En-Toto Couture

ling in March to make an appointment for my first fitting. Sonny,the owner ran me around in circles giving me at least six dates that it would be ready, with lame excuses why it wasn’t. Finally two days before I had to leave for the wedding he promised that the outfit would be ready and alterations would be done that day. When I got there the outfit in the store was nothing like what I ordered. Not even close. I would NEVER go back there nor would I recommend them. They have no concern for the customer at very high prices I might add.

rdered and to save time they borrowed a jacket to copy. Without permission they sent that jacket to a factory in India. It was quite a hassle but we finally got the jacket back. We became aware of two other people who had waited eight months and still hadn’t had a fitting and were close to their event. Their store is crammed with one fitting room. They don’t honor appointments. They forget, they are not honest. Weddings are stressful enough. A true couture shop would know how to sketch to design. They would work on a specific timeline. They would remember who you are and treat you with respect and be honest. Go elsewhere.

tly. I have a photo to prove it. He measured me in a heavy sweater - I questioned him and have a witness to this. But he said he needed it for the hem on the high to low version of the dress, which made sense. On January 16th I was told he had picked it up and come in. When I arrived it was not only the WROMG DRESS but VERY large. I don't know why he didn't notice it was the wrong dress when he picked it up ! He said the designer didn't make it to his measurements or what he ordered. He promised to have the right dress in the right size in 1 week- to convey that the size 12 was a perfect fit. On January 24th I arrived and while it was the right dress I could still spin it around my body without undoing the zipper. It was like a potato sack on me- same size as previous dress - as if I could zip it up over a heavy winter sweater ( I think not a coincidence!) I told him I wanted my deposit back and he refused, insisting that his dressmaker could remake it, still insisting it was all due to Alex Teih's mistakes. But I didn't pay $3200 for a dressmaker to remake a dress. These were major alterations- pleats, pockets, drop waist, etc. But the PROMISE was that the dress would be the right size and it wasn't- not even close ! Even that day, Mr Strows insisted that his measurements were "spot on". I left in search of a dress, now limited to something in stock that could be altered in two weeks. Two of the shops I went to said that they had never had an issue with Mr. Teih and that he was lovely to work with. So I contacted Mr. Teih a couple months after the wedding, with photos. He was very professional in his response. He said both that he RECEIVED THE WRONG ORDER AT FIRST and that because both dresses were big he thinks THE MEASUREMENTS MUST HAVE BEEN WRONG. Also that Mr. Strows is only permitted to sell one style of his line, that he is not one of his vendors, who know that he will always fix a problem. Mr. Strows wants to hold me responsible for the full price of the dress and refuses to refund my $1687. deposit. Where is the empathy? Where is the "I'm sorry you had to go through this and I hope you shop here in the future?" I was in business for years- I would take responsibility for my mistakes or my vendors mistakes. Those are the companies I want to do business with. Where to go instead ? Go to Venka at the Elephant's Trunk in Mt. Kisco, go to Marge at Filly's, go to Anastasia at Mary Jane Denzer, go to Runway Couture in Merrick. All were very professional and empathetic, whether they could make the sale or not. I don't know what the law is, I have never taken anyone to court. But I do know what the right thing to do is. And it's not a store credit so I can go through broken promises again ! Read the other reviews where Mr Strows himself says that sometimes people have to come for more that 5 fittings ! If the measurements are right, this certainly should not be the case !