When to buy your formal dress? Better yet...when to schedule your alterations!

You're a bride, bride's attendant, prom-goer, or going to a another formal event. When is the right time to buy your dress? Good question. No right answers!  However, if you find yourself in need of alterations there are some guidelines (for me, anyway!) If you're a bride, then 6-8 weeks minimum is what I prefer. If you are IN a wedding, the bride will likely go with you to select the bridal party attire, then it's up to the shop to get it to you in a reasonable amount of time. If you are going to prom, any young girl wants to buy her dress as soon as possible, likely, months before prom, to limit the chance of someone else scooping up "her" dress, leaving the dress shop to tell you, "Sorry, we can't sell you That dress, someone else is wearing it to Your prom!"


Stressful for some, not so much for others. Now, you have your gown, what next? Accessories, shoes, appointments made for hair and nails...last on the list...always....always....always....alterations!!!


Now, for bridal, I like to have at least 6-8 weeks, and for prom/formal gowns, at least 2-3 weeks. Hurray for Brides!!! Most brides are really good at organizing what has to be done, so most of my bridal alterations come in at least 6 weeks ahead of time. I can get it done within a tighter time frame, but I never know what I'm going to get, so I like to leave myself some breathing room!
But others, realizing the event you are attending is coming up quickly, you try on your dress so see how it looks just weeks before the event, not thinking that it may fit differently than when you purchased it!


So that dress that fit you to a T when you purchased it months ago, now is too snug or swimming on you. And unless you are 5'10" or taller or wearing platform shoes, it's way too long. So, you call around, with 2 weeks or less, until prom or the wedding, trying to find someone to "fit you in"....the phone (my phone) starts ringing non stop! Yes, of course I'll take you!  But at some point (with only one week to prom, and in one case recently - 3 weeks before a wedding, for wedding gown alterations!) I have had to start saying no...It honestly kills me! I love to help girls look their best on the big day, no matter what the occasion, but please think ahead and schedule that appointment for your fitting, far enough in advance! I do pride myself in pulling through in tight situations, but do like to have more time.


I've had a RECORD season! January to May 2016 - 6 Brides!!!, 19 bridesmaids, 3 Mother of bride/groom, 2 semi dresses, and 16 prom dresses!

So.....I've been burning the midnight oil for the past month to get all these gowns done...knowing that by June, I'll be slowing down and sleeping a little more :) ....until the calls for September weddings start rolling in!

(photos to follow)

Emergency alterations!!!

Well, this has been one busy couple of weeks with quick turn-arounds! Let's see. I was contacted on April 8th to do a hem on a prom dress.  But wait, the prom is the 10th, which really means she needs it on the 9th. One day. Sure - no problem! Next, contact was on the 12th, a Sunday, for a prom on the 16th, to be picked up on the 15th - so I had a few days for that one! (phew!). Then there was a zipper replacement. Customer came to  my house at 8AM on the 20th and was leaving for NYC for a destination wedding, on a train at 3:20 that day - picked up at noon! Next in line, that same day, comes someone who had already had her dress altered for a wedding, but hadn't tried it on until getting home. Realizing that she had lost weight since trying the dress on just 2 weeks before, it was now too big, and needed to be taken in. She needed the dress by the 23rd. Done! Lastly, on the 23rd another dress for a wedding was just a bit tight, so I needed to add gussets to make it fit better. Trip to the fabric store on my lunch break to find a color that matched; no easy task but I got it done. That one was needed for the 24th! One thing all these wonderful ladies had in common, is that they were so grateful that I was able to do the work in such a short period of time, and all were extremely happy with the results!

A busy season?




Fabric selection for client's custom dress

It used to be that I was the busiest in Prom, dance recital and spring/summer Bridal "seasons" from March through July mostly. The Fall is usually the time of year I catch my breath, maybe even do some sewing for myself (a rarity indeed!). The phone doesn't ring at all. Not the case this year. I have had so many phone calls and emails for alterations, Fall weddings, custom work, and questions about future work, I just am amazed! I recently went away, and as soon as I turned my phone on after touching down at Logan, I had a text and a voicemail from 2 people needing alterations. One was a return client. Some have found me on the internet via my website or Facebook page, others are word of mouth, or are return clients. For the referrals and returning clients, I thank you! That is how I built my business before I even used the internet and stands true to still being my best advertisement.

Side gussets added to 2 dresses

Custom curtains inspired by photo on left

Facebook, my website, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram have allowed me, in the past few years, to post current updates, photos of my work and people have written recommendations on my "wall" for others to see as well...which has really given me a boost! So follow me on Twitter (and retweet my tweets!), LinkedIn and Instagram, and "like" Fashions by Tamara on Facebook!

The internet has proven to be a valuable tool for getting Fashions by Tamara on the North Shore map!
Thank you all for supporting me, spreading the word and keeping me busy!
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Heirloom veil used to make one of a kind garter