Posted on: January 24, 2008
Common-Sense Couture
Get exactly what you want with a custom dress
By Kate Sullivan
CTW Features
Image courtesy Amy Michaelson
From signature drinks to tables named after special locations, modern weddings are personal affairs. So think like a leading lady and say ‘I do’ in a custom-made dress.
Designed for you
Brides come in all shapes and sizes and gowns come in all styles and shades, so finding a perfect dress can be as daunting than finding your perfect mate. From David’s Bridal to the designer boutique, searching high and low can leave a bride high and dry. Opting for a custom made design allows a bride to combine her favorite parts from her favorite dresses. “Brides take the train they love from one gown, combine it with the bodice they love from another gown and adorn with the beading from a third gown,” says Felicia Brown, a Chicago wedding dress and formalwear designer for more than twenty years.
Stitched sentiment
Inspired to design for the full-figured woman, Brown set out to create an alternative to the dress style typically reserved for those with curves. “Every design I saw for a woman with a figure was the same – a tiny waist bodice with sweetheart neckline. I wanted women with a shape to have options.” Today, she sews for the long and lean along with the curvaceous, designing unique gowns that fit each body type. With a custom dress, not only has a bride personalized her day in a whole new way, but, for Brown, the special meaning outweighs any cost. “You’re creating a family heirloom. Knowing that every bead and every stitch was sewn in place for you adds an entirely new level of sentiment to your silhouette.”
A cut above
While Brown’s designer duds are a bargain (prices range from $500 to $1000 depending on the amount of beading), it’s important to ask a few key questions before selecting a personal designer.
• See the work – ask for pictures, samples, and videos. You’ll want as many visuals as possible to examine the detail and quality of the work
• Set the vision – you can be a designer without being an artist, but Brown advises brides-to-be to request a sketch of the dress in mind to be sure the visions match
• Set the time – while a busy designer is a good sign, it’s important he or she has the time for you. In Brown’s twenty years, she never missed a bride’s wedding day. “You never know what can happen the day of – a bead could pop off – and you want the designer or an assistant to be there for last minute repairs.”
Knowing that a one-of-a-kind route exists takes the pressure off brides trying find the perfect dress off the rack. And with designers like Brown, a bride won’t have to spend her entire budget on her ensemble. It’s couture style meets common sense.
