10 Rules for Shopping eShakti - Plus Extra Tips! from Gail Carriger

Updated in 2018

 10 Rules for Shopping eShakti

1. Have someone who knows what they are doing take your measurements, and be honest. Then customize everything. It's $10 extra and worth every penny.
2. Know exactly what you want before you place your custom order, from neckline to sleeves.
3. If you have any concerns, note them in the comments box provided.
• If you know you have some unusual body thing, and they don't give you the option for a measurement, make a note in the order comments field. 
• For example, my upper arms are larger than my size would suggest so I try to remember to note that WHEN PLACING the order.
4. Be very clear with your wants and have a back up plan on customization in case they can't meet your needs. "Limited stock" means they may be out of the fabric you want by the time they get to your order.  
5. Take advantage of seasonal sales, they have them a lot, dresses can drop as low as $40.
6. Many dresses are lined (not all) but be aware that the prices are so good for a reason, some fabric quality and attention to stitching detail is lacking.
7. If you have a particular event in mind, order at least a month ahead of time to be on the safe side. Two if you can.
8. Hippy? Pockets in full skirts add volume, most of their dresses have side pockets but it's free to take them out, your choice. One of the things I LOVE is the pockets.
9. Problems with the bill? Telephone gets a faster response time than email. Concerns with the customization? Email works fine.
10. Busty? Don't order any dress that doesn't have seams in the torso area, anything that relies on waist tucks for fit will not work. (More coming on this one.)
• Add sleeves if you can. 
• Consider necklines carefully.

See how awful this style looks on a large bust? The lack of the seems and sweetheart neckline combine to tragedy.

Note on returns: 
They have made this process much easier over the years, the package comes with a sticky Free Return label.

Tips for Curvy Gals & Retro Looks

ADD SLEEVES

• Remember Bracelet & 3/4 are challenging if you plan to wear a tight jacket or sweater over it, as the sleeve can get caught and roll up easy. 
• Elbow length is easily the most vintage looking, and my personal favorite. 
• Puff can actually be flattering if you have bigger upper arms, because the puffing will give the illusion of the arm being more slender by contrast. 
• Cap sleeves are dumb

CHANGE THE NECKLINE

So many awesome options, although not every dress has all of them.

• Don't worry about width: most eShakti dresses have bra strap "keepers" (clips at the shoulder to go around a bra strap and keep it from showing). 
• Do worry about fit, the higher neck ones can run tight, so be wary and provide a neck measurement in comments.
• Think about what bra you might want to wear under it. Vintage and full support bras run higher up the neckline, so anything called deep or wide by eShakti might not cover your bra properly. (See my issues with sweetheart bellow in the blue patterned pencil dress.)

 My favorites on my figure?

• Boat
• Bucket
• Shaped Scoop
• Split Boat 

Ones I want to try?

• Split Scoop
• U Neck
• Deep V 
• V Neck
• Square

Not recommended if busty 

• Wide V (not enough support)
• Wide Deep Scoop (same, plus likely to show bra)
• Wide Deep Square (same)
• Wide square (likely to show bra)
• Jewel (too much fabric)
• Sweetheart (unflattering, see dress below)

HEMLINE IS TRICKY

Do think about what shoes you intend to wear with the dress, depending on your height...

• Knee length on a full skirt is the most versatile for flats or heels.
• If you intend to wear crinolines under a full skirt for a real vintage look, order bellow the knee.
• If you want the most vintage then below the knee on a pencil too, but you'll have to wear heels.
• As a rule: the shorter the hem, the shorter the heel.
• Mid calf is pretty much the least flattering, I'd say you have to wear heals with this length, but I avoid it like the plague, so what would I know?
• Ankle length is for situations where conservative dressing mixed with hem in danger are at play, like a beach wedding.
• Full length is your best option for a maxi dress.

Definitely make sure you have your height and other measurements inputted but if you have a short or long torso this can effect hemline.

Perhaps one of the commenters can speak to how to deal with this?

I'm basically average in this matter, so hemlines fall pretty much where they are on the sketches.

Here's what a custom order looks like: 

Gail Wearing eShakti...

May of these are from before my breast reduction surgery. Before surgery, eShakti was basically the only place I could buy dresses at all. After, however, it meant none of those dresses fit me anymore.

These three dresses I could not change the neckline, because it was set, but I did add short sleeves to them all. I also changed the hemline to below the knee.

My preference is for short sleeves for reasons of heat control, and because I prefer to layer. Short tends to work best with jackets and cardigans.

Here are two with half length sleeves and below the knee hems. Both I also changed the neckline, in the first to a rounded square (now called bucket, I think) and the other to a boat.

The fit on this dress was amazing and I loved the material, but I'm not wild about a sweetheart neckline (my mind is unlikely to be changed on this matter for the super busty). I had to add the trim myself to the neckline of this dress, because the it was too low and always showed my bra.

This is the only dress that survived the transition to smaller boobs. It's really stretchy and the neckline of the under piece kind of arches upwards now, which is fine, fuller coverage. I changed the sleeves from cap to short.

Here are some I've ordered post surgery:

In some of my newer eShaktis

Do let me know if you try eShakti and if you liked it. This is not a sponsored post, I'm entirely honest in my reporting on this matter and was really was happy with the results. But I known not everyone feels the same way. If you leave a comment with your experience, than readers get a fuller perspective.

Retro Rack is also on facebook where I post additional images and fashion thoughts.

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