Etsy Review: PorchesPlace Custom Vintage
Hello Fats!
I was recently in a friend of mine's wedding. I was the only bridesmaid (there was a maid of honor, but it was just the two of us standing up with her).
I'm pretty anti-wedding, honestly, but I love and adore my friend, so of course I said yes. She did not get us two the same dress, only asked that we got something that "made [us] feel pretty" in a chocolate brown.
Not wanting to support an industry I have no interest in supporting (no judgment on people who need/want to shop at a bridal shop, I just wouldn't feel good about it), I decided to get a dress made on Etsy, and turned to PorchesPlace, a shop run by a woman who sews from vintage and vintage reproduction patterns.
I had a great experience with this store and will buy from her again (definitely looking closely at some of the adorable suits she has). It took a little over a month from the time I paid until the time I received the dress. We communicated at length about the fabric before she created the custom listing for me. She did charge $25 extra for it being a plus size dress, but my dress was about $190 with shipping, which is a steal considering it was custom made. It was made REALLY WELL too. She knows her sewing stuff.
I ordered a 50s pattern dress with a tight strapless bodice and a full circle skirt with a separate crinoline (which was included). I got it in taffeta so it would be stiff and stick out. The only trouble I had was the boning in the bodice didn't really work with my strapless bra, so I ended up going braless (! for the first time like since I was 12!) and that sort of ended up making the dress lopsided because my boobs are, well, lopsided. So I kept having to hike up the right side of the dress. Hopefully it was correct in the professional pictures :)
Coming down the aisle. I look nervous and am fixated on my feet because I neglected to take the grass into consideration when I chose my footwear and I was sinking into the soft grass and willing myself not to stumble.
This is me and my friend Paul at the reception. You can see the bodice here.
A silly picture of me, my friend Erica (right) and our awesome waitress at the wedding after party. I changed into a Maggie London size 16 dress that I love to death and hopefully will never wear out.
Your model is 5'4", doesn't weigh herself but is probably between 260 and 270 and wears anything from a 16-24 depending.
I was recently in a friend of mine's wedding. I was the only bridesmaid (there was a maid of honor, but it was just the two of us standing up with her).
I'm pretty anti-wedding, honestly, but I love and adore my friend, so of course I said yes. She did not get us two the same dress, only asked that we got something that "made [us] feel pretty" in a chocolate brown.
Not wanting to support an industry I have no interest in supporting (no judgment on people who need/want to shop at a bridal shop, I just wouldn't feel good about it), I decided to get a dress made on Etsy, and turned to PorchesPlace, a shop run by a woman who sews from vintage and vintage reproduction patterns.
I had a great experience with this store and will buy from her again (definitely looking closely at some of the adorable suits she has). It took a little over a month from the time I paid until the time I received the dress. We communicated at length about the fabric before she created the custom listing for me. She did charge $25 extra for it being a plus size dress, but my dress was about $190 with shipping, which is a steal considering it was custom made. It was made REALLY WELL too. She knows her sewing stuff.
I ordered a 50s pattern dress with a tight strapless bodice and a full circle skirt with a separate crinoline (which was included). I got it in taffeta so it would be stiff and stick out. The only trouble I had was the boning in the bodice didn't really work with my strapless bra, so I ended up going braless (! for the first time like since I was 12!) and that sort of ended up making the dress lopsided because my boobs are, well, lopsided. So I kept having to hike up the right side of the dress. Hopefully it was correct in the professional pictures :)
Coming down the aisle. I look nervous and am fixated on my feet because I neglected to take the grass into consideration when I chose my footwear and I was sinking into the soft grass and willing myself not to stumble.
This is me and my friend Paul at the reception. You can see the bodice here.
A silly picture of me, my friend Erica (right) and our awesome waitress at the wedding after party. I changed into a Maggie London size 16 dress that I love to death and hopefully will never wear out.
Your model is 5'4", doesn't weigh herself but is probably between 260 and 270 and wears anything from a 16-24 depending.