Hi Brides.
I frequently have brides ask me if I try on the new dress styles as they come into the store…and I always reply that I don’t.
Until my recent Trunk Show, that is!
I had a bride who loved one of the dresses that were on show, but she couldn’t fit into it to see how it would sit when on. I held the dress against
her and made her try on another dress in the same style, but it just didn’t convince her.
She looked at me and shyly asked if I would try it on for her! I laughed and explained that I was 50 years old and I might put her off the dress if
I try it on. She insisted, so on it went.
I have to admit that I felt great in that dress! The structure tucked any wobbly bits in and I felt like I looked great. I asked Glynis to take a photo
for me as I wanted to keep it - now I know what brides mean when they get that ‘this is IT’ moment!
The bride said ‘if you look THAT good, I am sold!’.
The dress straps can also be worn off the shoulder.
Connie xo
Destination Weddings
There are many reasons why a bride and groom decide to get married overseas. Unfortunately, there are often important family members who are too old
or unwell to travel, and who therefore miss out on attending the big day.
This bride’s grandmothers weren’t able to travel overseas because of their health, so she invited them to her final fitting. This way they could see
what she looked like in her dress, and she could have some photos taken with these special women. One of her grandmothers is 98 years old and had
to escape her nursing home for the day!
It was a treat to host such special moments in the boutique.
Connie xo
Hi Future Brides!
One of the key reasons I travel to Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week is to select some great plus-sized styles, a few unique pieces that wont make it into
other local stores, and a lower priced line that doesn’t scream ‘I’m Cheap’.
I am happy to have found all of the above, and have ordered a few pieces of bridal wear between $1600-2000. You can see a few of these pieces in the
attached photos, and they should be arriving in late September if you would like to come into the boutique to inspect them in person.
I am really excited about these dresses, especially at such fantastic prices!
Connie xo
Hi Brides,
I usually baulk at selling a dress three sizes too big; however, this bride had neither time nor budget on her side.
Fortunately, this dress was priced well under $1000 and the style was suited to a youthful bride, and with a few tweaks we were able to recreate the
dress within her timeframe and budget.
There were two key changes made to the design of the dress:
I first removed the top tier of the skirt - this reduced the overall impact of the voluminous skirt, an important change considering how slender she
was.
I then ran the dress in along the back zipper - primarily to reduce the size of the bodice - however, this also changed the design of the back of the
bodice from a v-shape to a straight back, increasing the support of the weighty skirt on her petite frame.
I try to only recommend drastic changes like this to dresses that are already significantly reduced in price, because these alterations can be very
costly. Although I do have to admit it can be very fulfilling to use my creativity to remake a dress that was otherwise ‘old’ stock!
Connie xo
Hi Brides to Be.
This plus-sized bride lost more weight than what she expected to, meaning her ordered dress was two sizes too big!
Alterations were even more extreme because I had to alter it to fit both her large bust and tiny waist.
I also created a bodice piece using boned crepe fabric. This allowed her to wear a bra and provided extra support. Shortening the sleeves to the level
of the waist band also worked to better balance the figure.
She looks lovely and the photos show just how flattering a deep-v looks on her!
Lillian West 6422
Connie xo
ALTERATION OF THE WEEK
This week's bride chose a lace dress with a deep v-neckline. It was incredibly flattering to her figure and her large bust; however, we were left with
the conundrum of hiding her bra.
We spent some time trying to find a solution: it's hard to find larger cup bras in a plunge design, and adding more lace to the bodice meant that the
neckline was no longer as magically flattering.
But then I discovered a solution! I added some matching lace to the front of her bra, disguising it and incorporating it into the design of the dress.
It was a fantastic result and the bride was very happy.
Connie xo
This is a fantastic example of how two strapless dresses fit on the one body shape - one flatters her figure much more than the other.
Sometimes brides come in to the boutique and say they have tried on strapless/mermaid/lace/ballgown and that the style doesn’t suit them. I always
ask them to reconsider, because there are finer details to why a dress doesn’t suit someone - it might be the lace placement, the structure, the
neckline or another key element of design.
This bride is a size 12 and the dresses are constructed of different types of lace and are by two different designers. The left flatters the bride’s
shape better but in saying that, I have seen the right flatter other women with different shaped bodies. It’s definitely not just about the size.
Connie xo
What alteration am I working on this week?
This week I am creating a lining that will go underneath a sheer illusion back. Why, you ask? Well, my bride loved the dress but I felt that the sheer
illusion tulle wouldn’t provide enough support for her larger bust nor hide a bra. The piece that I have created will disguise her bra band and
is boned to offer additional support.
The first photo shows the sheer back without the insert, the second shows it during the creation stage, and the third shows it completed. Stay tuned
for before and after photos in the coming weeks.
Connie xo
Hi Brides,
I had another bride in buying her second dress this week. She wasn’t happy with the choice she made with her first dress even after the alterations
were completed.
She loves Martina Liana gowns and sent me an email saying her wedding was only four weeks away, and did I think I could help?
She came in before I left for Barcelona and narrowed her selection down to two dresses straight off the rack. I suggested she take some time to think
about it because the boutique was going to be closed and no one would buy them in the interim. She would have time to process it all and ensure
she was making the right decision this time around. It would also give her time to break the news to her mum!
These are the two dresses she was deliberating over. They are both lovely dresses but one definitely suits this bride's figure more than the other.
She has a rectangle shaped body and the style on the right utilises a diagonal design on the bodice and, along with the v neckline, draws the eye
downwards to give this bride a waist.
Her mum was happy for her daughter, despite this being her second dress. I don’t have a photo of the first dress as it was at the alterations place,
but I can see why her mum was pleased she had finally found a dress she loved!
Enjoy my Brides wedding day on the link below.
http://www.polkadotbride.com/2017/04/joyful-manly-wedding/