Ready To Wear
Catalina & Co. offers a collection of wedding gowns that are available to try on and purchase. . The price ranges from $450-$3,000 and includes alterations and post wedding dry cleaning. Bridesmaid and Flower dresses as well as ties/bowties and cummerbunds can be made custom as well to match the bridal colors. Shawls, wraps and boleros also available.

Couture Wedding Gown Design
In addition to our expertise in textile cleaning and preservation, Catalina & Co. is also a design that offers full service bridal gown and evening wear design. Our design capabilities include dresses for the bride, bridesmaids, and flower girls.  

Couture Custom Design
"Creating a Couture Bridal gown is not the finished product, it's the process... for those willing to go through the process, the result is truly a Work of Art."  
- Vera Wang

Couture is also used to describe "made to measure" garments that are sewn of high quality fabrics, for an individual customer. Sewn with extreme attention to detail, using time consuming hand-executed techniques, the look and fit take priority over cost of materials and the time it takes to make the finished piece. Such techniques are performed by a skilled "dressmaker". This term refers to a custom clothier who is specialized in design and construction of dresses, evening gowns, bridal wear.

A bridal gown of such exquisite quality and uniqueness, depending on complexity and details is base-priced at $2500.00 and up. This initial one-hour consultation is billed at $75.00. This consultation fee is credited to the client account upon booking. The time involved to create your gown is 8 to 12 months preferred. Rush orders can be requested for an additional fee.

Once a design is decided upon, Catalina & Co. takes exact measurements and makes all the necessary notes to begin the first draft of the custom pattern. We provides an estimate, the client makes a deposit of 50% of that estimate, materials are ordered and the work begins. The next appointment is a toile fitting where the garment is cut from muslin fabric and custom fit for accuracy before the actual garment is cut.

There may be 3 to 7 fittings depending on the complexity of the design; occasionally a second toile is required. Next are the basted fittings where the garment is cut and fitted in the actual fabric of the gown. The priority at this point is the interior corset and bodice, which is responsible for the unmistakable look of a custom created couture gown. This gives the client the opportunity to have input in many features of the gown, and to begin experiencing what her gown will actually look like.

The following fittings are the actual gown created in stages, giving the bride the opportunity to see her gown come to life. Adjustments are made during each fitting, allowing the bride input on certain details. The balance of payment is due after the 4th or 5th fitting, once the gown nears completion. At the final fitting the bride to be tries on her gown for the final approval. Any last details are addressed.

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The entire process takes 4 to 6 months depending on the complexity of the gown, details and the client's availability for fittings. What makes the process all the more special is that the bride gets to know her gown. She discovers how to move, sit and stand. This results in a very comfortable wedding day.  The gown is delivered complete and to perfection two months prior to the ceremony date.

The Restoration process
Perhaps you are thinking of wearing the gown your mother, or even grandmother, wore on her wedding day. Although restoring and refitting an inherited wedding gown generally takes more time and is more tedious than creating a new one, we will also work with brides wishing to wear a gown from generations past.  Many of the older vintage gowns are cut with pinking shears and the seams are not finished. This makes it fairly easy to let out the seams a bit. Some darts can be removed or made smaller also.  A corset back - Remove the zipper, and make a corset back with ties. Utilize the skirt or train to obtain the fabric necessary for this alteration.