Most people consider commissioning the design of a custom gown (or garment!) because they just can't find what they're looking for. With so many options and styles of gowns, it's easy to get confused. Having a dress made doesn't have to be an expensive endeavor, in fact for a lot of women it's within their budget, but most don't realize it.
Women come to me with a million ideas from a million different sources, and want to combine elements to create a unique look that makes the wearer feel confident and gorgeous. It's simpler than it sounds...
We'll start off with your ideas and use them as a jumping-off point for a design that will be the most flattering on your body. Translating a basic design into a simple muslin version of the dress will allow us to find the right fit and shape...kind of acting like a rough draft of the final dress. We can have as many rough drafts as you like, but we're working toward our final shape. That final shape will be used as the pattern for the silk (or whatever material you like!), have a few more fittings for fine-tuning, then we finish it up!
Start to finish, we're looking at about 6 months. I've completed dresses in as little as 10 days, but more time is always better...just in case! In that time I'll usually spend between 15 and 50 hours on the average dress, more if it's highly detailed or the design is complicated.
Most important things to remember when having your gown made: Keep an open mind! Your design ideas will evolve as the dress comes together, it's okay if it changes a little! Stay communicative! If you don't like something or just want to see it a little different, it's no problem!
The process is so fun and so interactive, it's something you'll want to savor!
Good luck and happy hunting!
