Serena

How Serena is cut

A ballgown is a fitted bodice above a full skirt, and it is the shape that makes people put their drinks down when you walk in. The bodice does the shaping, so the waist looks smaller and the skirt hides everything below it.

It suits anyone who wants the fairytale moment, and it is particularly kind if you would rather not think about your hips all day. Check your venue doorways and your car, and allow for the weight of the skirt over a long day.

Serena is listed under Sleeves as well, because sleeves change a gown more than any other detail. Depending on the design they run from a sheer lace illusion that reads as barely there, to a structured balloon or a long fitted point over the hand.

The neckline on this one is scalloped edge. 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.

Lace is the detail people come close to look at. Where it sits over an illusion base it reads as though it is resting on the skin, and the pattern can be moved or extended at alteration to sit exactly where you want it.

Trying Serena on in Cleveleys

The Serena sample on our rail is a UK 20. Samples are there to be tried on, not to be your size: we clip and pad at the back so you can see the gown as it will look made to your measurements. If you are a long way from a UK 20 in either direction, tell us when you book and we will make sure there is enough on the rail in your range for the appointment to be worth your time.

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.

Maggie Sottero is the label we sell the most of, and the one brides most often arrive already knowing. Their fit through the bodice is famously good, and their size range is the broadest on our rails. See the rest of the Maggie Sottero gowns we carry.

Ordering and alterations

Serena 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.