Having dresses made - anyone do this?

[Peverellshire]

Does anyone do this? If so, where did you find a dressmaker & where do you source material.

Making it myself through a local CIC dress making shop

@Peverellshire , bear in mind that the fabric, sewing pattern, thread, zips, buttons, interfacing etc and the dressmaker's time will probably make it expensive. It might not be an issue for you. and if you love the pattern, you could always get more dresses made.

I've done it a few times. I have a tailor in Covent Garden. I source the material and bring her a picture of what I want and it turns out well. I've also had dresses I own copied in different fabrics.

I know someone who makes made to measure dresses, it’s about £200 though with the time, plus fabric.
If you had a certain style you love and got it in black fabric I think it’s probably worth it….

There's a designer/dressmaker in Liverpool called Mark Melia, made dresses for lots of people I know.
Also I had a dress made for a family wedding from a dressmaker in Strelly, Nottingham.

I usually spend Christmas in India and have had lots of clothes made for me while I'm there.

The epitome of luxury

http://www.aliceandco.co.uk

Thank you

I do know someone locally who’s done this for a friend, she has a clothes shop but makes the odd made to measure dress.

Have made my own dresses once or twice but can be hard or you have to stick to it, either with your own knowledge, class or friend’s knowledge.

Material these days could be online but I know a few good material shops (last one I used in person was in Kingston on Thames). John Lewis depending on branch not bad too for material.

@FinallyHere have you experience of Alice?

My dream is to have simple dresses in black, navy & white as staples that I can then artfully accessorise. My style is pretty classic. I am short & curvy and love the simplicity of brands like Joseph but am no willowy, model. If I were I would knock it out of the park style wise. I am more Shetland than thoroughbred, Yorkshire sturdy :) Ironically, there’s a v elegant lady inside.

For a v special occasion I might spend £300 plus & often sadly find I’ve wasted my money as have had long dresses shortened only to find the ‘proportions look’ wrong.

@Peverellshire , shortening dresses rarely works successfully, in my experience. Unless the style is quite straight, you need to have the skirt removed and reworked from the top. I'd bite the bullet and find a dressmaker/seamstress.

Buying fabric online or unless you are familiar with dressmaking, can be a bit hit-and-miss, as you need to see how the fabric drapes, and feel whether it is light enough for the style. An honest (blunt) dressmaker/seamstress will tell you if something will work for the pattern/style and for your body/style.

A made-to-measure dress might work out as an investment if you get a lot of use from it.