09/09/2025
Lets talk beaded gowns :) We love them! Designers like specialise in beauties like these. And our bride Beverly could not resist when she found this piece in a sample sale... she jumped at the chance to snap up this British designer. And we don't blame her!
Beadwork is one of the most luxurious and timeless types of surface embellishment.
But when it comes to , it's also one of the most expensive. Before alterations start, the relevant areas are stripped down to free up the fabric surface for seam and machine access. Once alterations are complete, those beads are then returned by hand, with pattern matching.
This gown arrived to us 3-4 sizes too big. 10cm was removed out of the centre-back alone and, additional to the significant downsizing across multiple seams, the godet-inserted train was removed and capped sleeves were later added. With such large areas of removal, the beadwork design then needed adapting so that the pattern could still match and make visual 'sense' when the beads were returned. As a used boutique sample, it also needed the typical areas of repair and a full cleaning service.
Overall, this gown took more than 48hrs to downsize and return her to a flawless finish.
If choosing a beaded gown, make sure that your bridal seamstress is familiar with the required techniques at the time of booking.
"Hi Leann, thank you so much for all the work you and your team put into the alterations for my wedding dress. It was absolutely PERFECT. The comments that were made about the attention to the detail and your work...., I felt so proud on your behalf. Everyone was absolutely wowed by it! Even more so when I told them of how it had been transformed with your incredible talent. I felt very special in it...., thank you so much. Xx"
(Beverly August 2025)
