra time for alterations. See also: Alterations, Hem, and the guide Dress Shopping Timeline: When to Start and What to Do First.