FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS .........Uptight Clothing home Page
Hopefully below any questions you may have will be answered, if not, please email Janice via the contacts page with any quires.
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Most common Question.............................Why so expensive??????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Quick answer......
'If you want to quote me for publicity purposes, please do – I am only too happy to sing your praises. You’re not cheap, just very, very good. As my grandmother used to say: “Beauty lasts long after price is forgotten” and I am going to looking at my wedding photos in that dress and smiling for a long, long time.' Tania , real bride.
This answer is a long one, we had hoped that the gowns themselves would speak for them themselves, but sometimes a detailed explanation is needed....so here goes...
General answer....Shop, off the peg gowns....are mass produced, often abroad, where wages and quality of life are very low, there will be thousands of other brides wearing the same dress. They will also need to be altered, often changing the shape/line of the dress.
The dress is not made to fit you, and you alone. With any personal details you may wish to add to the dress.
But my friend can sew/local dress maker /ebay..., can do it much cheaper..?
The saying, 'you get what you pay for' is very true... having a friend or other designer may be cheaper, but Uptight Clothing is a business, ran from a purpose designed premises. The difference between a proper business, and making the occasional dress, (this may also help if you are considered starting your own business, *go to the bottom of this page for more details).
Reliabilty....when having an gown made by Uptight clothing, you will enter into a contract, stating time scales of when your dress will be completed, as Janice works to a planned schedule for each dress, although fitting dates are flexible and may move, it is Janice job to have your dress completed on time, generally two weeks before hand, for your wedding, so the bride does not have to worry. If the dress is being made by a friend, they will probably have a job, and be making it in their spare time, this can prove stressfully to them and the bride, and can cause strain on a relationship, and in some cases can leave a bride with out a dress. When having a dress made by Uptight, you can relax in the fact it will be done on time.
......Bring your friends to the fittings, and enjoy the experience of being the center of attention, and having your own dress made in comfortable, relaxed, and more importantly, sparkly surroundings of the showroom! Not only are the sample gowns to see in person and try on, but jewellery to try with your gown, and have made to measure to compliment your design, but also boots and shoes. Janice can also help with finding a hairdresser, makeup artist, colours for brides maids.....all from one place!
The same can apply having a dress made overseas, with out going into the political and social issues of having things mass produced overseas, there is a chance your dress will not be as you expected or not fit, and in some cases, not arrive in time.....!
Costs of running a couture bridal business;
Things you will expect....the cost of the fabrics, not just the external fabrics you see, but the internal linings, backings, bones, eyelets, threads....
Good suppliers of all the above take years to build up/find, appropriate fabrics, and where possible, rare and unique one to your business.This is a competitive business, so finding a unique style or niche market helps.
Machinary....The cost of running/servicing sewing machines, even if you work on your own, more than one machine is needed, god forbid it breaks in the peak season, then there's over lockers, embroidery machines, industrial irons....
Premises...The renting of a premises to work from, not just the cost of the rent, but electricity, water rates, business rates, heating, phone, internet connection, alarms, cleaning, maintance.....And don't forget, everything from tea bags, cups, toilet rolls need to be costed for. *(Cont' at bottom of page)
And all the rest...
TAX....VAT....
As a business, even a very small business, all uptight products include VAT, an addition of 17.5% to anything Uptight charges, For example, on a £3000.00 dress, nearly £1000.00 of this will be VAT, and tax, all this goes before the cost of the fabrics, business costs and then profit...so much for this government helping small businesses, it seams to want to cripple them! This has to be paid to the government, we hate it, you hate it, but it has to done! Then an accountants costs to work all this out....
Publicity..
Any new dress made, will need to be modeled , photographed, put on to the web site/portfolio/publicized.
All this costs, if it was not done, no one would know about it! Having a stunning collection, but no one knows about it, is useless!
Running a web site costs, having magazine advertising , costs...a lot....but it is all essential.
Sample gowns....collections.....
So brides know what Uptight can do, and to see how it will work on them...there are sample gowns made, in various sizes, styles, they are not just sample gowns, but new designs/collections, to show just what Uptight can do, and inspire the bride for new designs, or making a current design her own, by changing the style to suit her personality and shape.
Janice try's to make 1-3 sample gowns a year, to expand on the collection, and exercise new ideas, this is an essential part of the business, but extremely time consuming and costly.
How many do you make a year...?
Uptight Clothing is a small business, this is deliberate, and Janice wants it to stay this way.
By making all the corsets/gowns herself, with help from Bex, Uptight's trainee, once a week, and occasional help from Wendy, who works with Uptight on menswear. By doing it all herself, this allows a very personal service, you will only ever deal with Janice, from every phone call, email, consultation, fitting, to dressing on the day. You can get to know each other, by getting to know your designer/maker, this knowledge will come out in the final design. At each fitting you can see your dress develop, and have complete say on what is happening, and also the experience and advice of Janice to talk you through any quires and calm you nerves.
Being a small scale business, there are only 12-20 gowns made a year, depending on the style of the dress. So this does not make for a multi million pound industry, but it does make for a high quality, personal service.
Training...
Janice is not just good 'dressmaker',this is a full time occupation, with many years of skilled training in Art, design, fashion and theatrical costume, to learn the skills of design, cut, fit and making to create the perfect corseted wedding gown.
So when you wonder why the gowns are so expensive, and when you could take the picture off the web site, to a local dress maker for half the price, there is a reason for the difference in cost. Uptight prices are not hiked up for massive profits, but the creating of a couture corsted gown, is more than just the cost of the thing you see, the fabric and time spend, but all the other things that go into running a business, to a professional, high standard. Making the part of having a couture corseted gown made especially for you, an exiting and enjoyable experience.
Janice will never be rich from the profits of making couture bridal wear, its just not possisble, but sadly, she does it for love, (and the fact she will never be a rocket sceintist....!) and she hope this shows in the finished product.
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Do you make men's wear?
Not currently, Uptight specializes in corseted gowns, a tailor would be best for men's wear. But we can put you in contact with other makers/tailors whom work is known to be of a very high standard, specifically in period tailoring. If you are wanting a relatively 'normal' suit, it is best to go a local tailor, who should be able to help you, matching waistcoats can be made to involve embroideries to match the bridal party.
Excellent period and modern tailor, costume maker, is based round the corner from Uptight Clothing. Available for men's and ladies suits, period costumes & wedding dresses, more general & historical, ie medieval, 50's etc..than specifically corseted.
We are happy to synchronize our fitting schedules with each other to fit both the bride and groom on the same day, avoiding extra journeys. A portfolio of Wendy's work will soon be on the Uptight web site, until then, please feel free to make an appointment with her on the above number.
Below is the stunning midnight velvet frock coat made by Wendy
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Can I have something completely different or a combination of different designs?
Yes, Uptight specializes in designing gowns for the individual, We are happy to design from your ideas, We can work from a colour, a theme, a loose idea of something involving a particular symbol, animal, flower ...ideas tend to grow from meeting the client, then looking at colours, styles and having a general get to know you chat, but please bear in mind all Uptight gowns are corset based. The designs on the web site are examples of what can be done, also shown are variations on real clients, and how designs are adapted to suit a clients shape, and theme. Combinations of various styles is generally what happens, or something new, its completely up to you!
Original Dragonfly..............................................................Dragonfly variation on real bride.
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Is wearing a corset uncomfortable? They look so tight; will I be able to breathe?
Well made corsets are snug, but not uncomfortable. Uptight Clothing makes
a pattern for YOU, which fits comfortably at the ribs and hips and compresses
only your waist, allowing you to breath.
posing still possible...
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Just how small can I make my waist?
Waist reduction can be from 3 to 8 inches, depending on your natural waist size and build, as well as how far your lower ribs are from your hipbones.
Example, taking a 50" waist to a 42" waist is normal,there is a lot of scope for redistributing the waist, a corset will not make it disappear! It will sculpt it into an more elegant shape....but a tiny natural waist of 22", a 2"-4" is normal, the smaller the waist, the less the reduction, unless there is a particularly wide gap between the ribs and the hip bone.
For tight lacing, the waist needs to be trained, gradually, along with a healthy diet and exercise
The bridal corset made at Uptight are made to each clients individual measurements, and their own tightening preference, a corset does not need to be very tight to re shape the waist and make you look stunning. All Uptight corsets are made to be flattering and have a comfortable amount of tightening, no fainting necessary!
Above, Dawn...real bride.
Below, Bex...wearing the Anenome design.
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Do you use professional models for your photos?
All of the models on this site are REAL women, they are mostly previous customers (see Real Life Brides), with some of our friends helping us out as well. We do not believe in the 'perfect' figure here at Uptight Clothing as we know that everybody is different, and we will also endeavor to make your chosen garment fit YOU personally.
Below, some of Uptights much loved modles.....Bex, Sarah, Shelley, Sheryl,Sami and Emma . Many thanks to you all, loured in with the promise of glamour.... not standing around in the cold wet woods, honestly....
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I'm not a skinny model type; do you have corsets that will fit me?
Because our corsets are made to measure for you personally, we can produce one that will fit and flatter you beautifully. We can and do make corsets for women of all shapes and sizes.
Most of the collection in the Gowns section are held a s samples, in varying sizes, some of the older designs may not be available to try on, but there are corsets in most sizes to try on to give you an idea of what your gown could look like, along with many different fabrics to drape for colour reference, and embroidery samples to play with....and lots of other sparkly things.....
Real brides.... pregnant... second marriage...pettit brides...curvy brides...
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Corsets seems like an expensive item, why should I buy from you instead of buying one `off-the-shelf`?
Uptight Clothing use precise measurements to draft a pattern to fit YOU perfectly. `Off-the-shelf` corsets are made to fit a nonexistent average. They also usually attempt to compress your ribs and hips as much as your waist, which makes for an uncomfortable fit and less attractive waist curve.
Leeanne, real bride....some things just cannot be bought off the peg....
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Can I use my corsets to help me lose weight?
A corset will compress your stomach during wearing, but when you remove it your waist returns to it's normal size! It's very important to continue to eat small regular meals. Proper nutrition is necessary to your health and well being. Suppressing your appetite with a corset is not a good idea! You should always consult your doctor or dietician for a proper weight loss diet.
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Is a corsets & dress combination restrictive?
Yes! You will not be able to move around as much as if you were wearing jeans and t-shirt, but the effect is absolutely stunning and will make you look like `The Belle of the Ball` so it is well worth it!
Below..real bride Jane...still able to make a run for it!
....and ride a horse!
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Do corsets stretch?
No, but with wear and body heat they will 'give' a little and mould to your body shape, becoming more comfortable to wear.
Sitting and laughing, still ok!
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Can I send you my fabric?
Not all fabrics will work well as corsets. We have a wide selection of fabric samples to choose from, however,you can send us a swatch of your own material if you wish, and we will determine if the fabric is suitable.
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What if I need a particular fabric?
Many of the designs on the web site are made from silks, we try as much as possible to used natural fabrics, made in the U. K. Although, as a vegan herself, Janice understands an individuals needs and requirements, if you are wanting a gown made from all non animal source, or all natural fibre, she will do her very best to find the appropriate fabric, and dye it if necessary.
Below, Tina, real vegan bride...all fabrics non animal.
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Do you make bridesmaids dresses?
Not as a rule, this is mainly as it works out very expensive. Generally Uptight is fully booked making corseted wedding gowns, so any brides maids gowns would be made up at the same rate, corseted or not, with the starting rate at £2000.00, this may be too much if you have many brides maids, but it really depends on your individual budget.
If you do want your bridesmaids to wear corsets, it may be an option to have their corset made here , with the skirt made/bought else where, Monsoon make stunning bridesmaids/evening wear in many fantastic colours.
Uptight is happy to supply any fabrics need to make bridesmaids, or menswear, if you have another maker, and can give you some recommended names. This service is only available to Uptight customers, there are many fabric shops all over the country that supply beautiful bridal fabrics.
Below, real bride Rachael, with matching bridesmaid dress, made by wendy, also cravat and hankie.
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Why is it important to keep things made in the UK?
Although things made abroad can be much cheaper, this is generally due to poor unfair wages and working conditions. Many wedding gowns are made in China and India, and shipped over, with a huge mark up, the main winner in this game is the shop owner. Having a couture gown made in the uk, will ensure that not only will you be dealt with personally all the way, with all fittings in person, (here are no extra charges for fittings or alterations with a couture gown) having complete control over every aspect of your gown, it also ensures that the person making it is receiving a fair days pay, for a fair days work.
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Students, general questions...
Uptight is happy to answer most questions you ask, sometimes it may take a while when things are busy.
If you are a corset lover, and interested in going into this area, sometimes, time allowing it may be possible for you to visit and have a chat.
Fabric samples; currently fabric cut offs are given to a local collage, but if you send a stamped, self addressed envelope,(Ideally A4 bubble envelope, with aprox £1.50 postage ) it would be possible to send you fabric cut offs from the time.
Sorry, no brochure available, most things are on the website, which is updated regularly.
Work experience/Jobs;
Work experience is not normally possible, as there is no spare time to give any valuable time to teaching, when things are busy, but as above, am happy to give you any advice.
Jobs, Currently Uptight is not employing, although things may change in the future, sometimes it is possible to pass you details onto a colleague who is looking .
looking for a job in this area; This is generally a case of calling the right place, at the right time, don't give up, enthusiasm, skill and
perseverance go a long way in this business.
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Cont' from top of page...
*Premises...All the kiting out of the premises. Although Uptight works by appointment, there is a separate showroom for clients, this is a comfortable space, with many gowns on show, shoes, boots, jewelry, portfolios, kitchen, toilet, and parking. All with space to show the client through the collection in a peaceful surround, with just the designer/maker Janice, who will sit down go through hundreds of fabric possibilities, try on samples, and do a design while you are there. Appointments can take between 1-4 hours hours. These are free to potential clients, but while these are being done, sewing time is lost, so all need to be calculated in to the running of the business. This space is also used for fittings, between 3-5 fittings, depending on client and design.
*There is a work room, where all the work is carried out by hand. This needs to be big enough to have all the machines, cutting table, and lots of storage, for gowns, current and future, and also stocks of fabric, haberdashery. Also a work station for paperwork, all internet/web site things, computers, printers, books, ......etc....
Insurance...
*To be able to have premises, with the public coming in and out, you will need insurance, not just for all the stock, machinery, sample gowns, but also the clients gowns in production, and ...Public liability insurance, incase they have an accident in your premises. This costs over £1000.00 a year!
Sick pay...holidays.....Pensions...
*As a self employed person, you will get none of the above, if you are sick, you have to work very hard to catch up, when every one is off on bank holidays, you will probably be working. Pensions, this will need to taken out of any profit you make.
*'But, surely, being your own boss, you can do what you like, days off when you want...?' Yes, if you have no work on, take the day off, but why have you go no work on...? If you have no work on, that time is probably spent trying to get some!