My story and why I want be the one to alter your wedding dress.

Time certainly does pass by and its so nice to be able to write about my experience and why I would love to be the one to work on your wedding dress to make it fit and look just right for your wedding day!

My mum Ellen Stuart, was the person who taught me many things in life and sewing was one of the most important. I wanted to learn to sew so that I could make a blue and white gingham rug with fringed hems for my horse Robbie. He was a beautifully natured dabbled grey boy. Whilst we never won the blue ribbons at the shows we had many happy years together, he loved his rug and always looked like winner in my eyes.

In the early days I couldn't decide whether to follow the horse dream and study an agriculture degree or maybe something fashion related. I did enjoy the mix of horses and fashion and at that stage my dad was training a couple of horses I was the driver, we carted them around the countryside with minor success.

I was even lucky enough to win a Fashion on the Field competiton at The 1989 Kilmore Cup in an outfit I designed and made, from that point the horse career did take a back seat.

I studied a brilliant course at Kangan TAFE then called Private Order Dressmaking. I would highly recommend such a broad ranging course as we learnt Pattenmaking, Garment Construction, Design, Tailoring, Millinery many of the tools that give you a solid grounding in many different areas. I graduated from my course and not long after started taking on private dressmaking jobs for local ladies.

Press the fast forward button to 2010 and Elle and Stuart opens in Altona retailing ladies clothing and accessories as well as offering a clothing alterations and repair service. We were recognised in our first year of business winning the Best New-Startup Business in Hobsons Bay Business Excellence Awards in 2011 and then we won The Best Retail Business in 2012.

To this day some 10 years later we have a new location (just next door to the old shop).

So why should I be the one to alter your wedding dress?

With over ten years altering wedding dresses I have seen many different dresses which have all needed varying alterations. I will not rush your alterations nor cut corners to achieve an "just ok" result if we need multiple fittings that's more than fine.

I can assure you that my nature is very calming and I don't get flustered very easily. The best example was my own wedding in Bora Bora just over 2 years ago. It was the most perfect location and even in paradise a couple of things went wrong (like finding out ten minutes before the ceremony that the wedding singer wasn't fluent in English and they didn't have a replacement) and thats just part of the day. Oh, and I didn't realise until the next day that I didn't have a bouquet of flowers.

My wedding picture.

I am passionate about what I do and will go out of my way to make your dress fits just right. I am more than happy to meet and chat about your dress what you want to achieve and how that can be achieved. Why not be in touch I would love to chat further if you would like to book a time to come in click here

Maureen