Several months ago I came across a website page advertising vintage style dresses. These are made to measure and customisable. Well of course I was immediately interested in them.

I scrolled along the photo’s looking at the different dresses available and then my eyes hit onto two that I just loved.

Dress No1

I emailed the owner of the Betty Blue page, Karen and asked her about sizing and what I needed to do in order to place an order.

The back of Dress No1

Karen was really helpful and friendly and many messages were exchanged, including colour charts that I could choose from. Now, this was dangerous as there were just too many beautiful choices. It took me a week or two to decide which colours I wanted, but eventually I went with a spring green and cream combination.

Colour Chart 1

The other dress? Well  I didn’t even look at the chart. The photographs of it that Karen had showed a colour that I just loved, so I stayed true to the original.

Colour Chart 2

Karen told me that it took approximately 6 weeks to make the dresses and took a 50% deposit for the first dress. Around a month later she told me it was almost completed and I paid the second deposit.

Colour Chart 3

Imagine how excited I was when she told me it was here and would be posted out as soon as possible.

A couple of days later a big box arrived. It was here!

I eager opened it and just fell in love. It was beautiful, wonderfully made and was so full of pleats and gathers it was absolutely huge.

Rushing to try it on I grabbed Baby Bear to assist in doing me up. This is when disaster struck.

The back just literally didn’t want to meet. It simply didn’t fit. I was in pieces.

Eventually Baby Bear managed to get the zip up, but it was like wearing a straight jacket. There was no movement or give at all.

Just so tight….

Now I know I was the one to take the measurements, but I couldn’t have been that much out, could I?!?

I grabbed my tape measure to see what dimensions it had. I knew from our messages that I had asked for a 57″ bust. However when I measured it, it was only 51″. Well that explained a lot.

Just around 51″

I messaged Karen and told her of the problem. She was absolutely wonderful and couldn’t stop apologizing. She assured me she would sort it out.

I sent the dress back and waited to hear what she could do. A few emails with her dressmaker and it looked like there may have been an admin error in that the 57 had been read as a 51.

Never mind, the dressmaker agreed to make the correct one, so I sat and waited for it’s completion.

Eventually both of the dresses arrived and they were perfect.

The finished article

The navy blue dress is a secret as I am wearing to  Twinwood and won’t be revealing it till then. The green dress I wore to my friends wedding and literally got lots and lots of compliments. It was a dream to wear and I felt like a vintage princess in it.

You can see the difference in the fit

I plan to take this to Twinwood too and think it will be perfect for the odd social foxtrot!

Just such a beautiful dress to wear

I cannot recommend Karen’s service enough. She is so helpful and friendly and nothing it too much trouble. I can’t wait to wear the other dress and premiere it for you all.

Watch this space; Twinwood is only five weeks away!

Till next time

SPSG xx