She came to me after looking around for her perfect gown and not finding quite the look she dreamed of elsewhere. She wanted something special that radiated her personality and flattered her figure. The dress would be a short cocktail dress in a decorative tulle fabric with three-dimensional flowers. My vision of this dress could also be worn for a mother of the bride, gala event, cocktail party or any other black-tie social occasion.

When she decided to have me make a custom handmade dress, Jody and her fiancé came to visit to see how the process works. Since they had done their research, they had a vision of some design elements that would work on her figure. We draped several different fabrics over her street wear and she tried on several sample elements in my atelier in downtown Denver. Jody had also ordered two pairs of shoes that she loved, so we had a color palette to start with. It’s funny to see what sparks a dress design – shoes in this case!

After the first consultation, I had ideas of what would work for her wedding. They came back to look at the drawings and the fabrics I found that might work for the dress. Together we narrowed down the fabric choices to a grey beaded tulle or a pink beaded tulle with three-dimensional flowers. We chose the pink and I was off and running.

While I waited for the fabric to arrive, I prepared the first fitting of a muslin. We had two fittings of the muslin to get it perfect before I cut into the gorgeous special fabric. Placement of the flowers were very important, so there wasn’t any room for error and required special focus and attention to detail to get it right.

I cut apart the carefully executed muslin and used it as the final pattern. In fact, I saved this muslin as Jody and I talked about other dresses for more upcoming events this summer. Fabric and design will change the muslin fit, but we have a start for more options.

Below you will see various photos and views of Jody in her dress at her wedding day. The extended family included many children and young adults, you can see everything was thought out even down to the pink converse shoes. The flowers designed by Newberry Brothers were also exquisite. Everything was soft in pinks, with touches of red roses. Thank you to Joe and Joyce at Studio JK Photography for these great photos.

Congratulations to Jody and Don for their recent marriage! I am honored to have been your couturier for the festive event. You both looked radiant.

Looking for a unique, handmade wedding dress that’s unlike any other?

Sometimes your vision for the big day requires a wedding dress no one else has – one of a kind.  Reach out to me for a custom wedding dress that fits you and suits your personality perfectly.

The post A Unique Handmade Wedding Dress for a Second-Time Bride appeared first on Brooks Ltd.

This collection was black and red, with pops of pink to go with the theme, “Cityscape to Countryside.” Brooks LTD clothing is all about your attitude and style, no matter the shape of your body or your age. My design aesthetic is diverse and multigenerational, not just for one group of women. And this collection was made to bring this idea to life.

The art of custom making clothes takes patience, perseverance, dedication and skill. The original consultation is where ideas are discussed to determine the silhouette and the fit. A muslin is made based on these discussions.

Meet Keri, a beautiful woman who loves fashion as much as I do. I had a vision of creating the perfect sassy version of a stretch ensemble that was somewhat revealing, but tasteful at the same time. To carry out the theme of the entire collection I added a beautiful lace skirt that made the otherwise casual garment appropriate for the runway, or even a special event in your future.

My vision began with a muslin, a dress form and an idea.

After those adjustments I was ready to perfect the garment with the right zipper, elastic trimming and the adjustable neckline finish. This design has so many possibilities, as the lace skirt is removable and can be worn different seasons with the right leggings and sweater for winter or camisole for summer. The one piece romper would be a great summer party ensemble with or without the skirt.

Once the adjustments were done, we met at a coffee shop to evaluate the design. Of course I couldn’t help myself and asked her to take a fun practice walk in the hallway. We love bathroom meetings!

This is just one piece of the collection I made for all of the models to wear for the fashion show. Each design was made to fit these women according to their body type and style, and I loved seeing the whole collection come together for the big event! Here’s one of my favorite pictures of all of us:

All Runway Photos:  Hardy Klahold Photography

The post Behind the Scenes: Design Process for Breast Cancer Awareness Fashion Show appeared first on Brooks Ltd.

Not only is a custom-designed dress made to fit your body, but you’ll love being able to wear something tailored to your fashion vision and style — especially if you have something extraordinary in mind that is more specific to your individual personality.

But when it comes to working with a custom dress designer, there are a few important things to look for before your commitment. Here’s what you should look for in a dress designer to find one that’s right for you.

Experience & Expertise

When you meet with a potential designer, ask how long they’ve been in this line of work. Those with more experience will often have a better perspective on the dress shapes, colors, and fabrics that can help you create an entirely unique ensemble. Hiring a designer is also requires trusting in their expertise and guidance, so you’ll want someone who can bring a professional opinion to the table.

And although there are many clothing designers out there, find someone who has a background in creating high quality ensembles (such as gowns, dresses, skirts, jackets and blouses) so they can better suggest the right fabrics and style for such an important event.

They will also know the right questions to ask you in return, making the design process smoother and more transparent, so you clearly understand each step the entire way.

Portfolio

This tip may sound obvious, but it can be one of the most important to helping you find the right designer. Look through samples of work they’ve done in the past. See which dresses they’ve designed that you may or may not want to borrow inspiration from.

Honesty

You should feel comfortable with the person you’re working with, and this requires a good amount of honesty and transparency. It’s better to hire a dress designer who is up-front about what may or may not be possible (say, with certain fabrics that may not match the style you’re going for), than someone who says “Yes” to everything and doesn’t achieve your vision in the end as they promised.

Creativity & Artistry

You aren’t looking to have someone create a custom dress if you’re hoping to wear something unoriginal, so look for a designer who thinks outside the box!

Ask for their insights, ideas and opinions. Creating your dress should be a collaborative effort in order to bring an out of the ordinary design to life. Work with an artistic dress designer who uses creative design elements, and you can feel confident as you walk into your event with an ensemble that is truly “yours”!

Contact a Custom Dress Designer in Denver, CO

Whether you’re looking for a truly unique wedding dress, an elegant mother of the bride dress, a creative gala or party dress, or other artful ensemble creations, reach out to Brooks LTD for a design that suits you and fits perfectly! Contact me online or call 303-573-3801.  

The post What to Look for in a Dress Designer appeared first on Brooks Ltd.