02 4225 2188

0
​The Dilemma

​The Dilemma

  •   Connie Di Genni
  •   Friday, August 24, 2018

The Dilemma...

How many people should you bring dress shopping?
Made to measure was easy - it was you, the mother of the bride, and the bridesmaids. It was already pre-decided because these women were the ones getting dresses made for them! Oftentimes even the bridal party wasn't present when the bride was getting her dress made; the dress would be a surprise for EVERYONE on the day!
But times have changed, and I see a lot of people come and go through the boutique. One mother recently commented that her other daughter arrived at her consult with a whole entourage of guests, and by the time they visited a few stores and she had heard a dozen different opinions on every dress, she wasn't even sure WHAT she wanted. In the end, the ended up regretting her dress purchase.
Well, the younger sister is getting married now, and this time around it is just her and her mother coming in dress shopping. Her mother said "I will be honest with her - because what mother doesn't want her daughter to look fabulous and be happy on her wedding day?"
What are your thoughts on this? Are you going to surprise everyone or did you bring support along to your fittings?
Connie
 

Read more  
sleeves in the late 80's

sleeves in the late 80's

  •   Connie Di Genni
  •   Friday, August 17, 2018

Remember how we all had points in our sleeves in the late 80's? Well, they're back! They've been given a streamlined, modern twist and they are showing up all over the catwalks and industry shows.

The mother of this bride laughed "I had this same lace peak sleeve on my dress back when I got married!"

 

Connie xo

 

Read more  
​Alteration of the Week Design Changes

​Alteration of the Week Design Changes

  •   Connie Di Genni
  •   Friday, August 10, 2018

Alteration of the Week - Design Changes

This bride wanted an on-trend 'cold shoulder' neckline. This design detail combines a high neckline and sleeves with cut-outs over the shoulder and is a great way of showing off a shapely upper body.
I don't have anything like this in the boutique, but I mentioned to the bride that Martina Liana designers are happy to do custom design changes with enough notice. I knew the bride had missed the main cut off date for this, with her wedding being held in July, but thought she may have made it with enough time to pay the express fee. We tried a few dresses on and decided that the Martina Liana 948 was the best option for such a significant alteration.
I called the Martina Liana head office while my bride was in-store; unfortunately she had *just* missed the cut off for the express fee. I spent a little bit of time troubleshooting the issue with the designers and they suggested that I take on the customisation myself! What a great idea! The designer sent extra lace and tulle for me to use when creating the sleeves and, because the dress was already racer-back, the customisation went smoothly.
1.I removed some of the lace detail from the front and back of the bodice to create a sharper edge
2.Removed swirl appliqué from the back illusion tulle
3.Added sleeve to bodice underneath the arm
4.Left sleeve trim at the bottom in swirl design with a downward peak at the back of the wrist
Check out the before and after photos; they are AMAZING!!! The bride is happy, so I am happy. This is why I don’t do alterations for brides that haven't bought their dresses from my boutique - by dedicating myself to my own girls, I can have enough time to take on larger alteration projects like this one!

 

Connie xo
 

Read more  
​Alterations Before and After

​Alterations Before and After

  •   Connie Di Genni
  •   Friday, August 03, 2018

Alterations Before and After

The number of comments that my alteration 'before and after' pics generate just goes to show how beneficial it is for brides to see how alterations take place in real time, on real brides.
This dress is the LM 2839B LM by Lusan Mandongus. It has a straight cut skirt lining topped with an A-line lace overlay, which simultaneously creates a sleek hourglass shape with a soft 'flowy' touch. The bride was specifically looking for a dress with a high neckline and a low cut back.
Being a shorter bride with a typical apple shape, the detail at the satin pleated waist band worked well to accentuate her waistline and soften the fall across her hips. Being a winter wedding, the bride preferred sleeves, so I ordered extra lace and added 3/4 sleeves.
To provide bust support, I removed the back fastening of her bra and sewed the cups and side structures into the dress.
Connie xo
 

Read more  
2019 Beside Couture Release

2019 Beside Couture Release

  •   Connie Di Genni
  •   Friday, July 27, 2018

Hi Brides-to-Be,

Just letting you know that the 2019 release of Besides Couture by Gemy has arrived in the boutique.
I absolutely love this collection - it is an affordable was to buy designer gowns for under $2000. There is just no reason to purchase cheap and ill-fitting gowns online when you can buy quality like this instore. These dresses have the correct internal structures for their individual designs, and they are perfect examples of professional tailoring.
I am the only stockist of this range in New South Wales. Because of this, you are getting a unique design rather than a commercialised 'cheap' dress.
It can be our little secret how much you actually paid!
Connie xo
 

Read more  
Time for a Holiday

Time for a Holiday

  •   Connie Di Genni
  •   Wednesday, July 18, 2018

For the first time in the six years since I have owned Accapella Bridal, I am going to Europe for a holiday rather than for a trip to a bridal show! I am excited but oh so nervous...I already know that I will find it hard to switch off from my shop as it is my pride and passion.

I will be away from the 22nd July until the 11th August. During that time, the lovely Glynis will be minding the store (by appointment only) and managing my emails. Glynis has been a seamstress for over 25 years and has also owned her own bridal store. She is very experienced and knows all about sizing, alterations and styling! I trust Glynis with everything and hope that she can help you out while I am on my break.
Saturday appointments will be temporarily increased to 60 mins, and if you need to book in, please do so by calling the store on 42252188. Alternatively, you can also contact Glynis directly on 0427703277. My work mobile will be switched off while I am overseas.
Standby for lots of holiday snaps!

 

Connie xo

 

Read more  
Level of Professionalism

Level of Professionalism

  •   Connie Di Genni
  •   Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Hi Connie it is Amelia Hollis here I just wanted to say thank you so much for your level of professionalism and for helping me find the dress of my absolute dreams!! Everyone has raved about the dress and I felt like an absolute princess wearing it on the best day of my life😊 thank you again and I have been raving about you and will be recommending you to everyone 😊 I will send you through some photos of the wedding at the church and Milton Park xox 

Read more  
Preview 2019 Collections

Preview 2019 Collections

  •   Connie Di Genni
  •   Friday, June 15, 2018

Have you booked a spot for this year’s Martina Liana and Essense of Australia Trunk show? There’s only a few appointments left for Saturday July 14th. and Friday has sold out!

This bride purchased her dress from last year’s trunk show. She sent me a few photos and an email thanking me for the opportunity to view the collection early...she was very happy with her dress! She looks STUNNING in her Martina Liana gown!

Call the boutique today to book a time to view the collection - this will be your only chance for a preview before their release in January 2019!

0413493970

Connie xo

 

 

 

Read more  
Trunk Show experience

Trunk Show experience

  •   Connie Di Genni
  •   Thursday, May 17, 2018

I'm slowly getting all of my Trunk Show brides in for their fittings. I always ask them their thoughts on the Trunk Show experience - overall they have all loved it and recommend it as a way to find that special something in a dress. It was a very successful weekend for myself and for my brides!

It's still ages away, but I am having another Trunk Show in July of this year. I've decided to host a third day this year, to cope with demand. The show will be held at the boutique on the 13th, 14th and 15th of July.

Are you interested in coming to the Trunk Show? Make an appointment to see me in the coming months so that you can have a preview of the dresses currently in the boutique - that means that when the Trunk Show comes around, you will know what you like, what you are looking for, and if there is anything in-store that you are already liking. Otherwise, the pressure of committing to a Trunk Show dress on the day can be overwhelming if you haven't previously determined what you do and don't like, especially considering there are about 60 new release dresses being showcased on the day!

 

Read more  
Concerns with the look of the hips area

Concerns with the look of the hips area

  •   Connie Di Genni
  •   Thursday, April 26, 2018

Alteration of the Week - size 14 Essense of Australia 2332

This bride loved that her dress had a plain crepe fabric skirt and wasn’t all lace, but she had concerns about how her hips and thigh area looked without the ‘disguise’ of lace to hide the lumps and bumps.
The corded lace of the bodice much heavier than most laces, and is a good design point for this problem - the heavier texture brings the attention to the upper body and away from the skirt.
To further soften the bride’s areas of concern, I appliquéd extra lace to the hip area of the skirt. This covers the side seams, smooths the fall of the fabric over the hip and softens the middle of the skirt front. It’s fortuitous that designers allow you to order extra matching lace when you buy their dresses, as it frequently comes in handy during these types of alterations.
In addition to this, I made a few slight alterations to the fit - I let out the skirt to give it a little more movement, and I ran the bodice in so that it fit better.
These before and after shots were only taken two weeks apart, and no weight was lost during that time. These alterations have definitely worked to make the bride look thinner in the after photo - it’s amazing what a correctly fitting dress can do!
Connie xo
 

Read more  
Blast from the past

Blast from the past

  •   Connie Di Genni
  •   Thursday, April 19, 2018

Here’s another blast from the past!

Made in silk duchess satin, this gown had a popular boat neckline with set in sleeves and a shoulder pad insert giving the bride that square look. The beaded shoulders and neckline were topped off with a classic bow at the back waist. The train was bagged through the length for extra volume and decorated with beaded cut outs and a beaded tassel which I handmade...just the thought of the hours I spent beading this dress makes me anxious!
Back in the day you put your bridesmaids in dresses that had a similar concept to the bride (duchess satin and shoulder pads here) and YES, everyone wore those matching covered shoes!
Check out the headpiece - faux flowers have come a long way in 20 years, but the overall design is still similar to the floral crowns that are so popular at the moment.
Connie xo
 

Read more  
Change in Medications can effect your body

Change in Medications can effect your body

  •   Connie Di Genni
  •   Thursday, April 12, 2018

Alteration of the Week

This bride changed her medication a few months out from her wedding, and as an unfortunate result put on a small amount of weight. She was still a small size and I believe that it is cruel to ask brides to lose weight - I always try my hardest to find a solution that doesn't involve feelings of shame and guilt on the bride's behalf.
I gave her the dress to take home so that she could try it on as needed, and to call me when she felt her weight had stabilised. She emailed me closer to her wedding to say she wanted to start her fitting, but was very frustrated and upset because her dress was still too small.
I explained how I could let it out in a way that no one would be able to see, and asked if that would be alright with her. She had nothing to lose, so agreed.
I let the dress out an inch either side, and back-sewed the seams so they wouldn't be at risk of ripping on the day. I then appliquéd matching lace over the seam to give it strength and to hide the seam.
Connie xo
The photos show before and after.
 

Read more  
Made to measure dress 15 years ago

Made to measure dress 15 years ago

  •   Connie Di Genni
  •   Thursday, March 29, 2018

I recently moved into a unit, and while packing up my house I found many old photos of brides that I’ve dresses on their big day.

I hear lots of brides justify their dress choice by saying ‘well, it will still be in fashion in years to come,’ and mostly they are right. I do find that bridal fashion goes around in circles - design details are tweaked a little, but the basic styles go back 100 years.
Here is a wedding dress I made approximately 15 years ago. The bodice is guipure lace with a daisy pattern, with a 3/4 sleeve and fitted to just below waistline. It’s softness is accentuated with a floaty silk chiffon skirt.
There are similar styles available now that would be bought for a boho or beach wedding look, just mixed up with different flower and headpieces.
Connie xo
 

Read more  
Feedback to Designers

Feedback to Designers

  •   Connie Di Genni
  •   Thursday, March 22, 2018

My past life as a seamstress doesn't make it easy for the designers I showcase in my boutique. I’ve occasionally offered my feedback on the quality of their workmanship, especially when dresses aren't perfect when they arrive in my store.

It's important that boutique owners speak up, because the designer can see the quality of the dresses that they are sending out, and my before and after photos can be used to improve on Quality Control at a factory floor level. (Although they must all think "Argh, not that Accapella Bridal woman again"!)
In this example the seam on the left has been sewn with tucks in it when they appliquéd the lace on. The photo on the right is how I want it done. You can see the tucks prevent the seam from sitting flat.
Connie xo
 

Read more  
Heard good things about my alterations for different shaped bodies

Heard good things about my alterations for different shaped bodies

  •   Connie Di Genni
  •   Wednesday, February 28, 2018

ALTERATION OF THE WEEK

This February's bride only came in for her first appointment in January! She’d heard good things about my alterations for different shaped bodies and thought that I might be able to finally help her find the right dress for her size 18 figure.
After trying on a few dresses, we narrowed it down to two. Of these, her favourite was a dress with a satin A-line skirt. However, we both thought that the sharp and heavy skirt wasn’t as flattering as it could be - it was stiff unforgiving and the bride is also quite short.
To counteract this, I lifted the dress about three inches at the shoulders. This also allowed me to change the back neckline to better suit the bride’s bust and torso.
I then removed two panels from the sides of the dress to reduce the width/flare of the skirt. I also removed the heavy satin lining from the train - this makes the dress physically lighter, visually lighter, and much more comfortable in our February heat!
All-in-all a very successful month turnaround!
Bride is size :18
Justin Alexander 8822
Connie xo
 

Read more  
1 2 3 4 5 .. 25

Search Here To Find Your Answers

Recent Posts

Categories

Quick Links
Accapella Bridal
Unit 5, 36-42 Auburn Street
Wollongong, NSW 2500 Phone: 02 4225 2188 

Bridal Shop Hours:
Mon-Sat: By Appointment Only
Sun:  By Appointment Only 

(By Appointment Only)

From the blog

© 2014 Accapella Bridal · Terms & Conditions · Privacy Policy · Site Map All Rights Reserved.

360 Sales Solutions