THE PROCESS OF COUTURE DRESSMAKING

My years of experience ensure that this complex and demanding process runs as smoothly as possible. I firmly believe that a large part of the luxury is the enjoyment of the whole experience, and that most of the disasters one has heard about with dressmakers happen when the proper ways of doing things are short-cut.

After an initial chat on the phone we would have a first no-obligation meeting to try to find out as much as possible about what your ideas. Some initial designs will be sketched out, fabric samples looked at and budgets discussed. I charge for my time, by the hour, plus fabrics. Next step is choosing fabrics, either from the extensive range of samples in the studio or during a shopping trip together to the very best fabric shop in London, Joel and Son. This latter is often a real highlight for many women, with so many exciting possibilities opening up before them.

Thereafter the proper work begins; the toiles, or calico mock ups, where all the fitting problems are ironed out and your personal blueprint emerges. For new clients we usually start with a 'block', your personal shape in pattern form, from which I can subsequently cut patterns with your own personal shape 'built in'. Then on to one of the garment itself, again ironing out so many of the problems with fit. Work done at this stage reaps many benefits later on, reducing the number and seriousness of alterations done on the actual fabric and giving us both control over the whole process.

Once working on the fabric itself you can expect probably another couple of fittings as the garment evolves. Beautiful linings make sure it feels as good as it looks. And all the little details which make it uniquely yours - buttons, pockets, trims etc - are gradually added.

The whole process should usually take a couple of months, but can sometimes be shortened if necessary. Many clients have several garments or outfits being made at once, so they will all be at different stages.