The work I did for Ellie included modest bridesmaid’s alterations and helping to make a bolero for each maid. Ellie found bought her bridesmaids dresses from the high street. And then had the necklines extensively altered to meet the modesty standards that were important to her. The gorgeous little boleros were actually finished by Ellie’s...
Amanda came to me in 2009 to have a bespoke regency wedding dress made. I designed her a dress in pale gold silk satin with an ivory/gold beaded lace top layer. I created a lightly boned bodice with square neckline and high waistline seam with contrast band. The softly draping skirt spreads to a train...
Bride Ally had her wedding planned for Norway, and then a honeymoon to the Arctic Circle. She wanted something simple, elegant and warm to wear. What resulted was this completely bespoke three quarter sleeve winter wedding dress, designed and created by me, perfect for this adventurous bride. Photography – Lieben Photography The dress was wonderful...
Rachel contacted me wanting a bespoke early 1910s inspired bridal look. Of all the brides I’ve worked with, she was the one who wanted the dress to be the most historically correct. Although not exact (for example, we didn’t include any corseting), she wanted a period accurate silhouette. During our chats, consultations and fittings I...
Janna’s relaxed wedding dress was made to compliment her (mostly) vegan celebration that took place in a Devon on a perfect summer day. I made her a dress in layered pale pink tulle, delicate chantilly lace and vintage silk satin jacquard. The design was as relaxed and summery as the day Janna had planned. Wedding...
Aine commissioned a 1950’s short wedding dress made up in white taffeta. Wedding photography by Michael Dillon The dress has a fitted and boned bodice with square shaped neckline and invisible zip back closure. The flared, knee length skirt has soft white tulle peeking out below. I decorated both the waistline and neckline with white...
Catherine got married at Guildford Cathedral in December so her silk mikado wedding coat and dress ensemble worked perfectly for the weather and spectacular venue. Official photography by taylormadeimagery I design a simple and elegant long wedding coat in ivory silk Mikado with slight lip and plunge v-neckline and criss-cross ribbon waist detail. The long...
Posts from Felicity Westmacott
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
It was a delight to help Rebecca feel like her sparkling wedding dress, resplendent in constellations, fit her perfectly on her special day.
Alterations for size or styling to shop bought or vintage wedding dresses are important to make a dress look like it belongs to you and to give you confidence on your big day. Very few people are a standard dress size so most dresses need adjustment to the bodice, hem length and straps (amongst other things).
There are a limited amount of slots available for each month, so head to my website and book yourself in (link in the bio).
Ooh, I love a good before and after!
Two dresses for two very different occasions. One upcycled from the other!
Eleanor`s original wedding dress (which I also made) was perfect for her more opulent, formal wedding day. But like so many wedding dresses, once the day is done, it never gets to see the light of day again.
Unless it does 👀
Taking a dress and giving it a new life is such a joy, and now Eleanor can wear her much more practical dress for many more special occasions.
As well as the original wedding dress, I also upcycled the Christening gown I had made from off-cuts from the first round of dress making. With these, and the scraps from this transformation, I made her daughter a summer dress to match too. You can see that dress in the final photo 🩵
Would you trust a seamstress to transform your wedding dress?
Isn`t this transformation so satisfying? 😍 I love giving wedding dresses a new life! I originally made Eleanor`s bespoke wedding dress for her in 2010. Fifteen years later, she came back to me asking whether I could re-imagine her dress into something new for her wedding anniversary. Of course I said yes.
So, we went from a full length dress, inspired by Victorian and 18th century fashion, to a tea length 1950s look. The only extra fabric I used was for the new petticoats I used underneath the shortened skirt, to give it that classic 50s silhouette. Making this was a very satisfyingly sustainable project.
Which version would you wear?
A few months` ago, you all helped me choose what colours to dip dye a sample wedding dress I`d bought. The winning vote was for pinks and purples, so that`s exactly what I`ll be doing!
A bride-to-be has actually claimed this dress now, so you won`t be able to see what it looks like until after her big day 👀
But I have a few more sample dresses to play around with. I want to try some colour combinations I don`t usually get asked to do by brides, to really illustrate just how wild you can go with your choices.
So, which combo do you think I should do?
1. Desert at dusk 🩵💚💜 pale blue, shifting into dusty turquoise and green, and finishing with an undersaturated aubergine.
2. Spice of life 💛🧡❤️ cream that quickly amps up to yellow, orange and red. Nothing subtle, just bold, bright colours!
3. Alpine escape 💚🩵💙 all the most calming colours. Mossy green
and the deep teal of a glacial lake.
4. Distant storm 💜🩶🖤 the colour of lightning in the night`s sky. Lavender, soft grey and blackest of blacks.
Vote in the comments!
#dipdyeweddingdress #weddingdress #colourfulbride #bridalboutique #colourfulweddingdress
