I’m currently not taking any custom orders, other than the made-to-order gowns and items that are already listed for sale in my online store. I’m working on digitizing all my clothing patterns, with the goal of eventually offering patterns and tutorials for sale!
I’ve left my old FAQ for custom orders online, but there will be a few changes once I’m able to start offering them again.
FAQ for Custom Orders
US-based customers, please subtract 10 weeks back from the date you wish to receive your gown, and place your order on or before that date. International customers, please subtract 14 weeks back from the date you wish to receive your gown, and place your order on or before that date.
I’m afraid that I don’t make copies of movie gowns, gowns from fantasy art, gowns by other designers, etc. I only offer custom-made versions of my own designs. You can see examples of them in the photoshoots section of my site.
You can also see additional styles in the sketches section of my site (coming soon!). To order a look from a photoshoot or a sketch, please write down the name and year of the look you want, then head back here, and read the full FAQ below. At the bottom of this page you’ll find a form you can fill out to place a custom order.
Yes, absolutely! I’ve drafted my dress jackets and bolero shrugs in sizes from XS to 4X, and most of my skirts come in XS thru 6X. My sizes also run a little larger than most store sizes – I draft my own patterns, and I based them on real women’s measurements rather than normal standards, so it came out that way! Here are my size charts for custom orders:
| XS | S | M | L | XL | 2X | 3X | 4X | |
| Bust | 31-33″ | 33-36″ | 36-39″ | 39-42″ | 42-45″ | 45-48″ | 48-52″ | 52-56″ |
| Waist | 24-27″ | 27-30″ | 30-33″ | 33-36″ | 36-39″ | 39-43″ | 43-47″ | 47-51″ |
| High Hips | 31-33″ | 33-35″ | 35-38″ | 38-41″ | 41-44″ | 44-48″ | 48-52″ | 52-56″ |
| Low Hips | 33-35″ | 35-38″ | 38-41″ | 41-44″ | 44-48″ | 48-52″ | 52-56″ | 56-60″ |
| Upper Arm | 9-11″ | 10-12″ | 11-13″ | 12-14″ | 13-15″ | 14-16″ | 15-17.5″ | 16.5-19″ |
Absolutely. I’ll have you take a few extra measurements to determine how best to tweak one of my existing patterns so that it fits you.
Yes, I make gowns for trans women and drag queens! Please reach out before purchasing – we’ll want to discuss corset options which are made-to-measure and come in longline – designed for taller torsos – which are a bit different than the ones pictured in my stock and in my photoshoots.
In this situation, my answer will depend the exact date of your wedding or special event. If it’s less than 4 weeks from now, I probably can’t make anything in time. Check this page to see if I have anything in stock that will fit you.
If it’s more than 4 weeks away, but less than 10 weeks away, whether I can help will depend on my schedule. I’ll likely need to work some overtime hours to finish your dress in time. Rush orders cost 10-20% more. If you need to receive your dress in less than 10 weeks, please plan on that extra cost.
I’m afraid not. All my designs have a corset as the bodice – no exceptions. If you’ve never worn one before, you’ll be surprised at how comfortable they can be (and how amazing you look wearing one).
I’m afraid not. Although there’s an aspect to working with rare/vintage/one-of-a-kind fabrics that makes my muse go starry-eyed with delight, in practice, it’s just too stressful. Sewing is one of those activities to which Murphy’s law applies in a big way! I only use new/untried fabric for photoshoot gowns. With a photoshoot gown, if a fabric does not behave exactly the way I expect, I can explain this in the listing, and the customer will see photos before they purchase. I cannot use untried fabric to create a custom order.
Various reasons!
In 2020, Etsy introduced a mandatory advertising program that tacks on higher fees for some sales. If you clicked on an Etsy ad for any of my listings at any point within the last 30 days (or Etsy’s bots think you have for some reason), 22% of your payment will go straight to Etsy, and I won’t know about it until after you pay. I’d need to overcharge you by 28% to cover all Etsy fees on an “Offsite Ads” sale. On a $500 dress, that’s an extra $140 in fees!
In 2022, Etsy introduced a new “Purchase Protection Program” which offers mostly-automatic refunds to nearly all buyers who submit a claim – without a proof-of-return requirement. Those refunds are sent at Etsy’s expense for any order under $250, and at the seller’s expense for any order over $250. After the program began, sellers began to report that it was allowing unscrupulous buyers to scam them. Creators of labor-intensive high-end items (small businesses similar to myself) have lost thousands of dollars to this program. For my peace of mind, I decided to limit my products on Etsy to those well under their $250 cut-off.
In 2023, Etsy drastically changed their standards for orders that do not ship according to a seller’s stated processing time. I’ve never been late shipping an order for a customer’s special event, but I do receive customer requests to delay creating a purchased dress for various reasons. Now, sellers who do not ship all of their Etsy orders “on time” are subject to being put “on reserve”, where Etsy will delay paying them 75% of what they’re owed until after each order is shipped. Etsy fees, taxes, and shipping come out of the remaining 25%, leaving the seller with pennies on the dollar from each new order. Many made-to-order creative businesses have been destroyed by this policy – as it creates a huge cashflow issue where thousands of funds are withheld at a time from a single small seller. By offering only ready-to-ship items on Etsy, I reduce the danger of my own business falling prey to this anti-creator policy.
Photoshoot Gown Order Form
To request an order for a custom gown based on one of my past gowns from photoshoots, please fill out the form below. “Gown Name” is the title of the post containing the photos of your gown (so I know which one you mean.) Find your “Gown Name” here.