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Mom’s Dress
Finding The Perfect Mother of the Bride Outfit Finding the perfect dress for any occasion often proves to be a challenge; this is no different when looking for a mother of the bride or groom dress. In fact, if you ask me, it can be much more difficult. With so many dress styles and colors to choose from, it still seems like nothing ever fits the way it should, or looks the way it should, for that matter. The way a dress or even suit looks on the hanger doesn’t always translate when put on. As a dressmaker, I have seen countless dresses and...
read moreVintage Re-Make
It seems to be my year for Vintage Re-makes! Here I will share with you about the second one of the year; although I started today on yet a third! This gown is another 70′s design, worn by the brides mother. You know the era – the full sleeves, high neck, gathered waist, lots of lace and ruffles around the neckline. In working with these older dresses, I have found that they don’t make dresses like they used to! A lot less structure, a lot less finishing. In remaking this dress, I first had to remove the sleeves and the lace ruffles on the...
read moreBecoming Reality
Normally I wait until the bride takes possession of her dress before I post about it. But this time I simply can’t wait! I won’t post her name, though! This bride came to me almost a year ago with the idea of a very simple dress for her beach wedding. Basically just a dressed up t-shirt dress. But she had another idea, and brought me a picture, of a gown that was her true dream dress. How much would it cost? Could I make it with just a couple changes? Absolutely! The biggest difference was that she wanted the main satin layers in a soft pink....
read moreFor Jane
The last post I made here was to share with you about a project coming up that I was so excited about. Jane Wicker, Airshow performer, and Wingwalker, had asked me to make her a very special wing walking outfit for her upcoming marriage. The plan was for her and her fiance, to get married while wingwalking! I hadn’t a clue how this was going to be done, but I had no doubt that Jane could do it! Sadly, and tragically, this project will not be happening. Today, Jane was killed while performing her act at an airshow in Dayton, OH. I have been...
read morePageant Beading
Pageant dresses are an item I haven’t worked with very much in the past. A couple here and there, but never more that that. I guess I have been too busy with wedding gowns! But recently, a pageant mom came to me needing assistance with 2 dresses. The first one was a no brainer – take up at the straps and in at the back. Rip, stitch, done. The second dress had been purchased 2nd hand previously worn. Previously altered. Previously taken in. Mom was hoping that it could be let back out enough to fit her pageant daughter. No problem – it had...
read moreDear Bride…
“My dress is WAY too long, but it has a deep lace hem! Can you fix it?” “I have a dress I love but it’s about 5″ too short! Can you fix it?” “I found a dress really cheap- but it’s about 5 sizes too big- can you make it fit me?” “My dream dress is gorgeous! But it’s a couple sizes too small. Can you help?” The good news is – in most; not all, but most; cases, the answer is yes. Deep lace hem? This deep lace hem was about 6 inches long. After measuring exactly how much it needed to be brought up, and pinning the extra length above the top row...
read moreMom’s Frustrations
I have this discussion all the time – “Where do you shop for by Text-Enhance” href=”http://blog.elegantdesignsbycandicelouise.com/#”>grandmother dresses?” Shopping for your MOB dress can be one of the most disheartening parts of the whole wedding planning. There just are not a lot of choices out there that don’t look like a bridesmaid dress, show a little too much skin, are too ‘poofy’, too ‘strapless’ or bare, too short, too embellished, too ‘suit-y”, or just plain ugly. Well, dear MOB’s – fear not! You may or may not have...
read moreAn Un-Recognizable Vintage Re-Make
When Jessica brought me her mother’s 1970 something vintage wedding gown, and told me what she wanted to do with it, part of me was appalled! But, another part of me was very intrigued! This gown was one of those very dated wedding gowns – lots of wide lace at the high neck, big sleeves, you catch my drift, right? The fabric had aged to a wonderful candlelight pantina – just beautiful! I was in love with the lace at the neckline, cuffs and hem. Absolutley gorgeous! But it was hardly a modern girls dream dress. Jessica had actually already...
read moreToo Short Wedding Gown
Today’s project: adding length to a too short wedding gown. Not as difficult as it might sound – at least with this gown. It has a 1.5″ wide ruffled organza trim at the hemline; so we decided to just add another layer of the ruffled organza. The gown is about 1.5″ too short, so after some careful measuring, I figured out I needed to cut 14 yards of 3.5″ wide strips of ivory organza. To make the whole process easier, I decided to cut the 14 yards in 1 yard increments, gather them individually, and then sew the ends together. But before I could...
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