If you love fashion but are on a budget, you may have come across Baltic Born. This popular online clothing retailer has made a name for itself offering stylish, on-trend dresses and apparel at very reasonable prices. But is Baltic Born legit? How do their items stack up in terms of quality and customer service?
In this in-depth Baltic Born review, I‘ll share my expert insights to help you decide if this brand is right for your closet and wallet. We‘ll look at the company‘s background, browse some of their best-selling dresses, analyze real customer reviews, and evaluate how Baltic Born compares to other affordable fashion retailers. By the end, you‘ll have all the key facts to determine if you should shop the Baltic Born website with confidence.
About Baltic Born
First, let‘s start with an overview of the Baltic Born brand. The company was founded in 2016 by 3 women: Allison Hunt and two sisters, Angela and Marianne Liljenquist. The name Baltic Born is a nod to the founders‘ shared Scandinavian heritage and love of the Baltic Sea region.
From the beginning, Allison, Angela and Marianne sought to create a clothing line defined by a few core values: affordability, inclusion, and capturing the spirit of the Baltics. They wanted to offer on-trend apparel that made customers feel confident and stylish, without breaking the bank. Baltic Born is headquartered in American Fork, Utah.
Today, Baltic Born is an extremely popular online fashion destination, especially with younger women. The brand has over 400,000 followers on Instagram and has been featured in publications like Good Housekeeping, Brides, and PureWow.
What Kind of Clothing Does Baltic Born Offer?
Baltic Born focuses almost exclusively on dresses for women. Their clothing assortment spans several different categories:
- Casual dresses
- Formal dresses
- Wedding guest dresses
- Bridesmaid dresses
- Maternity dresses
Within these categories, Baltic Born features a huge variety of dress styles, including maxi dresses, midi dresses, mini dresses, wrap dresses, shift dresses, and A-line dresses. They also offer a small selection of skirts, rompers, and jumpsuits.
Price-wise, most Baltic Born dresses retail between $65 and $110, making them very budget-friendly for such trendy styles. The majority of dresses come in a wide range of colors and/or prints and are offered in sizes XS to 3X – so there are plenty of options for different style preferences and body types.
Speaking of style, Baltic Born dresses definitely lean towards more bold, trendy, and feminine looks vs basics or minimalist designs. Some of their most popular styles feature details like ruffles, pleats, thigh slits, puff sleeves and all-over floral prints.
Overall, Baltic Born clothing is a great choice if you love eye-catching, romantic, and fashion-forward dresses for everything from work to formal occasions to weddings. And the wide selection of colors and inclusive size options make them an appealing choice for many.
Baltic Born Dress Reviews
Now that you have a sense of the overall Baltic Born vibe, let‘s dive into some detailed reviews of their best-selling dresses. I‘ll share my thoughts on the quality, fit, style, and value for the investment.
Athena Pleated Maxi Dress Review
One of Baltic Born‘s all-time most popular styles is the Athena Pleated Maxi Dress. With pleated satin material, a curve-flattering wrap-style bodice, and a high-low skirt, this dress is a romantic yet effortless choice for any special occasion.
What I love most about the Athena is its supremely comfortable and flowy fit. The satin material feels silky and lightweight, while the slight stretch in the fabric accommodates different body sizes well. The ribbon-cinch waist enhances your shape but still provides roominess for inevitable big meal bloat (very key). I also like the modest wrap-front bodice – there‘s no cleavage spillage but it still looks sleek and a little sexy.
One minor issue is the fabric may snag fairly easily, as satin tends to do. So I wouldn‘t wear this to any events with intensive activities. But for a wedding, shower, or pretty date night look, the Athena dress is a no-brainer affordable winner. It comes in over 10 gorgeous shades and was originally $65 – now on sale for just $50!
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Sicily Satin Maxi Dress Review
For a dressier take on Baltic Born‘s signature flowy maxi, the Sicily Satin Maxi Dress is another home run. Featuring an elegant high neck, midi-length skirt with slit, and wrap-tie waist, this style screams "chic European vacation."
What immediately stands out about the Sicily dress is the lovely draping and unique design. The satin material is light and lustrous, creating a liquid-like effect as you walk. The neckline provides great subtle coverage, balanced by a sexy lower back. I‘m also a fan of the thigh slit – it shows just enough leg while being easy to move in. Go up 1 size if you want a looser wrap fit at the waist.
This is the perfect dress to pack for a destination wedding, romantic getaway, or just to elevate your next date night. Dress it up with heels and statement earrings or down with flat sandals. At $78, the Sicily is a high-end look for a very reasonable price.
Rating: 5/5 stars
Andi Ribbed Velvet Wrap Dress Review
For cooler weather occasions, the Andi Ribbed Velvet Wrap Dress from Baltic Born makes a major statement. With a deep V-neckline, fluttery sleeves, and a textured velvet fabric, this dress is cozy glam at its finest.
I was honestly surprised by how sumptuous and expensive-looking the ribbed velvet material is, especially for a $100 dress. It‘s thick enough to smooth any lumps and bumps but still very supple and comfortable to wear. The wrap silhouette is universally flattering and can be adjusted to your liking. I love the slightly puffed shoulders for a trendy accent.
This is an ideal choice for fall and winter events when you want to stand out. I‘d style the Andi dress with tights, ankle booties, and a wide-brim felt hat for major vintage vibes. It does run slightly large, so consider sizing down if you‘re between.
Rating: 4.8/5 stars
Katya Ruffle Maxi Dress Review
For brides looking for beautiful and budget-friendly bridesmaid dresses, the Katya Ruffle Maxi Dress comes in 15 colors to suit any wedding palette.
With a flowy chiffon fabric, dainty ruffled cap sleeves, and a tulip skirt, the Katya dress is the perfect blend of sweet and elegant. It‘s conservative enough for a ceremony but still has pretty, eye-catching details. The ruffle accents on the sleeves and waist add a touch of whimsy, while the wrap-style bodice provides some shape.
I will say the chiffon material is on the thinner side, so wear appropriate undergarments. Length was great on my 5‘6" frame with 3" heels. And you can‘t beat the price at just $72 per dress! Your bridal party will thank you.
Rating: 4.2/5 stars
What Do Customers Think About Baltic Born?
Of course, you shouldn‘t just take my word for it when considering whether to buy from Baltic Born. To give you a well-rounded perspective, I scoured hundreds of customer reviews from the brand‘s website, Trustpilot, Sitejabber and the Better Business Bureau. Here‘s a summary of the overall feedback and ratings:
Baltic Born‘s Website
- Athena Pleated Maxi Dress: 4.8/5 stars from 600+ reviews
- Sicily Satin Maxi Dress: 4.5/5 stars from nearly 300 reviews
- Andi Ribbed Velvet Wrap Dress: 4.8/5 stars from 1,100+ reviews
- Katya Ruffle Maxi Dress: 4.7/5 stars from over 150 reviews
Trustpilot
- 1.67/5 star rating based on 170 reviews
Sitejabber
- 1.6/5 star rating based on 6 reviews
Better Business Bureau
- 1.54/5 star rating based on 79 reviews
As you can see, there is quite a discrepancy between the glowing reviews on Baltic Born‘s website and the poor ratings on independent review platforms. Some positive comments praised the brand‘s:
- Stylish, unique designs
- Affordable prices
- Wide variety of colors and prints
- Inclusive sizes from XS-3X
However, the negative reviews consistently mentioned serious issues like:
- Poor quality fabrics and construction
- Wrong sizes/items shipped
- Lengthy shipping delays
- Difficult returns and refund process
- Subpar customer service when problems arose
While I believe many of the 5-star reviews on Baltic Born‘s site are legitimate, the pattern of bad experiences on third-party platforms is concerning. I would proceed with caution, especially if you need your items delivered by a certain date.
Is Baltic Born Legit?
So now for the million-dollar question: is Baltic Born legit? The short answer is yes, they are a real company with decent product. But there are some red flags to be aware of.
On one hand, Baltic Born clothing is genuinely very cute, size-inclusive, and affordable for the quality. They have an impressive selection of dresses for many occasions and their signature designs are frequently featured in media publications. So they are definitely a legitimate business, not a fly-by-night scam.
However, the slew of negative customer reviews claiming issues with sizing, shipping, quality and service can‘t be ignored. While Baltic Born seems to have enough happy customers to maintain their popularity, it‘s clear that buying from them is somewhat of a gamble. You may get a beautiful dress…or you may end up fighting for a refund on a defective, late-arriving garment.
So is Baltic Born worth the risk? Only you can decide what you‘re comfortable with. To me, it depends on your needs. If you just want a cheap and cheerful fashion dress and aren‘t in a major rush, go for it. Baltic Born will likely serve you well. But if you need a guaranteed high-quality, perfect-fitting dress for a special event, I‘d spend a bit more elsewhere for that peace of mind.
How Does Baltic Born Compare to Similar Budget Fashion Brands?
Perhaps it would be helpful to look at how Baltic Born stacks up against some of its competitors in the affordable online fashion space:
Baltic Born vs. Lulu‘s
- Both focus on trendy, feminine dresses and offer similar price points ($50-$150). However, Lulu‘s has a slightly wider assortment, with tops, bottoms, shoes and accessories.
- Lulu‘s has a 4.4/5 Trustpilot rating and an A+ BBB score (vs. Baltic Born‘s 1.67/5 and B ratings). So Lulu‘s may be more reliable in terms of delivery and service.
- Lulu‘s items tend to garner more consistently positive reviews in terms of quality and construction compared to Baltic Born.
Baltic Born vs. ASOS
- ASOS is a much larger, more established brand with a vast array of clothing, from basics to designer pieces. Price points vary but sale items are comparable to Baltic Born.
- ASOS offers free shipping and returns, while Baltic Born charges for orders under $150. ASOS also has faster, trackable delivery.
- ASOS has a 4.4/5 Trustpilot rating and a huge global customer base. It receives higher marks for quality control but some complaints about customer service.
Overall, Baltic Born differentiates itself with highly unique, statement-making dresses you won‘t find elsewhere. But brands like Lulu‘s and ASOS seem to provide more reliability and a better overall customer experience for similar prices.
Baltic Born Discounts & Promotions
Before we wrap up, I know you savvy shoppers want to score the best deal on your Baltic Born purchases. Here are some of the best ways to save:
- Sign up for the Baltic Born email newsletter for a 10% discount code
- Shop the sale section for dresses up to 50% off
- Check the Baltic Born social media accounts for flash promotions
- Get free shipping on all orders over $150
Unfortunately, Baltic Born rarely releases sitewide promo codes. But you can always find a good deal in the sale section. It‘s also free to join their loyalty rewards program to earn points on every purchase towards future discounts.
Shipping & Returns
Baltic Born offers worldwide shipping from their Utah warehouse. Here are the key shipping policies to know:
- Free US shipping on orders over $150, otherwise a flat $8 rate
- International shipping rates vary by location and package weight
- Express shipping available for $30-35
- Expect 3-5 business days for orders to ship
- Delivery typically arrives 5-12 business days later
- Track your order online via an automated email
As for returns, Baltic Born allows requests within 35 days of delivery for store credit only (no refunds). Domestic returns are free but international customers must pay return shipping.
There is a 25% restocking fee per item. To start a return, log into your account on the website and follow the return portal prompts.
The Final Verdict
We‘ve covered all the key aspects of the Baltic Born shopping experience in this comprehensive review. To sum it up, here are the major pros and cons to consider:
Baltic Born Pros
- Wide variety of unique, stylish dresses for all occasions
- Affordable prices for on-trend designs
- Extensive size range from XS-3X
- Nice quality fabrics and cuts for the price
Baltic Born Cons
- Unstable record of customer service and order fulfillment
- Reported issues with shipping, sizing, and quality control
- Lack of consistent sitewide discounts
- Store credit only for returns
Overall, I believe Baltic Born can be a great budget-friendly option for finding eye-catching dresses, if you are willing to accept some level of risk. The styles are so cute and the prices are hard to beat. However, you may need to exercise extra patience with receiving and potentially exchanging your order.
My advice is to shop Baltic Born for dresses you love but aren‘t urgently tied to a specific event. Read the reviews and size charts closely. Be prepared for possible delays or issues, and only order if you‘re ok with store credit.
I hope this honest Baltic Born review has given you helpful guidance to decide if this popular dress brand aligns with your needs. Let me know about your own experience with them – I‘d love to hear your thoughts!
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