Bridesmaids for Elsa

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Ellie found bought her bridesmaids dresses from the high street but had the necklines extensively altered to meet the modesty?standards that were important to her. The gorgeous little boleros were actually made by Ellie’s mum using silk sourced from my fabric books for a perfect colour match.

Official Wedding pictures by www.chrislegg.net

I do not normally take on alterations for anything other than bridal wear but as Ellie was having her own wedding dress madeI agreed to help with her bridesmaids too. The work done on them wasn’t just the usual changes for size anyway but much more extensive.

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‘Before picture’

The dresses as bought from the shop were very pretty but not suitable for Ellie’s wedding day. The sweetheart strapless necklines were too revealing and needed building up for modesty. The dresses came with long satin sashes that tied at the back so these were removed and used to create the necklines.

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‘After Pictures’

The satin was ruched to match the underbust sash and then sewn across the neckline to create a higher square neck. More of the sash was then sewn from the underarm up and around the neckline into a pretty halter neck providing more coverage. A ribbon at centre back held the new halter neck in place. Lastly the back waistline was finished with a ruched satin sash so the line.

The short sleeved boleros that Ellie’s mum made finished the new, more modest dresses.
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Ellie also had extensive style alterations to her own wedding dress.

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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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You might’ve noticed that I can get quite particular about language. I think it’s important, especially when that word can carry a lot of meaning. When words get misused, you as a consumer might get mis-sold something.

An example of this is the word ‘vintage’, which now gets tacked onto the description of any garment, whether or not it actually is vintage. Often the item just looks like it’s from an older period of fashion, and for many sellers now, that’s good enough to warrant the label ‘vintage’ (which it’s not).

‘Bespoke’ is another of those words. The word comes from ‘to bespeak’, which means, to ask for. Like someone walking into carpentry workshop and asking for something completely new to be made to their exact specifications.

Anything can be bespoke, if it has been asked for, to be made especially to your requirements and preferences. You often hear it in the context of bespoke suits, but the term doesn’t belong to any one industry.

When it comes to wedding dresses, you have a few options. Off-the-peg, which is what it sounds like. Then there’s custom or made-to-measure, which both describe when something is adjusted or changed. You might order a dress where there are options to customise the length, the sleeves, the neckline etc. 

But true bespoke is something different. It’s a dress that’s been designed and made completely from scratch. Completely to your measurements and your ideas. With several stages of fittings and adjustments, to ensure it’s exactly how you want it. It’s an entirely unique garment, and this is why the price of a bespoke dress can be so much more than something off-the-peg or made-to-measure.

So, next time something online claims to be ‘bespoke’, now you know what to look for to make sure you’re not being tricked into pay more for less.
Tonight is the Wedding Industry Awards! I'm in the running for two awards, which is all very exciting! 🏆

Since it's such a special occasion, I decided to design and make myself a dress. That way, regardless of the outcome, I'll feel like a winner. I rarely have time to make myself anything, so this felt rather lovely.

I used some gorgeous pink coloured silk chiffon, lined with pale gold silk satin, finished off with velvet ribbon. I started making the dress at 11am yesterday, and I finished it at 3pm today. Now I just have to finish making the bolero to go with it as well. I think we're gonna make it! 🏃🏻‍♀️
Just to be extra clear 💜

#seamstress #dressmaker #historicalfashion #weddingdressmaker #weddingdressdesigner
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