Taking in & letting out
Bodice, waist and side seams adjusted to fit, keeping the original lines of the dress.
Bridal & evening
The dress you already love, fitting the way it should
I ran a bridal business for around ten years and carried out the fittings myself. Lace, silk, chiffon, beading and boned bodices are familiar territory.
Bridal work is priced by the work it takes, not by the occasion.
What I alter
Hems & trains
Length set to your shoes, including layered, lace and chiffon hems.
Straps, sleeves & necklines
Shoulders and straps adjusted, sleeves added or reshaped.
Bustles
Trains lifted for the evening, with the method chosen to suit the dress.
Cups & support
Internal support fitted or adjusted so the dress stays where it should.
Occasionwear
Eveningwear, bridesmaids, mother-of-the-bride, prom and formal suits.
How the fitting works
Four appointments, roughly
First fitting
We look at the dress together, talk through what you want changed, and I pin it on you. This is where the work is decided and priced.
The alteration
I do the work myself. If anything unexpected turns up once the dress is opened, I stop and speak to you before carrying on.
Second fitting
You try it on again with the intended shoes and underwear. Fine adjustments are made and, if there's a bustle, we practise it.
Collection
Final try-on at the studio before you take it away, so anything that needs a last touch can be sorted there and then.
What to bring
- The shoes you intend to wear — hem length depends on them.
- The underwear, shapewear or foundation garments you'll wear on the day.
- Any accessories that affect the fit, such as a belt or sash.
- The dress, clean and ready to be worked on.
Deadlines
Tell me your date when you book, not later. Completion dates are estimates unless I've confirmed a guaranteed deadline in writing — and for a wedding, I'd always rather agree that in advance than work to an assumption.
Book early where you can. It leaves room for a second fitting without pressure, and for anything the dress decides to surprise us with.
Bring the dress in
Bridal fittings are booked as a longer appointment, so there's time to do it properly.