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Clarisse 811178 Glitter Lace Mermaid Trumpet Illusion Corset Gown
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Standard: arrives in 7 to 12 days
Express: arrives in 4 to 6 days
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Description
About the Dress: Clarisse 811178
Clarisse 811178 is a long fitted mermaid trumpet gown built for maximum impact. The bodice is an illusion corset panel — sheer mesh running vertically through the center front with visible boning channels underneath — finished with a sweetheart neckline edge and thin spaghetti straps. The entire gown, from the corset bodice through the skirt, is wrapped in a glitter-embellished lace overlay loaded with beading and 3D floral appliques. A sweeping train trails behind. The back is completely open to below the waistline with a small lace-up tie detail at the lower back. Clarisse 811178 is available in Powder Blue, Champagne, and Black.
Fit & Silhouette
Clarisse 811178 follows a true mermaid trumpet silhouette: the fit is close through the bust, waist, hips, and thighs all the way down to the knee, then the skirt fans out dramatically into a flared trumpet hem and sweeping train. The built-in boning in the illusion corset bodice holds the bust firmly in place and creates a sculpted waist without needing an outside undergarment. The spaghetti straps add light support while keeping the shoulders bare. This is a sleek, body-hugging silhouette — order your true size for the best fit.
Fabric & Detail
The base of Clarisse 811178 is a glitter-embellished lace and mesh overlay that covers the gown from neckline to hem, giving the fabric a luminous, fully-beaded look in any light. The bodice panel is sheer illusion mesh with visible vertical boning channels. 3D floral appliques and beading are concentrated across the bodice on all three colorways and extend onto the skirt. The lace-up tab closure sits at the center lower back, letting you fine-tune the fit through the waist. The train adds length and sweep to the flared skirt.
Key Features
- Long mermaid trumpet silhouette with sweeping train
- Illusion center-front corset bodice with visible boning channels
- Sweetheart neckline edge with thin spaghetti straps
- Glitter-embellished lace overlay covering the full gown
- 3D floral appliques and beading on the bodice and skirt
- Fully open back to below the waistline with lace-up tie detail
- Available in Powder Blue, Champagne, and Black
Style & Occasion
Clarisse 811178 is designed to turn heads at prom, formal dances, evening galas, and pageant competitions. The dramatic open back, fully embellished glitter lace, and mermaid trumpet flare make it a standout choice for any high-glamour event. Powder Blue photographs with a soft, ethereal glow and pops under venue lighting. Champagne reads warm and golden in photos, with a neutral versatility that works with a wide range of skin tones. Black is bold and sleek, intensifying the glitter embellishment for a high-contrast look. Pair with strappy heeled sandals to show off the silhouette, and keep jewelry minimal — a pair of drop earrings is all you need when the gown does this much work.
Size & fit
- Fitted (mermaid, corset). Bust, waist and hips all matter. Go by your largest measurement.
- Length: Long
- Neckline: V-Neck
- Details: Floral Appliques, Open Back, Train
- Between sizes? Text a stylist and we'll help you choose.
Shipping
- Arrives in 7–12 business days, or 4–6 with Express (+$35).
- Free shipping over $250 to Canada and the USA.
- Text updates as your order ships.
Full shipping details
Your Dress — Delivered in Days, Not Weeks.
We know timing matters — especially for prom, weddings, quinceañeras, and special events.
- Receive your dress within 7–12 business days, depending on designer availability.
- You’ll receive text updates as your order moves from processing to shipping.
- Once shipped, delivery typically takes 2–5 business days within North America.
Need it sooner?
We offer rush options where you can receive your dress within 4–6 business days. Text us at +1 416-536-2956 before ordering and we’ll confirm the fastest possible delivery date.
We are an authorized retailer of top designers, which means your dress ships brand new and directly from the designer or our showroom — never used, never rented.
Have an event date? Add it in your order notes so we can prioritize accordingly.
We proudly ship across Canada, the United States, and Internationally, with in-store pickup available at our Toronto showroom.
Returns
- Tell us within 5 days of delivery.
- 100% store credit, a one-time exchange, or a refund (30% restocking fee).
- Online purchases only; in-store purchases are final.
Full return policy
WE ACCEPT RETURNS!
For Online Purchases Only. All in-store purchases are FINAL.
We hope you LOVE your dress — but if you're not completely satisfied with your online purchase, you may request:
- 100% Store Credit (no expiration).
- A one-time exchange, OR
- A return with a 30% restocking fee, OR
You must notify us of a return within 5 days of delivery (including weekends and holidays — we are open 7 days a week).
We have no control and accept no responsibility for the sizing selected. Please carefully review the size chart before ordering. If you need assistance with sizing, we’re happy to help — text us at +1 416-536-2956.
ORDER CHANGES & CANCELLATIONS
Once your order is placed, you have 5 hours to request a change to the color, size, or style.
If an item becomes unavailable, we will offer alternatives or provide the option of a full refund for that item.
Please see our Returns & Exchanges page for full details.
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Free standard shipping on orders over $250 to the US and Canada. Under $250, shipping is shown at checkout.
Shipping details -
US orders ship from our warehouses in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York. Canadian orders ship from Toronto. No duties to pay at the door.
Shipping details -
Exchange, store credit or refund. Dresses tagged Final sale can't be returned.
Return policy -
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Frequently Asked Questions
Clarisse 811178 is built for events where drama is the whole point. The most obvious fit is prom — the glitter lace, the mermaid trumpet flare, the completely open back, and the sweeping train are exactly what a prom gown should deliver. If you want to walk into your prom and have people stop mid-conversation, this is the dress.
Beyond prom, it works well for formal dances and black-tie-adjacent evening events where a gown is expected and you want to go all the way with the look. Pageant competitors — particularly those competing at a Miss Universe or Miss USA level — will find that the fully embellished construction, the open back, and the trained mermaid silhouette check every box for evening gown competition.
As a wedding guest, the open back and close-fitting silhouette are best suited to evening and black-tie receptions where formal glamour is welcome. The styling reads prom and pageant, not guest-appropriate. It is also not the right call for a school semi-formal or homecoming if you need a shorter length or a more covered look.
Where it shines: prom, evening events where a full gown is the dress code, formal dance competitions, and pageants. The three available colors — Powder Blue, Champagne, and Black — all work across those occasions. Powder Blue has an ethereal, photogenic quality that photographs beautifully under stage lighting. Black is high-contrast and bold. Champagne sits right in the middle — warm, neutral, and versatile enough to complement almost any skin tone.
If you are trying to decide between this gown and a simpler option for a formal event, the deciding question is how much you want the dress itself to be the focal point. Clarisse 811178 does not blend in. If that is what you are going for, it is exactly right for the occasion.
Yes — the bodice of Clarisse 811178 has real, functional built-in support. The illusion corset panel running through the center front of the bodice contains visible vertical boning channels. That boning holds the bust in position, creates structure at the waist, and keeps the bodice from shifting during movement. It functions the same way a structured corset would, without the bulk of a separate undergarment.
Because of that built-in structure, most wearers do not need a strapless bra or any additional bra. The boning does the holding work. What you do need to think about is the bottom half — because the fit is very close through the hips and thighs all the way down to the knee, any visible underwear line will show against the fitted skirt fabric. A seamless thong or laser-cut briefs in a color matched to your colorway are the standard recommendation for this kind of fit.
The gown has thin spaghetti straps over the shoulders. These add a small amount of shoulder support but are primarily a design element — the main structural support is in the boned corset bodice, not the straps. Do not try to remove or significantly alter the straps without consulting a tailor first, as they are part of the overall construction.
For the back: the gown is fully open to below the waistline. There is no fabric covering the back, so stick-on adhesive bra cups are not useful here — there is nothing to attach them to at the back. The boning in the front bodice is doing all the support work.
If you have a larger bust and want extra assurance, try the gown on before your event. The boning is substantial, but fit through the bodice depends on your measurements matching the size you order. Our team is happy to talk through sizing specifics — reach out before you order if you have questions about support for your size.
Yes, Clarisse 811178 can be hemmed, but because it is a trained mermaid trumpet gown, alterations are more involved than a standard straight hem. The flared skirt and sweeping train are part of the silhouette — a tailor will need to take length from the hem while preserving the shape of the flare and the proportion of the train relative to your height. This is a skilled alteration and should be done by a bridal or formalwear tailor who has worked with fitted gowns before, not a general alterations shop.
For petite wearers, budget extra time for the alteration appointment, and bring your event shoes with you so the tailor hems to the exact heel height you plan to wear. Hemming a mermaid without shoes present often results in a length that is slightly off once heels are added.
For very tall wearers, the train will be proportionally longer, which typically works in your favor — the extra length reads as intentional sweep rather than a fit issue. You may not need a hem adjustment at all.
At the bodice, the boning is set at specific intervals and is not something to alter casually. If the bodice needs to be taken in or let out, a tailor experienced with boned garments should handle it. Taking in too aggressively around boning channels can distort the shape of the corset panel.
Clarisse 811178 is a fitted mermaid trumpet gown, which means there are some honest trade-offs for movement compared to a full ballgown or a flowy A-line. Through the hips and thighs, the fit is close — you can walk and move normally, but your stride is naturally narrower than in a fuller skirt. Dancing in a mermaid gown means smaller steps and more hip-based movement rather than wide footwork.
Below the knee, the skirt flares out, which gives you more room to move than a column or sheath gown. The flare starts below the thigh, so once you are on the dance floor, you have enough hem room for relaxed movement.
The boned corset bodice holds the top of the gown firmly in place, which is actually a comfort advantage — you are not constantly adjusting or worrying about the top shifting. The spaghetti straps reinforce that security.
For a full night of dancing, the main thing to keep in mind is your footwear. Because the skirt is narrow through the thigh, high heels that force a very small stride can feel restrictive by the end of the night. A strappy sandal with a manageable heel height — rather than an extreme stiletto — will make the evening more comfortable.
The train is a sweeping style, not a structured cathedral train, so it moves with you.
All three colorways are photographed on the product page, so you have a reliable reference — but there are a few things worth knowing about how each reads in person versus on screen.
Powder Blue photographs with a soft, cool tone. In person, it tends to look slightly warmer and more dimensional than on a screen because the glitter embellishment catches light differently depending on the angle. Under stage or venue lighting, it has an iridescent, almost ethereal quality. If you are going to prom or a formal event where photos will be taken, Powder Blue photographs very well.
Champagne reads as a warm neutral — it is not white and not gold, but somewhere between the two. It is a flattering, skin-tone-adjacent colorway that works with a wide range of complexions. In person, the glitter overlay gives it a golden shimmer that can read slightly more champagne-gold than the photos suggest. Note: the Champagne colorway may appear very close to a skin tone in certain lighting — plan your accessories accordingly.
Black is the most straightforward of the three in terms of consistency between photos and in-person. The glitter embellishment reads as a dramatic sparkle against the dark base, giving the gown a high-contrast, bold look that holds up well under any lighting condition.
If you are still deciding, consider your venue lighting and your complexion. Cool stage lighting tends to flatter Powder Blue. Warm or neutral lighting brings out the best in Champagne. Black works in any environment.
Because the gown is covered in a glitter-embellished lace and mesh overlay with beading and 3D floral appliques, home washing is not recommended. Take it to a professional dry cleaner who has experience with heavily embellished formalwear — mention the beading, the floral appliques, and the boning when you drop it off. A cleaner who handles bridal gowns will know how to work with this type of construction.
For storage, hang the gown inside out in a breathable garment bag — not a plastic dry-cleaning bag, which traps moisture. The train can be folded gently and pinned to the hanger hook with a safety pin to keep it off the floor. Store in a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight, which can shift the color of the glitter overlay over time.
For travel, lay the gown flat in a large suitcase if possible, folded with tissue paper between the layers to prevent creasing at the floral appliques. Do not pack anything heavy on top of it. If you are hanging the gown in a garment bag for travel, support the weight of the beaded skirt from below — do not let the full weight hang from the straps alone, as that can stress the bodice construction over a long trip.
Minor wrinkles in the skirt fabric can be steamed out with a handheld garment steamer on a low setting, held at a distance from the fabric. Never apply a hot iron directly to the glitter or beading.
Because the gown is fully embellished from neckline to hem with glitter lace, beading, and floral appliques, the strongest approach to accessories is restraint everywhere the dress is already doing the work — and intention where it is not.
Shoes: a strappy heeled sandal in metallic gold, silver, or nude is the most versatile choice. The open back and the fitted silhouette are best served by a heel that elongates the leg — a block heel or a wedge will interrupt the line of the mermaid silhouette. For Powder Blue, silver or light gold works well. For Champagne, a gold metallic sandal picks up the warmth of the fabric. For Black, both silver and gold work, depending on the jewelry you choose.
Jewelry: the bodice already has a lot happening. A pair of simple drop earrings — crystal, pearl, or small chandelier style — is enough. Adding a statement necklace over a heavily embellished sweetheart neckline tends to compete rather than complement. If you want a necklace, opt for a delicate chain rather than a bib or collar style.
Hair and makeup: an updo or pulled-back style shows off the open back, which is one of the gown's most dramatic design elements. Leaving the back visible is worth planning around from a hair perspective.
A small clutch in metallic or a matching fabric is the standard bag choice. Avoid oversized bags or crossbody styles — they will interrupt the clean line of the fitted silhouette.
Clarisse 811178 ships within 7 to 12 business days from order to delivery for standard shipping. Rush shipping options are available at checkout if your event is coming up quickly — select the rush option before placing your order and the team will confirm availability for your timeline.
United States and Canadian orders ship from Marlas Fashions' Los Angeles, New York, or Toronto warehouse locations, depending on stock. Canadian customers pay no duties on their orders. International orders ship worldwide with full tracking, so you can follow your gown from warehouse to door.
If you need the gown by a specific date — prom, a formal event, a pageant — reach out before you order so the team can confirm whether standard or rush shipping gets it to you in time. It is always better to check early than to stress about timing later. You can text or WhatsApp the concierge team at +1 416-536-2956 or +1 213-868-3131 with your event date and they will give you a straight answer on timeline.
Once the gown ships, you will receive a tracking number by email. International shipments are fully tracked through to delivery.