Two Surprising Roadblocks to Getting a Custom Dress

Money is a common and predictable deterrent from getting a custom dress. However, even for those that are willing to spend the cash there are two less predictable, but frequent, concerns I encounter when a client is considering getting a custom dress. Here’s what they are and how to combat them.

Many women know that they want something that makes them feel special and like their best version of their unique selves. They’re ready and able to spend the money to make it happen, but the vast world of possibilities becomes a sea of overwhelming decisions. When creating a dress from scratch, where do you even start? There’s fabric, silhouette, color–so much to decide on. Many people think they need to know all of these answers before reaching out to a designer, but in reality the bar is much lower.

Here’s what I tell clients they should know: What’s the occasion for the dress and how do you want to feel in it? The occasion can be something specific like “I’m going to my cousin’s wedding” or it can relate to a frequent scenario like “I want a go-to dress in my closet that I can wear for work, but also run around in as a mom.” When thinking about how you want to feel in your dress it can be as simple as a few adjectives. “I want to feel sexy and playful” or “Mysterious and elegant”. You’ll notice neither of these pieces of information are about how the dress looks. You don’t need to have a picture in your mind at all to get started. Just “where are you wearing it” and “how do you want to feel”. That’s it!

The second hold up I encounter actually has very little to do with the design and everything to do with the client’s view of themselves. Some women worry about their body’s ability to achieve their desired appearance. I’ve heard some women say they aren’t sure it’s possible to look good in a dress. Women of all shapes and sizes worry their body is either too much or not enough of something. They have too much stomach, arm fat, hips, or butt. Or they don’t have enough boobs, height, hips, or butt. Objectively, I know that those feelings are based on outlandish standards placed on women that are unachievable and I don’t account for the wide array of beauty we have in this world.

But objective, unemotional views often do very little to make us feel seen. So with a full heart, when I hear these concerns from women, I say with all sincerity and belief “It’s always possible to create a dress that makes you feel like your best self in your body. It doesn’t matter what kind of woman you are or what body you have. It’s always possible.”

If you’re struggling with either of these issues when thinking about custom clothing, the best solve is to find the right designer. These concerns ultimately aren’t your responsibility when getting something created for you. Both of these should be on the shoulders of a designer. Just as if you were to hire an architect to design your house, you’d expect them to take the bulk of the design responsibility using your opinions as a guide, you should expect your custom clothing designer to be the owner of your design. Come with your views and desires, then allow your designer to tease more information from you and use their skills to create something that fills your criteria. Their design expertise is part of the service they provide that you are paying for.

If you have a wish for a custom design and you know your answer to the two questions “where are you wearing it and how do you want to feel” then you’re ready for the next step. Consider signing up for a free consult and exploring more possibilities with me of what your design could look like.