Since I was a teenager, I wanted to be a dressmaker…either that, or join the circus. Unfortunately, I never joined the circus BUT I did get to design my own wedding dress with the help of fashion designer and seamstress, Mrs. Young.
Mrs. Young is a highly skilled seamstress and owns her own business called Young’s Dress Maker & Alterations in Charlotte, NC. I approached her with a concept in mind and as I verbalized my vision she drew sketches of the design. It was invigorating to see my idea come to life! Below are a few tips I learned along the way on how to work with a dressmaker.
Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
5 Tips on How to Work with a Dress Maker
- Make sure you agree on a timeline. Talk about when you will need the final look finished. It is typical to go through 3-5 fittings before your dress is complete. Mrs. Young was great to collaborate with and welcomed feedback at every fitting.
- Keep an open mind and try to not to micro-manage the process! It was important that I embrace the creative journey during the evolution of the wedding dress. We improvised the placement of the lace (where it transitions from bodice to skirt) as the fitting appointments progressed. Working with a seamstress requires a lot of trust and communication so do your breathing exercises before you show up for your appointments!
- Speaking of communication, use a few visual images to help articulate your vision. I used Pinterest to pin my wedding dress ideas and kept them readily available on my phone.
- Another piece of advice on how to work with a dressmaker is bring your own fabric samples to the first appointment. In my case, I already had the fabric needed. Your seamstress can order the fabric for you but bring a sample if you can!
- Finally, choose a dressmaker that listens to your ideas. Think about what details are most important to you in the dress design and try not to compromise on a concept you aren’t happy with. Interview several other fashion designers, like Alena Fede to see which you mesh with most. Alena Fede Fashion is based in Charleston, SC and has talented seamstresses on her team to help bring your dream design to life.
I will leave you with this. You do not need to be a creative genius to work with a dressmaker. Try to sketch your dress design on your own and let the seamstress take it from there!
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