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Please click on the link below to read more about that topic: Sizing NOTE to all brides and wedding parties: If you are getting married, and want to order a complete wedding party package, please read this page, and then email me. There are very special instructions to follow, about how to order bridesmaid/wedding party ensembles to make sure everything is organized and no mistakes are made. And lastly - if something on here doesn't make sense to you, just ask! We're happy to explain! |
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PLEASE NOTE: We will
never charge more for plus sizes. We will also walk you through every measurement process to ensure a proper fit.
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Historical clothing is most often made using very precise measurements, rather than dress sizes. This is because dress sizes can vary from maker to maker. We can guarantee the exact measurements of an item, but we can't guarantee it will fit unless accurate measurements are taken. Customers need to obtain accurate measurements - this is VERY important and absolutely essential to a perfectly fitted garment. Always have someone take the measurement for you. It's very difficult to get an accurate measurement by yourself. To determine your measurements do the following: Measurements
- (Remember, we completely rely on you to provide us with very accurate measurements - if you send the wrong measurements, your clothing will not fit. If you are unsure about providing accurate measurements, have a professional bridal shop take them for you.) With the foundation garment you plan to wear under your gown ON, measure yourself at the fullest point of your bustline. (Do not go by bra size) If you plan to wear a corset, measure with your corset on, but be sure to tell us that you're giving us a corseted measurement! Otherwise your bodice will be far too small for you! If you plan to wear a special bra under your garment, put it on while taking measurements. You don't have to tell us if you're wearing a bra because bras won't cinch you like a corset will. With the foundation garment you plan to wear under your gown ON, measure yourself at the thinnest point of your waistline. This is your natural waist, just below the base of your rib cage. When you bend to the side, it's where your skin will wrinkle. Again, if you are wearing a corset, measure with the corset on and be sure to tell us that you are sending us a corseted measurement. We make Renaissance and Elizabethan bodices to fall at the NATURAL waist (where your ribcage ends). These bodices should NOT extend down past the waist or over the hips. That style is called a Basque waist, and is not correct for the Renaissance/Elizabethan era. For skirts: Are you wearing a hoop under your skirt? If so, you want to measure the length (from waist to hoop base) with the hoop and your shoes on. If you're not planning to wear a hoop skirt, measure from your waist to where you want the hem to fall. Some people prefer their skirts to brush the ground, while others prefer their skirts to be ankle length. Again, it's all a matter of preference. We highly recommend having your skirt hemmed AFTER we send it to you. The hem is the only thing we do not gaurantee, as hoop circumferences, body shape and other factors make it impossible to perfectly hem your gown without being there in person. We will hem it for you if you wish, but we just can't guarantee the length will be as perfect as an in-person seamstress could make it. The maximum length for all cotton skirts is 41". If you require a longer skirt, you should either submit a custom request form or order a satin skirt ensemble. Hips - should be measured at fullest point of your hips. Shoulder to floor is your shoulder tip to the floor, with your shoes on. Shoulder to wrist is shoulder tip to top of hand (wrist). Shoulder tip to shoulder tip is the outer edge of your shoulder bone, to the opposite outer edge of your shoulder. PLEASE NOTE: We construct your clothing by using one of our three adjustable dress forms, set to your measurements. Every now and again, someone does not fit the standard "dress form mold" and a garment WILL REQUIRE ALTERATIONS. To avoid any complications, please be sure to order and submit your order form with enough time to allow for shipping your garment BACK TO ME, to have me do the alterations, and then ship it BACK TO YOU. This means that you should leave at least 4 weeks time, if not MORE, to allow for any possible alterations. We will NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE for any orders placed without enough time for alterations. This means that if you place a rushed order and only leave only a few days between your delivery date and your event, we will NOT have enough time to do alterations, and the cost to have any resulting alterations completed will be your full responsibility. We will not cover the cost to have alterations done, because even though we work with you to create a perfectly fitting garment, it is always possible that you will need them. If you place a rush order, you are doing so with the full understanding that if alterations are needed, we will not have time to do them for you, and we will not cover any costs for you to have them done. This is why it is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT to ORDER WITH PLENTY OF TIME TO SPARE so that we can complete alterations for you if needed. Regarding inaccurate measurements: We cannot be responsible to inaccurate measurements. We rely on you to provide us with your accurate measurements. Don't be intimidated though. We will walk you through each step to ensure a proper fit. If you're still concerned that you won't be able to obtain accurate measurments, have a local alterations shop take them for you. If you're worried about the fit, just let us know. We offer a muslin sloper (sample bodice) service for $50. We will send you a "practice" bodice with instructions for you to try on, write on, pin and send back to us to ensure your bodice fits you to a tee. You MUST take this sloper to a local seamstress and have them "fit" it to you, then cover shipping costs to mail the sloper back to us. Your $50 payment covers two sloper shippings. In order to use our sloper service, you must place your gown order a minimum of six months in advance, no exceptions. Slopers must be fitted and returned to us within two weeks or we will not be able to stay on schedule. If after two weeks you have not returned your sloper, we will not be able to continue with the sloper fitting process and will make your gown without the sloper, based on the measurements you provide to us. Customer Invalid Email Addresses and SPAM filters: If you place an order through our website shopping cart system, and do not hear from us within 48 hours, it means you either entered your email address incorrectly into Paypal's database, you have a SPAM filter on that is blocking me from contacting you, or your email server is not working properly. If I am not able to reach you via email after you order, I will try emailing you repeatedly. If I receive a message telling me your email address is not accepting email from me, or that your email address is invalid, I will immediately issue a refund and cancel your order. You must have a valid email address when ordering from me, so that I can send you the list of measurments I need. More Than One Email Address: PLEASE do not email us from multiple email addresses. When people do this, we have found that they usually only check one of their email accounts on a regular basis, and when they ignore the other mailbox, the result is lots of missed or ignored emails. If there are problems and I contact you at the ignored address, you MAY NOT FIND OUT ABOUT THEM UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE. To avoid potentially disastrous outcomes and miscommunication problems, ONLY USE ONE EMAIL ADDRESS when communicating with us. Period of no response: If you place an order and I continuously email you with no response month after month, but your email address appears to be valid, I will hold your order for up to one year as a valid order. After one year, I will consider your order "abandoned" and you will forfeit all payments you have made and your order will be cancelled. Because
it takes time to send you repeated email reminders, and because
Paypal deducts fees from your payment after a certain amount of
time passes, if you ignore repeated reminders to submit your order
form and measurements, and then request a refund at a later date,
(As long as fabric has NOT yet been ordered), refunds will be issued
as follows: Canceling an order: If fabric/materials have been ordered and we have scheduled a date for construction of your order, no refund will be issued and we will not accept a cancellation of your order. We reserve a date in our schedule just for you - and subsequently we turn away customers who could have been scheduled in that date, which is why we do not allow refunds for any order that has been scheduled and fabrics have been purchased. If you cancel your order after you have submitted payment but before you have submitted your order form, you may be subject to certain fees. If we have not ordered fabrics and have not scheduled a construction date for you, we may charge you a cancellation fee. Please refer to the timetable above - you MUST request a refund in under 30 days, or you will be subject to additional fees. Accepted forms of payment: Some of the items on our site have a "Buy Now" button, which will allow you to place an order immediately, and pay for it immediately. You can pay through Paypal, with either a credit card, or an e-check. We also accept mailed payments of money orders and we have a mail order form for you to print and mail with payment. However, payment through Paypal's secure site is the quickest and easiest way to order what you're looking for. If you are uncomfortable ordering via the internet, we completely understand. We will be happy to provide you with our mailing address to mail in a cashier's check or a money order. We do not accept personal checks - no exceptions.
Rush orders: Simple items may only take a few days to complete, but more elaborate items may take several weeks, especially if we must order special fabrics for you. If you are in a rush, let us know. During our slow season, we may be able to do a rush order, but we can never guarantee it. There will be times when rush order fees will apply and you may be required to pay for overnight shipping. Deposits:
Once
we've worked out all the specific details for your custom gown,
for orders over $200, a MINIMUM deposit of 50% must be made before
we can purchase fabrics. This money will be used to purchase all
of the materials needed, and the cost often exceeds the deposit
payment, therefore the deposit is not refundable under any circumstance.
We would not buy this fabric if it weren't for your order, so the
deposit is a sort of "insurance" for costly fabric purchases.
We must be paid in full before we begin work, so be sure to submit
your final payment with enough time for us to make the gown. You
may break up payments and do a payment plan, but we can't start
the order until it has been paid for in full - so please keep that
in mind when considering your deadline.
We apologize, but we are not ever able to ship a gown before
it has been paid for in full - No exceptions. Shipping: I ship Priority mail via the US Postal Service, with delivery confirmation. We charge shipping and handling, based on the amount spent. Overnight shipping to the lower 48 is calculated by weight and service and will be charge actual postage (we will email you with an invoice when the package is ready to be shipped). Out -of-country charges are actual postage costs, depending on weight (we will email you with an invoice when the package is ready to be shipped). Expedited overseas shipping is available, but is very costly. Email us for an estimate. You can purchase insurance if you desire - please email us for shipping costs with insurance. Out-of-USA Customers: You are responsible for ALL import/duty/taxes associated with your order. I will NOT lie on customs forms. It's illegal. Don't ask me to do it. If you refuse to pay these fees when the package reaches your country, we will not re-ship it to you until you submit another payment for shipping to us. Do not ask us to pay these taxes - this has nothing to do with us. We have no control over this, and these fees are not our responsibility. Changes: DO NOT RETURN YOUR ORDER FORM UNTIL YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT! Once you return your order form, you may not make changes to fabric choices or colors, or to your order. We buy the fabrics as soon as we receive your order form, and we are not able to return these fabrics and supplies. Our suppliers have very strict no-return policies. Once you chooce your fabric, and we buy it, the only way you can change your choice is to pay for another garment. So please, be absolutely certain of your choices when you return your order form! We cannot allow changes once you submit your information. Returns: Due to the custom nature of these items, We cannot accept returns. At our descretion, in VERY SPECIAL INSTANCES, we may allow you to return something (only if we have made an error) and we may give you store credit. But we don't offer refunds on custom-made items. DO NOT RETURN ANYTHING UNTIL YOU OBTAIN A RETURN AUTHORIZATION NUMBER FROM US! If you ship anything back without contacting us and obtaining a return authorization number, your package will be returned at your expense. You MUST have a return authorization number written on the outside of your package, or it will be refused. If WE make a mistake, we will FIX IT, or in the case of gross misrepresentation where the item is flawed beyond repair, we will REPLACE IT. We are not responsible for damages after the customer receives the item and are under no obligation to make repairs once the garment has left the studio. If you find a flaw in craftsmanship, you must contact us within ONE day of receipt of the item to report the flaw. After we approve the return, you must mail the item back within two days of contacting us. If you wait to return the item, we will not accept it. There are no exceptions to this policy, so from the date you receive the item, you have four days to get it back in the mail to us or we will not accept the item, and we will return it to you immediately. Once we receive it back, we will either repair the item, or make you a new one. You must pay for shipping back to us and you must insure the item. We absolutely will not issue refunds for items that are lost in the mail when being returned to us. For a few extra dollars, it's worth it to buy peace of mind and have the item insured. There are no returns for color variations - we clearly list all of our color matching policies on this page, and when we sent you the order form, you return it stating that you have read and agree to our policies. We do not offer refunds or returns on color variations, or ANY frivolous complaint. If color is important, send us a swatch to match your fabrics with. The reason for this policy is because many people who order gowns plan to wear them for one special event. We've had people wear the garment to their event, then have tried to return it after the event is over. Custom order gowns are not costume rentals and unfortunately, a few bad apples have spoiled it for others. For that reason, we have been forced to adhere to this policy very strictly. We will not make any exceptions to this policy. Once you buy it, it's yours forever and we will not accept it back, except to repair it or to exchange it for a new one. We do not offer refunds for custom - made garments. HALLOWEEN ORDERS: We've found that Halloween customers are the worst abusers of costume shops and seamstresses, and we frequently have people who wait until a couple days before Halloween (after their party is over) and attempt a refund. We do not accept any orders back for refunds - these clothes are custom made to your precise measurements, and cannot be returned for a refund. If we continue to have customers attempting to return custom made garments, we will have no choice but to refuse all Halloween orders from now on. Please don't ruin it for everyone else - if you order from us, be prepared to follow our policies. We will not accept ANY garments back for return. If you want alterations because of an error WE made, we'll do it - but you have to follow the same contractual guidelines as all other customers. If you take your garment to another seamstress for alterations, we will not pay for it. You always have the option of having us take care of alterations for free if the error is ours, or for a minimal charge if it is a customer error. We will not be responsible for alteration costs incurred by having any garment altered by another company. Once altered by another company, we will absolutely not be responsible for damages - and once altered by another company, the garment will be no longer be considered our responsibility, and the garment will no longer be accepted as a return for repair (or any other form of return, for that matter.) If you're not sure of what you're ordering, please ASK US. We're happy to explain everything you want to know. But the bottom line is that we can not issue a refund when you email us and say "it's not what I expected." You should educate yourself somewhat about historical clothing - this way you won't be surprised when you recieve your order. For example: Partlets, chemises and peasant shirts are *very* full - they are not a tight, fitted garment. We make them full because quite people often have to pull the sleeves through slashes on their gowns - and that requires a lot of fabric. We've had people (who aren't familiar with historical garb) receive their partlets and then email us complaining that it's not a tight blouse - so please ask questions before you order, or take a bit of time to understand what you're ordering. Historic clothing is *very* different from modern clothing and we want you to fully understand what you're ordering. Another example: We make historical clothing, and zippers are a modern invention. Please don't email us asking where your zipper is - because we *never* use them. ;-) We're *very* honest people and we will disclose anything you want to know about your gown. If you're confused, tell us. We will explain with more details. We never "hide" anything about our garments, we're always happy to explain out construction proceedures and materials used. However, customer ignorance is not something we can control, and we have no idea how much knowledge you posess with regard to historical clothing (and we certainly don't want to offend anyone by rambling on and on about something they may already fully understand). If you don't know, ask before you order, because unfortunately, we can not issue refunds because the customer failed to understand what they were buying. Fabrics: We have a huge supply of some of the most exquisite fabrics in the world and will work with you to find the perfect designs and fabric selections. If we don't have the fabric you're looking for, we'll go out of our way to find it. We work with our own supply of fabrics and fabric suppliers, and cannot accept orders with customer-supplied fabrics for liability reasons. **Fabric Substitutions: Sometimes we have to subsitute fabrics when one is not available. In the instances of brocades, we will email you pictures of other options before we order the material. However, in some instances, such as with bridal fabrics, we will sometimes need to substitute satins and taffetas or other similar materials such as silk essence and other "shiny" bridal fabrics - we work on tight deadlines, and we buy fabric locally whenever possible, so to ensure timely delivery, we may need to substitute a satin or a taffeta to match your color request. However, we will *never* use a lesser quality material, and whenever possible, we will contact you about the substitution. If you REQUIRE a very specific material and cannot allow any substitutions, you *must* tell us first so that we can make absolutely cetain we can get *exactly* the right type of material/color in time for you event - and if we can't, we can let you know as soon as we shop. We reserve the right to make subsitutions and interchange satins and taffetas (two bridal fabrics) for chemises, underdresses and other undergarments. Color: We offer clothing in a variety of colors and designs, and when you order, you will be asked to name your color choices. If they are not available, we will contact you for an alternate selection. Basic colors cottons/satins are always in stock. Brocades will be matched with other fabrics, whether it's velvet, satin, cotton or another fabric type - your bodice will match your skirts and all other items in your ensemble. You will choose a basic color or select your brocade - and we will match it. If you ask us to make your garment in a more unique color, like "ROBIN'S EGG BLUE," we'll pull out our handy dandy Crayolas and will match the fabric as closely as possible. **Color Matching - If you require us to match a color to something you already possess, such as shoes or a veil: unless you send us a swatch for color matching, we can NOT gaurantee specific color matches. What this means is: If you need us to make your gown in a very specific color, for example, to match a pair of shoes you already own, you must notify us BEFORE we give you a price estimate and send a swatch of the color you want us to match. We will need to shop for an *exact* match to that color - and that takes a lot of time and will be subject to additional charges. If your color is very unique, the cost of the fabric may be very high - and regrettably, if the color is *extremely* unique, may not be attainable at all. Exact color matching requires us to shop in person - and shopping in person limits us as far as pricing, and we are not able to work with our mail order suppliers (who give us great discounts). However, if you order a brocade bodice from our online fabric options, we have constant access to exact-matching satins, taffetas, velvets and cottons - and your individual garments will match each other perfectly. Damage during shipment: Once a garment leaves the studio, we cannot be responsible for any damages caused. However, you have the option of purchasing insurance for your package - if you want this, let us know and we will give you a price for shipping. ,If you have purchased insurance and damage occurs during shipment, please contact us immediately and we can file a claim with the USPS - you must save the packaging in order to file a claim, so don't throw the box away! Damage after you receive your item: We will not be responsible for any damage done to this gown once it leaves our hands. This includes, but is not limited to: dry-cleaning errors, any errors made by other seamstresses who may alter the gown, dirt, tearing from improperly wearing the gown, use of harsh chemicals on the gown, problems arising from negligence (including boning issues). Our cleaning instructions are only to be used as suggestions - CHECK WITH A PROFESSIONAL BEFORE YOU HAVE YOUR ITEMS CLEANED and do what THEY recommend. We are not professional drycleaners, so some fabrics may require more delicate cleaning. If in doubt, ask a professional. Ready to wear items, SAMPLE gowns: Are sold at DRASTICALLY reduced prices and therefore are sold "AS-IS" with no warranties, refunds or exchanges to be issued. There are absolutely no exceptions to this policy. Items will not be shipped until they are completely paid for - there are absolutely NO EXCEPTIONS to this policy. We cannot accept personal checks. We accept credit card orders through Paypal, money orders and cashiers checks. Danger,
Danger! Care of your garments: We use basic guidelines for recommended cleaning and care of your garments. HOWEVER, we will not be responsible for dry-cleaning problems. It is the customer's responsibility to find a reputable cleaner and have them TEST clean the garment in an inconspicuous place before cleaning. We're not responsible for your garments if they are ruined by your drycleaner. We will be happy to help you with fabric content, but the bottom line is you will have to take your garment to the drycleaner and ask them the best way to clean it. We're experts at sewing, but not at specialized cleaning - so we leave it up to the cleaners to decide what's right for your garment. Choose a cleaner who is a member of IFI, the International Fabricare Institute. Take your clothing to a cleaner who is experienced in cleaning elaborate costumes and clothing. Then ask if they are a member of IFI. (If you don't know of any, call local theatres, colleges and ask them who they take their costumes to). Ask your dry-cleaner to test ALL fabrics, trims and beads before they clean them in an inconspicuous place. Some trims and most beads won't hold up to harsh chemicals, and will need to be removed before cleaning. Different types of stains will require different types of cleaners - make sure your dry-cleaner knows what they are dealing with. A grease stain is going to be harder to remove than a cool-aid stain. Tell them so they can clean it appropriately. Have your dry-cleaner test for "bleeding" problems. If you've got a white dress with bright red trim, you don't want pink "bleed" spots on your white fabric. NEVER, EVER, EVER go to the cheapest dry cleaner in town. Pay the extra few dollars for better service.
Feel free to email with any questions! Remember, accurate measurements are the key to a perfectly-fitting gown!
Question: Will you make
a gown for me using my own fabrics? Question: Do you have
a physical store I can visit? Question: Can we meet
in person? Question: I have this
sketch, photo, link, portrait, idea - can you make the dress? Question: Do you have
a phone number so I can call you? Question: Can you send
samples of fabrics? Question: How can we be
sure we're on the same wavelength for the right color? Question: What would I
look like in this type of gown? Question: I want to get
this style gown, but I think the colors and design elements might
look weird together. Can you help? Question: I want to order
several items, will I receive a discount? Question: What if I get
the gown and it doesn't fit? Question: What if I get
the gown and I decide I don't like it afterall Question: When should
I order my gown? Question: I ordered something
from your site through Paypal. How do I let you know what my measurements
are? Question: Is your payment
page a secure site? Question: You've got cool
fabrics. I want to order some. Question: Can you send
me a printed catalog? Do you have more pictures of Gown XX? Question: Why isn't my
deposit refundable? Question: Can I do a payment
plan? Question: What if I get
my gown and then lose weight after a few months?
Question: I want to start
my own costuming business, will you send me lists of your fabric
suppliers, pattern designs, customer's emails and any other information
I'll need to get started? We don't sell our designs, our supplier lists or anything other than the items for sale on our website. Finally, the only way we can give up our hard-earned tricks, tips and secrets is if you want to pay us to teach you. If you would like to hire the Very Merry Seamstress as a consultant to help you start a business, a price can be negotiated, but you will have to pay for transportation, food, lodging and all training. Learning how to become a professional designer isn't something that can be learned overnight. It's a lot of hard work, time, researching and training. Our best advice is to do what we did: Go to college for costuming and start promoting yourself to everyone you know. |
