Every bride has her own vision of what makes a perfect gown and only a good designer can make that dream a reality. Acclaimed designer Tan Yoong gives us his expert advice.
1. What should a bride do before deciding on a designer gown?
It is very important for her to come with a clear vision of her own preferences in terms of the overall ambience, look of the wedding itself, and level of formality. She needs to be confident and be not afraid speak her mind. Tell your designer if you are not comfortable with his ideas. Ultimately, you are one who will be walking down the aisle in that gown.
2. Take us through the fitting process.
Order your gown six to nine months prior to the wedding or pre-wedding shoot. Certain materials, such as French lace used in a traditional styled gown, take time to order and shipped. I recommend three fittings. The first, to test one’s fit in a mock-up of the final gown using lining. Next, the fitting of the actual gown with partial embellishments. For example, a dreamy styled gown would only have a fraction of organza used here. In between the second and third sessions, more time is needed for intricate handiwork, such as the pleating of duchess satin for luxurious creations.
3. And your thoughts on who should be coming along these fittings?
Generally, brides who walk into my studio for the first time aren’t sure of what they’re looking for, so it’s understandable that they bring along other people for a second opinion. I would say that the bride should bring her fiancé along for affirmation. But be careful when bringing family and friends. If you must, only invite along one or two – too many people and opinions can dilute the your vision and lead you to second-guess yourself.
4. What is the difference between a designer gown, and a ready-to-wear gown bought online?
While there are designer gowns available from international sites, they will not fit perfectly. What you see photographed online may not translate well on a real person’s body or appear exactly the way you think it is. Moreover, you might spend even more money altering the dress to fit your body shape than you would having it tailored from scratch. Having a trustworthy designer that you can have face-to-face consultations with allows you to be sure you get the exact gown you want. Never stinge on a perfect fit for the sake of convenience.
Click through the photo gallery below for more of Tan Yoong's ethereal designs:
Tan Yoong is located at 304 Orchard Road, Lucky Plaza, #02-50. Tel: 67343783 / 62352113
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