How I Price Up My Made-to-Measure Custom-Made Dresses

I have always made both fabric and latex garments, as a made-to-measure process. I started when I was 12 (1979) and I am now 56 (2023) and I still continue with this way of designing and making.

Pricing up however, has always been a difficult process, not just for me, but other designers out there too. Now, latex is very very expensive, a) because it is a purely natural product and b) it is a liquid to solid, so the only true way of measuring it, is by weight. Latex is by its very nature a very dense product, so it weight is very heavy. So, I had to find another way to price up my garments.

I always want to be honest and transparent about my work practices, so here is my way of pricing up latex garments. It's not everyone's, it's just mine.

Basic Sleeveless Phoenixx Dress: £200

This price includes:

Taking Measurements;

A total of between 5 to 10 sets of measurements, depending on the style and design of the dress.

Full Colour Illustration;

After speaking to you I will be able to create a hand drawn hand coloured illustration of your dress/garments.

Pattern grading:

I charge for this service as part of the above pricing regime, this price has not changed in the last 10 years. (13 years of trading as a Latex Designer)

Basic Sleeveless Wiggle Dress: £200

This price includes:

As above.

Added Design Details:

Sleeves:

Sleeves take a lot larger proportion of the latex than clients realise, so the longer the sleeve the more expensive the garment will be.

Per sleeve:

Short - £20

Short Flared - £25

Butterfly sleeve - short - £15

Butterfly sleeve - Med - £25

Ribbon Sleeve - £30

3/4 length - £35

Long - £40

Long split sleeve - £40

Marie sleeve - £45

Long Lantern sleeve - £50

Long Sleeve + Flounce - £50

Waterfall Sleeve - £55

Poet sleeve - £55

Puffed bottom - £50

Puffed Top - £50

Drawstring ruched - £60

Trumpet sleeve - £60

Leg of Mutton sleeve - £60

Bishop - £55

Bishop + Cuff - £65

Cape Sleeve - £65

Peasant sleeve - £65

Angle Sleeve - £70

Tiered Sleeve - £75

Virago sleeve - £70

Necklines:

Some necklines depending on the pattern drafting will be charged extra, due to the time taken to draft the patterns.

Intricate Necklines - £30

Skirts:

There are various styles of skirts available and more are being developed all the time. Here is a summary of some of them to give you an idea of costings etc ..

Phoenixx Skirt - Overskirt - £85

Phoenixx Skirt - Front mid thigh - £95

Phoenixx Skirt - Knee high - £150

Phoenixx Skirt - Gown Length - £170

A-Line mini - Bum height - £55

A-Line Mini Skirt - Mid thigh - £75

A-Line Mini Skirt - Knee Length - £85

A-Line Skirt over knees - £95

A-Line Skirt to calf - £115

A-Line Skirt - Gown length - £150

A-Symm mini - Bum height - £55

A-Symm Mini Skirt - Mid thigh - £75

A-Symm Mini Skirt - Knee Length - £85

A-Symm Skirt over knees - £95

A-Symm Skirt to calf - £115

A-Symm Skirt - Gown length - £150

Micro mini - Bum height - £55

Mini Skirt - Mid thigh - £75

Mini Skirt - Knee Length - £85

Wiggle Skirt over knees - £95

Wiggle Skirt to calf - £115

Wiggle Skirt - Gown length - £150

Pannelled Micro mini - Bum height - £65

Pannelled Mini Skirt - Mid thigh - £85

Pannelled Mini Skirt - Knee Length - £95

Pannelled Wiggle Skirt over knees - £105

Pannelled Wiggle Skirt to calf - £125

Pannelled Wiggle Skirt - Gown length - £160

Micro Mini Peplum - bum height - £75

Mini Peplum Skirt - Mid thigh - £85

Mini Peplum Skirt - Knee Length - £95

Wiggle Peplum Skirt over knees - £110

Wiggle Peplum Skirt to calf - £125

Wiggle Peplum Skirt - Gown length - £170

Circle Skirt - Bum length - £55

Circle Skirt - Mid Thigh - £75

Circle Skirt - knee length - £95

Circle Skirt - Calf length - £150

Circle Skirt - Gown Length - £200

Tennis Skirt - Bum Height - £65

Fit n Flare Skirt - Mid Thigh - £85

Fit n Flare Skirt - Knee High - £120

Fit n Flare Skirt - Calf High - £150

Fit n Flare Skirt - Gown Length - £175

Hankerchief Skirt - Mid Thigh - £130

Hankerchief Skirt - Knee High - £150

Hankerchief Skirt - Gown Length - £165

Wrapover Skirt - Bum High - £85

Wrapover Skirt - Mid Thigh - £100

Wrapover Skirt - Knee Length - £120

Wrapover Skirt - Calf Length - £150

Wrapover Skirt - Gown Length - £170

Draped Skirt - Bum High - £85

Draped Skirt - Mid Thigh - £100

Draped Skirt - Knee Length - £120

Draped Skirt - Calf Length - £150

Draped Skirt - Gown Length - £170

Tulip Skirt - Bum High - £85

Tulip Skirt - Mid Thigh - £100

Tulip Skirt - Knee Length - £120

Tulip Skirt - Calf Length - £150

Tulip Skirt - Gown Length - £170

Ruched Skirt - Bum High - £85

Ruched Skirt - Mid Thigh - £100

Ruched Skirt - Knee Length - £120

Ruched Skirt - Calf Length - £150

Ruched Skirt - Gown Length - £170

Pannelled Fit n Flare Skirt - Bum High - £85

Pannelled Fit n Flare Skirt - Mid Thigh - £100

Pannelled Fit n Flare Skirt - Knee Length - £120

Pannelled Fit n Flare Skirt - Calf Length - £150

Pannelled Fit n Flare Skirt - Gown Length - £170

Waist Peplum x2 - Mid Thigh - £100

Waist Peplum x2 - Knee Length - £120

Waist Peplum x2 - Calf Length - £150

Waist Peplum x2 - Gown Length - £170

Waist Shoulder added to top of Skirt - £50

High Waisted added to top of Skirt - £30

Applique:

Appliques have been priced up on each dress, once you order you can pick which applique, depending on what you wish and how they are placed etc.

Hem Length:

Knee Length - £30

Calf Length - £50

Floor Length - £70

Trim to hem edges:

Adding contrasting trim to hem edges as a design detail, is another time consuming process. I therefore have to charge for adding it to the edges.

All edges - £50

Sleeves - £20

Hem - £30

Necklines - £20

Bodice - £20

Design Details:

Adding extra design details, will always add to the cost, as above adding trim will add extra cost etc. So, I can do whatever your hearts desire, but it all cost extra.

Private Commissions:

If you require a private commission, I usually ask a few questions as to your requirements and ask for photos for inspiration. I will never 100% copy another dress etc, I may use the colour combination or silhouette, but I will always put my spin on it.

I then draw up a full colour illustration and price it up as per the above guidelines. One of my questions would be, your budget, colours, silhouette, inspirations, areas of your body not to be on show etc. I try to work to your budget and give you as much bang for your bucks, I hate being ripped off myself, so I always try to give you the best value I can, whilst also making a profit as well.

I never overpromise and underdeliver, if I am not sure that a design aspect will work, I simply will not charge for that design detail.

If you have any further questions, please ask away.

Susey ..

xxx