Getting a Proper Fit

If your garment doesn’t fit properly it is not going to look its best.  Now days you have many options to getting that “perfect” fit and something that is unique for you.

In Bridal, almost all orders are what is called a “custom” order.  That means, the vendor does not carry these items as stock items but each item is made as it is ordered in selected colors for a particular person.  This usually takes three months unless the buyer pays a “rush fee” that can add quite a bit to your purchase price.

Normally you have to order an item to the largest part of a person’s body.  For example, if a person measures 36, 26, 39 and a size chart states that the 36 and 26 are a size 6 but the 39 hip makes you a size 8, that is what you have to order.  Of course, when the gown comes, it will be too big at the bust and waist but fit at the hip.

At this time a seamstress pins the too big parts and takes the gown in so it makes a perfect fit for the wearer.  It is easy to make things smaller but very hard, if not impossible, to make things larger because of seam allowances.

Finding a good seamstress is difficult.  It is becoming a lost art.  With schools not teaching home economics skills anymore, sewing and cooking, very few young people are learning how to do either.  We are lucky in the Mid Ohio Valley to still have some very good seamstresses.

One answer to the dilemma of fit is to add a custom cut fee to the cost of the gown and get the piece ordered made to your exact measurements.  Many bridal and high end pageant houses offer this service.  The gown is made just for you anyway so why not add a few dollars to the cost and get it made to your exact measurements?

The custom cut gown is especially nice for the short petite woman who has trouble finding anything to fit at all.  You choose the style, the fabric and the measurements.

Another service offered by several bridal houses is the “Temple Ready” wedding gown.  For an added fee you can take stock wedding gowns and add sleeves, a higher neckline or other options such as jackets and shawls.  Sometimes you can take one style gown and have it made in fabric and beading of another style gown.  You can have all of the beading or partial beading eliminated from the gown ordered if that is your pleasure. 

Elizabeth Michaels seamstress, Brenda McCann, spent over 30 hours custom beading a $4,000.00 silk wedding gown.  The result was a fabulous gown that was totally unlike any other. 

Brenda has many talents.  Recently, for a prom girl, she designed and made custom shoes using beading from the gown that wasn’t needed.  Brenda has also designed and made custom outfits for Miss America contestants needing something special for their talent competition or a costume required for the show.  Right now she is putting on her thinking cap for 80’s retro outfits for the June Teen America competition. She is also completing a talent outfit for a Miss Ohio America contestant.

When shopping for your wedding gown or bridesmaid dresses or that to die for pageant gown don’t forget to ask the retailer about special options.  If the gown is already made just for you, why not make it custom.

Tony Bowls designs fabulous pageant gowns and as each one is custom made it again can be made to a specific size, color and fabric.  When you go to your national competition you know that no one else will have your gown.  Tony Bowls registers each gown nationally so no one else can order it for your particular competition.  Right now four custom gowns from Elizabeth Michaels are going to three different national competitions.  Each one is custom made for each girl competing by Tony Bowls.

Start early and discuss custom options with your retailer.