creating your If buying a car for a man is an emotional, exciting and sometimes expensive purchase for him, then the correlating purchase for a woman must be the purchase of her wedding gown. To help take some of the mystery out of the search for the perfect gown, following are some suggestions….. 1. DO YOUR RESEARCH. Look at magazines. Current magazines will indicate the latest available styles. Determine your likes/dislikes in terms of silhouettes; keep your eyes open for special details. Consider that the gowns you see in magazines may be the catalyst for designing something even more creative and beautiful! 2. VISIT STORES. Pay attention to fabric, cut, fit – learn why one is a $700 dress vs. a $7000 gown. Be open minded, do try on a variety of gowns. Do NOT get talked into buying a dress (by the salesperson, your mother or best friend) if it’s not absolutely perfect. After all, you can have EXACTLY what you want, if you have it designed for you. 3. DETERMINE YOUR BUDGET. If you HAVE to have the $7000 gown that your budget forbids, maybe you can rearrange your budget, i.e., get less expensive flowers, music, food…often with a custom gown, you can have the perfect gown while you control the cost. Remember, of everything from the wedding, your gown, ring and photos are generally the only items you take home (along, of course, with your groom!) So keep in mind that whether your gown is $500 or $15000, it should be one you are excited about. One way to be truly excited about your gown is to have it custom designed – a couture gown will fit and flatter your figure and personality in the way an off-the-rack gown can only dream about! If you are going to consider couture, again, do your research. Go to the internet, ask for referrals, visit studios/shops. Inspect the quality of the work and fabrics presented. Find out if you must provide your own fabrics or written by Janice Martin, Janice Martin Designs • photo by Phil Kramer Photographers, Inc. 30 WWW.4MYWEDDING.COM CUSTOM GOWN CustomMakingYourDress 3/15/06 08:55 AM Page 1
Transcript
creating your
If buying a car for a man is an emotional, exciting and sometimes expensive
purchase for him, then the correlating purchase for a woman must be the
purchase of her wedding gown. To help take some of the mystery out of the
search for the perfect gown, following are some suggestions…..
1. DO YOUR RESEARCH. Look atmagazines. Current magazines willindicate the latest available styles.Determine your likes/dislikes in termsof silhouettes; keep your eyes open forspecial details. Consider that thegowns you see in magazines may be thecatalyst for designing something evenmore creative and beautiful!
2. VISIT STORES. Pay attention tofabric, cut, fit – learn why one is a $700dress vs. a $7000 gown. Be openminded, do try on a variety of gowns.Do NOT get talked into buying a dress(by the salesperson, your mother or bestfriend) if it’s not absolutely perfect.After all, you can have EXACTLYwhat you want, if you have it designedfor you.
3. DETERMINE YOUR BUDGET. Ifyou HAVE to have the $7000 gownthat your budget forbids, maybe youcan rearrange your budget, i.e., get lessexpensive flowers, music, food…oftenwith a custom gown, you can have the perfect gown while you control the cost.
Remember, of everything from thewedding, your gown, ring and photosare generally the only items you takehome (along, of course, with yourgroom!) So keep in mind that whetheryour gown is $500 or $15000, it shouldbe one you are excited about.
One way to be truly excited aboutyour gown is to have it custom designed– a couture gown will fit and flatteryour figure and personality in the wayan off-the-rack gown can only dreamabout! If you are going to considercouture, again, do your research.
Go to the internet, ask for referrals,visit studios/shops. Inspect the quality ofthe work and fabrics presented. Find outif you must provide your own fabrics orwritten by Janice Martin, Janice Martin Designs • photo by Phil Kramer Photographers, Inc.
30 WWW.4MYWEDDING.COM
CUSTOM GOWN
CustomMakingYourDress 3/15/06 08:55 AM Page 1
whether you may purchase it under the
auspices of the shop. Is the work done
on site or off premises? Ask questions.
Determine if you are comfortable with
the person you will be working with...
do you prefer a designer/collaborator or
designer/dictator? Do ask for
an estimate. Does it include
fittings? Fabric? Trims? Pressing?
Taxes? Shipping?
Discuss costs. Be honest/realistic
about your budget. Most designers
require a deposit with final payment
due prior to delivery. If your budget is
generous allow the designer some
creativity; if stringent, be honest and
let him or her know so that they will
present you with realistic ideas for
your gown. There are many ways to
increase or decrease the cost of a
gown depending upon the fabrics,
trims and styles chosen, so don’t
assume that the estimate you receive
is unalterable. Remember that the
gown being designed for you is one-of-
a-kind and so may not be less
expensive than that found off-the-
rack (although it could be)… but it
will certainly be more perfect for you!
HOW DOES IT HAPPEN? Designing
is a very logical process which
produces the most magical of gowns…
during the consultation you will
choose fabric, discuss silhouettes,
ideas, details (your figure, personality,
the location and date of the event will
all influence the design of your gown).
Measurements are taken and a muslin
(fabric pattern) is made from which
necklines are cut and waistlines
determined. The muslin fabric dress
allows you to draw in design lines so
that you know exactly where each
dart, tuck and pleat will go. You
become part of the process as you
see/try on/alter and change the muslin
before it gets cut in silk… you
influence the design of it even as it
evolves from sketch to muslin to
finished perfection!
IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERSTThhee WWhhiittee HHoouussee:: 220022--445566--11441144
THESE PHOTOS FOLLOW THE DEVELOPMENT OF KAROLYN'S GOWN.
1. The hand beaded chantilly lace waschosen from among numerous Frenchlace patterns available. The color ofthe lace was influenced by Karolyn’scoloring and the fabric chosen to gounder it. Often, a gown is layered withsilk organza in pink, peach, etc., tolend more depth of color and richness to it.
2. A bustier is built on which to support theheavily beaded lace. The bustier is made fromKarolyn’s measurements that have been turnedinto a muslin or "first pattern".
3. A second muslin pattern becomes the dress. Atthis point, any fit or design issues get hammeredout before cutting into the final fabric.
4. Lace is cut/draped over the four-ply bias silkunder-dress. It is hand basted, trimmed andsewn into place.
5. Finishing details, trim, hand-beading, buttons,train are all discussed and determined… et voila,c’est magnifique… and all done in under threemonths!!!
32 WWW.4MYWEDDING.COM
Janice Martin Designs is locatedon Main Street in Philadelphiaand has been producing couturewomen’ s wear for over f i f t eenyears. In addition to creating newpieces, the studio also specializes inre-designing heirloom gowns, aniche deve loped as a re sul t o frestoring Princess Grace’s bridalveil for the Philadelphia Museumof Art. Ms. Martin offers exclusiveand/or custom made fabrics fromsmall European mills. For clientswhose time and budget allow, thedesign services of the famed Frenchembroidery f i rm Lesage areavailable. You are encouraged tovi s i t the webs i te atwww.JaniceMartin.net and/or call215-487-7171 for an appointmentor to have any questions answered.
Whether you need the gown next weekor next year, the staff at JaniceMartin Designs looks forward tomeeting you. They are highlyexperienced perfectionists who won’tlet an imperfect stitch slip by!
THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONSWOMEN CONSIDER COUTURE:1. They hate to shop or don’t want
to waste their time shopping.2. They want better design and
quality than that found off-the-rack
3. Their time is too limited – theyneed the dress in three months or three days. OR
4. They have already been to 32 stores in three states, tried on75 dresses and none of themwere "quite right".
