This shop has the most beautiful window displays! The owner and staff are super sweet. All of the items are high quality and they carry many trendy and well-respected brands. There is a great selection of men's clothes, too! read more

Super Cute Store!! The owner is sooooo nice. We love the Alameda t-shirts and sweatshirts. Love looking at the BEAUTIFUL wedding dresses in the window. read more

Great dress selection. You can find unique and elegant dresses here. I feel so special when I wear the dress I got from Lilac. The owner is very friendly and gives you honest opinions that I can trust. Cannot wait to shop a winter dress for myself! read more

Very beautiful and original wedding dresses. The saleswoman there was super nice and helpful. Great store and I look forward to going back. Great vibes and selection. Friendly, stylish boutique. Fun shopping there. read more

This is a review of Malia, Lilac's preferred wedding dress tailor. Malia did an incredible job with my wedding dress. The top was too big and took a few appointments to get it right, but Malia made it seem effortless to get it to lay flat and fit me. I had seen another seamstress before I came to Malia and Malia's suggestions on how to make the dress fit made the alterations less obvious. Not only did she make sure the dress fit me, but she also made sure I was comfortable in it, making suggestions for how it would be most comfortable to wear all day. She also was super flexible about when she could meet, accommodating me coming in from the city to her shop in Alameda. In the end, the dress fit perfectly, looked exactly as I wanted it to and the alterations were basically invisible. I can't recommend working with Malia enough. read more

I ended up deciding I wanted a custom-made dress, but my experience at Lilac was fantastic. Pilar created a laid-back atmosphere, but at the same time was very knowledgeable and honest in her opinions of various dresses. I really appreciated her advice that you should put on your dress, feel good about it, and then not need to think about it again all day on your wedding day. I would highly recommend shopping here! read more

After trying on dresses at several other dress shops in both New York and San Francisco, my experience at Lilac blew everything else out of the water. If you're looking for a wedding dress that's not too fussy (meaning no poof, complicated bustles or big trains) this is the place to go. It's a friendly, low-key shop with a wonderful, reasonably priced selection of dresses. And Pilar, the owner of the shop, is simply amazing. She is extremely easy going, knowledgeable and patient. The dress I ended up falling in love with was one I passed over on the rack, but Pilar encouraged me to give it a try. And I am so glad she did! After the dress came in, Pilar recommended that I coordinate my alterations through Malia (a local seamstress). Malia was wonderful to work with and nailed the alterations on my dress. I cannot say enough good things about this place and everyone working there. Five stars and two thumbs way up for Lilac! read more

This place is fabulous!! The dresses are wonderful but the owner is what makes this place so great. She is so helpful and honest! Best of all, there is absolutely NO pressure to buy, which is rare at a bridal boutique. This is the third place I've been to try on wedding dresses. If I'd known of it earlier, it would have been the first and only place I needed to go to find my dress. Pilar (the owner) has a great selection and I was pleasantly surprised by the number of non-wedding type dresses. Not to mention the beautiful jewelry made by local artisans. There is a little something for everyone at this one-of-a-kind shop. Definitely a great addition to Alameda. read more

When I set out to find a wedding dress I knew two things... 1. Although I tried on all of the expensive dresses for fun, I didn't want to spend over 1k. period. 2. The style needed to be simple, elegant and COMFORTABLE! The kind you can sleep in. I was seeking Nicole Miller and after a looong search Pilar ( the amazing shop owner) called to help me out. Not only did she have all the styles I wanted to try on she had additional designers that suited my two needs as well as non wedding dresses that were perfect for cocktails, bridal parties, etc. Yes, I also bought the 12-in-one wrap dress! I was married last week in a Lynn Lugo dress that I will keep forever... simply beautiful...and maybe, just maybe, I'll even sleep in it too. I can't say enough about this shop, Pilar or the service I received. The shop is spacious enough for a few of your friends/family to tag along and close to local shops so that you can stop off for breakfast or lunch. Parking is free and easy. Whether your from the east bay or, like me, SF I highly recommend Lilac. Although I didn't purchase my accessories here I did love the selection available. read more

The perfect wedding dress shopping experience! Lilac is a calm, well lit, low pressure, tasteful shop with beautiful modern dresses. After a few traumatizing dress shopping experiences at other shops it way a joy to visit Lilac. Pilar, the owner, guided me to wonderful dresses within my budget. She has a wonderful eye for what will look good on you, a thoughtful but no-nonsense demeanor, a helpful but not aggressive style, and has a wonderful modern aesthetic (not pouffy, not overly embellished, and very elegant). It was amazing. Really! read more

I haven't purchased anything from this store yet, that's why I can only give 4 stars... but I love to go inside this store and browse. The owner is so friendly, and not pushy at all. Each time I've come in, the owner has been so nice. Her stuff is beautiful and her store is so clean and welcoming. I love driving by and seeing the new dresses displayed in the windows. I have an event coming up soon, so I will be at Lilac finally ready to buy my first dress from here. Can't wait! read more

I wasted a lot of time shopping around for my wedding dress before going to Lilac, and am so glad I found it and Pilar. She provided the most helpful and non-pushy service I found in my entire bridal shopping experience--she's incredibly down to earth. Her dresses will make you look beautiful, stunning and elegant -- not all that kick-up skirts and overly pretentious lacy look. The dress I bought ended up coming in way under my budget and was beautiful. And her alterations person, Kathy, did a fabulous job. I will go back here for any special occasion dress in the future. Thanks Pilar! read more

While I didn't end up finding my dress here, I really wish I could have. Working with Pilar was so pleasant and fun I would have loved to give her my business, but I was on a fool's mission to find a dress with sleeves. The styles here are more low-key, manageable dresses (i.e., things you can actually move in!). There were two organic dresses that were gorgeous, but were out of my budget. I believe she carries a lot of Nicole Miller dresses. Pilar was very friendly and helpful and just an absolute delight. This was the best shopping experience of my wedding dress hunt. Happily, the boutique has other dresses, so I just need to find a party to occasion my going back! read more

I will echo what everyone else is saying about Pilar. She has a curated selection of beautiful wedding gowns - all elegant and classic - and at reasonable prices. She was helpful and honest with her opinions, and did not pressure me into a sale. I ended up buying my dress elsewhere, but she still checked in with me and my mother, and helped us find a tailor for my dress and my mom's mother of the bride gown - truly above and beyond customer service. Her selection of special occasion dresses are great too - all around good store. read more

This was an ideal wedding experience for the chique destination type of bride. Elegant, light and flattering styles!! I couldn't have asked for a more fun and personal session with store manager attending to every detail with me including lighting, local dream flower arrangement, accessory experts on site, unique tailoring for the dress tail and a genuinely affectionate smile ready to hear what style I wanted to play with. I visited 80 miles to see her and Lilac was worth more than milage, time and money. Lilac was the superb customer service that brides deserve without the hassle of feeling inundated or stressed with a plethora of options. read more

I bought my wedding dress here after searching for bridal and non-bridal dresses in the Bay Area for our very small wedding up in Sonoma and not quite finding what I was looking for. It seemed that the bridal dresses I saw were too over the top and I just wanted something simple, elegant, well designed and made with great material that didn't look cheap for a reasonable price. After getting quite disheartened by the whole process, I popped into Lilac since I was in the area and it was like a breath of fresh air. I didn't need an appointment and Ava was amazing. She let me try on as many wedding dresses as I wanted while giving me the space and time I wanted to figure out if the dress was for me or not. I ended up with a sample Nicole Miller dress which doesn't look worn in at all that fit so well and really well priced. She also helped me with finding a great person to do the alterations who was very familiar with altering these particular dresses. Shout out to Malia! Every time I go in, Ava is always so accommodating and helpful, and went above and beyond to make the process so easy. Thank you, Lilac and Ava! read more

I came here to find my wedding dress last year, specifically to look at Nicole Miller dresses. I was very surprised how large the store was when I walked in. I was greated by the manager, who told me that she would only be there with me if I wanted her there. THANK GOODNESS! By the time I got here, I was exhausted by the 'helpful' women who were in my face telling me what I want, what looks good on me, and what I should try on next. It was also refreshing to walk into a shop and not get looks/rude comments because I did not make an appointment. I tried on 4 dresses, and true to her word, the manager was only there when I asked her to be. I tried on a few Nicole Miller dresses, but ended up not buying any, instead I bought a GORGEOUS dress by Olvi. My favorite part of the store, was that all of the dresses (at least that I tried on), were all on the smaller side! I tried on sizes 2-6. I am a very petite woman, and it was wonderful being able to try on dresses that were only a little too big, instead of 18 sizes too big (literally). I felt like I got an accurate representation of the dress on me, than all the other places where I had to be clipped in. Well, we bought the dress, of course. They offered to sell me the sample, which they had just gotten in the day before. I was very surprised at that. I was also concerned about transporting the dress home (I'm from Indiana), so they instead offered to order me a new dress, and ship it to me, for free! I decided to take them up on that offer. I was quoted 3 - 4 months to have the dress get made, shipped to them, then shipped to me. I received the dress yesterday, a week and a half earlier than the earliest time expected. I cannot recommend the shop enough to someone looking to buy their wedding dress. Service is excellent, non-pushy, and non-judgemental. The place is large and spacious on the inside. I wish I had friend that lived in the state, I would recommend this to them absolutely! read more

I love this shop for casual elegance. I'm a bit too old and chunky to wear the beautiful dresses she carries but I refer every PYT I know to come here. I also love the top quality, stylish clothes for my hubby. read more

I didn't get my wedding dress here, but the owner was really nice. Their selection is mostly Helen Miller; nothing princessy or with a long train, mostly slightly lacy and body-hugging. I came to see a Helen Miller dress that has colored flower designs on it, which definitely stands out from a sea of ivory and white choices. They also sell quite fashionable everyday clothes and accessories, but definitely in the $$$ range if you consider Express to be $ and Banana Republic to be $$. read more

Pilar Burlingham, the owner of Lilac Dress Boutique is just simply amazing. I found this beautiful boutique online (searching the near me section on google maps), I clicked on their website and was skimming through their online catalog when I encountered a Nicole Miller dress. I was floored, I of course had my hesitations; "just because it looks good online does not mean it'll look the same on you". So I called Pilar and we set up a time for me to come and see the dress in person. I went with my mom, my brother, my maid of honor and one of my bridesmaids. When we arrived, one of the employees walked me to her Bridal collection (they had many options) and showed me the specific dress I had inquired about. They were mindful of my budget and let me know what section would be out of my range (I appreciate it that a lot). As soon as I saw the dress in person and tried it on I knew, I KNEW it was my dress. Pilar came in to check on me periodically throughout my session, she and the other employee were extremely nice, accommodating and just so wonderful. Placing the order on the dress was simple and easy, she let me know that she would be giving me a call in mid/late march to let me know when the dress was in. (Mind you I went in late Jan and I received the dress last week Thurs. 3/23). She put me in contact with their alterations specialist, to alleviate the headache or searching for someone who had worked on dresses like that before. Pilar and her team are incredible, respecful and just overall really nice people, I would highly recommend their boutique, over and over again. read more

OK, I'll admit it, I didn't buy my wedding dress from Lilac. BUT, I certainly would have if I hadn't found it used online. (Sorry Pilar, I wanted it in the old dye lot.) I can't express my gratitude to Pilar for making what I was expecting to be a nerve wracking experience extremely pleasant and dare I say fun. Seriously, I was imagining something from that first shopping scene in Pretty Woman but Pilar was so nice and easygoing, it really helped me relax. She let us take pictures and said we should go to her seamstress even if I didn't get my dress from her! She also was very knowledgable and honest about her dresses. The only thing I would have changed would have been her mirror, I would be nice to see the sides and back in a tri-fold mirror but that's somewhat minor. If I ever need another occasion dress, I'll definitely go to Lilac! read more

I absolutely love this store. Got the mother-of-the-bride dress for my wedding and it made my mom look like Helen Mirren. I've gotten the perfect dress for a memorial service and the perfect outfit for a Saturday night out at Lilac. Pilar's business is very community oriented and she has referred me to many jewelry makers, a florist, and a seamstress, all who were wonderful. The window decor alone will pull you in to this store. read more

I tried to go to Lilac two times and was amazed to find a small business card on the front window saying they were either not going to open till 12:00 pm, or they went home sick. When I did catch them open I was completely ignored. They may have some beautiful dresses there, but due to their complete disregard and coldness towards their customers, they have lost my business. read more

Best store ever. Pilar & Ava are no pressure. Clothes are timeless. I am still wearing dresses I bough 4 years ago and still look current. I buy nearly everything they have and love to visit as they have become friends, read more

I came in during the week with an appointment, and the sales lady (it wasn't Pilar, another gal) was super friendly and helpful. She let me browse, but also helped me find dresses. No pressure. She got me to try on dresses that I would have never considered, and I was surprised how much I liked the way the Nicole Miller wedding dresses looked on me (I'm short and thick). In the end, I wanted something a bit more feminine, and got my dress at Glamour Closet, but Lilace has really pretty dresses and great customer service, and she helped me expand my options, which ultimately led me to the right dress. read more

I cannot say enough positive things about Pilar, Eva, and Lilac Dress Boutique! After four other wedding dress appointments, I was convinced I would never find the simple, elegant, and affordable dress I was looking for. I went to Lilac, after seeing they had Nicole Miller dresses, on my own. Eva and Pilar let me explore the racks and provided me with assistance and honest opinion. I felt no pressure to purchase a dress, but planned on returning with a friend to be sure I found "the one!" Indeed I found my dress...a beautiful lace backed off white Theia gown! Pilar kept the dress safe until I was ready to do my first fitting with Malia (highly recommended seamstress referred by Pilar). I visited the dress often when my sister and mother came to town - no appointments needed! If you are a relaxed, modern bride, be sure to come visit Lilac! You can't beat their customer service and convenience. :) read more

Pilar is soooo sweet and helpful. I bought my wedding dress from Lilac. I had a fantastic experience.

I feel very lucky to have met Pilar and Cathy Marie (the seamstress who altered my dress). Working with them was a joy, and a great beginning to my wedding experience. After trying on many dresses I hadn't found one that was right for my small frame. I was looking for something simple and elegant, and that's the only kind of wedding dress that Pilar carries. I told her I would try on anything except a strapless dress, thinking that it wouldn't be flattering. Kindly, tactfully, knowingly, she asked me to try on a strapless Nicole Miller dress first. That was it! I continued to try on others, but it was obvious my search was over. Pilar knows exactly what looks good on every body. She also will advise on shoes and jewelry. I was hoping to buy a dress for the rehearsal dinner from Pilar as well, given her amazing selection, but in the end, she suggested I wear a dress I already had (that I had brought in to show her). You just trust her, from the minute you meet her! And Cathy could not be more dedicated and meticulous. She took apart the entire dress and rebuilt it to my body, so that the ruching was right for my proportions. Nicole Miller may have designed the dress, but it's Cathy I credit for making it absolutely perfect. Both Pilar and Cathy are the nicest people you could meet. read more

My mom and sisters and I went to Lilac after going to a few other bridal shops, including Davids Bridal. I was refreshed and impressed by the staff and selection of dresses at Lilac. The shop owner, Pilar was so helpful. She picked out dresses that fit my price range, matched my description of my style, and offered her opinion on what would look nice on my body. She was patient (I tried on a lot of dresses) and her staff was very supportive. I ended up buying a sample Nicole Miller and it was perfect! I went back in to buy some accessories because I wanted to support the store. Also, Pilar referred me to her seamstress, Malia, who was very good, as well as Tucker's Ice Cream, who did my cake. I'm so glad I went to Lilac :) read more

I love the selection and quality at Lilac, The personal service is excellent and the tailor Malia that alters the clothing is spectacular. They carry some of my favorite lines in Men and Women's clothes. This shop is a GEM in Alameda and parking is easy. read more

We dropped in to Lilac looking for a long dress for my daughter's prom. Long dresses are hard to come by. Pilar helped us pick out a beautiful dress. My daughter loved it. Pilar spent a lot of time with us showing different style options for the dress. It was a great shopping experience. read more

Pilar is really nice and low pressure. The dresses are good quality and by talented designers. She carries wedding dresses that are elegant and simple in addition to dresses you can wear to different types of events. Definitely stop in here and support her business! Oh, and you don't need an appointment although you'll get all the attention as if you had one :) read more

LILAC HAS PLUS SIZED, GORGEOUS DRESSES! Not to mention the owner, Pilar, is extraordinarily knowledgeable on how to make things work if the dress isn't 'perfect' for your body type. She offers custom ordering and has a very talented, local seamstress at her fingertips! I do not live far from her gorgeous boutique and often gazed through the window at all the fantastic wedding gowns and party dresses wishing I could wear such classy, fun looks. To my surprise, I CAN purchase some of her dresses, not just the unique jewelry she has displayed from many Bay Area designers. Pilar is so easy to work with and so generous. The greatest part about her boutique is the clothes are affordable, but LOOK like they aren't. Run, don't walk, to her place! You won't be sorry! My next purchase will be one of the gorgeous Nicole Miller wedding gowns. I just need to find a man. read more

Oh my gosh. I had two Bar Mitzvas to attend and put off finding what to wear. I work nearby so I stoped in. Who knew! So much more than wedding gowns.I found the perfect dress and wore it to both. Different shoes and two silver cuffs .It was perfect. I felt pretty and edgy at the same time. If Pilar is not the sweetest and cutest person that you have ever met than I want to know who is. 5 Stars Susan D read more

A great store with wonderful clothes. Pilar the owner is an amazing woman that will make you feel relaxed and special within moments of entering her store. She never sells you anything that is not amazing on your body. She is direct and very honest. A great wedding store. read more

This store is amazing - the assortment of dresses here runs the gamut from simple and elegant to fun and edgy - it's the kind of place where you buy the dress first and then find the occasion to wear it later! Pilar is so sweet and helpful and never pressures - this is my new go-to shop for dresses! read more

Pilar is like the sister you never had but always wanted. Her sincerity and warmth made me melt (in a good way, not in the melt-down way that shopping for wedding dresses initiates). She is honest and always had my best interest in mind. She wanted me to LOVE my wedding dress and feel comfortable, even if it meant that I didn't buy my dress from her. Lilac Dress Boutique is the perfect small business that everyone should support. read more

This place is fantastic! Actually, it's really Pilar that is fantastic though the shop is great too. It's hard to say enough nice things about this place. I'll summarize by saying that I am a pretty low key person that felt crazy overwhelmed by wedding dress shopping here in SF where I live. Someone recommended Lilac and I headed to Alameda. This is the only place I would recommend. I sent some friends there and they also bought their dresses from Pilar. Pilar is great and helps you figure out what you want and helps you look beautiful. And she makes it fun! Isn't it supposed to be fun? Not overwhelming and stuffy and pretentious. Unless you want that, then you should go somewhere else. read more

**Really as good as it gets!** Pilar is the owner and is a wedding gown and customer service expert. Dealing with the wedding industry gives me the same feeling as shopping for a used car. This was not the case at Lilac. I shopped here with my friend 2 yrs ago and came back recently to shop for myself and both times I was amazed at how much better the experience here as opposed to the appointment only places. Other places will have you believe $1000 is a budget gown and make you make appointments, have to help you into dresses. None of that BS here. Dress selection is reasonably priced, a lot of nonpoofy options. Worth a drive from San Francisco for sure. She has nonwedding dresses too BTW. I haven't figured out what dress I want yet but I'll likely order from Pilar when I figure it out. read more

This place is wonderful. You don't need an appointment. The staff is friendly and casual. They are not pushy and are honest. You can try on as many dresses as you like and can take as many photos as you want. The dresses are pretty but simple and very reasonably priced. I was a very nervous bride and this was my first wedding dress experience. Lilac made it a very positive one! read more