https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/getting-a-dress-copied Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Thu, 23 Apr 2026 14:58:30 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/getting-a-dress-copied#post-1940910 Tue, 24 Jul 2018 19:42:58 +0000 elpgal 1940910@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I had an interesting chat with the tailor at Nordstrom and she pretty much echoed what you all said. Basically don't waste your time unless you can go to China for a log visit </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/getting-a-dress-copied#post-1940802 Tue, 24 Jul 2018 15:43:39 +0000 Cardiff girl 1940802@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yep ,you sew for pleasure not profit! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/getting-a-dress-copied#post-1940749 Tue, 24 Jul 2018 12:22:33 +0000 Meghan R 1940749@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is a very interesting thread— I’m just starting to think about learning to sew (more for creative engagement and custom fit than cost-saving or replication) and this jibes with what I’ve heard re: cost of time and labor. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/getting-a-dress-copied#post-1940646 Tue, 24 Jul 2018 02:55:35 +0000 bj1111 1940646@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The lesson of the exercise seems to be make friends with sewists. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/getting-a-dress-copied#post-1940641 Tue, 24 Jul 2018 02:40:36 +0000 Runs With Scissors 1940641@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I agree with the caveats the others have given above -- but looking at the picture, I think this dress would not be as hard to copy as some things, as its overall shape is simple.&nbsp; &nbsp; If I were doing it for myself, I would start with a similar pattern if I could find one&nbsp; (possibly a vintage one from the 60s?), and I'd expect to try more than once to get exactly what I wanted.&nbsp; &nbsp; Maybe not worth all that for one copy, but if you wanted to make this dress your uniform ...?</p> <p>Years ago I copied a beloved Old Navy skirt for a friend.&nbsp; It became her favorite skirt, and I've gone on to make many more for her, with refinements to the pattern over the years.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/getting-a-dress-copied#post-1940623 Tue, 24 Jul 2018 01:41:53 +0000 JAileen 1940623@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I would go to a fabric store and look at pattern books. You might find your dress, or something similar. Then if you decide to go to a tailor, the pattern would save a lot of time and money. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/getting-a-dress-copied#post-1940588 Mon, 23 Jul 2018 23:18:50 +0000 K. Period. 1940588@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ditto what barbaraq said. I had a favorite dress copied by a seamstress and it did cost around $300 for the first copy and would have been only slightly less for a second.&nbsp; The whole thing was a bust.&nbsp; As the seamstress warned me, the fabric weight and type is incredibly important.&nbsp; I didn't wind up having a second made because the original was a very lightweight poplin that I couldn't replicate and the copy didn't have the same drape, which meant it wasn't nearly as comfortable or flattering. I wound up abandoning the project&nbsp;and giving the copy away. Expensive lesson learned.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/getting-a-dress-copied#post-1940566 Mon, 23 Jul 2018 20:57:44 +0000 Lynn 1940566@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I concur with Barbaraq but if you still want to pursue this you could google to see if there is a local American Sewing Guild in your community. They usually have a sewing referral network.&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/getting-a-dress-copied#post-1940296 Mon, 23 Jul 2018 02:23:08 +0000 barbaraq 1940296@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Not a professional tailor, but a long-time sewist. &nbsp;I see here the dilemma of fast fashion vs. what an American seamstress would charge to copy this dress. &nbsp;The design, drafting, manufacture &nbsp;and selling of this dress x 5,000 garments is miniscule in a third world country setting.</p> <p>But for me, for instance, to draft a pattern from the original, &nbsp;then buy the fabric at American retail prices, fit it to the client, then sew garment up would amount to about $300. &nbsp;Probably way more than the original dress cost at Target.</p> <p>I would expect to be paid $30 per hour for my time and skills, double minimum wage here in Seattle. &nbsp;(Why sewing my own clothes is a pleasure for me but makes absolutely no sense financially.)</p> <p>Yesterday I bought a lovely knit shell at BR on sale for $28. &nbsp;It fit, was beautifully sewn and from quality fabric. &nbsp;I could not have sewn it from scratch for that price at all.</p> <p>This is turning into a mini rant, for which a apologize, but you see what I am getting at .</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/getting-a-dress-copied#post-1940148 Sun, 22 Jul 2018 14:05:14 +0000 kkards 1940148@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>do you have a tailor you use for alterations? i'd start there..... try yelp, but as always weed thru the reviews carefully.... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/getting-a-dress-copied#post-1940058 Sun, 22 Jul 2018 02:40:24 +0000 Anonymous 1940058@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Not sure where you live, but you can start with a local fabric store that may know local seamstresses. Some cleaners use basic tailors who may help or might direct you. Bridal salons often have in house tailors but they may also have a list of outside seamstresses they use when super busy. Yellow pages with a better business follow up can give you a list to start but then interview them to see if they are someone you can work with.<br /> Good luck </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/getting-a-dress-copied#post-1940028 Sat, 21 Jul 2018 23:08:37 +0000 elpgal 1940028@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sterling's post reminded me to ask. This is a generic Target dress from years ago that a lot of Fabbers owned. I haven't found anything like it. </p> <p>Where would I look for a seamstress who can copy it? </p>