Claire Pettibone

Probably some of the most beautiful dress I have ever seen. However, it is clear that women like me who are curvy and busty are not the designer’s intended customer. I so desperately wanted to purchase this dress that I LOVE. The dress is already at a premium price but then the designer said that they would charge me an additional $ 250 for a «custom bust» and a 15% upcharge for a bigger size. This was approximately $ 1000 in additional costs simply because of my body type. I have been to about 11 bridal salons both in norCal and soCal and I have yet to hear of another shop that imposes a similar charge. I decided to walk away from the dress because the truth is the whole experience made me feel a little bad for being the size that I am. I never thought of myself as being plus size until my appointment where they kept referring to me as such. In any event, I think had there not been fees that only apply to certain brides then I would’ve happily purchased the dress. But principle just won’t let me.
Just wanted the curvy brides to be well informed when going through this experience.

I bought a wedding dress from here awhile ago and just had it made. The dress looks horrific and does not look anything like the sample wedding dress that I tried on. I went in today for a gown approval and Wendy was so rude and not very educated about these dresses. I told her that was not the dress that I ordered that it isn’t supposed to have a huge visible seam in the middle of the dress. I paid $ 12,000 for this dress and it looks sooooo cheap. I was super upset and asked to speak to the designer and she will not let me speak to her. I refused to take this dress home. Wendy tried making me feel crazy and picky so I am posting a picture of what the dress was supposed to look like and what it actually looks like so you be the judge!!! Their dresses do not look the same as the samples you try on and they are super rude and lack integrity!!! Shame on them!

This is the most gorgeous bridal shop I have ever been to! We went to 4 places before Claire Pettibone. Most of the places we went to were packed with other appointments but at Claire they reserve for just one appointment at a time. It is a very calming atmosphere and you don’t feel like you are sharing your experience with any random people. Their collection as everyone knows has gorgeous back details that can not be worn with a regular bra. They provide really cool (clean) bras for you to wear while you try them on! A lot of people on here said that it is not a place to go unless you are tall and slim… well I am 5’2″ and I am not «slender as a pole» and a lot of these dresses looked great on me. They shouldn’t fit like a glove first shot unless you’re a model. So if you are short and reading reviews that are discouraging you should still go and try them on. I found my dress here and while it isn’t perfect in the photos it will be fit to me with my alterations. All together such a great store and vibe and the staff was amazing and not pushy. If you are going for a light, breezy, bohemian look I recommend the Romantique collection at Claire. They are all priced under $ 3000 and you pay half now and half on your first fitting.

Absolutely love this store and all of Claire Pettibone’s dresses. The outside of the building itself is beautiful and has a small pond with turtles. When you walk inside the store you will be very impressed by the vintage décor, which is stunning. Erica really made gown shopping a pleasant experience. I live in San Diego and before my appointment had been emailing with her back and forth. She was very helpful and answered all my questions. I ended up driving down to try on the Kristene gown, which I had found on instagram. I ended up falling in love with it and placed my order. I hope that it doesnt require many alterations but am SO incredibly excited to try it on. Even though the gown are pricey I highly recommend it because of the quality and the experience.

Erica at Claire Pettibone was amazing! Although I did not end up with a Claire Pettibone dress, the experience was wonderful and one of her dresses was in my top 2 choices. This was my first bridal appointment ever and Erica was patient and kind. She didn’t make us feel rushed and we felt so special throughout the whole experience. And besides the great service, the dresses are stunning and the detail is unreal. Highly recommend!

I am an older bride. I wanted to look at Claire’s gowns, as I love her vintage creations. I made my appointment during a trunk show. I was met by Claire and Erica. Claire was gracious and added personal service, offering kind suggestions and modifications to customize any gown to work for me. Erica was knowledgeable and patient. I did not order that day, as I needed to decide between two gowns. I returned months later and ordered. Erica has given me suggestions for shoes and jewelry and has kept me posted each step of the way. She is an asset to the business, providing service excellence.
I have never felt or seen such a beautiful, quality garment. I believe that Claire creates works of art. While she has enjoyed international success and has graced the covers of bridal magazines, she and Erica have been successful in maintaining an intimate, personalized boutique. I read a review which alluded to the high prices. Claire Pettibone proves that you get what you pay for!

I have tried on soooooo many dresses. I wanted something unique, light, flowy, sexy, classy, fitted, and bearable for summertime in Hawaii. Automatically, a lot of gowns and designers were nixed off my list.
I discovered Claire Pettibone, and I was attracted to the intricate details of the back of her gowns. Absolutely stunning and gorgeous. However, to have such intricate design, her dresses often lack structure. That structure is necessary in order to hold everything in if you’re not skinny or rail thin or tall. I absolutely fell in love with the backs of the gown, but not the front!
I couldn’t justify paying that much for a gown that I wasn’t completely in love with. I got a little turned off when they told me that I would have to pay for custom length since I was short (I’m 5’4″ — I didn’t think I was that short?). Tack on an additional $ 650 – 700 for custom length if you’re «short». Plus, alterations which is probably another $ 650! Ridic! When you add all that up, I could be getting a much higher end gown from other more well-​known designers. Maybe I would have felt different if the price structure was less. The pricing was up there with Vera Wang, Monique, Ines di Santo, Etc… Claire’s gowns are absolutely gorgeous. They are unique and artistic which is why I appreciate her work.
During my visit, I felt a little rushed. It could be because I was the last appointment and they just wanted to go home. They did let me try on a lot of their gowns, which I appreciated. Everything was pretty. I also liked how it was an intimate setting.
I didn’t end up getting my dress here. This place caters to tall, rail thin women who resemble the models that you see on ads. Their dresses look good on those body types. Claire’s dresses mimic the feel of vintage lingerie. Her gowns are perfect for outdoor, rustic, beach or garden weddings! all of her gowns are very light, flowy, and thin. There really is no room for forgiveness. No spanx allowed!

Had the best time with my girls trying on a dress for my big day. Erica was very sweet and helpful. I didn’t end up getting a Pettibone dress because I decided to wear red instead. However, I had such a great experience there, I had to write a good review for them. Beautiful dress, beautiful store, and definitely great customer service.

+Beautiful, detailed, vintage style wedding dresses. When I say detailed, I really mean DETAILED from the top to the bottom of the dress.
+The backs of the wedding dresses are TO DIE FOR. i love that they’re sexy with the sheer lace but there’s also design on top of it to make it more designy as well as slightly more modest.
+Amazingly decorated salon to try on the dresses
+The day I was there Claire Pettibone herself was there and she was extremely sweet and friendly!
+Wonderful and helpful staff
–The only negative is the dresses are a bit unforgiving.
–The majority of the dresses are $ 4-​$ 6,000.

Absolutely gorgeous dresses. If you’re looking for vintage-​style lace dresses, this is the place! Erica is awesome. She sure knows how to deliver you ‘the best customer service’. I walked in without an appointment and luckily there wasn’t any customer there. The sample sales dresses are 50% off.

My friend had a specific taste and style for her wedding dress. The original store that she found that had what she had in mind is all the way in Australia. Although we didn’t mind a trip down under, most people who have gone through the whole wedding dress bit know that you will need more than just one visit. One of our lifesaving friends found a flagship store in LA, and voila!
Parking is really messy here. The only available parking is on the street. You can get lucky though and as long as you don’t mind walking, I don’t think you’ll have any issues.
Looking from outside, the exterior even looks like it has it’s own story. When I first walked in and took a good look at the place and WOW. This place is all kinds of beautiful. I was so taken by the place that it got me all mesmerized. Erica greeted me and offered me something to drink and their chai is so good. (Thanks Erica!) When my friends arrived, they didn’t have to tell me, they were as impressed and overwhelmed with so much beauty and sophistication.
After a cup of tea, 3 hours, 8 dresses and about 12 dress changes, my friend finally found the One. Erica made it so easy and so fun. She answered all the questions and made us understand and have a feel of the product. She is so nice and she made the whole experience fun and convenient for the bride.
Although I’m not the one buying the dress, just looking at the many beautiful and elegant dresses AND Erica’s great personality, I would definitely recommend this place for future brides.
Price-​wise, you pay for what you get. The place sells couture wedding dresses but I assure you, the visit and the dress are worth the price you pay.
Thanks again Erica!

Before I started researching dresses, I didn’t know about Claire Pettibone. The first time I came across a picture of one of her gowns, it was so out of this world beautiful, with details I never imagined on a dress before, that I knew she would be the perfect designer for me. Ethereal, romantic, lovely down to the last little beaded detail.
The customer service experience I had at this store is, very honestly, the best service I have ever received at a store in my life. Erica helped me try on many many dresses, always patient, never once did I feel pressured or rushed. She always looked each dress over with a thoughtful eye, gave me some good opinions and suggestions, and even helped me take photos so I could send them to my mom. She has an easygoing yet determined manner, and it’s clear she loves dressing brides. The boutique is in a lovely building that looks like a castle, and it’s just a pleasure to shop and try on dresses in the dreamy atmosphere.
I found my dream dress here. Erica is the one who pulled it for me, I passed it on the rack and didn’t think it would fit well but took her suggestion, and when I put it on, wow. I am beyond excited to wear it at my wedding. Words can’t describe how exquisite the details and beading are, let alone the dramatic back of the dress.
And p. s. — to be frank, the only way I could afford this dress was because I nabbed it at a recent sample sale she had. Get in on one of those, and you’re GOLDEN (especially if you’re a size ²⁄₄ or ⁸⁄₁₀). However, if it was in my budget, I would have gone there and ordered a new gown. Either way, get thee to Claire Pettibone!

Beautiful, whimsical, romantic and vintage. That pretty much sums up all of Claire Pettibone’s designs. I’ve been in love with her work years before I even got engaged. Sadly, I went with another dress because it was too much out of my budget to purchase. I am also having a night time wedding, and the intricate details of her work are best appreciated in a daytime ceremony.
Customer service here is top notch. I visited the salon twice, and was helped by Erica both times. She is really lovely and really tries to work within your budget and style. I had to have tried on just about every dress in the store and she patiently helped me with each one. I brought my fiancé for my second appointment and Erica was completely cool about it. Erica even took the time to write me a follow up email asking about my progress in finding a dress. Erica if your boss reads these reviews, you need a raise!
I cannot begin to describe how insanely beautiful the detailing is on all the dresses. From the antique vintage lace, embroidery, beading, fabric, and the BACKS. Oh my gosh, the BACKS of the dresses are swoon worthy. A helpful tip, you can only take pictures of your top 3, so don’t go snapping away at the first dress!
I’m writing this post and still a little sad I didn’t get one of her dresses. If you have the budget to spend, I would definitely get your dress here if you have a vintage and romantic style. I could spend all day in the store. Seriously. It’s that pretty and wonderful!

I wish I was the mastermind behind Claire Pettibone. Seriously… her style and sense of creativity will never go out of style. I learned of her through some of my favorite wedding blogs online. When a person puts on one of her dresses, they are automatically transformed into an ethereal godess. This genius started off designing lingerie too… just the right amount of sexiness mixed with just the perfect amount of class.
My last stop before heading to the airport back to NYC was a MUST at her flagship salon. Not only to stand there in awe and drool over every dress on display, but also to speak with one of the best sales associates I have ever encountered. Her name was Erica. Her presence was so warm and inviting. She knew how much space to give me to just explore the showroom. When I was finally ready to start asking questions, she answered each question so perfectly, I didn’t even have much to ask beyond just feeling like I was surrounded by intense beauty. I wish I had more time to play. Maybe try on a few dresses and find out more price ranges.
I guess I dont even know how to explain it and its more of the surroundings. Being in there made me feel like I could just explore all day. I felt like I was in an enchanted showroom of dresses. A great salesperson with all the right answers. If I ever get married, this is the spot, and I will recommend Claire to all my future brides too.

Had a great time with my girls trying on wedding dresses for me. Erica was very helpful. She showed me the dresses I requested and show similar ones too. She is also very good in following up and making sure to let me know when there will be trunk sales and stuff. I end up choosing to wear a red, so I didn’t get a dress there. However, I had such a great experience, I had to write a review for them. Beautiful dress, beautiful store, and great customer service.

Oh my goodness. The MOST beautiful dresses and the MOST amazing customer service I’ve ever encountered in a bridal store.

This review is about the experience I had shopping for bridal gowns at the Claire Pettibone store. I knew of the store because I used to drive by it often, and always LOVED the gowns in the window. When I got engaged, I was excited to visit the shop. I made an appointment and went online to get an idea of which specific gowns I liked. I had several styles written down, which I brought to my appointment.
I arrived with my fiancé, which was apparently an issue. The manager asked «You want him here?» She asked several more times throughout the appointment. «You want him to see this dress? What if this is THE dress.» Yes, I want him here, that’s why I brought him.
Moving past that, when I started perusing the gowns, I noticed several were missing. «Most of our gowns are at a trunk show today». Umm, okay. I had an appointment, I was there to try on gowns. Why would you have me come on a day that most of the gowns weren’t there?
I started trying on gowns with the meager selection they had, all the while the manager was hovering over me. A favorite moment that my fiancé and I still laugh about: I had on a gown that had a tattoo-​type embroidery on the back. The manager said «If this detail is too progressive for you… it can be made without it.» PROGRESSIVE! She came across as aloof and pompous throughout the appointment.
Needless to say, I didn’t get my gown from Claire Pettibone. It’s a shame, I love the dresses, but between most of the gowns being gone and the less than friendly manager, I was done. I had been to at least 5 different bridal salons, and this was by far my worst experience. I ended up getting a Lazaro gown from Mon Amie in Orange County. Message to Claire Pettibone: Your staff is bringing down your good name. I’m giving 2 stars because I really love her aesthetic. If you want her dresses, try to buy them ANYWHERE else.

Claire Pettibone offers a truly «special» selection of gowns — definitely for a «vintage,» «romantic,» non-​traditional bride. Her designs are all about flow, lace, and special details like ribbons and velvet. Some other reviews mention «lingerie-​ish,» and I don’t disagree.
At our visit, the boutique was essentially divided into 2 sections — the front had discontinued gowns that could be purchased for a discount «off the rack» and the back area was reserved for newer gowns that would have to be ordered at least 4 – 6 months in advance (prices range from $ 1200-​10 500!). We found promising dresses in both sections, but we were disappointed to realize that one of our favorite «off the rack» pieces had holes all over the lace… (and since it was discontinued, no way of finding another, boo).
Our consultant Erica was very helpful and nice, but she was the only one in the store on a Saturday afternoon. Thus, as expected, we did not always have her undivided attention (not that she didn’t try her very best). But when your bride is trying to get in and out of a very delicate gown — one that she’s considering spending a couple grand on — we would like a little help here… (probably part of the reason why there were holes in the before mentioned gown… what a shame).
All in all, a pleasant experience at a truly one-​of-​a-​kind salon. My (future) sister is very excited about several of the gowns she tried on, and will likely be back with reinforcements (aka mom). To be completely honest, I wouldn’t recommend this boutique for everyone. As I mentioned above, it’s definitely more for a «vintage,» «romantic,» non-​traditional bride who knows what she wants.

Claire Pettibone has amazing dresses. This is one of the first places i went to when i was looking for my dress. Unfortunately, at the end of the day, i couldn’t justify blowing my budget on one of her dresses.
She has great vintage inspired designs that are really unique and intricate. If you have the money to spend I’d highly recommend her shop.
I went in and was helped by Erica. She asked my about my budget and the style i was looking for and she helped me find the few dresses she had that were in my price range.
After I tried on a few dresses a woman came out and introduced herself: «Hi, I’m Claire»
As in Claire Pettibone herself! I was a little starstruck. She hung around and watched me try on some of her dresses. It was nice to see a designer who still cares about the people who purchase her dresses!
Also, a few weeks after my visit, Erica emailed me and told me about a sample dress they got in the store that matched the style that I was interested in. I thought it was really nice of her to go out of her way to give me a call, even though I hadn’t followed up or anything with them.
I didn’t end up getting a dress here because the cost was just so high, and I wish her dresses were a little more affordable, but it does really seem like you’d be getting a quality garment for the cost.

This is where I found my perfect wedding dress. I walked in, picked it out, tried it on knew that it was the dress I had dreamt about. If I had tried on a hundren more I know wouldn’t have found another nearly as decadently beautiful.
As others have stated in reviews here, Claire Pettibone does not design for the masses. Her dresses have a timeless, romantic, sexy forest nymph and/​or edgy vintage glamour feel. They are for brides that want to wear something as unique as they are.