Bespoke Bias cut wedding dress with embroidery

bespoke bias cut wedding dress in the garden

Safiya commissioned a bespoke bias cut wedding dress made up in white silk satin. The skirt was bias cut and cut slim to the hips but with more fullness at the hem and a medium length train. The backless bodice featured cross-over straps with chain embroidery.

Official Wedding pictures by Indigo Images

custom wedding dress in silk satin by Felicity Westmacott
bias cut wedding dress design Felicity Westmacott

Original design sketch

thank you letter

Safiya wrote: The biggest of Thank you’s 2 u. You didn’t let me down. I’m soooo grateful. Bann xx…Thought I’d send you a card to thank you once again. Hopefully then you’ll know how grateful I am for everything you did…

bespoke wedding dress confetti shot
bridal gown dancing

The train of Safiya’s dress hooked up for the evening so she could dance unhindered.

Making the bespoke bias cut wedding dress

close up bullion embroidery silver and gold chain

Detail of metallic embroidered chain. The bullion embroidery was carried out by the specialists at ‘Hand and Lock’

open sides wedding dress with umbrella

The chain embroidery was carried out by ‘Hand and Lock‘

The cut away back for this bespoke bias cut wedding dress was tricky to perfect, allowing enough support for the front while revealing as much skin as Safiya was keen to have on display. The cross over detail of the straps needed all their angles just so to lie perfectly on Safiya’s body.

We created the pattern for Safiya’s dress and made up a practice run to check fit. The paper pattern pieces for the embroidered panels were then sent, along with the silk fabric to Hand and Lock to be embellished. This is how they looked on their return.

custom embroidery for wedding dress from hand and lock
bespoke fitting picture with open back

Pictures from the final fitting showing front, back and back with train hooked up (plus veil).

If you’d like to see another bias cut wedding dress head over to Katherine’s Art Deco dress in pale gold satin . And if you’d like to talk to me about having your wedding dress made you can use my contact page to be in touch.

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felicity westmacott wearing a hat

Felicity Westmacott

I write about all aspects of weddings, dressmaking, fashion history, and the human relation to clothing. I welcome comments and debate.

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I have always loved working on cultural fusion wedding dresses, and I have been very lucky that many brides trust me with this process.

For Vidushi's bespoke wedding dress, we worked to combine her Indian heritage with her husband's Polish culture. She sourced the base dress and three beautiful red saris, and we began the process of discovering the kind of fusion she was looking for. 

The final result is the perfect blend of east and west ❤️

Wedding photography by @whiteframestorytellers_
Four years ago, I opened my bridal shop after working from home for the past 16 years. It was a huge decision and I had so many thoughts, so many pros and cons, and so many fears going round and round.

Here are just three of the doubts I had about buying the shop:

1.	The Commute
You know how sometimes the idea of something just feels bad, and then it turns out the reality of it is fine? That.
I worried about how long it would take, about traffic, about wasting time.

But the shop is just an 18-minute drive and I don't notice the time pass. I even cycle there occasionally, which is good for both my body and my mind. And it is so worth it for the separation between home life and work life. I can let my creativity lead me, instead of the distractions of a busy house.

2.	Premise Costs
My dad once told me, “The only person who makes money from small retail is the landlord", and I worried all my income would disappear into rent. But I was in the very privileged position to be able to buy my shop. This means the shop is an investment, as well as a workshop and a welcoming space for my brides.

3.	Self-Doubt
The loudest voice, with constant thoughts about whether the shop would be good enough, would anyone come in and would anyone like my work. 
But they do. Brides who see the dresses in the window, then visit the shop and often choose to work with me.

I am so grateful to my past self, and everyone who supported me in taking the leap. All the doubt was really worth it. 

Here’s to another four years, and hopefully many more 🤍
emailme@felicitywestmacott.co.ukTEL 07762 543230TOUCHGet in
from design to completionbespoke wedding dressesFelicity Westmacott
Dorking, RH4 1RT241 High Street• Visit the Studio •
Dorking, RH4 1RT241 High Street• Visit the Studio •
emailme@felicitywestmacott.co.ukTEL 07762 543230TOUCHGet in