Custom vs. Standard Fit
Standard or Factory Fit
Factory-made gowns come in standard sizes like 6, 10, 14, etc. These sizes are based on a pre-determined set of measurements that are considered “standard” (but where they’re finding the “standard” people with these measurements – well, your guess is as good as ours!)
If you buy a factory-made gown, you’ll be measured in the bust, waist, and maybe the hips, and your gown will be ordered to fit your largest measurement. The gown will need to be altered down – but there’s a problem. As sizes go up, the gown gets bigger in all dimensions (not just in width). But when your gown is altered, only a few areas can be changed, like the width in the waist or bust, and the skirt length. This is because alterations can only be made where there are seams, even though the gown will be too large in areas where there are no seams.
The result is that although the gown can be altered to fit you in some areas, in others there is no way to adjust it. This is why it’s so common to see a bride wearing an otherwise lovely gown that buckles or wrinkles through the abdomen, gaps away at the neckline, or shows other signs of poor fit. It’s so sad to see a beautiful gown spoiled by poor fit, but many brides don’t realize why this happens and how common it is.
Dressmakers’ Fit
Most dressmakers make their gowns from “stock patterns”. These are pre-made patterns which come in standard sizes like 6, 10, 14, etc., just like a factory-made wedding gown. The dressmaker can only adjust these patterns along seam lines to try to match your measurements. The resulting fit is exactly the same as if you purchased a gown and had it altered: while some areas can be altered to fit well, others simply can’t be adjusted. This method of custom dressmaking still allows you to choose your own gown, but the unmatchable beauty of a true custom fit is completely lost. The gown will fit no better than one purchased from a store and then altered.
Our Custom Fit
By contrast, we draft your pattern entirely from scratch for a true custom fit. This means we start with a completely blank slate and create your pattern measurement by measurement, so that it matches your figure in every dimension. The custom-pattern process we use is rare today, seldom found outside traditional and expensive custom couture houses. But the result is incomparable: your gown contours close to you where it should (but is never tight or constricting), and glides smoothly away again in a graceful line, so your figure looks its most attractive and elegant. You will both look and feel beautiful, confident and comfortable.
When we talk about the incredible difference a custom fit makes, a true custom pattern is how it’s achieved. The results just can’t be imitated!