How to get dress right from 6000 miles....

My best take on this as a dressmaker is to get the measurements done properly (take a look at the instructions on my web site for this). You will need bust, waist, hip, high hip, back/waist length, shoulder width, and front balance, and finally, finished length from nape to hem and/or from waist to hem. You will need to be honest and mention a large bust, sloping or rounded shoulders, 'Dowager's Hump', and any other figure problems that might cause fitting issues (such as one hip or shoulder being higher than the other, having a prominent tummy, etc.). The dressmaker should then send you a toile (this is the name for the dummy-run dress), which you need to have fitted by a good dressmaker. You may well have to pay a professional for this service. This then gets sent back, and the dress is made incorporating the pinned in alterations. You must accept that this garment will NOT fit as well as it would if you went and had it made by a professional close to where you live.

I charge by hour for fitting services: allow an hour and a half at least

- more if your mother is an awkward fit. She will need to be wearing the undies and shoes she will wear on the day for the fitting (read my article about how to get the best from your dressmaker for reasons).

Probably a bit difficult to send this over but you could make a dressmaker's dummy of her

-- Tricia

Having read Kate's excellent suggestions, I believe the way I would approach this would be to throw myself on the mercy of the Phillipino designer and beg him to recommend a colleague in the UK to make the mother of the bride's gown.

Kathleen

Perhaps your mother could sent you a dress that fits her well currently and the designer could use that as a guide?

Stacy

If you can get the pattern, you could have someone fit the pattern to her and then send it to the phillipines. With the alterations in it.

Why not send the material and pattern to you and have it made up locally? By the way, why can't the mother of the groom just show up in a dress of her choice, once you've exchanged colors and basic style ideas? Oops, coloUrs...

Sounds like an awful lot of hassle and I have never heard of both mothers dressing alike. Is this a local tradition?

At any rate, wishing you a lifetime of happiness.

If I were your mother, I would take along a suitable dress - just in case things don't work out with the designer. If the designer comes through, it can always be worn for the rehearsal dinner.

Have her obtain a dress locally. It will fit, and she can accessorize accurately.

Um, no. I'd classify this as "putting yourself through undue stress."

HTH

--Karen D.

Kate is basically right.You must have the measurements of your mother as indicated in her article before making the garment.Just hire a professional dressmaker,who can handling the measuring perfectly. When you have the spec, transfer it to the producer and ask him to make a sample for you. If the sample is not very fit for your mother,you can ask them to do some adjustment until it is a satisfied one for your mother.

I am working in a professional garment supplier located in China and would like to talk about the interesting things about garment producing & designing & sewing...with the ones who are also fond of it.

My MSN: snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com

Hi, just stumbled upon this thread. I'm curious what you decided to do. Did you decide to stick with the long-distance fitting or switch to someone closer?

Pora