How do you feel in your dress?

Often times, someone may need additional fittings to get the fit exactly how the client wants it. Especially with a special occasion dress. They almost always require 2 fittings before it's picked up. 

I do like to ask my clients "how do you feel" in the garment. I rely partially on their answer, and also my experience, so I know it's fitted well. I think it's a fair question, because I'm not the one wearing it.

Recently I had a MOG that needed a lot of adjustments, and came back for a 2nd fitting. She didn't like some things , so I made some more modifications and an appointment to come back. She actually thought she would be taking it home that day. But I did ask her how she felt, after pinning certain areas a 2nd time. She questioned my knowledge about the garment construction and that she shouldn't have to tell me how she feels in it,,,,that I should just know because I'm "the professional" 

I tried explaining how the dress is constructed, and certain things just can not be changed. Our bodies are not symmetrical. She had a nice figure, but this was a dress that you could not hide behind. It showed every curve. It was big when she bought it, so she didn't see how it would look once taken in. She didn't' like that the dress didn't look symmetrical on her body. I do my best to make the client look their best in whatever garment I'm working on.

SIGH...

So - we made another appointment for the following week to pick up her dress, and she left. I proceeded to work on her gown right away, because at this point, I wanted to know that it  was done, and that it would be satisfactory to her. Then I went home. My phone rang during dinner, so I ignored it, and listened to the voicemail afterwards. It was her. She wanted to come pick up her dress, and for me not to do any more work on it. It was too late, I told her. I did everything except for the shoulders. She told me not to do the shoulders, and that she would "settle up with me" the next day.

So she came, tried on the dress, and because the shoulders hadn't been done, she wasn't satisfied. I told her if she had allowed me to finish the shoulders, she would have been happy, and the dress would have been done. So instead, she paid me and left unhappy.

Now I don't want ANYONE to leave unhappy with my work. 99.999% of the time they leave happy - I often get hugs as appreciation!