Overview of Baltic Born: Chic Dresses at Budget Prices
Baltic Born makes a bold claim to offer runway-inspired dresses at a fraction of the cost. Founded in 2016 by three friends – Allison Hunt, Angela Liljenquist, and Marianne Liljenquist – this Utah-based company aims to deliver Instagram-worthy styles without breaking the bank.
Beyond cute dresses taking center stage, Baltic Born also offers a wide selection of other feminine staples like jumpsuits, maxis, sweaters, rompers, and swimwear. Their product aesthetic walks the line between elegant and playful, ranging from satin bridesmaids gowns to casual ribbed minis.
With over 430,000 followers on social media, Baltic Born clearly resonates with a certain demographic seeking fashion-forward attire on a budget. While lots of customers sing their praises across the web, you may have also noticed an overwhelming amount of negative reviews surrounding shady business practices.
I decided to take an in-depth look at this somewhat controversial retailer in search of the truth. Keep reading for the full scoop in this tell-all Baltic Born review!
Baltic Born Highlights Overview:
- Trendy, Instagrammable styles for less
- Dresses offered in casual, bridal, and bridesmaids categories
- Range of sizes from XS-XL
- Most items under $100
- Avg. rating of 4.5/5 stars on their website
- 430k+ social media followers
- International shipping available
With so many pros at first glance, you’re probably wondering why anyone would complain. Well, let’s dig a little deeper…
Thorough Breakdown of Baltic Born’s Bestselling Dresses
As a dress-focused brand, evaluating their top styles offers helpful insight into the quality and value you can expect. Below I highlight Baltic Born’s current bestselling gowns along with pricing, available colors, and relevant reviews.
Athena Pleated Maxi Dress – $50
With over 600 glowing reviews and a near-perfect rating, this flowy satin maxi seems to be a customer fave for its figure-flattering empire waist and feminine ruffled skirt. Made to comfortably accommodate fluctuating sizes, it comes in 9 different rich hues perfect for special events.
Sicily Satin Maxi Dress – $78
Destined for vacations and summer cocktail parties, this strappy chiffon number features a thigh-high slit and draped silhouette. It attractively cinches at the waist with a matching tie and is available in 15 colors from scarlet red to sea foam green. With nearly 300 positive reviews, it appears to be another Baltic Born winner.
Andi Ribbed Velvet Wrap Dress – $104
Reviewers rave about this figure-hugging velvet dress for adding warmth and texture to your autumn wardrobe. It comes in both solid black and a trendy brown, white, and black animal print. The flirty flutter sleeves, tulip skirt cut, and subtle front wrap detail offer amazing value given the relatively low cost.
Katya Ruffle Maxi Dress – $72
As Baltic Born’s top-rated bridal style with nearly 800 perfect 5-star reviews, this seems like an amazing deal for bridesmaids and wedding guests. The tiered ruffled skirt adds gorgeous movement, available in a rainbow of chic neutral hues like blush, navy, sage green, and more.
Other Notable Baltic Born Dresses:
- Celia Satin Midi Dress – $68
- Loren Ribbed Midi Dress – $59
- Clara Ruffle Mini Dress – $74
- Juno Strapless Chiffon Maxi Dress – $92
With so many stylish bargain options, it initially seems like Baltic Born offers fantastic bang for your buck. But counterfeit businesses have flooded the eCommerce fashion space, so we need to determine if they’re the real deal.
Who is the Baltic Born Customer?
The typical Baltic Born shopper craves gorgeous going-out looks without splurging on designer prices. Most items ring up under $100, with flowing maxi dresses and satin midis claiming the majority of their inventory.
The core demographic seems to be ladies in their mid-20s up to late 30s who want to look stylish for work, weekends out, travel, and special events. Based on Baltic Born‘s model photos and style aesthetic, their target customer appears to be on the taller, slimmer side.
While they expanded their sizing range in recent years, some shorter or plus-size reviewers note the dresses run large and long. Be sure to carefully check detailed size charts if you fall outside the standard mold.
Ultimately if you obsess over Instagram boutiques and long for red carpet glam on a Target budget, you’re part of Baltic Born’s target market.
Hundreds of Negative Baltic Born Reviews – Are They Legit or Scam?
For all its social media praise and perfect website ratings, Baltic Born faces no shortage of angry, unhappy customers. While a few bad reviews here and there are normal, HUNDREDS of 1-star grievances raise some eyebrows.
I dug into external review sites for raw, unfiltered opinions outside of Baltic Born‘s control. These off-site product rating platforms offer a neutral space for open customer feedback.
Here‘s a quick snapshot of Baltic Born‘s overall external ratings:
- Better Business Bureau – 1.54 out of 5 stars (79 reviews)
- Trustpilot – 1.7 out of 5 stars (171 reviews)
- Sitejabber – 1.7 out of 5 stars (6 reviews)
Yikes! 😬 With the vast majority slamming this company across multiple credible sites, we need to determine what‘s going on here.
On one hand, internet culture loves drama and hysteria spreads quickly these days. But with SO many complaints surrounding everything from deceitful advertising, terrible quality, awful policies and nonexistent customer service, I can’t simply ignore them either.
Specific Customer Complaints About Baltic Born
Here‘s a brief overview of the most common issues shared:
Products Look Nothing Like Advertised
Countless shoppers felt duped by highly edited images that set unrealistic expectations. Several posted comparison shots exposing the night-and-day difference paired with scathing commentary.
Poor Quality Materials & Construction
Numerous reviews blast shoddy workmanship, unfinished hemlines, and fabrics that rip easily. Many describe their Baltic Born dress falling apart after one light wear.
No Returns Allowed Outside Small Window
The strict 35-day restriction for site credit only leaves customers stuck with dysfunctional dresses. Being unable to get an actual refund seems to be a major contention point.
Nightmare Customer Service
Repeated complaints circulate involving Baltic Born never responding to pleas for help. Several convey waiting months with no reply.
A Glimmer of Hope Among the Baltic Born Reviews
In all fairness, satisfied customers shared glowing feedback too. Here’s a brief sampling:
"Love this dress! It’s so comfortable and flowy. Perfect for a summer cocktail party or even as a bridesmaid dress. I always get so many compliments when I wear Baltic Born dresses."
"Stunning colors and amazing quality for the low price point. The chiffon fabric drapes beautifully and shipping was really quick too!"
“Baltic Born has super cute, affordable dresses you can’t find anywhere else. I’m obsessed with their stuff! The customer service team gladly helped me with a size exchange.”
So while problems clearly exist, Baltic Born appears to be a hit-or-miss gamble some are willing to risk. But with so many red flags amid bad experiences, is saving a few bucks worth potential disappointment? 🤔 Time to weigh the pros and cons…
The Verdict: Is Baltic Born Legit, Worth The Risk?
Given the polarized love/hate relationship with this retailer, answering the ultimate question comes down to managing expectations.
The Pros
- Attractive styles you won‘t find elsewhere
- Low prices compared to boutiques
- Generous size range
- Some reviewers very satisfied
The Cons
- Consistency and quality issues
- Misleading advertisemen
- Super strict, unfair policies
- Awful customer service
- High risk for disappointment
Weighing it all, Baltic Born seems best for buyers willing to gamble on potential defects without support. ⚠️ While possible to discover a unicorn dress, unhappy customers outnumber the fortunate ones.
Instead of playing retail roulette with your money and emotions, safer bets exist for cute affordable fashion. Check out my list of the 15 best Baltic Born alternative stores you can actually trust!
15 Baltic Born Competitors Worth Trying Instead
Want to explore similar cute and affordable dress options without so many scary risks? I highly recommend turning to these Baltic Born competitors that offer comparable styles and prices with far better reputations.
1. Lulus
With nearly 850,000 glowing reviews, Lulus sets the gold standard for totally adorable (and ethical) fast fashion at unbeatable prices.
2. Asos
Asos allows you to conveniently shop thousands of brands in one place, including their in-house line with stellar customer approval ratings.
3. Revolve
Boasting the largest selection of designer brands up to 65% off, Revolve offers a more elevated version of fast fashion.
4. Showpo
For sexy and edgy going-out looks, Showpo receives high marks for affordable quality by loyal followers.
5. Princess Polly
Princess Polly delivers coveted Australian-inspired fashion with a 95% approval rating from 100k+ reviews.
6. Nasty Gal
With a cool Cali-girl vibe and rocker edge, Nasty Gal earns 4 out of 5 stars averaged across major review sites.
7. Boohoo
UK-based Boohoo brings endless outfit inspiration leading the way in forward fashion trends at just $20 per piece.
8. Missguided
Another beloved British brand, Missguided reports over 85% of customers satisfied with their funky ‘fits.
9. Pink Blush Maternity
For expecting mamas, Pink Blush Maternity gains recognition as the ultimate mommy-and-me shop with affordable flowy dresses.
10. Lilly Pulitzer
A preppy Palm Beach style icon since 1959, Lilly Pulitzer‘s signature prints emit happiness backed by exceptional service standards.
11. Anthropologie
While priced slightly higher, Anthropologie‘s feminine boho aesthetic offers unmatched artisan details and ethical production values.
12. Free People
Channeling nostalgic ‘70s charm, the beloved Free People brand transports you to dreamy sun-drenched fields of flowers with their signature peasant dresses and wraps.
13. Ralph Lauren
Preppy American royalty, Ralph Lauren‘s legacy of effortless polished style successfully spans decades remaining ever-iconic.
14. Madewell
Clean, elevated essentials designed for feel-good functionality, Madewell earns top marks for premium quality with thoughtful touches.
15. Old Navy
Your reliable one-stop for wardrobe basics on the tightest of budgets, Old Navy follows ethical manufacturing guidelines and leads affordability.
The Final Takeaway
If you‘re lusting after those striking Baltic Born images in your feed I can‘t blame you…but sadly, expectation rarely meets reality with this retailer rife with issues.
While scoring a rare unicorn dress seems possible (yet not probable), far too many customers report devastating disappointment once the packaging comes off.
Why play high-risk games with hard-earned money and irreplaceable special moments? Instead, explore similar styles from reputable brands truly invested in your satisfaction.
Remember – beautifully made boutique fashion CAN be affordable with realistic standards – so never settle for less! 😘
