Finishing Loula’s bustier!

After our fitting, I was able to take Loula’s bustier apart in order to put it back together permanently and with better materials.  During the fitting, I was able to determine exactly where we wanted the seams, bones, cups, and closures.  In the photo above, you can see me pinning the boning tape in place.  […]

Fit Week pt.3 – Mockup Fitting #2

Brooks Ann Camper Bridal Couture

Lila Rose came to my studio one last time before heading back to Boston.  This was for our second mockup fitting and she brought along her two best friends!

Final Mockup and Fitting and Fabric Shopping

The second mockup fitting was quick and decisive.  The new pattern corrections looked great on Michelle!  Changes I had made to the closures made the dress easier to get on and off and she loved the new collar design.  There were still a few little fit issues to work out (see above), but for the […]

First Fitting!

A first fitting is never pretty.  That’s why we do them.  It would be impossible to do these types of fine alterations on a finished dress, so it is important to work out all the fitting and perfecting on a garment that you don’t mind tearing up and drawing on. Michelle’s fitting went really well!  […]

Why the Mockup?

Now that my pattern is ready, it’s time to make a mockup.  When creating a custom garment, it is always important to do a “test-dress” first to work out all the kinks before you ever touch the real fabric.  I usually call this test dress a mockup, but it is also often known as a […]

First (and only!) Fitting

A custom dress always requires multiple fittings.  I first make the hand-drafted pattern into a sample garment that we try on first.  We can fix any kind of fit problems and make design choices using this garment, without any risks to the actual dress.  We can cut and pin and draw all over it.  I […]

First (Family) Fabric Fitting!

For Leah’s first fabric fitting, she invited her parents and her future in-laws.  This was a new experience for me and I was really happy and nervous to have them attend.  Leah and I have put so much work into the dress. Will they love it?  Will they hate it?  Will it fit?  Will they […]

Leah and the Blog pt. 7 (Fittings!)

Normally muslin fittings involve a lot of cutting, slashing, marking, pinning etc, while adjusting the muslin to flatter the bride and achieve that perfect fit as well as keep the integrity of the design and aesthetics.  I am always cautious when I have a bride put on a muslin for the first time, warning them […]