Pamela

How Pamela is cut

Fit and flare holds you through the bodice, waist and hip and then releases at or just below the knee. It is the shape that photographs most dramatically from behind, and the one that asks the most of the fit through the hip, which is exactly what a proper fitting is for.

It rewards a defined waist and a curvier hip. If you want to feel held rather than covered, start here. Bear in mind you take smaller steps in one, so tell us if there are stairs or a beach in the plan.

Pamela is listed under Basque as well, because a basque waist drops to a V below the natural waist before the skirt begins. That V does two things at once: it lengthens the whole body above it, and it gives the eye a vertical line rather than a horizontal one.

The neckline on this one is square. Necklines are the fastest way to tell whether a gown is yours, so it is worth trying two very different ones side by side before you decide.

Satin has a soft lustre and enough weight to fall properly rather than cling. It photographs beautifully in low light, and it wants a smooth foundation underneath because the surface shows everything.

Trying Pamela on in Cleveleys

Our samples run from about a UK 8 to a UK 24, and we clip and pad at the back so you can see a gown as it will look made to your measurements. Ask us which size the Pamela sample is when you book and we will check the rail before you travel.

Appointments are private and the fitting suite is yours for the whole visit, so there is no queue for the mirror and nobody else's party in the room. Bring whoever you actually want an opinion from, and shoes at roughly the heel height you are planning. Find us at 112 Victoria Road West, Cleveleys.

Rebecca Ingram is the label to look at if you want a designer gown without a designer number. Same house as Maggie Sottero, simpler construction, noticeably kinder prices. See the rest of the Rebecca Ingram gowns we carry.

Ordering and alterations

Pamela is made to order once you say yes, and the makers we work with generally take six to eight months. Add roughly two months for alterations on top, which is why most of our brides book their first appointment nine to twelve months before the wedding. If your date is sooner than that, say so early: rush orders exist, and our outlet rail carries sample gowns you can take away.

Almost every gown needs altering, and that is normal rather than a sign anything is wrong. A hem, a bustle for the evening and a nip through the bodice are the usual three. Alterations are arranged separately and priced once we can see what your gown needs, so nobody quotes you for work you may not need.