frockd tools

Buyer’s checklist

22things to check before, during, and after a pre-loved dress purchase. Tick them off as you go — most buyer regret comes from skipping items in section 2.

Section 1

Before you message the seller

What to look for in the listing itself. If any of these are missing, the seller has a story they aren't telling.

Listing has front, back, AND a wrong-side / lining photoThe right side has been styled for the camera. The lining tells the truth — let-out seams, stains, deodorant marks all show up there first.
Designer label is photographed clearlyLets you cross-check fonts, fabric content tags, and label position against the brand's authentic style. Counterfeits get this wrong.
Original receipt or proof of purchase is offeredAuthenticates the designer, locks the price ceiling, and gives you something to fall back on if the brand is questioned later.
Original retail price (RRP) is statedAnchors the resale fairness. A 'designer dress at 30% off retail' means very different things at $1,200 vs $4,200 RRP.
Condition is described specifically, not just 'good''Small lipstick mark inside the bodice, 4cm pull on the left side seam' beats 'good condition' every time. Vague is dealer-speak.
Bust / waist / hip measurements are listed in cm or inchesDesigner label numbers lie — Self-Portrait pre-2018 runs a full size small. Always trust the actual centimetres, not the tag.

Section 2

Questions to ask the seller

Before you transfer money. A real owner has answers; a flipper or scammer doesn't.

How many times has it been worn?'Worn once' is the most-told lie on resale platforms. Underarm seams and lining wear give the truth away — ask for close-ups.
Has it been dry-cleaned, and how recently?Aggressive dry-cleaning shrinks chiffon and weakens beading threads. The wrong cleaner can quietly ruin a dress.
Has it ever been altered? Hem, bust, any seams?Alterations narrow the buyer pool and limit what you can do later — once seam allowance is cut, it's gone for good.
Underarm seam close-ups (if not already in the listing)The first place sweat-marks and stretched seams show up. A genuinely once-worn dress has clean, taut underarm seams.
Lining / inside-out close-up (if not already in the listing)Hides the truth about how often the dress has actually been worn. If the seller refuses, walk.
Does the zipper run smoothly all the way up?A tetchy zipper is a $60–120 repair, and on a beaded bodice it's much worse. Worth knowing before you buy.
Can you try it on before paying (for local pickup)?Sellers who refuse a 15-minute fitting on a $400+ formal dress usually have a fit problem they don't want you to find.

Section 3

At handover or unboxing

Physical check. Bring this list — it's the difference between $480 well spent and a $480 garment-bag mystery.

Designer label matches the listing — font, position, fabric contentCounterfeits often get the font slightly wrong. Compare against a known authentic on the brand's site.
No surprise stains on the lining or hemEspecially the underarm panels and inside the bodice. Foundation and deodorant transfer is hard to remove.
No mystery odours — smoke, perfume, mustinessSmoke and mustiness are very hard to remove from formal-dress fabrics. If you can smell it now, you'll smell it on the night.
Beadwork is intact — no missing sections, no loose threadsBead repair runs $40–120 per area, and re-sequinning a panel is often quoted as 'we don't do those'.
Zipper actually goes all the way up smoothly, in personDifferent from the seller's word. Test it yourself before paying.
Hidden bra cups (if listed) are present and intactSewn-in cups make the dress wearable without a separate bra; if they've been removed, that's a $40–80 alterations cost.
Hem is even all the way aroundAn uneven hem usually means the dress was altered for someone shorter than you. Re-leveling is $80+ on lined fabric.
Try it on STANDING and SITTING — both should be comfortableA dress that fits standing can split a side seam during the speeches. Most engagement-photo regret starts at table four.
The dress in your hands looks like the dress in the listing photosFiltered photos and brand-website stock images are the two biggest sources of buyer disappointment.

One last thing

Resale dresses are usually final sale — no returns, no refunds. The checklist is the protection.

If you’re evaluating a specific listing, the value estimator tells you whether the asking price is fair, and the alterations cost tool tells you what a less-than-perfect fit will cost to make right.