CUSTOM DEBS DRESSES

HIRING A DRESSMAKER

If you have a talent for design, but zero skills in sewing, then you may need to enlist the services of a professional dressmaker in order to make your dream Debs dress a reality.

Dressmaker Martha Keogh, from Lucan in Co Kildare usually starts by sketching a design for her clients or works from a pattern that they bring with them. “I show them different fabrics and colours which they can choose from depending on what’s available.”

Although she mostly buys fabric from Hickeys, her clients can also buy their own – provided that it is suitable. Dressmakers are a more flexible option than buying off-the-rail as they can cater for all shapes and sizes. Martha’s dresses usually cost around €400, which includes fabric and labour. But this can vary significantly depending on the detail, trimming and time that goes into making the dress.

Debs dresses are becoming more and more individual, according to Martha, with girls experimenting more with different patterns. “They have an image in their mind of what they want to portray.”

Dressmaker Sally Cullen works from her home in Wicklow. She has three daughters and has made all their Debs dresses, as well as their friends. “I get most of my bookings a year in advance. Girls see my dresses on someone else and then come straight to me.”

Sally often arranges to meet her clients in a fabric shop where they can choose the material together. Wile Sally is usually lucky with the styles that her clients choose she says that some need to be brought back down to earth. “I had one girl who brought me a video of Fatal Attraction where one of the characters is running in a black dress with a big burst of white chiffon!”

She usually charges €300 to make the dress and the fabric costs around €100. But again, having your dress made can really make all the difference to the style and the fit. “It doesn’t matter what size you are. You can be a size 18 and still look beautiful.”

COSTS