Custom Orders

Custom Costumes

Hi there! First I want to say, congratulations on your big day! I’m assuming that you’re here because you are a non-traditional bride. And something white and fluffy from your local bridal salon just isn’t going to do it for you!

I can help. 😉 I love making gorgeous gowns for unusual brides. I’m obsessed with other times – particularly Victorian times – and I incorporate gothic and fantasy elements into most of the things I make as well. If things like black lace, elegant rustling fabrics, and soft velvet make you sigh in delight, I’m your designer!

Availability

I take on only about 10-15 custom orders each year. Usually I’m booked out 1-2 months in advance. And in general, I’m insanely busy! At the end of this page, there will be a form you can fill out to request a quote on your dream wedding dress. I ask, however that you please read the whole page carefully before contacting me. It’s designed to help you figure out if I can make what you’re looking for, and whether I’m the right designer for you.

Pricing

To gain an idea of pricing and options, I recommend checking out the “Custom Wedding Dresses” section of my online store. I’m gradually creating listings for each of my Steampunk/Gothic Victorian/Fantasy wedding dress designs, from over a decade of photoshoots.

Custom Wedding Dresses

And, of course, if you find something you like there, that’s an easy way to order, and receive a 10% discount too!

Styles

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.

Sizes

Yes, I offer plus sizes! 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 wedding dresses:

 XSSMLXL2X3X4X
Bust31-33″33-36″36-39″39-42″42-45″45-48″48-52″52-56″
Waist24-27″27-30″30-33″33-36″36-39″39-43″43-47″47-51″
High Hips31-33″33-35″35-38″38-41″41-44″44-48″48-52″52-56″
Low Hips33-35″35-38″38-41″41-44″44-48″48-52″52-56″56-60″
Upper Arm9-11″10-12″11-13″12-14″13-15″14-16″15-17.5″16.5-19″

It’s simply not possible to be overdressed at a costume party. Do you agree? If so, you’ve come to the right place! 😉

I make some seriously epic costumes. My designs are eye-catching, over the top, and insanely flattering on all shapes and sizes. I draft all my patterns, so you won’t see anything like what I make elsewhere. I can make fantasy gowns, and costumes inspired by many periods of history. In one of my bespoke creations, you’ll never go unnoticed.

Availability

I take on only about 10-15 custom orders each year. Usually I’m booked out 1-2 months in advance. And in general, I’m insanely busy! At the end of this page, there will be a form you can fill out to request a quote on your custom made costume. I ask, however that you please read the whole page carefully before contacting me. It’s designed to help you figure out if I can make what you’re looking for, and whether I’m the right designer for you.

Pricing

To gain an idea of pricing and options, I recommend checking out the “Custom Costumes” section of my online store. I’m gradually creating listings for each of my Steampunk/Gothic Victorian/Fantasy costume designs, from over a decade of photoshoots.

Custom Costumes

And, of course, if you find something you like there, that’s an easy way to order, and receive a 10% discount too!

Styles

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.

Sizes

Yes, I offer plus sizes! 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 wedding dresses:

 XSSMLXL2X3X4X
Bust31-33″33-36″36-39″39-42″42-45″45-48″48-52″52-56″
Waist24-27″27-30″30-33″33-36″36-39″39-43″43-47″47-51″
High Hips31-33″33-35″35-38″38-41″41-44″44-48″48-52″52-56″
Low Hips33-35″35-38″38-41″41-44″44-48″48-52″52-56″56-60″
Upper Arm9-11″10-12″11-13″12-14″13-15″14-16″15-17.5″16.5-19″

Skirts, bustles, jackets, and other made-to-order items are only available if you catch me at the right time. When I’m low in stock on something I keep ready-to-ship for last minute customers, and I have enough fabric and trim to create a new batch, I offer it made-to-order in all sizes and all lengths. Click the button below to view all items currently available made-to-order in my online store:

Made-to-Order Items

Etsy customers please read:

I do NOT offer custom or made-to-order items via Etsy. Since 2017, Etsy has introduced a slew of anti-creator policies that make made-to-order businesses completely unsustainable on their platform. Please do not reach out to me via Etsy messages about a custom order – I can’t discuss an order we would be filling here on my website without risking my Etsy shop being banned. Instead, please use the contact page on my site, or one of my social media inboxes.

Sewing times for Made-to-Order items

Most of the time, wait time is 6-8 weeks, as batches of made-to-order items are scheduled along with made-to-order wedding dresses and costumes, and I typically have a 4-6 week backlog. I can always squeeze an extra item in with a batch that’s already scheduled, however, so if you place an order right before I’m planning to start cutting and sewing, wait time can be as low as 2 weeks.

Made-to-Order Waitlist

I’m working on a system to allow customers to sign up to be notified via email when custom orders are available for a specific item. This system is still in progress – but if you are browsing my shop and see a “waitlist” button where you can enter your email address, that’s what that is for!

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.

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. It’s not possible to provide an accurate color match via photos online, and I must reserve my limited sewing time for full-gown customers.

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. 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. There are sellers who have lost thousands of dollars from 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% – which can bring the total paid to the seller to create a custom Etsy order below zero. I love to offer special-order fabric, trim, and accents for my custom commissions. I can’t do that if I’m unable to receive a customer’s payment until after a gown is created and shipped.

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.

Use this field to describe your colors, and/or request alterations to the pattern or style.
This should be a date at least two months from now, at minimum. Preferably three or more months from now, to be sure we have enough time to discuss what you want before you place your order. I’m typically booked out at least 6 weeks in advance for custom sewing orders, and I reserve slots in my schedule as I receive payment from each new customer.
Waitlist Sign up here, and I'll send you an email when custom orders are available for this item.