Brown Bra cups, nowhere to be found-update

UPDATE 5-30-23

You can now purchase mocha brown push-up cups from Wawak.com for $3.98-5.00 for each pair. https://www.wawak.com/garment-construction/bra-cups/serged-push-up-bra-cups-1-pairpack/#sku=brc6amo

I’m surprised I am just now realizing the lack of brown bra cups. I have been in the bridal design/bridal alterations business now for several years and with the sheer wedding dress trend, I’m just surprised I have not come across this before now.

Sheer wedding dress showing brown cups

Felicity gown-Sheer Wedding Dress, notice how the cups are seen slightly through the lace. Beige cups are used in this design.

But I had a bridal client come in recently and ask for me to swap out her bra cups in her wedding dress for ones that matched her skin tone. It seemed like an easy request.

Normally I go to wawak.com and order bra cups in beige or white, they are also available in the color black. The only “brown” cups they offer are round with no push-up (90% of women want the extra lift on the wedding day).

The pair I normally order for most of my brides, push-up. No “mocha” available.

The only option they carry in “mocha”

I took to Facebook and asked my group of Bridal Alterations seamstresses what they thought of the situation and if they had any sources for me to order dark brown cups from. Again, to my surprise, 90% of the comments told me to dye them or to cover them myself because they too, know there are limited to no sources for brown bra cups.

I did more research on google.com and found an etsy seller selling mocha cups, but they look more copper than my bride, and from the reviews, they are copper-colored in person as well. And the company is “GOING OUT OF BUSINESS”

I did have a couple of women suggest I order brown cups from a Maggie Sottero retailer. I contacted 3-4 retailers that were able to order the cups and they all gave me prices between $15-30 per pair. This is outrageous considering you see the price for the beige pair above from wawak.

I asked for a bulk discount rate and I was told there was none.

New Approach-

DIY-ing brown bra cups,

Dyeing vs. Covering

Fabric Dyeing

• Takes too long

• Messy

• Room for error

• Fabric dye, gloves, tub, etc. becomes pricey

Covering with Fabric

• Use a 4-way stretch knit. I used a Powernet mesh

  • If you must use a woven, use 8” bias strips

Making the cups from scratch?

• I researched making the cups from scratch as opposed to covering $2-3 cups with inexpensive mesh fabric and the costs/time are greater

• If I made it from scratch, I would need foam 6mm or 1/4” thick, not available at JoAnn

• The cups would have to have seams for me to create the concave, and I would have to add extra foam for push-up

• I would still have to cover them because they do not have mocha/dark brown/milk chocolate color available

Conclusion

I’m covering the bra cups I purchase normally from wawak.com with brown mesh I received from fabric.com on amazon.com.

This link is helpful for tips on covering your bra cups. https://withmyhandsdream.com/2019/02/06/a-grey-teeshirt-bra-and-panties/

Covering the beige cups with brown 4-way stretch mesh

Finished covered brown bra cups ready to be sewn in my clients wedding dress

I decided I should sell some as well on my website since there is such a limited supply, and some ladies needing these cups may not be able/want to cover them.

Brown Push-Up Bra Cups Now available in the shop!

For every pair of cups sold, $1 will be donated to the NAACP

Choosing Undergarments/Shapewear for your Wedding Dress

Undergarments/Shapewear are completely the brides’ preference.

But I am asked frequently about my opinion on what undergarments work best for my brides.

In this post, I will go over some common shapewear garments I would choose for my brides.

Choosing what shapewear works best for your dress all has to do with what you are looking to target.

The most common area I find brides/women want to target is the tummy/waist area, so I focused on that for this post.

Tip: When looking for an undergarment to smooth your tummy/waist area, look for “high waist” or “high rise”.

Some options include:

• High Waisted Fitted Half-Slips (Controls-Waist/Tummy/Thighs)

• H/W Control Shaping Shorts (Controls-Waist/Tummy/Thighs)

• H/W Briefs (Controls-Waist/Tummy)

• Bodysuits/Full Body Slips (Controls-Bust/Waist/Tummy/Thighs)

• Longline Bra (Controls-Bust/Waist/Tummy)

H/W Fitted Half-Slip from David’s Bridal

https://www.davidsbridal.com/Product_maidenform-high-waist-fitted-half-slip-dm0702_shapewear-and-slips $29.95

H/W Fitted Half-Slip from Yummie

Click here On Sale now for only $17.40

High Rise High Control Shaping Shorts from David’s Bridal

https://www.davidsbridal.com/Product_maidenform-high-rise-high-control-shaping-shorts-12622_shapewear-and-slips $29.95

I do not see any difference from the slip/skirt to the shorts. So choose what makes you feel more comfortable.

H/W Mid Thigh Sculpting Shorts + Booty enhancer

https://www.spanx.com/shapewear/weddings/oncore-high-waisted-mid-thigh-short $78

These H/W shorts will slim and transform your shape into the ideal hourglass shape with their compression and booty enhancement panels.

High-Waisted Brief

https://www.spanx.com/suit-your-fancy-collection/suit-your-fancy-high-waisted-brief $64

This is a great option for brides looking for tummy/waist/sides control but does not need any thigh control/compression/smoothing.

Built-In Bra Full Fitted Slip

https://www.davidsbridal.com/Product_maidenform-built-in-bra-convertible-full-slip-2304_shapewear-and-slips $66

This is a great option for the bride who wants an all-in-one! This fitted slip gives you bust support as well as waist/sides/tummy/thigh control.

My only concern is the back. It is not shown on the website, and if you have an open back/low back this might become an issue with this option.

Low Back Bodysuit from Bare Necessities

https://www.barenecessities.com/tc-fine-intimates-wonderful-u-low-back-firm-control-bodysuit-4491_product.htm?pf_id=TCFineIntimates4491&color=Black $98

I love this one because of the low back and it targets the waist/tummy/sides. Great for the bride who doesn’t need thigh control and has a low-back dress.

Longline Bra

https://www.davidsbridal.com/Product_dominique-molded-seamless-longline-8541 $79

A longline bra smooths your middle and gives you a bust lift/support.

Creating your Custom Gown

Some brides come to me with a complete dress idea in their head and it makes the consultation go by pretty fast. I had brides bring in photos of gowns from the internet and we sketch their dream dress by piecing different dress ideas together. I have also had brides love my designs and want a recreation of a dress from one of my collections.

But sometimes, you know you just want a custom gown, or you just know you want to buy local or support small women-owned businesses like me, but you do not know what you want. This post is here to help!

Choosing your Bodice

View fullsize

View fullsize

Sleeves?

The Ellie gown has both fitted long sleeves with thumbholes, and cape sleeves (that leads into a cape in the back!

View fullsize

choosing your waistline

Choosing your skirt

View fullsize

View fullsize

Veil?

The Daisy veil is a fingertip length veil with gold lace and pink artificial flower appliques

View fullsize

Book a consultation here.

Should I get a Custom-Made Wedding Dress?

I would love to say every bride should get a custom-made wedding dress, but after working with lots of brides, I can say that there are some qualities/traits some brides possess that make them a better fit for purchasing a custom-made wedding dress.

If one or more of these traits sound like you, then you will want to consider going custom!

• She knows what she wants, almost exactly, and cannot find it at a traditional bridal salon

• She loves the idea of having something no one else has and loves a lot of the designs I have created

• She’s creative understands the process of making something from scratch

• She loves to support local entrepreneurs and understands even though Desiree or another Dress designer may strive for perfection, it may not be perfect, it’s Wabi-Sabi

In addition to one of the above traits:

• She understands she will need to attend around 5-7 fittings, possibly more if the design is changed, or there are weight changes*

  • *She understands someone is making a gown for her so she maintains her weight. The fitting process usually takes 3-6 mos.

• She can visualize her dress from the sketch, not for the faint of heart

Designer Pledge:

I promise to be realistic with you on what I can create, within your timeline and budget, and what would need to be substituted because I don’t have the same equipment as large manufacturers or a tool/fabric/applique is unavailable to me.

I know this is the most special garment you may ever wear, and I am thrilled every time I get to be apart of that experience with a bride. I will put in every effort to make it the best experience for you.

If this sounds like you, you are looking for a gown, then Click Here to set up a bridal consultation in Lakeland with me! 

Custom Bridal Gowns currently average at $2,000.

What Fabric Should I choose for my Wedding Dress?

Knowing what type of fabric you want before heading to the salon or to get a bespoke gown made for you will help your search.

photography by Kristen McKelvie

As a bespoke designer, this is a hot topic around my studio, so I wanted to clearly lay out the pros and cons of each fabric because there isn’t one that is perfect for all brides/dresses. Choosing between natural, artificial, and synthetic fibers are your biggest step because it narrows down the fabric selection and your designers vastly. I encourage you to think about what means most to you on your wedding day, having a luxe smooth breathable fabric that is more expensive and harder to care for, or a more available, less expensive, easily cleaned, wrinkle-resistant fabric that is not breathable or absorbent. After all this research, I can say that, in my opinion, a cupro silk alternative looks like a great middle ground-breathable, silk-like smoothness, absorbent, and smooth, but it does wrinkle easily, so keep the steamer close.

---

Main Dress Fabrics

Natural Fibers

Artificial Fibers aka Regenerated Cellulosic Fibers

Main Dress Fabrics

Synthetic Fibers

Main Dress Fabrics

Polyester is most commonly used, because it is readily available in many colors and fabric types, has easy care, and is wrinkle resistant.

It is what most designers in bridal salons use for main dress fabrics and linings.

My Darlin’ gown below is made with polyester chiffon and polyester lining but still looks luxe!

---

Lace Fabrics

The ‘Jes’ gown below is made with a 3D Guipure Lace fabric and cotton lining.

---

Lining Fabrics

Is your Wedding dress fabric missing from my list? Comment below. And if you have any questions about choosing your wedding dress fabrics, please ask away!

What To Do After The Wedding With Your Dress

There are a lot of creative ideas brides have come up with in the past on what to do with their gown after their big day. We have all heard of ‘Trash the Dress’ or there is always the option to resell it. But even if you plan to resell your gown you will need to get it cleaned.

Nectarine Dream Photography

At this point, since you are reading this article, you most likely already have your gown. You spent weeks, maybe months finding the perfect gown, or having one custom made for you by myself, and now you are thinking, wait, what am I doing with this after our wedding day?

Unless you are getting eloped in the courthouse, (not in the summer in the South, ha!) and only wearing your dress for an hour or two, you are going to absolutely need to get your dress professionally cleaned. Most likely, you are wearing your gown for 5-8 hours. It is well fitted to your body, you are going to be dancing, drinking, walking around outside, it is inevitably going to get dirty.

With the delicate-ness of wedding gowns, beading, fine fabrics, lace, you cannot just turn it inside out and throw it in the wash. When you send to get your gown professionally cleaned, they take an individual approach to your gown and decide on how to get it back to looking new. They will re-bead, re-sew, remove wine stains, dirt stains, sweat, everything, and at the end they will steam it and pack it in a window-pane box so you can see it but it cannot mold or yellow.

Wearing Your Gown Again, soon?

This is a popular question lately because of COVID-19. Many brides are opting to keep their original wedding date with a smaller guest list and to do it all again next year for a bigger crowd.

If this is you, I would recommend the Clean-Only option at the #1 Wedding Dress Cleaning Preservation Company, Wedding Gown Preservation Kit.

Clean-Only Option is priced at $179 including 2-way shipping. You get your dress shipped back cleaned, repaired, and ready to wear again in a polybag in 3-4 weeks, or rush 2-3 weeks for an extra $25.

The Wedding Dress Preservation Kit Company cleans dresses everyday, all day. They know what they are doing. You cannot simply send to the local dry cleaners.

The Most Popular Option

What you have probably heard from your friends or family members is the most popular option, the Traditional Wedding Gown Preservation Kit.

This option is $225-275, depending on if you want to add your name and/or wedding date. The standard processing time is 6-8 weeks. These two options are from the same company that I, like so many other bridal salons, are familiar with and trust. They send you a kit in the mail to ship your gown and send it back like new. This option comes back in a cardboard box with a window so you can see your gown and still show it off. You would most likely keep this in a closet or under the bed.

Framing Your Gown After The Wedding

If you do not want to put your dress under the bed safely or in the closet, another option I am really excited to share with my brides is framing your wedding dress! (After getting your gown professionally cleaned)

It would give me so much joy to know my brides are displaying their gown in their home to see every day. I happily did some research for a current bride of mine and found lots of options that were $1000 and up for beautiful displays, but knowing my client’s budget, I kept looking. And it has to be mentioned, DIY is not the way to go on this one folks. The professionals can guarantee it will not get damaged by air pollutants or UV lighting and have years of experience packing gowns. After looking into DIY myself, I found that the professionals are stuffing the dress to make it look like it on someone, not as easy as it looks, using clear pins, and even sometimes hand-sewing the gown to the backing if necessary for the perfect look.

I found Custom Framing Designs in California who will work with you to frame your gown. They even have options for LED lights for an exceptional look.

Use Coupon Code desiree50 to save $50 off your 1st order at custom framing designs.

Above framed dress starting at $625 at custom framing designs!

Another Framing Company option is the Outrageous Framing.

https://www.framemyweddingdress.com/ They are located in Florida and have larger, more luxe options to show your full dress.

Price is upon request, but something like the below display is around $3,200.

Altering your Gown into Something New

Another favorite option of mine is the option to get your wedding gown altered into something new. There are hundreds of ideas out there including a cocktail dress (see below) or lace top, a fun tutu skirt, pillows, a christening gown or first communion dress for a lil’ one…

With this option, from experience as a dressmaker/seamstress, it is not necessary to get it cleaned before having it altered, but the seamstress, I’m sure, would appreciate working with a clean dress. And you cannot assume the seamstress will clean any stains or possible discoloring for you.

Wedding Dress Party?

Ok, another trend I can get behind is the Wedding Dress Party trend. It’s one more day of fun, pictures, and feeling absolutely beautiful in your gown—why not? Invite the girlfriends over, tell them to wear their dresses, and binge-watch Friends!

Whatever You Want

Really, the best option for what to do with your wedding dress after your wedding, is whatever you want. This dress is all about you and if you want to jump in the mud and splash around it, then you should.

MarinaWanders Photography Models wearing the Love Warrior Jumpsuit and the Thunderbird gown

Please ask me any questions, or add your ideas on what to do with your gown after the wedding below.

all about custom-made Wedding dresses: BTS to Wedding

Updated March 1, 2019

It's your wedding day, you deserve to feel confident and look fierce!  I love creating custom pieces for my customers. Everyone's body type is different. We all have our assets we would like to showcase (bow chica wow wow) and our not-so-great parts we prefer not to hight light. I will work with you to create your dream wedding dress that will compliment your shape and personal style. 

But how does this process work? 

View fullsize

The first step is discussing your general wants and needs ( including measurements, see measuring guide ). Options for this include meeting in person( Florida residents), Skype, phone, or email.  Mood boards or pinboards are great conversation starters. After I have all the information I need I will move forward to the sketching phase. I also use this time to gather swatches for our review.   

Once we have agreed on sketches and swatches I will order the fabrics, and first create a sample of your piece in a similar, less expensive fabric so we can see how the piece will look before using our fashion fabric. Then once we get the fit perfect, I will go back to my sewing cave & create the final custom pieces. Time for this process may vary depending on how simple or complicated the piece(s) are. 

Then once I have completed your dress, you can come to pick it up at my studio to ensure you have the perfect fit, (additional fittings may apply) or I will send it to you. (plan to receive your dress 8-10 wks before your wear date if received by mail for possible alterations)

The last step is for you is to get married and party! Oh, and brag to all your friends about it! Well, humbly of course as you hand them my card. 

I look forward to doing business with you. 

Cheers!