By Rachel Snedden for Your Scottish Wedding
Having something made entirely bespoke and designed to fit to perfection generally isn’t
something we’re used to anymore. And without question, full-length dresses and cinching corsets definitely aren’t the norm!
Ready-to-wear clothing has allowed - and encouraged - us to move entirely away from having clothes individually made for us. We’re also generally choosing looser and looser clothing as a styling choice - almost anti-fit. But with that, our understanding
of the process has waned, so it makes complete sense that when you choose your wedding dress and have it fitted, there will be a lot of new elements to get your head around!
Whether it’s a classically-fitting structured corset ballgown or a whimsical boho number, your wedding dress will be the most thought-through, precise outfit you’ve ever worn. Fit and shaping is on a whole different level of importance, and you’ll have to take into account aspects you may not have considered. Even the fact that it’s likely going to be full-length means hem lengths (and avoiding trip hazards!) become a new fitting element you’re suddenly going to have to think about. You may be a seasoned wearer of a fab summer maxi-dress, but the chances are your wedding dress will take a little more
manoeuvring!
What physical fit elements should I take into account?
Make sure you test out that you can be the person you want to be on your wedding day.
Are you a wild dancer who simply must be doing cartwheels on the dancefloor? Then check out if you can move your arms. On the other hand, do you even care if you can’t?! Maybe the dress you’ve found is so entirely suited to your personality and
makes you feel so amazing that you really don’t care if you can’t move your arms freely - and that’s OK!
Fit is crucial. Design is crucial. But make sure it’s your design and fit, not just a list of what you can and can’t physically do in your wedding dress. How do you want to feel in your dress? What do you want to do?
You can be as practical or impractical as you like on this one. I think shoes always give a good comparison since it’s one we can all relate to when it comes to comfort and practicality. (And also, I just love shoes!) I think we can generally agree that high heels are not designed with physical comfort in mind, right? However, anyone who knows me knows I live in stilettos, and I love my heels so will naturally feel more ‘comfortable’ in those, whereas for someone else that’s a complete nightmare. Don’t change your personality on your wedding day! Flat shoes might be ‘physically’ comfortable, but if you’re not feeling ‘psychologically’ comfortable then your guests are going to see it written across your face! But also, if you’re a trainers-wearer 24/7 don’t change to heels.
What about styles that are apparently harder to move in?
I bet you’ve heard that fishtail dresses restrict movement, right? Well, it certainly wouldn’t be the first time I’ve seen one of my brides doing the splits on the dance floor in their fishtail wedding dress! Or stage diving. And then there’s the video of one recent bride playing rounders in her fully corseted dress with highly tailored long sleeves that you could
argue restricts movement. The way she hit that ball and ran to the next base, she was managing just fine!
Road test your dress and don't overlook any niggles.
Yes, the fit of your dress will change once it’s in your correct measurements, but will that be enough? Trust your instincts. It’s all too easy to brush aside those niggles at the early stages of dress shopping – “It’ll be fine once I’ve lost weight,” or “it’ll be fine with the
sculpting underwear.”
If you’ve got a worry, don’t ignore it. Say it out loud and get answers one way
or another! There is always a solution – and that solution might just be a little more information and knowledge from the bridal shop. When you’re trying on a shop sample it won’t fit correctly. It’s probably too long or maybe has panels at the back. This isn’t something you’re used to so it’s ok to feel a little out of sorts. Take your time! Any good bridal retailer will want you to do that too.
And definitely consider these questions: Can you sit down? Does it
feel too heavy? Does it not feel heavy enough? Is it feeling tight across your tummy?
Should I take my size into account when I choose my wedding dress?
No! It always makes me wince a little when I hear clients have been told they should limit their choices based on anything physical. You’re not a set of measurements. You’re a human being! Find a dress that makes you happy. One that clicks naturally with your personality and a dress you know you’ll feel relaxed and confident in. The rest of the technical ‘measurement’ stuff is the easy bit (for us anyway) that’s about measuring correctly, having your dress made to measure and really perfecting the final fittings.
Measurements and choosing a size.
Talk to the team at your bridal shop. Ask them questions and get their advice. The more we know, the better the outcome!
Taking measurements is a technical skill and accuracy is everything – particularly if you’ve chosen a fully made to measure dress. You’ll be amazed at the in-depth range of measurements we take, and they’re not only to get a record of your body shape, but also posture, angles and asymmetry.
If you’ve gone for a standard size dress option, then we always consider what final alterations and fitting might be needed. Make sure you’re happy that you’ll still achieve a super neat fit without compromise. Body length, bust cup size and proportions in particular are measurements that really can’t be, or are much harder to adjust once your
dress is made.
What if I lose weight?
Tell us as soon as you can! When you’re ordering your dress, let your bridal shop know if you’re planning a drastic shape change. Check if it’s possible to order a smaller size or delay taking measurements until a date closer to your wedding.
At Rachel Scott Couture we can confirm orders with our designers without committing to measurements
until much further down the line. It’s a huge advantage for us and ensures we can offer plenty of flexibility and the ultimate fit accuracy.
That certainly isn’t an option with a lot of bridal shops and designers though so check before assuming. Equally though, it may be an option to order a different size compared to your current measurements. Talk it through and, of course, be sensible with it!
Don't forget the final fittings and trust the process
Your dress is always going to need some level of tailoring once it arrives, such as tweaks to hem length, sleeves, straps and bodice. These final fittings sculpt your dress to suit you.
If you’ve chosen a standard size, your boutique will have matched you to the closest size based on your measurements and final fittings will be to tailor that into your bespoke shape.
Made to measure – our preferred approach at Rachel Scott Couture – is when your dress is made entirely from scratch exactly to your measurements. But even then, final fittings will still apply. It’s important to bear in mind that your measurements are not static. You
do things like bend, twist and breathe (maybe less in a full corset!) and your ribcage can expand by more than a dress size with each inhale! The fabric your dress is made from can also affect fit. Is there a stretch to it? Is the corset fully boned or is it panelling and elastic construction? If there is no built-in structure the fit needs to be shaped around your bra or sculpting underwear. This is why final fittings are so crucial. The process can seem daunting and definitely new, but don’t rush it! To you,
what might seem like an impossible adjustment could be incredibly simple to an expert seamstress. Although equally, what might seem like an easy hem, could be massively complicated!
At the risk of sounding like a broken record – fit is everything so take the time to get it right!
Main image photography credit to FD Young Photography
