Wednesday, October 31, 2007

With a spooky little girl like you

Happy Halloween! I had the pleasure of attending a crazy Halloween party this past weekend, for which I created several costumes for myself and friends. I just can't bring myself to buy one at a party store or one of those Halloween shops! So I will be posting some pix as soon as I can. I love costumes, thanks to the ladies at ASU's theater department, so Halloween is always great fun for me. It's also a nice change of pace from the usual kind of projects I work on!

Also, I wanted to post a link to Liene's latest post. She's got a photo of Nichole from her wedding last Friday, and she looks amazing!

Thursday, October 18, 2007

It's gonna take patience and time to do it right

One thing all brides have in common is The Wedding Dress. Regardless of your style or the type of wedding you're having, chances are you're going to be wearing a special dress of some kind.

Whether you order your gown from a superstore like David's Bridal or an intimate boutique like Mariee Gallery, you will need alterations. Be sure to consider this when budgeting for your dress. Alterations can range from $50.00 to $300.00 or more, depending on how much work you need done. Even if you are lucky enough to fit perfectly into the dress that was ordered, you will almost certainly need the hem altered. Also, if your dress has a train, you will need a bustle. Most dresses do not come with the bustle already done, since the way a dress is bustled depends on the final hem length. Your seamstress will be able to advise you on the most effective and attractive way to bustle your gown- all dresses are different!

Some things to consider when trying on your gown, whether you're having one custom-made (by Jewel Couture, we hope!) or ordering from a retailer:

1. Wear your wedding shoes! This is the only way the seamstress will know how long to mark the hem. It is also good practice, since you'll be standing in these shoes for an extended length of time on the big day!

2. Wear your wedding undergarments! The fit of your gown can be drastically affected by the bra you wear. If you are going to be wearing Spanx or any other foundation garment, be sure to wear these as well. This also applies to crinolines or bridal slips, as they affect the hem length.

3. Take your gown to a reputable seamstress or alterations expert. Do not try to save money by going to a tailor or someone who doesn't have experience with wedding alterations! I have fixed too many mistakes for panicked brides who had taken their gowns to someone who didn't give the proper care and attention needed for such an important garment. A gown that is custom-made will be fabricated to fit you already, of course. However, if you do order a gown from a retailer, they should be able to do alterations in-house or recommend a seamstress to you.

4. Bring your wedding jewelry and accessories to the fitting. This will help you get a preview of the whole look. What if great-grandma Mabel's necklace clashes with the beading around the neckline of your gown? You'll be glad you found out before the big day!

5. Look your best! This kind of goes with #4. Sure, it might be a Saturday morning, but instead of schlepping around like most weekends, come to your fitting with your hair styled and your makeup nicely done. You'll look and feel great when you get into your dress.

I hope this has been informative for you brides-to-be! Jewel Couture is pleased to offer alteration services as well as custom designs; please feel free to contact us any time for more information.

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

And all that jazz

I am so excited to be able to share one of my unique brides with you! Nichole is getting married this month, and I had the privilege of designing her wedding gown. She is a very stylish and creative gal, which I know will be reflected in her wedding. She also has the ever-so-fabulous Liene Stevens from Blue Orchid Designs coordinating and designing her event, so it will be amazing!

When Nichole and I first met, the only things she really had decided on were the wedding colors (black and white) and her veil. (Funny that the veil came first, but if you check out Stephanie James' designs, you'll see why!) Nichole was inspired by the 1940s jazz era as well as Stephanie's awesome website and her vintage-inspired styles and photography. (Which she then took to Liene, who is doing a fantastic job- I got a sneak peek at the table designs!)

While I was designing Nichole's gown, we went through several options, as usual, but the finalist was a white silk taffeta gown with a sweetheart neckline and a twisted and ruched bodice. The skirt is caught up in the front with a cluster of black and white ostrich plumes, revealing black tulle underneath.
I added the gloves in the sketch because I just thought they "made" the design. Accessories can make or break an outfit, as you ladies know!

Over the last few months, while I was working on her gown, Nichole was also very busy of course. One thing that she worked on during this time was her invitations. She worked with an amazing stationer in Houston, Daniela Weil with Simple Difference, who actually took my sketch, along with photos of Nichole and her fiancee Mike and created an illustrated invitation:


I almost loved this more than the dress itself. (Almost, but not quite!) Don't they look like they're ready to groove the night away?

And now for the finished product! I will be harassing Nichole for wedding photos once the big day has come and gone, but for now, she was kind enough to let me take a couple shots during our final fitting. (And even let me use her camera since mine crapped out on me. What a good sport!)


And she got the gloves! Sweet!

I loved working with Nichole and was so sad to see her dress leave my studio! But I know there are tons of fun, creative brides out there. I can't wait to see what's next!