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Custom Clothing - Ballroom Dancewear Expert Alterations - Tailoring
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We Fit You - Your Figure, Your Style, Your Best!
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Custom Clothing |
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Custom clothing is an investment in yourself - in your image, your dreams, your career advancement. Which is why it’s important to work with a custom clothier that you can trust - to listen to you, deliver a flattering and professionally made garment that fits, and that is completed when you need it. Creation of a custom made garment can take from 6 to 80 hours, and requires far more skill than operating a sewing machine - including knowledge of fabric; design; pattern drafting and draping; fitting; engineering and construction; pressing; and embellishing. A good sense of style doesn’t hurt either! In other words, it is a significant investment of both of our resources. The rewards, however, of custom clothing are many - Presents you in a one-of-a-kind garment at your special occasion, perhaps one you have long dreamed of Fits your body, whatever size/shape that might be Flatters your unique proportions Reflects your taste and personal style Enhances your positives and minimizes any negatives Gives you a creative, collaborative role in the design and fabric selection A striking appearance, even if you’re not a born beauty Confidence and comfort wearing your garment Turnaround time: ranges from 6-8 weeks to several months, depending on my workload, sourcing and availability of materials. It is best to start your project 3-4 months before you need it; allow at least 6 months for a wedding gown. Pricing: varies based on your style and fabric selection, complexity and details of that style, fitting challenges, patternmaking requirements, and any embellishment—lace, beading, sequins, rhinestones, etc. It’s a good idea to have a general budget in mind for your project; while I may not be able to deliver your garment for that price, I may be able to suggest alternatives that can still make your garment a reality. There are a range of construction techniques that can be used, from high-end (labor-intensive) couture to ready-to-wear methods. Following are some general starting prices for custom garments: Wedding Gowns: $1,000 and up Prom & Bridesmaid Dresses: $400 to $1,500 Formal & Cocktail Dresses: $400 to $2,000 and up Casual dresses: $350 and up Tailored Jackets: $400 and up Pants/Trousers: $350 and up Skirts: $150 to $400 and up Blouses/Tops: $150 to $600 and up Ballroom Dance Latin Dresses: $800 and up Ballroom Dance Smooth/Std Gowns: $1,500 and up Selecting your Design: your garment can be designed from pictures, sketches, patterns, or any ideas you might have; features from different garments may be combinable as well. One of the challenges with custom is that you have to imagine a 3-D garment to be created in the future, so I do provide a rough sketch of all selected designs. You may choose to bring along favorite garments in your current wardrobe as a base for designing your new one; or do some shopping and try on some ready-to-wear dresses that share the garment design/style features you think you want, so you can get a general idea if you like them on your body type. Selecting Fabric, Trim and Embellishments: I have swatches available in the studio for your consideration, as well as many on-line resources that can provide sample swatches. You may also purchase your materials locally, but bear in mind that I need to approve all final materials to ensure they will work successfully for your planned garment . Given the investment in your project, I do advise you purchase the best materials you can afford—high quality fabric is distinctive in its feel and drape. Your Time Commitment: You do need to be available for several appointments (usually 3-4) over the course of creating a custom garment. Following is the typical process: Initial phone consult - to briefly discuss your project, timing and budget to see if is viable. Free 45-minute studio consultation to fine tune the details and design of your project, and to review fabric options. Some clients can finalize all of their garment details in this session; others require additional time for design, fabric sourcing, etc., which is billable at my hourly rate. Once all details are finalized, I will sketch your garment on an approximation of your figure, and draw up a formal agreement and quote for your project. Work will begin when the agreement is signed and a 50% deposit has been received. At that time we will meet for an hour or less to take detailed measurements of your figure. You will need to have your final undergarments/support wear for this and all subsequent appointments. First fitting of muslin/sample garment - this tests the style and proportions on your figure, along with the fit, in an inexpensive sample fabric like cotton muslin. If the garment is very complex and/or hard to fit, we may need a couple of muslin fittings to get everything right. I will then use this muslin as your pattern. Fashion garment fittings: these are the fittings of the garment made up in the final garment fabric. Some tweaking will be required, as every fabric fits and hangs a bit differently. Final pickup appointment: one last try-on of the completed garment to make sure everything is to your and my satisfaction. Final payment is handled at this or earlier sessions, prior to the garment leaving the studio. Care instructions and a garment bag will accompany your completed garment! Ultimately, my objective is to please you with my services and help you look the best you can be! Please contact me to discuss your custom clothing wants and needs!
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Tip: Custom clothing results will only be as good as your underwear! Seriously, proper support undergarments will enhance every body - and especially under close-fitting special occasion dresses.
If you are an A cup or a youngish B cup, then bra cups alone (which I stock) may be all you need. However, for larger and/or more mature cup sizes, a good bra and other support wear are a must, both for support and lift.
Choose under-garments that are the closest match to your skin color, in the beige to brown tones. These will disappear beneath white and most any other colors - white undergarments will not! Link to Bra Fitting Guide. |
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For pattern and style ideas, check out: Simplicity & New Look Patterns
For fashion ideas/info:
For Fabrics: |
