Miss Helen works MAGIC when it comes to QiPao designs. I was looking around for a QiPao to wear to…read moremy graduation and stumbled upon Brocade Apparel after multiple failed attempts of finding a well fitting, generic QiPao in Chinatown. I am very glad that I decided to come to Brocade to see Helen. I did not have an appointment, but Helen took me in graciously. Which she did not have to since she does state on her website that appointment are REQUIRED. I clearly did not read it carefully enough at the time. I told her where some of my insecurities were and she explained that QiPaos look best on people who have some extra meat and fluff to them and she was able to point on what type of designs would help accentuate my natural curves. She rushed my order a bit as I did not know that QiPaos that are custom takes a minimum of 3-4 months to make. I had the basic QiPao design and Helen added the sleeves for me although there is normally an extra charge to add sleeves to QiPaos. Please DO NOT throw away your receipt since you have to text that to her the day before the fitting so she can track your dress. I had a initial fitting in mid November and I received my dress about 3 weeks after since I had gained some weight and the dress needed to be altered to go up a size. In the end it all worked out and I had my beautiful, pure silk QiPao just in time for my photoshoot. Everyone who saw me in the QiPao could not stop complimenting me on the day of my photoshoot and the day of my graduation. I had never felt more confident in clothing than putting on the QiPao. I am so grateful for this experience with Helen in designing a custom QiPao. Also, expect that basic QiPaos are a minimum of $500 and up. If you want embroidery, I was told that it will be a minimum of about $1,000+. Prices are due to change based on the economy of course. Helen also informed me that she can design other clothing besides QiPaos and I had even noticed some wedding dresses in her changing room. I will definitely go back to Helen when I get married to design another dress. She also informed me her busy season tends to be from Jan/Feb until end of August as that is when Lunar New Year and Wedding Season is, so expect a longer turn-around time during that period.

The store recently moved from their Temple City location to this Monterey Park one. It's run by the…read moresame woman, and I had the pleasure of having my qipao altered here. I bought my qipao for cheap online and was worried about where I'd get it altered as I know the material wasn't super easy to work with. I brought it to Brocade Apparel and they were able to tailor it exactly to how I wanted it. Prices for qipao alterations start at $100, and although that seemed a little pricey to me at first, the output of work and peace of mind justified the cost for me. I came in for my final fitting and it was too tight for my hips. The owner worked on it really quick (5-10 minutes) and had it ready and exactly as what I wanted while I browsed around the shop to avoid me having to come back. I really appreciated how she thought about my customer experience and did what she needed to do in order to make it right for me. I am so thankful it came out exactly as I wanted. I also wanted to say that some of the ready to wear qipaos I saw in the shop was beautiful. They're all handmade and I wish I visited here before I bought mine online. I'd recommend any potential brides to check this place out before committing to a qipao.

Lots of pretty qipaos and items to look at. Was shopping for a nice outfit for work and found a red…read moreone for about $30. The quality is okay and the vibes were nice. Lots of other stores in the area.

Excellent experience, will be a repeat customer! They made my daughter feel comfortable, stayed…read moreopen passed business hours in order for her to find perfect dress.

I love Connie's. Most shops on Santee won't allow you to take photos, but at Connie's they not…read moreonly allowed me to take photos but assisted me in finding a dress for my daughter who could not make it to the store, so Lupe helped me Facetime my daughter so she could decide which dress to purchase

This place has such a cool concept! My Korean GF booked me an appt. here after I struck out at a…read morefew American stores. I may be as white as they come, but my bridal style is definitely Asian! I love lots of lace, flowers, low backs, and unique styles. I'd been to 2 American stores + a sample sale at an expo and hadn't found anything close to my dream dress. Those complaining about the selection here clearly misunderstood the idea behind this boutique - they can custom make ANY DRESS for around $1,600! This includes your own vision completely from scratch and exact replicas of designer gowns. It all boils down to their sewing team finding an identical fabric, then the sewing process takes around 2 months. We were shown numerous Berta lookalikes and I couldn't tell a single difference from the pics online compared to the dress in store. The gowns they do have are samples they've made for the most part. These are available for $800-1000 to rent. If you're a super picky bride, have a unique body type, and/or have liked multiple gowns but find one thing you don't like about each one, this place is for you! You can truly get the gown of your dreams on a budget! I may be back in a few weeks when my mom flys out to LA to dress shop! :)

After struggling to find the perfect dress and having a horrific experience at another boutique, I…read morefound Kara Wedding. Kim was incredibly knowledgeable and professional from the second I called the store. She is a perfectionist and her attention to detail is amazing. From just a few photos, she was able to grasp my vision and made my dream dress come to life. She was communicative throughout the entire process and put my mind at ease. I'm so thankful I found her when I did! If you're going the custom route, this is the place to go!

We had such a wonderful experience shopping here for my daughter's homecoming dress! The selection…read morewas amazing! so many beautiful styles to choose from and the staff was incredibly friendly, patient, and helpful throughout the whole process. They really took the time to make sure she felt comfortable and confident, and she ended up finding the perfect dress. The quality is excellent, and the prices are very reasonable for what you get. I would highly recommend this store to anyone looking for a special occasion dress!

Great selection. They have lots of dresses in the store and services is great. Store is very nice…read moreand clearn. Very good price too.

This review is so long overdue I bought my wedding dress…read morehere 3 years ago I went to at least 5 different wedding dress stores before I landed here Irene is so friendly, sweet, and patient. I really appreciated her helping me choose my perfect wedding dress. After trying on soooo many different dresses, I finally fell in love with a gorgeous dress found at Love Boat Bridal. The dresses here are also very affordable compared to some of the other places I visited, and included alterations. In the end, I was very happy with my service here and I highly recommended Irene and Love Boat Bridal

Service: - friendly attentive staff, does seem like a one…read moreman band - the mirror is outside of the dressing room and is not private, so other people who are shopping will see you - does charge a try on fee Selection: - sizing is extremely limited - styles are more outdated - no jackets to try on with dresses - limited veil selection Value: - fairly priced, definitely cheaper than other bridal shops - tailoring is included which is great!

Mike the owner and his wife are the best! They were so helpful during our last minute hunt for a…read more"Mother-of-the-Bride" dress! It was a pleasure to shop at their store, we will definitely go back, they have a ton of trendy dresses for really great prices. Check them out, you won't regret it!

I found the perfect dress in minutes thanks to Jessica and the price was amazing! Will definitely…read morekeep this shop at the top of my list for my next special occasion!

I had the best experience at this sweet little bridal boutique! Lori, the owner, is truly one of a…read morekind--so kind, patient, and incredibly accommodating. From the moment I walked in, she made me feel cared for and never rushed, and you can tell how much heart she and her staff puts into her shop. She's been in the business for quite awhile and knows exactly how to cater your wedding dress to fit your body shape and to bring out the best of it! My wedding dress was absolutely beautiful, and the alterations were done perfectly. I had a glitter layer added to my dress and they did incredible. My wedding was everything and more - I felt like a princess! Everything fit like a dream, and I felt so confident and taken care of throughout the whole process. I called to make an appointment, bought my dress off the rack for a good value, and came back for alterations with 2-3 fittings. Prices are reasonable considering how much wedding dress costs are. This small, family-run shop is a hidden gem, and I'm so grateful I found it. Highly recommend to any bride looking for a personal, genuine, and joyful experience!

Beautiful beautiful dresses! They offer amazing designs and brands and they even offer sample…read moredresses to purchase if you are looking for a name brand dress but are looking for a more affordable option. I got a beautiful pronovias sample dress, it was clean, and was able to be fitted to my size. I even got a matching head piece and veil there. Lori and her seamstress were both kind, patient, and allowed me to take my time. I will recommend anyone to get their dress here!