Wedding Dress To Impress On Your Wedding Day

Although the first couturier, Charles Frederick Worth, was an Englishman, the heart of couture has always been in France. ‘Couture’ is a French word meaning individually made. These gowns are made by a couturier who has an infrastructure of specialist craftsmen, such as pattern cutters, sample cutters, tailors, machinists, button makers, hand finishers, embroiderers and so on who are passionate about their skill.

After the first consultation, the designer makes several sketches from which the client chooses one. Once the design has been agreed, the measurements are taken. A pattern is cut, made in cotton calico [called toile] and fitted. Possibly a second toile is often necessary.

After the toile fittings, the cloth to be used and the finer details of the gown are discussed and agreed. Often the gown is intricately and delicately hand embroidered, using unusual embroidery techniques and materials rarely found in a manufactured gown.

During this initial period, a close relationship between the designer, dressmaker and the client develops. This enables the team to work in harmony producing a very beautiful final masterpiece and made to the highest standard of dressmaking.

This is an in between service bridging the couture and ‘ready to wear’ [dresses are ordered in sizes] where the Bride is able to choose a dress from a collection of gowns already available by the Designer, which are made to the highest standard of dressmaking using couture techniques. Once the style is chosen, a cotton toile [mock cotton] is made to the bride’s measurements including the changes. The dress, is then finished adhering to the high quality of workmanship already found in the collection. This type of service is at an affordable price point.