Details to consider when ordering a custom-made dress.

Do you have a special event, have you tried things on, seen certain images, and nothing convinces you? This is a sign to consider the idea of having a custom garment made. However, having this done, whether it's a wedding dress, a graduation dress, or any moment where it's simply important to project the best of yourself, requires considering certain aspects that we explain here.

Selecting who will create your look.

You can choose to simply find a seamstress; it will surely be much more accessible, but consider that in this case, it will be someone who only assembles. Most of the time, their notion of pattern making, finishes, and modeling may be limited, and that will be reflected in the quality of the dress.

You will have to select the fabric and run the risk that it may not be technically appropriate; you will have to give them hints and signs of what you envision and take the risk that they truly understand you. Your option could be a dressmaker, which if you look up the term in dictionaries might seem synonymous with a fashion designer, but currently the cultural, professional, and social perception is different.

A dressmaker will have much greater technical knowledge than a seamstress and can be ideal for accurately reproducing something you show them that already exists. Their knowledge could even blend with a good sense of aesthetics and they could suggest different materials, but always based on the perfection of the piece. And finally, a fashion designer, today, will integrate technical and aesthetic knowledge and mix it with more artistic and emotional elements. They will listen to you, observe you, analyze your body's proportions but also your personality; they will translate all the emotions you want to project into cuts, tones, fabrics, and details; even if you show them existing reference pieces, their main inspiration will be you, and their ultimate goal is not only how you look but to evoke the feeling of being sensational when you see and move in your new dress.

Prices

This point, of course, is linked to the previous one. A truly personalized design cannot have the same price as brands that reproduce the same design thousands of times for many people. If the piece is created only for you, your piece will absorb all the costs that would be diluted among many in the case of something commercial.

It all depends on which brand you compare it against. If it's something super commercial, the price could double or more. If you put it next to something high-end, it might only be about 25% higher or even the same price, with the difference that you would have something unique. And if you compare a lesser-known designer against highly recognized luxury brands, you will surely be able to save at least 30% because you won't be investing in the full brand value.

Timelines

If it's truly an important event, then you must give it the necessary importance, and that requires time. For brides and Quinceañeras at Débh Herrera, we recommend a design appointment between 10 and 8 months prior; the most organized do it up to a year in advance. Civil wedding brides, graduations, parties, or personalized "outfits" generally require 6 to 4 months prior. Sometimes it can be done in less time, but something personalized involves rediscovering things about yourself; the ideal is to enjoy the process. On the other hand, in practice, if you arrive a month before, no matter how simple the look, there might simply be no space available in the studio or "atelier" you select.

Appointments and Fittings

At Débh Herrera, we consider 3 appointments as standard: at least one to define the design, one for fitting, and one for delivery. The ideal for brides ranges from 2 to 4 fittings. Sometimes we do remote designs, where there is a design and measurement appointment via video conference, and then we send the finished dress directly.

Your first fitting, especially as a bride, can be very technical, so we don't recommend bringing people; the dialogue is between the bride and the designer. Keep in mind that it's a project under construction; sometimes that first time isn't even in the final fabrics. By a second fitting, it looks more complete, but still, bring at most two people you trust implicitly, and ask them to comment only when you ask them to.

It's important that you remember to bring the shoes and underwear you plan to wear to your fittings. Some brides even combine their makeup and hair trial with their dress fitting.

This is a guide of things that are good to consider, but visit us at Débh Herrera for a consultation appointment, and we will gladly answer all your questions.