New Renaissance Custom Gowns?

[E B]

I was surfing theknot.com tonight, and I came across a post about some woman named Nina Leal at New Renaissance. Apparently, she's a pretty decent seamstress who makes copies of designer gowns (Reem Acra, Monique Lhuillier) for much, much less.

Has anyone heard anything about her? I haven't even started to begin the *quest for a dress*, but I'm thinking of putting her down on my mental list of options...I'm liking the "Amelie" (4th dress down, which I assume is a copy of Reem's "Good Luck", a gown I lust over!).

What do you guys think about her work? Anyone else considering having their dress custom made? The prices for the dresses shown aren't cheap, but I'm assuming that's because most are made of silk duchesse and are pretty heavily beaded.


ETA: It'd be helpful if I posted the link, huh?

http://www.newrencollection.com/sitepage.php?page=gowns

 

[Tybee]

You know what''s stupid?
I couldn''t help wondering why she didn''t steam her dresses? They were all wrinkled.
Personally, I''m a freak. I would be worried. I think that I''d rather buy a used designer gown than
a copy of a designer gown. That''s just my opinion.
Her dresses look great---I''m just a chicken.

 

[MissAva]

I think they are really pretty but still expensive...but then I have not started pricing dresses yet.

 

[jcrow]

pesonally i''d be a nervous wreck getting a knock-off dress made. however, i''ve heard many people getting veils made from her. i think i could handle a veil...

 

[gingerBcookie]

hmmmm....i don''t know. i''m not that impressed with the quality of the dresses. the seams are all wrinkled and stretched looking, even thought the dresses aren''t being worn tightly over the mannequin. the hems look sort of off in some of the pics too, crooked, and too "thin" like the material isn''t heavy/luxurious? i mean even''t when i was trying on less expensive dresses, i noticed you can''t tell because they do the hems so that they hang nicely. i''ve only seen that weird hem look with non-professional cuztom dresses. and for 2100 --- woah. that''s my honest opinion unfortunately. i would also be a nervous wreck going with a custom made. i think with 2100 you could buy a gorgoues dress that would be more well made.

 

[Tiffany1976]

Ebree,

I don''t think that they look like like quality at all. Also the price is very expensive. Everything anout them looks off. The structure just doesn''t look like it''s there. Tiffany

 

[Faerievert]

I''m with ginger... I just don''t think the quality matches up with the price. Try checking out some less expensive dresses in the stores, you may be pleasantly surprised to find that dresses under a grand can still be very beautiful... and if you''re willing to go as high as $2000, you shouldn''t have a problem finding something in most salons.

 

[E B]

You know, I was worried about the wrinkles and the weird fit too, but I found several knot bios with brides in her dresses, and they looked beautiful! But you''re right, I know I''d much rather look for a designer sample than have a knockoff made, which is absolutely 100% what I''m going to try to do. It''s less risky and I''ll know what I''m getting before I buy it.

Thanks for the opinions!

 

[icekid]

hmm... I am with Ginger! Those are some expensive knock-offs that don''t seem to even come close to the real thing.