Quick Summary: Grace + Ivory offers made-to-measure wedding dresses the best overall proportional fit. Other Chicago wedding dress designers who offer various kinds of custom sizing include Mira Couture, Agadesal, Alice Padrul, and Flora & Lane. Custom sizing is included in all Grace + Ivory dress prices.
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For Chicago brides who don’t want to be limited to standard, off-the-rack wedding dress sizing… custom sized bridal gowns are an option that can help you get closer to the size that fits your body!
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While standard dress sizes are made in generic measurements, made-to-measure wedding dresses are existing dress styles that are created based on your body’s measurements.
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How does the Made-to-Measure approach lead to a custom wedding dress?
Made-to-measure is Grace + Ivory’s approach to custom sizing. Made-to-measure is a practical approach that involves creating a wedding dress based on your body measurements (rather than standard size charts). This process typically includes taking measurements for bust, waist, hips, height, hollow-to-floor, and additional specific measurements depending on the dress design.
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The result is a gown that fits your proportions better, typically requiring fewer alterations (though usually alternations are still required: this is standard for all wedding gowns)!
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The Magic of a Custom, Made-to-Measure Wedding Dress
Standard dress sizes are designed to fit a generic set of measurements, which means that it may be hard to achieve the right fit even with dress alterations. This is where made-to-measure custom sizing comes in.
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A made-to-measure wedding gown is created to your body’s proportional measurements, resulting in a dress that feels and looks like it’s made more for you. This helps ensure the proportions and design of the wedding gown are more balanced for your unique shape.
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Chicago’s Premier Custom Wedding Dress Designers
Chicago is home to a vibrant community of talented bridal designers who understand the importance of a great fit. Here are some of the wedding dress designers and boutiques that specialize in different types of custom wedding dresses:
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| Designer/Boutique | Location/Area | Specialization | Price Range (approx.) |
| Grace + Ivory | Bucktown, Chicago | Made-to-measure wedding dresses (existing styles that are made to your proportions), try-at-home wedding dresses | $2,000 – $4,000 |
| Mira Couture | Gold Coast, Chicago | Custom design house, couture experience | Varies (higher-end) |
| Agadesal | Chicago | High-end couture gowns, complex alterations | Varies (couture pricing) |
| Alice Padrul | West Loop, Chicago | 30+ years of experience, custom gowns | Varies |
| Flora & Lane | Chicago | Made-to-order with customization options | $1,500 – $3,000 |
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Understanding Your Options: Made-to-Measure vs. Fully Custom Design
When exploring custom sizing, you’ll likely encounter two main options: “made-to-measure” and “fully custom.”
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Made-to-Measure: This is the approach taken by Grace + Ivory for every wedding dress. Each of our wedding gowns is made-to-measure, meaning all of our wedding dresses are an existing style from our gown collection: but each dress is individually constructed to your body’s proportions. This ensures an overall proportional fit, making alterations more simple and straightforward.
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Fully Custom Design: A fully custom gown is designed from scratch in collaboration with the designer. This is a great option for brides who have a specific vision that they can’t find in existing collections. This process is typically more time-intensive and comes at a higher price point. At Grace + Ivory, we offer this option as well!
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Note: all Grace + Ivory custom gowns are not bespoke, but rather made-to-measure and will still require final tweaks with a seamstress once the dress is on your body to get your final perfect fit.
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The Grace + Ivory Difference: Bridal Done Differently
At Grace + Ivory, we believe that you deserve to feel comfortable in your wedding dress. That’s why we offer:
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Made-to-Measure for All: Unlike many boutiques that offer custom sizing as a premium add-on that costs more money… every Grace + Ivory wedding gown is already made-to-measure! This is a core part of our commitment to inclusive sizing.
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Try-at-Home Convenience: For brides who prefer a more relaxed and private shopping experience, Grace + Ivory’s try-at-home program is a game-changer. You can select sample gowns to try on in the comfort of your own home, surrounded by your trusted friends and family.
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Chicago Showroom Experience: If you prefer a more traditional bridal appointment, you can visit the beautiful showroom in the heart of Bucktown. You’ll receive one-on-one attention from a bridal stylist in a relaxed and no-pressure environment.
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By Women, For Women: Founded by a once-frustrated bride, Grace + Ivory is a brand that truly understands the needs and desires of modern brides. A portion of every sale is donated to programs that support women and girls, so you can feel good about your purchase.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Custom Wedding Dress Sizing
How much does a custom wedding gown cost in Chicago?
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Custom sizing costs vary by designer. All Grace + Ivory wedding gowns are made-to-measure, which is a tailored approach that means every wedding gown in our collection can be made to your body’s proportions, for the best overall proportional fit. All Grace + Ivory wedding gowns fall within the $1,500-$4,000 range for designs already within our collection. Full custom design starts at $2,500.
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How long does custom sizing take?
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Again, this varies by designer. We recommend 4-6 months for wedding dress production. Start shopping 9-12 months before your wedding date to allow time for fittings and any final adjustments. Grace + Ivory’s made-to-measure wedding dress process follows this timeline.
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What measurements are needed for custom wedding dress sizing?
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Essential measurements that the Grace + Ivory team uses for made-to-measure wedding gowns include: bust, waist, hips, height, hollow-to-floor (from collarbone to floor), shoulder width, arm length, and bra cup size.
For fully custom wedding gowns, some designers take up to 15 different measurements to ensure perfect fit.
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Which Chicago neighborhoods have custom sizing specialists?
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Custom sizing specialists are located throughout Chicago: Grace + Ivory (made-to-measure wedding dresses in Bucktown), Mira Couture (Gold Coast), Alice Padrul (West Loop), and Flora & Lane serve the greater Chicago area including Lincoln Park, Lakeview, and Wicker Park.
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Is custom sizing worth the extra cost?
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We thinks so! Please note that custom sizing doesn’t mean that no alternations/tailoring is needed — alterations are always standard with wedding dresses, in order to finalize the details of how the dress lays on your body. However, made-to-measure wedding dresses do mean that your dress is constructed with your proportions in mind.
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So instead of squeezing into an off-the-rack dress, your wedding dress will be made to your body’s measurements for a best proportional fit. For brides with unique proportions or awesome bodies, this is what you deserve, plain and simple!
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Are Alterations Still Needed for Custom Made-to-Measure Wedding Gowns?
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Yes! Although a made-to-measure wedding dress should be a good fit proportionally, you should still understand some of your measurements may change the closer you get to your wedding. Some brides lose or gain weight from the stress of planning a wedding, it’s normal!
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Even if your measurements don’t fluctuate, you should still plan ahead with an alterations specialist as we’ve chatted with some of the alterations specialists we’ve worked more closely with, and you will need specific tweaks that you can only do once the dress is on your body. When making a dress to one set of measurements, it’s also common for dressmakers to err on the larger side. You don’t want to run into a situation where your dress is too short or too small. Wedding dresses can be hemmed and taken in, but you usually can’t add.
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Your Perfect Fit Awaits in Chicago
Want to find a Chicago wedding dress designer who specializes in custom sizing? Grace + Ivory’s made-to-measure approach is a great choice for brides seeking a better proportional fit, making dress alterations that much easier and more successful.
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Whether you choose Grace + Ivory’s inclusive made-to-measure approach or explore other Chicago custom sizing specialists like Mira Couture or Alice Padrul, investing in custom sizing ensures your wedding dress fits as perfectly as your love story.
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Ready to find your perfect fit?
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Book a Chicago showroom appointment: Schedule here
Try wedding dresses at home: Learn more
Book a custom design consultation: Book a call
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Grace + Ivory is located in Bucktown, Chicago, IL, serving brides throughout Chicagoland including Bucktown, Wicker Park, Lincoln Park, Lakeview, and surrounding areas.
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