How quickly will I receive my order? TOP
Turnaround time varies throughout the year, so please email me to inquire about current wait times. When you order I'll need to know the date of your event to make sure I can accommodate you. For complex designs or orders that require a lot of detail (such as your wedding gown) the earlier the better! I want you to be 100% satisfied with your order, and don't want to shortchange the process. Part of the advantage of a Belle of the Bay gown is that we spend many hours emailing about style, fabric, and trim, till we've settled on what's perfect for you. If you know what you want and are in a hurry, I often can accommodate rush orders.
What sizes are your gowns and corsets available in? TOP
Any! Each and every custom
Belle of the Bay creation is drafted by hand to fit your measurements.
I do not make S, M, L, XL cookie cutter shapes for I realize that every
woman's body is different. From the size of the shoulders to the length
of your torso, everything is taken into consideration! This is why it
is very important to measure accurately. Plus and petite sizes are welcome, my
goal is to make every woman feel like a Belle!
What type of boning do you use in your corsets and bodices? TOP
Victorian corsets are boned with a combination of spiral and flat spring steel. Usually the spiral is used on curved seams, the flat on straight seams and on either side of the grommets. The boning is either 1/2" or 1/4" in width depending on the size of it's wearer and how large the waist reduction. Unlike many corsets you'll find out there, we believe a corset isn't a corset unless it has a minimum of 24 bones. Despite the media's depiction of corsets as painful, corsets when fitted correctly & boned heavily so that they do not wrinkle & irritate the wearer are quite comfortable to wear.
My renaissance corsets and bodices are heavily boned with 1/2 spring
steel boning which has been coated to prevent rusting. It is very
durable and shapes your figure into the cylindrical form popular during
the 16th century. I encase the stays in woven cotton casing, which
retails for $1.75/yd, and ensures that your boning won't poke through
or poke you, and flat-line them with cotton duck for extra durability
and stiffness.
What type of fastenings do you use? TOP
I use industrial grade
grommets, set by a press rather than by hand, to achieve a uniform and
durable grommet. You may choose either the standard 0 or the smaller
Victorian 00 size, and among brass, nickel, and dull black. Cloaks
fasten with pewter clasps, and some gowns lace with hidden rings on the
inside to achieve a no-grommet period look. (A corset is recommended
for these gowns.)
What materials do you use for your corsets? TOP
My Tudor & Elizabethan
corsets have two inner layers of duck, an outer fashion fabric, and a
lining, and are heavily boned. They are made with or without a period
removable wooden busk. Victorian corsets have an inner layer of french
corset coutil, an outer fashion fabric, and a cotton lining, are boned
with spiral spring steel bones, and fasten with a metal hook and eye
busk.
Are the garments professionally finished? TOP
Yes they are! All seams are
professionally finished for durability of the garment and for a nice
finish, either serged, bound, lined, or french-seamed. Bodices are
seamless in the front, as was period, but if desired I can add princess
seams in the front for ladies who prefer a less period bustier look. Skirts have full circumferences at the hem and are either gathered,
pleated, or cartridge-pleated. Unless otherwise ordered, all hems are blind or roll hemmed by machine, hand-sewn hems are an additional cost based on hem circumference.
What materials can I have my garment made of? TOP
Any! Since each item is made to your exact specifications, you may choose any material. I happily special order fabrics and trims for my customers. Through countless hours spent searching out suppliers, I am quite adept at finding the perfect fabric! I also will gladly dispense advice (when asked =0) regarding historical accuracy, color matching, etc. I like to use only the best
fabrics in my garb, natural fibers such as silk, cotton, and linen, as
they "breathe" and thus are cooler and are more period. That being said, if you require a garment of synthetic fabric I am happy to oblige. I have a vast
array of fine fabrics in stock, from Italian silk brocades to velvets
and simple cottons, there's something for everyone! Feel free to browse through a sample of fabrics in stock on the fabrics page.
How can I be sure my garment will fit? TOP
First, by making sure your measurements are correct. It is crucial for fitting purposes that you measure at the correct location, and do not fib on your measurements. =0) Never lie to the IRS or your seamstress! If you plan on losing weight before your event or would like a certain area reduced, please let me so I can accommodate you. Measurements must be taken with a measuring tape that can be purchased at any fabric or grocery store. If you're in a pinch I'd be happy to mail one to you. If you have any questions regarding how to take measurements, feel free to contact me. No questions are too silly to ask, I realize that not everyone sews or is familiar with taking measurements. Your garment will be made to the measurements given.
Because I want to ensure that my customers are all pleased with their garments, I offer
custom fitting of almost all my pieces. Luckily enough, Renaissance
bodices & corsets are made to shape your figure, rather than shape to
your curves, and are easily made to fit you. However, for some gowns
(fitted wedding gown, for example ) and corsets (Victorian, Edwardian)
the fit on curves is crucial, and I offer custom fitting as well as drafting. The
making of a muslin mockup, or "toile" in couturiere terms has a long
history, and is used today by all the haute couture houses. First, a
pattern is drafted based on your measurements, and then a garment cut
of fabric (usually muslin, occasionally canvas) of a suitable weight is
put together. They are boned with steel just like the real garment and lace up the back. I
mail the toile to you, and any adjustments needed are marked directly
onto the fabric. Ideally you take pictures of yourself in the toile (for my eyes only). This is done 1-2 times to achieve a fit that is
perfect! The cost of the toile varies based on the complexity of the design, but is usually $35 for Renaissance bodices and corsets and $50 for Victorian corsets.
