A bit of background...

Ellen has a passion for capturing the uniqueness of her client’s style, and believes that the bespoke couture experience should be available to everyone.

She provides an honest, open, reasonably-priced service that allows for creativity and a personality-driven design response to “the wedding dress” dilemma. A focus on classic lines, stunning fabrics and unique style choices make her gowns enduring in their femininity and elegance.

Ellen got into the business by designing and making her own wedding gown in 2009. She was overwhelmed with the response to her style and found that many women want an alternative to rigid, traditional bridal couture. She ran her private design and dressmaking business Lissom Yarn in Flemington for several years before going to work for one of Melbourne’s largest bridal couture houses as head of production, and finally as designer. She left the industry in 2015 to study costume and set design and now enjoys the challenges of both these professions.

Her bridal clients have been featured in Polka Dot Bride, Green Wedding Shoes, The Design Files, Ivory Tribe, Hello May and Cosmo Bride

Bespoke couture - how do we do it?

Designing your gown can sound overwhelming but it doesn’t have to be.

Ellen has spent the last eight years in bridal couture and has ushered dozens of brides through the process of choosing, designing and fitting their dream dress. She can guide you through the process while carefully allowing your inspiration to be realised in a gown that suits, and fits you perfectly! 
She suggests you take some time to consider and research in the following ways before you commence the process with any dressmaker or designer:

1.     Be honest about fashion: what suits you, what has made you feel great in the past? A wedding dress is special but it also needs to make you feel confident and authentically "you" on a day which can be demanding and exhausting. Think about cuts and styles that have garnered compliments in the past; colours that you know suit you or that have an emotional impact on you. It’s a great time to make an investment in a stunning gown that speaks of your uniqueness in a world of mass-produced fashion.

2.     Try on some gowns: it’s easy to say you want a “wedding dress” but many women feel alienated by the traditional white, floor-length gown. Try on a couple of styles, see what makes you feel good, and whether white is actually what you want. See what the cuts and structure feel like in real life, and imagine wearing it for at least 10hrs, dancing, standing, eating and hugging about 100 people. Phew! 

3.     Be real about your location: if you are getting hitched in a paddock, why wear stilettos? Is a satin ball gown appropriate? There are so many stunning versions of “bridal” these days that you don’t need to feel constrained by white and formal styles.

4.     Go to a fabric shop – ask about the difference between silk and satin, the different names of lace, look at the fall and flow of different fabrics and see what appeals to your instincts – these are usually a good starting place and the information will help you make better decisions when you get down to the nitty gritty with your dressmaker.

5.     It’s a party – don’t forget! It’s easy to get wrapped up in the ceremony and seriousness of a wedding, but honestly when is there a better time to make a splash? Think about some styles you have always loved but never had a chance to wear – now is the time! 

How do I start?

Thanks for considering Australian made and designed fashion.