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2010-08-19

Wed

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Most already know this but sometimes I make dresses. Last weekend there were 6 bridesmaids dresses and the weekend before, a good friend got married in a dress I made for her... and I got some pictures!
One of the biggest parts of making a custom dress is finding the right look to match the person wearing the dress. I've know the bride 'H' for a few years now and she is one of the most casual people I know. She will almost always show up in denim shorts and a tee (unless I yell at her... don't be my friend, I'm a bully). That's why I love the picture above, she looks so relaxed and happy; the perfect way to look on a wedding day.
Seeing the pictures, the dress looks deceptively simple and I almost forget the stress that crumb catcher added to my life. That's the thing with custom dresses, all of your learning curve is in that one dress. If I had to make the dress again, it wouldn't take me as long and I probably would have chosen different material to work with. The material had bounce instead of stiffness (does that make sense to anyone or does it sound like crazy talk?) but when we were picking out fabric, we were more concerned with getting the right colour and avoiding the slimy looking satins that the lady kept taking off the bolts for us. I feel stupid for not fore-seeing the issues but the colour was nice, the hand was heavy enough and the price was right, so we had our fabric. And for the most part it was fine but that crumb catcher nearly ruined me. It's really not that hard to make but because the fabric was kinda jumpy and not stiff it wouldn't hold the angle of the crumb catcher. I literally made 5 versions of the crumb catcher.... I tried every weight fusing and crinoline but it was either way too heavy, so the fabric lost it's drape and looked like cardboard (really sexy), or too light to stay up. Frustrated, I asked my patient and handsome husband to go to the hardware store and pick up assorted metal wires. It took two tries but I hand sewed some wire up centre front and along the top edge and it worked. Like a charm... heck yes. I sewed some rows of beads across the top for a tiny bit of sparkle. Apparently not everyone likes their sparkle in obnoxious doses like I do.
The dress did change a bit from its original conception to its present form. That's the fun of creative work, it can mold and change as you go along. One important last minute change were the pockets... the bride needed her Burt's Bees and wasn't going to carry a purse. Done and done. The headpiece pretty much happened by accident. She came over for a fitting and we were discussing hair and politics (ok, just hair) and I had a piece of bird cage netting for another bride that I just tied it in a bow and threw it in her hair to give her an idea of what she might want. And it looked perfect, so it stuck. It almost made it out with the garbage when her dad was tidying up and decided to get rid of 'the scrap of fabric'. But what's a wedding without some drama?
The kindest words came from the bride's mother who thanked me for making a dress that was just right for her daughter. She has two daughters (both are my homeslices) and they have very different styles. I made a wedding dress for the eldest daughter two years ago and it couldn't have been more opposite. It was a totally unique experience this time around. And even though it got crazy busy around here, it's pretty special to be part of such a big deal in some one's life.

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And big thanks to Kara Lodder for the pictures. I don't know what I would have to show you guys if it wasn't for her. My pictures were bad news bears... which is why we hire the professionals, right? Check out her blog for more wedding shots, including a good looking wedding party and some awesome, moody storm clouds....

29 comments :

Ce qui m'inspire said...

This is absolutely beautiful. You've done a fantastic job! And I know how hard it is because I made my grad dress three years ago! And this year I made a tie-dyed suit for my brother's friend to wear to his grad!

I really love the buttons down the back of the dress. I'm so happy you shared this! Please feel free to share any other projects you make as well!

Ce qui m'inspire

Paige said...

WOW! thats amazing that you made this!
it is beyond beautiful!!

-paige
http://20somethingshopaholic.blogspot.com

Rhonda said...

Are you kidding me?! I love it!!

And amazing how gorgeous that bow of tulle is!

Anonymous said...

You've shown wedding dresses in the past (and as a long long long time reader I've seen them all) but wow. This one is just outstanding... by far the best work you have ever shared with us. If we were friends I would beg you to design my dress, haha. Because really, it is outstanding.

- Patricia
fivefootsomething.blogspot.com

Destined For Now said...

Absolutely amazing!

anna said...

stunning. this dress literally takes my breath away! jentine, i wish i could get married again!!

liz said...

Truly beautiful, I love that the bride requested pockets :)

Nadine said...

I love the casualness and the pockets and the dropped waist. (I LOVE a good dropped waist.) Applause, Ms Designer Lady!

(I have to go and google up what 'homeslice' means now . . .)

Emma at Daily Clothes Fix said...

Wow. This is just wonderful. I am in awe of your commitment and your creation.

Alessandra said...

wow, really pretty - good job!

Linda said...

The dress turned out fantastic Yen, it really did. I remember wrinkling my nose at the fabric when I first saw it but it looked really good and H cleans up real real well. Damn girls with perfect bodies...ugh.

Raquelita said...

This dress is breathtakingly beautiful! You should really be incredibly proud of your talent!

eek said...

Stunning dress. I want to have another wedding so you can make me one too ;)

Anonymous said...

Holy shit Mama! That is so amazing. I'll keep you in mind when I get married in 5 million years, you may have to come visit me in Montreal though...
You did a great job on the dress and your friend looks gorgeous in these pictures. I went on the photographer's blog and I'm all teary eyed, they look so happy and in love!! I'm going to a wedding tomorrow and this has got me so excited.

Laura said...

Absolutely gorgeous dress! And the pictures are brilliant too :)

L x
Half Dressed

Sidewalk Chic said...

You did an amazing job. I'm so in awe of your skills. That little scrap of fabric in her hair just completes the whole look. Beautiful, beautiful.

Secondhand Stella said...

Awww, its so pretty!!!! I love the neckline and the back. You do amazing work :)

Ciarra said...

You are so incredibly talented! Your wedding dresses are divine. I wish I could get re-married to my husband just so I could order a dress from you! Thank you for sharing the photos. Soooo gorgeous. You must be proud. :-)

Hope said...

You must be seriously patience, because I would have the hardest time making a wedding dress. It's beautiful and the bride looks stunning in it!

Kelly said...

The dress is gorgeous and she obviously loves it. So many brides look trapped in their dresses, and she just looks completely comfortable. I love the pockets.

You're a very talented dressmaker / seamstress / is there a less gendered work for that? Tailor? You're a very talented tailor.

Shannon said...

Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous!!! Your wedding dresses and bridesmaid gowns are so beautiful...every time you mention the word "wedding" in your blog post, I cross my fingers and pray that you made the dresses. Seriously.

P.S. She and her sister look so much like each other!

Healthy and Homemade said...

That dress is INSANE.

I wish I could get a wedding do-over so I could wear one like this. Stunning.

Unknown said...

That dress is amazing. You are SO talented, and I am so jealous. :)

Kristen said...

I am stunned... amazed. The dress is simply amazing... you are one very talented lady!!

Happy weekend to you!

Julia said...

Absolutely gorgeous dress. That first picture is taking my breath away. And the bride's HAIR! Lord. I need that hair STAT.

xo

those tricks said...

A wedding dress with POCKETS!!
You are a genius.
If I ever get married, that will be a must.
What a concept.
I've never seen that before.
brilliant.

April said...

WOW! That is a BEAUTIFUL wedding dress! I dont' plan on getting married any time soon (i'm only 19) but when I do, I want to make my wedding dress, and I hope I can make one as gorgeous as the one you made!

Amanda @ Life with A.Co said...

You are so insanely talented!!

Well done (esp. on the crumb catcher - patience is a virtue ;)

A.Co @ A.Co est. 1984

Grace @ Sense and Simplicity said...

Gorgeous wedding dress. I love that you added pockets - it helps the casual sorts feel relaxed and that's just how she looked.