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Tailoring to your perfect fitBy Sarah Burton
Once you're engaged, the rush is on. There's so much to do! Saying 'yes' to your man seems easy compared to the monumental task of preparing for a wedding. The wedding industry seems to have hijacked the whole meaning of this solemn event, making it into a theatrical production complete with actors, audience, ambience and astronomical prices. When did weddings become so difficult? Take for example the wedding dress. With so many choices of beautiful white dresses, you'd think it would be pretty easy to find the perfect gown, but not so! You've got to hustle if you want to find the one that makes you look gorgeous while not appearing too frumpy, too poufy, too lacey, too 80s, too corseted or too much like your roommate who got married last year. Add to this, you want it all within a reasonable price range (and I've found that what is considered "reasonable" can vary a great deal). Having been a bridesmaid more than four times, I have been through quite a few dress-shopping trips, and it can be a frustrating and tiring event. Frustrating, because if a bride finds a dress that is exactly within her budget, she has to realize that the cost of the dress is not just the price tag at the store, but also the cost for a separate tailor to do the hemming, bustling, and any other needed adjustments (such as sleeve length, shoulder strap or halter height, etc.). This may add several hundred dollars to the cost of the attire, pushing the price way over the original budget. Now, despite the adage "three times a bridesmaid, never a bride," it's my turn to get married and like any other bride, I want my wedding day finery to look stunning and unique without breaking the bank. What I found out really surprised me. I did not go the usual route of wedding boutiques and dress appointments. I was decidedly not in a hurry to find a frock that could be bustled and worn one day only. Instead, I went out to our local Santa Barbara tailors and seamstresses to see what options I had there. And believe me, once you find someone that you want to work with, the options are almost endless. Like, whoever said you had to get married in a dress?
I will be getting married outdoors during the winter months, and I was concerned at the lack of dresses that weren't either strapless or sleeveless (minus, of course, the dresses vaguely reminiscent of the wedding dress in "Sixteen Candles"). I decided on a full-length silk jacket, custom embroidered with my own choice of design, to be worn as my wedding gown. Initially, I thought that to have something custom made would be extraordinarily expensive, but it turned out that for me it was pretty comparable to buying a dress from the store - just under $600, including all taxes and everything (no hemming or alteration costs because it's all included!). The greatest difference is that I actually had a say in the design, the fabric, the embroidery, the colors, it was tailored to my form and I'll be able to wear it again. It fits me perfectly. Tips On Working With A TailorI sat down with Justin Avery, of JRA Design (www.jrahouseofdesign.com), to compile this list of suggestions on how to get the most out of your relationship with your tailor. The list is by no means complete, but hopefully it will get you that much closer to the wedding dress (or jacket) of your dreams.
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