Latest news with #alterations
News.com.au
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
‘Helpless': Bride lashes out at Sydney wedding boutique over dress
An Aussie bride has been left in tears just four weeks before her wedding – and she blames one of Sydney's most exclusive bridal boutiques. In an emotional social media clip, Jade Zane, 37, was in tears as she warned her viewers about the 'nightmare' she claims to have endured at the hands of the Ivory Room Bridal in Paddington. 'I spent almost $15,000 on my dream dress from there and it has come and it is massive,' she wept. The mum-of-three revealed the dress was 'not just a little off but eight centimetres too big in the chest alone.' 'I'm heartbroken. I've been quoted $4,000 in alterations just to make it wearable,' she claimed. Ms Zane said that she had originally given the business the benefit of the doubt, so she emailed them with her concerns. 'The reply was so generic they pretty much told me 'that's just how it is' and 'you'll have to alter it yourself,'' she claimed. 'I emailed them again telling them it wasn't good enough and that they were in the wrong and I've had no response.' As it turns out, Ms Zane isn't the only one who claims to have had a bad experience. Bea, not her real name, told she also left her bridal appointment at The Ivory Room in tears. 'I chose them because I'd seen a lot of influencers go there, and liked a few of their dresses online,' she said. 'When I went in, they gave me a really short amount of time to actually look through the floor to pick out a dress. They rushed this whole process and made me feel like they just needed to get me through and were more focused on the time than actually helping me find my dream dress.' Bea claimed that instead of enjoying what was meant to be a special day for her, she felt forced to quickly pick random dresses off the racks because she was being 'constantly reminded of the time' by shop assistants. Bea said that despite not saying she liked any of the dresses she tried on, the sales assistant was quick to tell her the prices for all of them and the time it would take to order. 'She mentioned I would have to put in my order today if I wanted to get any of the dresses before my wedding. It was like she didn't even take into account how the appointment went and that I hated all of them, she was just like, 'right so here's some paperwork.'' 'I then went outside and cried,' she added. The luxury wedding dress boutique, based in Sydney's ritzy inner-city suburb of Paddington, opened its doors just five years ago. According to their website, the space offers brides a taste of luxury complete with a private bridal suite, champagne and macarons upon arrival. With dresses ranging from $5,000 – $17,000, it's no wonder you'd expect the experience to be perfect. In a six-minute response video, the founder of The Ivory Room, Nicole O'Connor, said it was 'absolutely devastating' to see. In a statement, Mrs O'Connor told that she is 'very sorry that Jade is distressed.' 'All of our designers' dresses are made to the closest size – not to a bride's exact measurements. We advise our brides at multiple points that alterations are always required to achieve a personalised fit. 'It is further explained that any alterations are not included in the price of a dress and as such, are an additional cost to the customer. This is not only because gowns come to standard size/split size but also because a bride's measurements may change in the time between measurement, order and dress delivery six months prior to the wedding date. We clearly explain all of these points in all appointments, confirm in the post-appointment quote email, and clarify in the terms of our contract, which all brides are required to read and sign prior to placing their order. 'In this particular instance, Jade was measured on 23 November 2024 and the dress came as per the size ordered. Jade then had a dedicated dress pick up appointment on 14 May 2025 where she tried the dress on, was remeasured and given the forum to raise any concerns. Jade did not raise any concerns and actually stated how happy she was with her beautiful wedding dress. She signed off on her measurements taken and her satisfaction with the dress. It wasn't until six weeks later on 25 June 2025 that Jade contacted us to express concerns with the sizing of the gown and the cost of alterations needed. Ms O'Connor said the store 'immediately checked with the dress designer', who assured that the dress was made exactly to the measurements. 'We then checked our quality control records and measurements taken of the bride on order (23 Nov 24) and pick-up (25 Jun 25) and noticed a significant size reduction, which, in our industry, we encounter often for some brides-to-be in the lead up to their special day.' 'We advised Jade that the gown correctly matched the size ordered. We also explained, as clearly stated in all of her appointments, correspondence and her contract, that alterations are always required and are at the customer's own cost,' she said. 'We are very sorry Jade is distressed and have been in contact with her today to provide support and try to find a resolution.' The Ivory Room did not respond to Bea's claims. Victorian bridal stockist Champery Couture told that they'd be more than happy to 'hook Jade up with a free dress.' 'We're happy to help her out,' they said. 'Alterations should never cost $4,000, they should be a thousand dollars if that.' They suggested booking measurement appointments three months in advance 'to avoid these mishaps.' Unlike others, they weren't so quick to pin the blame exclusively on Nicole's Ivory Room. 'They're actually not in the wrong when it comes to the sizing situation here. The designer should be stepping in to help,' they said. 'But we do feel for Jade.'
Vogue
05-06-2025
- Business
- Vogue
Everything You Need to Know About Wedding Dress Alterations
Unless you're wearing a gown that was made bespoke to your measurements for your big day, it's pretty much a necessity that you will need wedding dress alterations. With all eyes on you at your wedding, it's likely you don't want your gown to be ill-fitting. And while the dress you purchase will likely be close to your size, there's still plenty that will need to be done to make it a perfect fit. 'Most gowns people purchase are 'made to order,'' explains Melissa Oddo, owner of deMelis Atelier LLC. 'This means that a size is chosen from a designer's size chart based on the measurements of the client- these are typically bust, waist, and hips. Because of this, a dress will typically be ordered based on the biggest measurement and this means nearly every nearlywed will need some type of alterations.' Ahead, we created a guide to wedding dress alterations with insights from expert seamstresses to help you understand the process from cost to timeline. How Much Do Wedding Dress Alterations Cost? When budgeting for the cost of your wedding dress, don't forget to add in the additional bill that will come with alterations. On average, professionals say the total can come between $650 and $1200. 'Alterations run such a spectrum and are based on things like a professional's time in the business, the time the project takes, the market value for their service, the type of approach they might take to solve the puzzle, their overhead, and added services they may offer,' notes Oddo. Whether or not you should tip on top of your alteration fees depends on the atelier. Some even have policies not to accept gratuity. 'Most seamstresses don't expect a tip, although gratuity is always appreciated,' says Oddo. 'In our studio, we pool tips and divide them amongst our whole team. I think this can be different if a business is a single-owner setup but when people have a team of sewing professionals, gratuity is a little more commonplace as many hands have probably helped get the work done.' How Long Do Wedding Dress Alterations Take? On average, the wedding dress alterations process can take about two to three months. 'Every seamstress is different and will have a timeline that feels good to them,' shares Oddo. 'Find someone you trust, and then actually put your trust in their process.' How Long Before a Wedding Should the Dress Be Altered? 'Most commonly, alterations specialists will begin the process anywhere from six to 10 weeks before the wedding or travel date,' says Oddo. This gives you enough time for all your fittings and a little leeway in case additional ones need to take place. However, you shouldn't wait until that 10 week mark to book your alterations. 'I think people need to be more aware than ever of the fact that seamstresses and skilled sewing professionals are becoming more rare. The good folks are getting booked out quicker and often take reservation lists well in advance of that six- to 10-week window,' notes Oddo. 'Every year for the last three years our atelier has had the reservation list for the entire year filled up before May. Myself and many of my colleagues are already holding spots for the next year and the numbers just keep coming.' She adds, 'I recommend brides reach out to seamstresses to find out about their unique process as soon as they have chosen their dress. It's better to contact businesses early, than to wind up out of luck and scrambling at the last minute.' How Many Bridal Dress Fittings Are Typical If you're getting a dress altered, you have to ensure there's time in your schedule to make fittings, where a seamstress will check in on the progress of your adjustments and make further edits to ensure the best fit. 'We recommend our brides attend three fittings,' share Courtney Poole and Niamh Ginn of Alts Alteration Specialists. 'During the first fitting, our fitter will discuss the types of alterations that are needed to achieve the bride's desired fit and provide a quote for alterations. We will then pin the dress so that the bride can envision what the end result will look like.' 'Our tailors will baste the alterations discussed during the first fitting, but will not cut any fabric, which will allow our client to see a preview of the end result. These alterations are not permanent and can be adjusted as needed. During the second fitting, the tailor will typically review bustle options for the dress. At the final fitting, we will ensure that everything is to the bride's liking and make any final adjustments, if needed.' Common Wedding Dress Alteration Needs So what alterations will your dress likely need? 'Some of the most common bridal alterations we perform are taking in the gown to better contour the body, along with shortening the hem to suit the bride's height,' say Poole and Ginn. 'Every body is unique, and our expert tailors specialize in customizing each gown to ensure it fits the individual's vision flawlessly.'
The Sun
06-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
Four genius ways to refresh your wardrobe on a budget
WARMER weather means it's time to put away the coats and jumpers, and slip into shorts and T-shirts. But if your summer wardrobe could do with an upgrade, you don't need to fork out for new outfits. Instead, make a few alterations to give old items a fresh lease of life. Here's how . . . SHORT CUTS: If you have a pair of jeans you no longer wear, you can easily turn then them into shorts to wear in warmer weather. Simply lay them out and make a mark with chalk where you want to cut. If you want a roll-over at the bottom, allow a couple of inches and add a few stitches to keep it in place. Or just snip and leave for an easy frayed look. If you have white clothing that has dulled or is stained, transform it with dye. Dylon hand dyes are £3.69 at Wilko and come in an array of different shades — just soak the clothes in warm water with salt. Tie-dye is another option to reinvent old white T-shirts you have tired of — get a kit for £3.99 from The Range. I made an extra £650 in 'free' money in a month - it's so easy, anyone can do it IT'S SEW EASY: If you're nifty with alterations, shorten the sleeves on long-sleeved dresses or tops for a summer makeover. Or take up the hem on longer frocks. Cropped trousers are bang on trend so take a few inches off the bottom of an old pair to bring them up to date and ready for higher temperatures. FRINGE BENEFIT: Grab an old T-shirt and make it festival or beach-friendly by adding a fringe at the bottom. Use a ruler to mark out a line at the bottom of the shirt with chalk, and then at 1cm intervals draw a line down to the bottom of the hem where you'll cut the fringe. Cut off the bottom hem before following the lines you have marked out. All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability. DEAL OF THE DAY CREATE your own caffeine hit at home with Bosch's finesse coffee pod machine, down from £109 to £38.88, at CHEAP TREAT 7 SPOIL yourself with a selection of your favourite Haagen-Dazs flavours in this four-pack. It's £3.75 from Tesco with a Clubcard, £5.40 without. TOP SWAP PAIR this gingham shirt with jeans for a chic outfit. It's £41 from Or get a similar top from New Look for £19.49. SHOP & SAVE BE a hair hero with Tresemme keratin smooth shampoo, down from £6.99 to £3.49 at Superdrug. PLAY NOW TO WIN £200 7 JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle. Every month we're giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers - whether you're saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered. Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket. The more codes you enter, the more tickets you'll earn and the more chance you will have of winning!
