Customs

To start, we will meet to talk through all your needs and understand your style. This takes some time- because of my focus on YOU centered design, I am unusually thorough.

• How do you want to feel on your day?
• Tell me more about the event you are planning or attending? Vibe? Energy? Size? Location?
• What are you imagining for your outfit?Talk me through some of what's on your mood board!
• Parts of your body you like to show off, or minimize? What gives you gender euphoria/ dysphoria?
• Whats your everyday style/ relationship with clothes.
• Fabric Content/ Sensory needs? Run hot/ cold? Sweaty? Hate tags? Can't stand satin? Allergies?
• Special considerations? Closure preferences, or accessibility issues?
• Any good or terrible shopping experiences you want to share?

This process varies some from client to client. Usually I start by asking clients to make mood boards and tell me what they know about what they want.

For some clients this is extremely detailed and set in their mind- thats great and we can work together to fulfill the vision.

Most clients don't know exactly what they want- thats great too! We will start with what you do know and I'll create some drawings that will allow us to narrow more. From there we can get your reactions and make adjustments or start afresh. Once we settle on a direction and constraints we can work on materials. Don't be surprised if this changes the design a bit, or a lot. Fabrics can be so inspiring!

I really care about fit- A stylist told me recently that I took twice as many measurements as they are used to in an initial fitting.

Most designers work from standardized measurements, they use your waist, bust and hips to roughly determine your size and then work from there. I do not use any standardized sizing. I don't think its good enough. People are not the same shapes- even remotely. Its one of the main things that brought me to this work in the first place.

I will create base patterns reflecting a persons true measurements which we can use to test fit. This may take a few rounds and clients will likely see the full outfit as muslin mockups before I start cutting into the real materials. Not every designer does this- it adds time and cost. It's a personal decision, but what I have seen from even seasoned designers who don't do multiple fit tests, doesn't meet my standards.

• What if I don't live in DC? We can do this remotely- but it takes more time and adds to the cost. It may take more rounds of fitting, and samples have to be mailed. It's nice if the first or last fitting can be in person.
• How much does it cost? Completely depends on the product; some things take longer to fit, and some materials are costly. I will start designing based on your budget, and update final costs as we go- if we make design or material changes. I have made custom pieces for as little as a few hundred dollars and full wedding looks for many thousands.
• How long does it take? A good rule of thumb is to reach out as soon as you can. We can work together to determine what there is time for. You won't have to commit right away, but the more time I have to work, the better. Sometimes I will take on rush clients, but it costs more, and I often won't have capacity. Sometimes my roster fills up early. Generally speaking, I want at least 4 months for a full wedding outfit.