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3 Key Details You Need to Know Before You Start Wedding Dress Shopping

  • TJW
  • Jan 2, 2017
  • 4 min read

If you are at the start of the search for your dream dress then you probably have heard these terms been thrown around:

  1. Couture/Made to Measure/ Custom

  2. Made to order

  3. Off the rack

It can be confusing to know exactly what the difference between the three are, as bridal stores often use these terms interchangeably.

Couture, Made to Measure or Custom

In Australia these terms are often interchangeable, but they are in fact completely different.

Couture or Haute Couture means High Fashion and to be labelled as selling Haute Couture in modern France, you need to meet certain well-defined standards. Generally speaking, Haute Couture is 90% hand sewn and looks as stunningly beautiful inside as it does outside. It is a piece of art and many hours go into making these garments. There are few Australian designers who would be considered Haute Couture, J'aton, the Australian male designer duo could be considered one. Commence drooling over just one of Rebecca's Judds Wedding Dresses...

J'Aton Couture designed for Rebecca Judd
Keisha reception dress for Rebecca Judd by J'Aton

Photos by Jennifer Stenglein www.jenniferstenglein.com via http://www.rebeccajuddloves.com

But unless you are a footballers wife, forget about it you can't afford it! Not all hope is lost however, there are many other affordable options.

Made to measure

This is when you get a dress made to your measurements. You know when you go to try on jeans and its always just a centimetre to tight at the waist but may fit you perfectly around the bum? Well clothes are made to a standard sizing, but as you may have noticed very few if any of us can be called standard. Having a dress made to measure means that you get measured up, and then the dress is produced to fit your exact measurements. Often times this is called couture, as a part of the definition in couture is that it is made to measure.

What are the benefits? A made to measure gown will fit you to utter perfection and it will truly look stunning. Ever thought of why all the clothes looks so good on models? It's not just the fact that they are tall and thin. Most of them are required to stay within the perfect size ten measurements range so essentially all clothes are 'made to measure' for them. If you can afford it go made to measure, especially if you always find clothes never look any good on you, you will be blown away by how good you can look in a dress that is made only for you.

Made to order

This is becoming the standard practice in most bridal shops as it is cheaper to manufacture overseas in standard sizes combined with the growing popularity of designer stockists stores in comparison to in house design studios.

The process of made to order means you purchase a gown in your closest retail size, then you get the dress altered to fit you. This can work if you are close to a standard size. Where it gets more difficult is when you may be quite petite or have an exaggerated body feature e.g. a large bust. When this is the case made to measure does not work as well as you can not alter design proportions. Having said that, it all really depends on the style of dress you chose, something less fitted is much easier to adjust comparative to a mermaid style gown. Consider all the details when going made to order and ensure you take into consideration what is right for you body type.

Off the rack

I find it is quite rare to go into a bridal store and buy anything off the rack these days as nearly all shops offer made to order or at least alterations on top of off the rack, which is exactly the same thing. What I am finding is that a lot of brides these days are choosing to pick a nice white designer dress off the rack and get it altered to fit. Which is a great idea for so many reasons! White has been on treand for quite a few seasons now so there is already so much choice. Price wise you can get a beautifully designed dress, generally made out of silk for between $300 and $1,500. My favourite designers are Self Portrait and Rachel Gilbert for non bridal wedding dresses, but both labels also have bridal ranges too! Just ensure you use a dressmaker you trust to get alterations done. Be careful with shopping mall alteration services as they are generally grossly expensive and do not actually have the skills or equipment to deal with delicate silks and laces.

Self Portrait Floral Blush Midi Dress

My final advice is always buy the best you can afford, I know some people say it's only one day, but those photos last for a lifetime and you want to make sure you look your best. A custom made gown will flatter all body shapes. If you are lucky enough to have a more standard body type you are OK to go made to order. If you are going off the rack use a dressmaker you trust with experience in bridal to ensure you don't get ripped off and the dress fits beautifully.

Happy Shopping!

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