Esin Kirmizidag of Sew Elegant
108 W. 39th St., nr. Sixth Ave., Ste. 903; 212-764-1701
Get inspired.
Pictures and magazine clips will help you (and the seamster) visualize the dress.
Pick the right fabric.
Silk is difficult to work with but optimal for a wedding dress: It looks beautiful no matter what the style. (Organza, chiffon, lace, and satin are solid runners-up.) Kirmizidag’s go-to fabric havens are Mood Designer Fabrics of Project Runway fame (225 W. 37th St., nr. Seventh Ave., third fl.; 212-730-5003) and C&JTextiles (230 W. 38th St., nr. Eighth Ave; 212-354-0040),both in the garment district.
You can’t rush art.
Custom dresses take at least five or six months to make, so plan ahead. A good seamster will schedule multiple fittings to ensure a perfect fit.
Save everything.
When buying fabric, keep your receipts, and write down the color and style number of each selection. You won’t know if you want to make the train longer or the skirt fuller until you actually see the dress.