Hi guys

I'm wondering if can get some advice from those of you who have already found your dress?

I really really want a Couture dress (and I simply can't find what I want off the rack).

I am nervous at hiring a dressmaker (plus I don't know one with the skills I would trust to make my dress) and all the Couture designers are astronomically priced.

Does anyone know of a reasonably priced couturer (my fiance has set a strict budget of $4000) who is in Sydney that could help me bring my pink creation to life!!??

Thanks,

PinkyGirl
xx

I am currently looking as well. it's so hard!

I'm worried that is I hire a dressmaker then they will do a crappy job.

I know!!

I saw the most amazing dress at Joanne Panzarino, but it was $9k!!!

You couldn't even attempt to copy it . . .

What to do!??

I am getting my dress made by a dressmaker as the couture house charged 9k for similar. (ie mine will not be entirely hand beaded instead we are using a pre beaded lace).

What does the dress look like - I know of one coturist who does ANY budget (her words) but she is pretty specialised... can i get a dress description and I will see if I can think of anyone who could be good.

The dress was amazing!

There isn't a picture on the website, the only pic I have seen is in the Joanne Panzarino advert in the lastest edition of Studio for Brides.

It's strapless, sweetheart, very long bias cut bodice, which has a thick silk ribbon which bows to the front right hip. The skirt is made of 18 layers of smaller longer pieces of french lace, chiffon, tulle, which makes it look like a 'ragamuffin' skirt!

Not the best description, I know.

Whaddya think??

I can visualise what you mean, it sounds divine. The trouble is that so much of what makes those dresses beautiful is the fabric, ie: imported silks and laces that are hideously expensive. To try and reproduce them in cheaper fabrics would be very difficult. Also having recently been to my first fitting I now need $350 worth of alterations-and may well need more! I have already spent $2,400 on the dress and veil so it might have been more economical to get made to measure.
I do love my dress though and wanted that *exact* dress so its hard to say.

My friend is having her gown made by a couturist in Sydney. I am unsure of the name but her name on here is Jazzmin - Maybe PM her and ask. Her dress is around $6,000 from memory.

STEVEN KHALIL is fantastic... !! Im sure you will be able to have a dress made there for $4000

www.stevenkhalil.com

Hmm... sounds like the dress that's in the latest Your day magazine, and it's by Joanne Panzarino - i'll scan it in when i get home.
I think a good dressmaker should be able to do that for you no problem under $4k.
A good dressmaker should be able to make any dress.
And if you give them a budget - they'll give you ways to get it for less - ie. a cheaper lace, beaded lace etc

What about Karen Willis Holmes - she has a dress that has a skirt a bit like that, have a look on her website!

Why not ring a few couturists and tell them your budget. I visited Morada and they are quite happy to work to any budget and would easily get something for $4k. I didn't get my dress from them in the end but they seemed nice enough.

I agree with Busterella, call a few couture places and see what they say. I am getting my gown made by a couture designer but I visited 4 before I made my decision and they all varied alot in pricing - but it was dependent on the materials they used and detailing you had. What you have described sounds amazing, would love to see a pic of it.

hi pinkygirl

im with you on being nervous about hiring a dressmaker as my cousins had a bad experience with her wedding gown. i'd rather be safe than sorry!
my girlfriend bought her dress from Karen Willis Holmes in paddington and she looked stunning so i've also bought my gown from there and i love it!!!! my budget was $4000 but i found my dress for $2500.

there is a good range of gowns to try on and you can make a few changes on them to suit your style. i got extra beading on mine. they are quite flexible and i get it fitted to my length.

i reckon you should go there, its got amazing dresses and they are reasonbly priced!

charlotte

Hi Charlotte (and everyone)

Thank you all for your wonderful replies.

I did see and like some of the KWH dresses online, the half-couture ones, but I really really have my heart set on a pink one, and this of course needs to be made. But, thank you, I'll go and see her. I'll also give a couple of others a call & see what they can do. I'll also try Steven Khalil - but he seems to only do slinky ones.

Heapha - did you manage to speak to the "ANY budget" couturist?

Thanks!

Kel

hi kel

I was initially thinking of having a different colour for my gown and it is possible to do that. the girls there said most of them can be made in different colours but then i decided on ivory. My gown is in the ready to wear section, called Gemma (gown no. 18). its on the website www.karenwillisholmes.com.au. good luck shopping!!!

regards,
charlotte

I second that. A very close friend of mine used Steven in Nov 05 and he is so lovely and made the most stunning dress. I have also heard of someone in Leichhardt but will have to get back to you with the name.

im having my gown made my Maria Chiodo in Leichardt and she is fantastic. When i first saw her, she asked what i wanted and we went through my designs and her opinions. Then from all my pictures we came up with my dress. we spoke about price after that. She told me that she can usually work with a reasonble budget. Ie use cheaper silks, less beads etc. My original budget was $7K, but she told me that i could easily have it made for about $4K using the cheaper silks etc. We decided to stick to the original budget and work with more expensive materials adn more beads...

Next fitting is in a month. Cant Wait!!!

Nope mine is not slinky at all... make sure you go and see him

Ladies

FABULOUS news. As you know, I had my heart set on the Joanne P dress that I described which I now couldn't afford.

Wel I contacted them and Joanne has agreed to make me a dress for just over the budget (which I think is fine for the DREAM DRESS!)

I am now so excited for my first proper appointment!!!

Pinky

I had a beautiful pink silk satin ballgown from Annette Of Melbourne. It had a huge petticoat, loads of hand beading and a gorgeous 2m train. It wasnt cheap, but then it wasnt 6 or 7 thousand either.

I felt like a princess and everyone gasped when I entered the church. So I know it had WOW factor. People assumed I paid a lot more for it than I actually did. I say go couture, you wont regret it.

Have a look for bernadette doherty in roseville - she has a website with the photos. I had her provisionally booked in now to make mine, but ended up finding something else so she might still have availability

YAY pinkygirl thats fantastic!!!!

Im from the beaches too...!

Hi guys

I'm having my dress done by Ev3rm0re Bridal who are on Parramatta Rd in Leichhardt. They are absolutely fantastic there (especially Clara) and you can definitely find something there under 4k. Most of their samples that i tried were about 3 to 3.5k.
I have a problem with my back which makes my back look uneven and weird so I had to have one made and I'm so glad I went there. They have done such a fantastic job - it's not often I can wear clothes and feel 100% comfy. It might be worth dropping by