Dressmaker

showtunesgirl

Hi All,

I just wondered if you can help a poor girl out. After having been to the National Wedding Show at the weekend and been totally horrified at the prices and the dresses they had on show, I think I really am going to have one custom-made. I don't think I am going to go the Ebay route as I really want to sit down with someone and tell them what I want and they can make it up to my spec. Apparently, it's much cheaper to get a local dressmaker to make something for you than ordering one of those designer numbers from the bridal shops as well.

Can any of you recommend a good dressmaker in the South of England eg. Hampshire, Surrey, London etc area. I'll travel a bit more if necessary as well, eg the Midlands. Thanks!

Mummy_Jo

Hi

Sorry to hear your plight. Weddings are hideously expensive. I do know a dressmaker. We live just off the M4 at Swindon. When I moved here when we got married (hubby in RAF) I wanted to learn to sew. Mandy was recommended to me by the local sewing shop and she is FANTASTIC. I guarantee that anything she will make will fit you much better than anything you can buy from a shop. I have seen tons of stuff leave her house for weddings etc over the time and its all amazing. She will make anything you want in any style you want. SHe will make a toile (a mock up) first to make sure that she has your measurements right and also that you like the style fit etc.

This is a link to her website so you can have a look at some of the things she has done over the years. If you have any other questions please PM me.

http://www.mandyoldroyd.com/

I'm not sure where you live in the south area but we are just off the M4 here at Junction 16

Addiscomber

It is a misconception that having a dress custom made is cheaper than buying RTW. What you are talking about will take hours of the dressmaker's time, let alone her skills. A dressmaker is highly skilled and it would be unfair to expect one to work for minimum wage or less. Make enquiries by all means, but be prepared for a surprise.

(I am not a professional dressmaker, although I do sew for myself and family. I have considered it as a means of increasing our income but what puts me off is that most people will expect to pay next to nothing for my skills.)

Noozan

Have a look at http://www.efushop.com/p_dress_cd.php I've bought a few made to measure dresses from them in the past and they've been spectacular. You'd need to confident at taking your own measurements though. If you have an idea of what you'd like and can sketch it, they will make it excatly to your specifications.

showtunesgirl

Addiscomber wrote:

It is a misconception that having a dress custom made is cheaper than buying RTW. What you are talking about will take hours of the dressmaker's time, let alone her skills. A dressmaker is highly skilled and it would be unfair to expect one to work for minimum wage or less. Make enquiries by all means, but be prepared for a surprise.

(I am not a professional dressmaker, although I do sew for myself and family. I have considered it as a means of increasing our income but what puts me off is that most people will expect to pay next to nothing for my skills.)

I'm not expecting to pay next to nothing. I'm expecting to pay a decent amount of money but not get ripped off or overspend what I can afford. I simply cannot afford to do what some brides do which is spend £4000 on a dress they will wear only once. I do understand that it depends on what type of dress you want. I'm not going to be having complicated lace, sequins or embroidery on my dress so it shouldn't cost anywhere near as much as some of the off the rack dresses I've seen and are not to my taste!

showtunesgirl

Noozan wrote:

Have a look at http://www.efushop.com/p_dress_cd.php I've bought a few made to measure dresses from them in the past and they've been spectacular. You'd need to confident at taking your own measurements though. If you have an idea of what you'd like and can sketch it, they will make it excatly to your specifications.

Oh I've come across that website before but hadn't been able to get a hold of anyone who had used them. Is it poss for me to have a look at what you bought from them? PM me please!

bunty109

showtunesgirl wrote:

I'm not expecting to pay next to nothing. I'm expecting to pay a decent amount of money but not get ripped off or overspend what I can afford. I simply cannot afford to do what some brides do which is spend £4000 on a dress they will wear only once. I do understand that it depends on what type of dress you want. I'm not going to be having complicated lace, sequins or embroidery on my dress so it shouldn't cost anywhere near as much as some of the off the rack dresses I've seen and are not to my taste!

Hi, I worked in the wedding dress industry for a long time and you can get a designer dress for a lot less than £4000. If you can't go to the designer direct a stockist can often talk with the designer and dresses can have alterations or additions made to the designs. Alan Hannah was always a really good designer with more realistic designer prices and his dresses are really sophisticated.

The only drawback to a dressmaker is sometimes they aren't pattern cutters. Designer dresses are all in the cut of them and the extra that you pay is in the cut (designers will employ people who only cut patterns). So, if you want to go the route of a dressmaker, I'd make sure you are 100% certain that they can at least make their own patterns, and don't rely on butchering patterns they already have to create a dress for you. You also have to be pretty certain that what you want them to design is what is going to suit you (I'm sure you know that, but sometimes people don't!).

There are also plenty of places around offering designer sample dresses. The Harrods sale was also notorious for bridal bargains in the designer department - I'm sure it still is.

Mandy_O

bunty109 wrote:

The only drawback to a dressmaker is sometimes they aren't pattern cutters. Designer dresses are all in the cut of them and the extra that you pay is in the cut (designers will employ people who only cut patterns). So, if you want to go the route of a dressmaker, I'd make sure you are 100% certain that they can at least make their own patterns, and don't rely on butchering patterns they already have to create a dress for you. You also have to be pretty certain that what you want them to design is what is going to suit you (I'm sure you know that, but sometimes people don't!).

.

I have seen some truly awful things that people who call themselves dressmakers, and had them brought to me for ...well shall we say remedial work.
(By the way I am that Mandy person mentioned earlier-<waves at Jo>)
So if you are having a dressmaker make your dress, do look at her previous work, photos are a must really. It's also useful to see some things in the flesh, although the things I have in my workroom vary from day to day I never have a problem showing what I'm working on and explaining the process of having something custom made. I feel any good dressmaker would be the same.

Interview the dressmaker! Make sure you feel comfortable with her, after all she will be seeing you in your undies quite a lot. Be realistic about time frames, custom clothing is (or should be)a time consuming
process, with mock ups made and fitted as well as the real thing. Also be realistic about budget. Personally I would rather help someone keep within the budget than blow it all. If the budget isn't up to having something custom made, then I would say that.

Custom isn't always cheaper than ready to wear, however there are often saving to be made in the special occasionwear area (wedding and high end evening wear) I would never try and compete with the high street prices on most things, but the special occasion stuff is a different matter.

If anyone has any questions about it all please ask. Only too happy to help

Mandy
PS please excuse typos, it's been a long day at the sewing machine...;)