Question for those who have had custom costumes made...

[isakswings]

We've never had a custom dress made for dd. The closest we've come is ordering for China and then from Wonderland. The dresses were custom fit for dd, but were not a "one of a kind" dress. We were having a hard time trying to find a dress to go with her artistic music and decided to go to a local dressmaker and have a dress designed. Many skaters in dd's club(including dd's coach and BFF) have had dresses made by this seamstress and they have been beautiful! This woman is very creative and her dresses are well made.

Anyway... we went in for a design session the May 25th. I asked about setting up a fitting and was told she would get back to me. 2 weeks passed and no call, so I called and told her that I would like dd's first fitting to happen before she left on June 30th. She then told me she had had a ton of orders come in and she needed to get some of those dresses done for upcoming competitions. When we went, she told me she was done with her current orders. That means, she took new orders and put my daughter's dress on the back burner! Another 3 weeks passed and I STILL hadn't heard back. My dd left June 30th to visit her grandpa and won't be back until July 21st! I called yesterday and politely insisted on setting a date for her fitting. I finally have a date and plan to set up a second fitting when we are there for the 1st fitting. If I don't... I may not have the dress ready for her comp in September! I will be doing the crystalling on her dress and I want pleanty of time to do it. So... is this normal or am I right in thinking I shouldn't have to hound her like this? Oh and we already paid 1/2 of what we agreed to pay her to make the dress!

[sk8tmum]

Nope, not normal for me, although I've heard other mums complain about their dressmaker; we checked around for references before we had our first dress made, and did a low-risk one for the trial.

Our normal plan: we book the dress about 6 months in advance; we exchange ideas, she sends us dress designs and fabric samples about 3 months in advance; our choreo approves/changes; the final look is decided upon. Measurements are sent; about 2 weeks before the dress is needed a final fitting is done; and the dress arrives. I schedule it to arrive 3 weeks before I need it so I can stone it, and for wiggle room.

I like starting early so that we can be relaxed about it - and not have to panic. Plus, very good dressmakers can be hard to find, and they do get booked up, particularly at this time of the year, and I want to be sure that my kid's dress gets made.

[isakswings]

Nope, not normal for me, although I've heard other mums complain about their dressmaker; we checked around for references before we had our first dress made, and did a low-risk one for the trial.

Our normal plan: we book the dress about 6 months in advance; we exchange ideas, she sends us dress designs and fabric samples about 3 months in advance; our choreo approves/changes; the final look is decided upon. Measurements are sent; about 2 weeks before the dress is needed a final fitting is done; and the dress arrives. I schedule it to arrive 3 weeks before I need it so I can stone it, and for wiggle room.

I like starting early so that we can be relaxed about it - and not have to panic. Plus, very good dressmakers can be hard to find, and they do get booked up, particularly at this time of the year, and I want to be sure that my kid's dress gets made.

I know of no one else we can go to...locally or otherwise! I honestly did not plan to have a dress customized for her. I was going to order one but we couldn't find one she liked. The only one she found, was from a dressmaker on ebay. I was fine with ordering from there, but was not wanting to pay as much for the dress and I wanted to be sure it was perfect for the music. She skated to her new artistic 3 weeks ago and wore a borrowed dress since hers was not done yet. To be honest, we did not expect her custom dress to be done for that comp. We went in 3 weeks before the comp and at that time, we did not expect the dress to be done. I wasn't going to request for it to be done either. At that time, I was considering having dd compete in early August. We decided against that, since she would have all of 2 weeks to get herself ready after being off ice for 3 weeks. I cannot imagine how frustrated I would be if she were competing in a month! Anyway, glad to know it isn't the norm. I have been sewing dresses lately and I am getting better each time I make one. I am hoping that I can make her dresses next season. She is testing in late August and I think I am going to make her a test dress. :) I can make her a nice one for not much money and it will be done in pleanty of time! LOL

[cazzie]

I guess I've been lucky as I've never had to pay 1/2 up front. Maybe paid for the fabric after it was purchased.

Our dressmaker (haven't used one for free skating yet - china ebay useful - but have needed custom made for solo dance) is a parent at the rink and knows a. how long it takes to crystal dresses and b. competition deadlines. I'd be livid and tempted to get my money back - although sounds like it leaves you in a huge pickle!

[icestalker]

Can you get the money back? No way would I continue to use this dressmaker. There's no reason she should push your daughter to the back of the line and then not even contact you.

[isakswings]

Can you get the money back? No way would I continue to use this dressmaker. There's no reason she should push your daughter to the back of the line and then not even contact you.

No, there isn't a reason for her to do that! Oh and guess what? Dh and I went to a local comp today(to support my dd's BFF and a couple other kids) and one of dd's friends had a new freeskate dress on. Guess who made it? The dress maker making dd's dress! She had it done int 2 weeks and the order came in AFTER my daughter and I went in!! Yup... I am a little steamed about this. I went to her 3 weeks before my daughter's last competition...so 6 weeks ago. I told her I did not expect it to be done for dd's then upcoming competition, but that I wanted it to be done or nearly done by the time dd went on vacation. I'm glad we went with Wonderland(ebay) for her freeskate dress or I do not know what dd would have worn! I wish Icould get my money back... but even if I asked for a refund, I would not get a fuill refund. I signed a paper and I am comitted or lose part of my deposit. I think I need to buy more fabric and make a few more dresses so I can make dd's comp dresses myself. Ugh!

[isakswings]

I guess I've been lucky as I've never had to pay 1/2 up front. Maybe paid for the fabric after it was purchased.

Our dressmaker (haven't used one for free skating yet - china ebay useful - but have needed custom made for solo dance) is a parent at the rink and knows a. how long it takes to crystal dresses and b. competition deadlines. I'd be livid and tempted to get my money back - although sounds like it leaves you in a huge pickle!

There is a mom at the rink, who makes her dd's dresses. She does a great job and if I am ever in need of a new dress(and cannot make it myself), I am considering asking her if she would make one for dd. I would provide everything needed for the dress... I'd just need her skills. :)

I kinda wish I could get our money back...but I am stuck. I'm not a happy camper and if I can find someone else to custom make a dress for her, I will do that. Grrr.

[sk8tmum]

Okay, I will add one other point in: your DD's daughter was told to the dressmaker to be a "want to have before vacation" dress - yes? And the other little girl needed her dress to compete in? So - I can sort of/kind of understand the dressmaker's thought process, in terms of who needed to get on the ice with clothes on. I know that others have been bumped ahead of me over the years, but, I do generally get an apology/explanation for having the dress say, a day or two late, and I can understand why those who need it for skating in an imminent competition do go to the front of the line over others. Kids grow ... suddenly ... and the outfit that you thought would work for a comp suddenly won't zip up, and the panic stricken call to the faithful dressmaker happens, in a panic and an emergency! We had to have an emergency refit on one instance due to a sudden increase in bust and decrease in waist size ... which was a major undertaking, however, absolutely unavoidable.

Does the dressmaker know why you need it early? I have heard, also, about some dressmakers who do not like others to stone their dresses, as they don't want to lose the revenue themselves, and, in one instance, the dressmaker is so quality conscious that she worries about having her name attributed to a dress that does not look as amazing as it could due to poor embellishment ...

It's hard to know what is going on, however, I would think that you have enough annoyance to rate a phone call to the dressmaker to determine if time frames have been met. You might want to check your contract as well: if it specifies delivery dates, then, you may have justification to get out of it ...

[isakswings]

Okay, I will add one other point in: your DD's daughter was told to the dressmaker to be a "want to have before vacation" dress - yes? And the other little girl needed her dress to compete in? So - I can sort of/kind of understand the dressmaker's thought process, in terms of who needed to get on the ice with clothes on. I know that others have been bumped ahead of me over the years, but, I do generally get an apology/explanation for having the dress say, a day or two late, and I can understand why those who need it for skating in an imminent competition do go to the front of the line over others. Kids grow ... suddenly ... and the outfit that you thought would work for a comp suddenly won't zip up, and the panic stricken call to the faithful dressmaker happens, in a panic and an emergency! We had to have an emergency refit on one instance due to a sudden increase in bust and decrease in waist size ... which was a major undertaking, however, absolutely unavoidable.

Does the dressmaker know why you need it early? I have heard, also, about some dressmakers who do not like others to stone their dresses, as they don't want to lose the revenue themselves, and, in one instance, the dressmaker is so quality conscious that she worries about having her name attributed to a dress that does not look as amazing as it could due to poor embellishment ...

It's hard to know what is going on, however, I would think that you have enough annoyance to rate a phone call to the dressmaker to determine if time frames have been met. You might want to check your contract as well: if it specifies delivery dates, then, you may have justification to get out of it ...

Yes, the other girl competed in her dress. BUT My daughter really could have used HER dress for her own comp 3 weeks ago, she borrowed a very pretty dress but her own dress would have been better. The other skater's dress was placed on order long after my daughter's dress was(a month!). That bothers me because obviously she had the time to take on a new order, but didn't have the time to call us and set up a fitting? Even if I knew she was at least working on my daughter's dress, I would have been happier. I understand placing others who need it now, ahead of us but a phone call and explanation would have been nice. It has now been 6 weeks since the design appointment. The only reason I have heard from her is because *I* called and asked about fittings. I talked to her 2 weeks after the design appointment, asked for a fitting before dd left. I was told she would call me back in a week, she did not call me back, which led me to calling her weeks later and setting up an appointment for the week my daughter returns home. Yes, I explained when I needed the dress done and why. I guess it makes me feel put off and forgotten while all the other skaters have their dresses ready but my skater doesn't? If she had called and explained the reason for the delay, I would be fine. I might be a little frustrated, but I would be fine. It is the lack of communication that has gotten to me the most. Very unprofessional! Oh and at the time, part of the reason I wanted the dress done or nearly done before vacation was because we were considering a competition in early August. So it was more then just needing it done before vacation, she would have needed it to compete in! Make more sense now?

[momof3chicks]

We are trying to get a custom unitard made for my 9 yo dd who is going to skate juvenile for the first time in late August. We were told yesterday it shouldn't be a problem. I tried to find something already made, but no luck at all.

[isakswings]

We are trying to get a custom unitard made for my 9 yo dd who is going to skate juvenile for the first time in late August. We were told yesterday it shouldn't be a problem. I tried to find something already made, but no luck at all.

I'm sure it will work out just fine. I have a feel ing if I had been a little more "demanding", this would have worked out better. I have heard stories about this dressmaker. She makes beauiful costumes, so I know dd's dress will be lovely but it is frustrating that I've had to be the one to get the ball rolling!

Anway...good luck to your daughter! She is moving up quickly!

[momof3chicks]

I'm sure it will work out just fine. I have a feel ing if I had been a little more "demanding", this would have worked out better. I have heard stories about this dressmaker. She makes beauiful costumes, so I know dd's dress will be lovely but it is frustrating that I've had to be the one to get the ball rolling!

Anway...good luck to your daughter! She is moving up quickly!

I know, she really is....back from a two week vacation and all doubles are still intact. By the 2nd day, you'd not know she was gone. She is opting out of the next local competition to work on her double double combinations and her higher level spins to ready for her juvenile debut rather than have all the focus on her program. She is very excited. It is hard to believe a year ago she was barely landing an axel and still skating no test.

[isakswings]

I know, she really is....back from a two week vacation and all doubles are still intact. By the 2nd day, you'd not know she was gone. She is opting out of the next local competition to work on her double double combinations and her higher level spins to ready for her juvenile debut rather than have all the focus on her program. She is very excited. It is hard to believe a year ago she was barely landing an axel and still skating no test.

That is fantastic! Good for her. :) My girl will return from her 3 week adventure and I am hoping her axel is still intact since she has to compete with it in September! Her coach told me yesterday she will have 2 in her program. Oy vey! I just praying she lands those suckers in program! I think I will be a ball of nerves that day! The trick will be hiding that from dd!

[CanadianAdult]

I sew for others. Definitely my priority list is different from the date I get the order list. Just be really clear on your required delivery date. Probably it's best to quit saying September competition and instead say you need the dress by August 15th.

[momof3chicks]

That is fantastic! Good for her. :) My girl will return from her 3 week adventure and I am hoping her axel is still intact since she has to compete with it in September! Her coach told me yesterday she will have 2 in her program. Oy vey! I just praying she lands those suckers in program! I think I will be a ball of nerves that day! The trick will be hiding that from dd!

It is nervewracking! Last year, in dd's pre-pre debut at age 8, she suddenly lost the axel the day before the competition! I was so relieved to see her find it again on practice ice that morning. She made one and missed one in the competition, but things got better from there! If it helps, yesterday, in a competition at our rink, out of 10 pre pre girls, only 3 of them successfully landed both axels in their programs (dd's friend was in the group so we were watching). And the preliminary and pre-juv categories were pretty similar with double missing and falling.

[cazzie]

Gosh - that sounds frustrating! I would probably phone, explain that your daughter is away and that you are disappointed by how long its taken. Personally I would ask if she feels she can complete it by whatever date you choose and tell her if she can't you would be happy to go elsewhere - provided she gives you your money back. How frustrating you can't get a fitting in. Hope you get it in plenty of time so you don't end up with a late night crystalling!

I do know at least two of the three sewing mum's at my local rink are very open about when they are too busy to take on another job!

[cazzie]

PS - regaring your daughter's axel - even if it is a problem when she gets back she can still do well. My daughter went through a bodged axel phase recently (over-rotates them) and came 6 out of 17 or 18 with two really bad axels (only just stayed on her feet). She did everything else beautifully and kept her cool and showed off throughout her program.

At the time her coach knew she was going through a bad axel phase and had had a chat with her about not getting angry/losing it plus continuing to perform as her main competition goal. Think it was an important lesson for my daughter who can get very upset/angry if she doesn't do something well on the ice.

The coaches words were - your program is not just your axel!

[isakswings]

I sew for others. Definitely my priority list is different from the date I get the order list. Just be really clear on your required delivery date. Probably it's best to quit saying September competition and instead say you need the dress by August 15th.

That's the thing, I did not say September. Infact, I told her early August! But I don't think I was assertive enough and with this dressmaker, I need to be. Lesson learned! :)

[isakswings]

It is nervewracking! Last year, in dd's pre-pre debut at age 8, she suddenly lost the axel the day before the competition! I was so relieved to see her find it again on practice ice that morning. She made one and missed one in the competition, but things got better from there! If it helps, yesterday, in a competition at our rink, out of 10 pre pre girls, only 3 of them successfully landed both axels in their programs (dd's friend was in the group so we were watching). And the preliminary and pre-juv categories were pretty similar with double missing and falling.

I know exactly what you are talking about. We went to watch dd's friend yesterday(she is prelim) and she is the only one who landed everything! She had one little blurb but was the only one to say off her butt. LOL! I wanted to come and watch the pre-pre girls skate, but didn't get there in time. Dd's coach(also her friend's coach) said it was pretty much the same thing for the pre-pre girls as it was for the prelim girls. I did get to see the pre-pre boys and they struggled too! Maybe it was an off day??

It seems to me whenever dd is struggling with a specific element, she seems to pull it off for the competition! It may not be the prettiest element, but she pulls it off and everything is usually fine. So... maybe she will do that with her axel??? One can hope...right????? The other thing I am keeping in mind is that the kids she will be competing against, will have been in pre-pre longer then she will have been. This will be the first time she will have to do an axel in program. It will probably go better then I am expecting. LOL!

[isakswings]

Gosh - that sounds frustrating! I would probably phone, explain that your daughter is away and that you are disappointed by how long its taken. Personally I would ask if she feels she can complete it by whatever date you choose and tell her if she can't you would be happy to go elsewhere - provided she gives you your money back. How frustrating you can't get a fitting in. Hope you get it in plenty of time so you don't end up with a late night crystalling!

I do know at least two of the three sewing mum's at my local rink are very open about when they are too busy to take on another job!

PS - regaring your daughter's axel - even if it is a problem when she gets back she can still do well. My daughter went through a bodged axel phase recently (over-rotates them) and came 6 out of 17 or 18 with two really bad axels (only just stayed on her feet). She did everything else beautifully and kept her cool and showed off throughout her program.

At the time her coach knew she was going through a bad axel phase and had had a chat with her about not getting angry/losing it plus continuing to perform as her main competition goal. Think it was an important lesson for my daughter who can get very upset/angry if she doesn't do something well on the ice.

The coaches words were - your program is not just your axel!

Thanks! We have a scheduled fitting. We will go the day after she returns home and I will make it clear that I want a final fitting ASAP and I will explain that I need it done so I have pleanty of time to crystal it. I am glad I vented. I feel better. :) I don't want to burn any bridges... just in case I need her to make dd a dress again. I am hoping I will be able to do it next year! I'm learning but would like to take some design classes.

As for her axel and landing it... you are right. I agree it is an important lesson for them to learn that their program is not one element. Dd has fallen in competition and has had other mishaps and each time, continues to smile her way through her program. I have yet to see her look completely distraught as she finishing her program and I am hoping she continues to keep that attitude. I honestly feel, it is that attitude that has helped her place better. The judges see what we can't see and they can see her smiling eventhough she has goofed up. Obviously, that alone won't make her place, but I think it helps a little. That and she truly LOVES to compete. :)

[isakswings]

Ok... so we go for the first fitting on Thursday. Like I said, I would like this done in a couple of weeks so I can have ample time to crystal the dress. Should I ask for her to set up the next fitting that day? I figure if I do that, it commits her to a time to get the dress nearly finished. Any thoughts or suggestions?

[aussieskater]

Given what's happened to you so far, I think this would be a great idea. Good luck on Thursday and I hope the outfit is really lovely.

[isakswings]

Given what's happened to you so far, I think this would be a great idea. Good luck on Thursday and I hope the outfit is really lovely.

It went well. :) It is a pretty dress. We will pick it up next week! I will have ample time to crystal it. Dd really likes it. :)

[cazzie]

Great outcome! Can we see pictures when it is done please?

[isakswings]

Great outcome! Can we see pictures when it is done please?

Yup! I took some pics yesterday but they are kinda dark. :) I'll take soem more when we pick the dress up and then after I have it crystalled.

[isakswings]

I picked it up yesterday. We had an appointment to pick it up on Friday. I showed up at her store and she told me it was not done! All she had to finish were the hems on the arm holes, neck, skirt and sash! Her excuse was she had some skaters from out of the area, come in wanting dresses(note: skaters had been in town for 3 weeks and come to her every year, they should have come in sooner!) She admitted it would take her an hour or less to finish dd's dress. I explained that I was planning on crystalling dd's dress this weekend. I did not want to wait any longer. She said she would have it done the next day and we could come and get it then. Finally, I left with a dress! I explained that we felt like we kept getting put on the back burner for people who came in with rush orders. I further explained that we could have done the same thing when we ordered, but I felt it would have been inconsiderate of us to expect her to make a dress just 3 weeks before her competition. I told her it was frustrating to get bumped for people who did not do what we did. In the end, she threw in a pair of OTB tights for our trouble. That was nice, but honestly, not enough for me to go back OR reccomend her. She is very talented and a good seamstress, but the lack of communication on her part makes it so I do not want to go back. Not to mention, I will need to adjust the arm holes! They are a little big on dd! I am sure I could call her and she would adjust that for me, but I don't want to wait the time it might take for her to do that! It's a shame when dd's ebay dresses fit her around the arms better then her completely custom, local made dress does. Sad.

[momof3chicks]

Yup! I took some pics yesterday but they are kinda dark. :) I'll take soem more when we pick the dress up and then after I have it crystalled.

I want to see it too!

[icestalker]

In the end, she threw in a pair of OTB tights for our trouble. That was nice, but honestly, not enough for me to go back OR reccomend her.

She shoulda thrown in ten or so pairs of tights. No, she should have discounted the dress for you. You paid 50% up front, right? The other 50% should be discounted for all the trouble you went through. I honestly can not believe that you had an appointment to pick up the dress, and it wasn't done! Because some other skaters wanted dresses! Can she not say no to anybody? It's just a simple "You will have to wait until I am done with my current orders." That was just completely unprofessional.
/rant
At least you got the dress. Is it stunning?

[isakswings]

She shoulda thrown in ten or so pairs of tights. No, she should have discounted the dress for you. You paid 50% up front, right? The other 50% should be discounted for all the trouble you went through. I honestly can not believe that you had an appointment to pick up the dress, and it wasn't done! Because some other skaters wanted dresses! Can she not say no to anybody? It's just a simple "You will have to wait until I am done with my current orders." That was just completely unprofessional.
/rant
At least you got the dress. Is it stunning?

Nope, it is not stunning. It is pretty, but definately not worth all the trouble, IMO. I bought her freeskate dress off Ebay and I honestly feel it is a nicer dress. I paid roughly the same for both dresses and ended up with a fully decorated dress from ebay. *sigh* Her coach agrees it is a little sloppy for this particular dress maker. This dress maker is quite talented and I have seen her create very pretty and creative dresses/costumes. But my daughter's dress is not all that. The dress my daughter borrowed to compete in, is one of her dresses and is much nicer then my daughter's dress. Oh well... now I know and won't return.