Shipping Policy
Effective October 9, 2026
A SilkSeam order reaches the door in 12-15 business days.
From China, duties included
Every SilkSeam dress ships from China. Import duties and fees are paid before the box leaves, so the customer owes $0 to the carrier at the door. There’s no customs form to sign.
Duties paid (DDP): import charges settled by the sender, not the buyer.
Through a fulfillment partner
A third-party fulfillment partner packs each order at its warehouse in China and sends out the box. SilkSeam takes the payment, runs support, and handles returns. The New Albany mailing address in Indiana holds no stock and ships nothing.
Fulfillment partner: the company in China that packs and sends out SilkSeam orders.
Inside the 48 contiguous states and DC
Any street address there can receive a box. Apartment, suite, and unit numbers are fine.
Outside the delivery area
SilkSeam doesn’t deliver to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or the other US territories. PO boxes and APO, FPO, and DPO addresses aren’t served. Neither are addresses outside the United States. Checkout shows no shipping rate for them. A PO box order that slips through gets canceled, and that refund goes out within 2 business days.
Under $99: a flat $6.90
An order under $99 pays $6.90 for delivery, once. An order of $99 or more gets $0 delivery. Checkout calls them Standard shipping and Free shipping.
No single dress reaches $99; the highest price is $63.99. Two dresses at $49.99 or more each do.
The Long Sleeve Wrap Maxi Dress in Black (SLS-WD-001) costs $50.99. With $6.90 for delivery, that’s $57.89 before tax. Add the Crew Neck Knit Mini Sweater Dress in Army Green (SLS-SD-001) at $50.99, and the subtotal is $101.98 with $0 delivery.
Toward the $99 mark
Only the dresses count toward $99. The subtotal is measured after discount codes and before sales tax. A code that drops it under $99 brings the $6.90 back.
Without handling or packing fees
Delivery is the only shipping charge. There’s no handling fee, packing fee, or insurance add-on. Checkout has no pre-checked protection box.
By 5:30 PM Eastern Time on a business day
The same-day line is 5:30 PM Eastern Time. An order paid before it counts toward that business day. A later order counts toward the next one.
Business day: Monday to Friday, except US federal holidays.
Order day: the business day an order counts toward.
An order paid at 4:00 PM Eastern Time on Tuesday, October 13, 2026 is a Tuesday order. One paid at 6:10 PM Eastern Time on Friday, October 16 counts from Monday, October 19.
At the warehouse: 2-3 business days
The partner packs the dress and sends out the box within 2-3 business days of the order day. Weekends and federal holidays don’t count.
With the carrier: 10-12 business days
Transit takes 10-12 business days once the carrier has the box. That covers the trip from China, US customs, and the last stretch to the address.
In total: 12-15 business days
Packing plus transit comes to 12-15 business days from the order day. Product pages and the FAQs use the same estimate.
The Tuesday, October 13, 2026 order leaves the warehouse on Thursday, October 15 or Friday, October 16. It arrives between Thursday, October 29 and Tuesday, November 3. Later in the season, Veterans Day on Wednesday, November 11, 2026 and Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 26, 2026 add a calendar day each.
On the sales tax line
Listed prices leave out sales tax. When the delivery state requires it, checkout adds tax on its own line before payment. The delivery address sets the rate. A $0 tax line means no tax.
For the choice of carrier
The partner books the carrier for each box. A box can switch to a US carrier for the last stretch. The customer can’t pick or change the carrier. The shipping email names it.
Via the tracking link
A tracking link arrives by email the day the box leaves the warehouse. Up to 3 business days can pass before the first scan appears. The Order Tracking page has the status as well.
Into more than one box
Two or more dresses in one order sometimes travel in separate boxes. Each box gets its own tracking link. Splitting costs nothing and keeps the 12-15 business day estimate.
Within 8 hours: address changes
An address can change within 8 hours of placing the order. Email support with the confirmation number and the corrected address. After 8 hours, the label is usually printed.
Confirmation number: the order number in the confirmation email.
For a size that sold out
A size or color can sell out after payment. When that happens, an email goes out within 1 business day. It offers a new date, a different size or color, or the money back for that dress.
Past the third business day
A box that can’t go out within 3 business days of the order day gets an email first. It arrives before that deadline, with a new date. The customer can wait, or cancel and get the money back within 2 business days. Under the FTC Mail Order Rule, no order is held past 30 days without the customer’s agreement.
Despite a delivered scan
A carrier can mark a box delivered hours before it arrives. Check side doors, mailrooms, and neighbors first. Report a box that’s still missing within 10 days of the delivered scan, with the confirmation number. Support opens a claim with the carrier the same business day.
In a damaged or lost box
Report a damaged box within 10 days of delivery. Include three photos: the dress, the box from outside, and its label. The dress usually stays with the customer. SilkSeam then sends a replacement at no charge or issues a full refund.
Seven business days without a new scan starts a carrier trace. Seven more with no answer, and the box counts as lost: a new dress ships at no charge, or the money comes back. The customer chooses.
Within 3 business days: the decision
SilkSeam decides within 3 business days of a complete report. A replacement then takes the usual 2-3 business days to pack. A refund goes back as a credit to your card or PayPal account.
Beyond SilkSeam’s control
Weather, carrier backlogs, customs checks, and holidays can slow a box. Chinese New Year and the late-year rush are the usual ones. The estimate counts business days, so weekends and holidays add calendar time. The tracking link shows the newest date.
To the returns page
The 30-day window, the return number, and return postage are all in the Refund and Returns Policy.
To support for shipping questions
Support: contact@silkseam.com or +1 (812) 234-9087, Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM Eastern Time. Replies come within 1 business day. The Contact Us page has a form too.