Custom Princess Gowns from Cinderella Bespoke (with Video)

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed)
Nov 23rd 2010 at 10:31AM

In search of the perfect Christmas gift for an aspiring young princess you might know personally?

Look no further than Cinderella Bespoke, a Wisconsin-based company launched by renowned children's book illustrator and designer Alison Relyea. Relyea's line of princess gowns are so authentic, they are bound to fool a real prince.

Beginning on Friday, November 26th, the Cinderella Bespoke line will offer custom-made princess gowns designed according to each customer's specifications. Made in the USA, each princess gown is museum-quality, custom-created and hand-made by Relyea and her team of Wisconsin seamstresses, using only the best fabrics, textures and accessories---all of which are green.

Gallery: Cinderella Bespoke

Cinderella Bespoke custom princess gowns

"If you dream it, we can create it," says Relyea, who illustrated "A Place in My Heart", "Green Apple Farm" and "Meet the Artist", among several other titles.

Here's how it works:

After you place your order and pay via PayPal, you will have a personal consultation with a representative of Cinderella Bespoke.
During your consultation with Cinderella Bespoke via phone, you discuss colors, styles, fabrics and sizes. You can also exchange photos and ideas.
One week later, you will receive sketches and designs of the princess gown concept. Cinderella Bespoke will also suggest a few fabric and style options, which will be emailed to you for feedback and approval.
After the concept is approved, the magic begins. Cinderella Bespoke's seamstresses will begin creating your gown.
As your princess gown is being created, Cinderella Bespoke will email photos of the process to you.
The final princess gown is created and shipped overnight. The illustrations of the gown, concepts and fabric swatches are included.

The price for a dress is $1,600. There is also an option for a Princess Gown with hooded wrap which costs $1,900. All Cinderella Bespoke orders include a free, uniquely customized and matching tiara.

The process to create your daughter's princess gown will take three to four weeks, so if you want to order one for Christmas, it would be best to do so before the end of November. Overseas shipping costs may apply.

Filed under: Apparel

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Snowlady Nov 27th 2010 5:13PM

The dress and cloak are beautiful.

However, I thought the USA was in one of the worst recessions since the Great Depression. If there is a business to be made at this time -- at the price of $1900 for a princesss outfit for a "child", then the recession must be over!

Best of luck to Cinderella Bespoken as I'm I true believer in the free enterprise system!

trepalium858 Nov 27th 2010 5:43PM

what a rip off that dress doesnt even fit that little girl shes swimming in that dress

magyymae1 Nov 27th 2010 11:55PM

I am sure they had it made "roomy" so that she can wear it for a long time! When you drop nearly $2000 for a dress and cloak you would want it to last more than one season.

Neko Nov 27th 2010 5:45PM

I think the dresses are far too expensive. I agree with Snowlady, if you can afford $1,600 - 1,900 for a child's princess dress, especially not a Disney one, then the recession must be over.

Riognach Nov 27th 2010 8:11PM

During the Great Depression, nail polish sold for 15 cents a bottle. Charles Revson mixed up his own in his garage and sold it for 60 cents a bottle. In a time of desperate financial difficulties, he launched a multimillion dollar cosmetics empire. Maybe that's what this woman is trying to do. There will always be some people who are financially privileged who will be abel to buy very expensive nail polish or children's costumes. If she can make it in this economy, and the clientele who buy her goods feel they are getting their money's worth, I say God bless 'em all!

Aubrey Hart Nov 27th 2010 7:32PM

I think I saw a pattern for that same dress at JoAnn Fabrics. I could make that same dress myself for 30 bucks! What a ripoff.

Mary Anderson Nov 28th 2010 12:44PM

Go to Hancock Fabric when they have their patterns for 99 cents.

Mary Borawski Nov 27th 2010 8:53PM

The dress pictured is NOT worth the price.Doesn't fit the child.

magyymae1 Nov 27th 2010 11:57PM

Wouldn't you buy large if you were paying that much for a dress and cloak?

shelly Nov 27th 2010 9:17PM

That dress is very ill-fitting and looks cheap. I guess there really IS a sucker born every minute. I made Halloween costumes for my daughters that make the dress in that photo look like a dish rag.

donwan50 Nov 27th 2010 9:30PM

I think it just ridiculus for anyone to pay that much for a dress for a child that will probably only wear it once. What are u thinking? Put that money toward a collage education.

albino_monkey Nov 27th 2010 9:43PM

Considering that you can make a nicer version of this dress for under $100, RIP OFF!!!

Blair Nov 27th 2010 10:18PM

I've seen that dress somewhere too - now I remember - Gone with the wind. Mrs. O'Hara's portierres (curtains).

charlotte7224 Nov 27th 2010 10:28PM

I made a "Princess Dress" full floor length hooded cape, & a full pintucked linen underdress for my daughter one Halloween, the cost for everything, including over 500 sequins (hand sewn) was about $80.00, time-wise probably about 6wks, including the hand-sewing! And yes, it was a fully authentic design, & looked a helluva lot better than that one...sorry, but your way off the mark, in pattern, design & price. I sold mine in a garage sale for about $60, a year ago, it'd been hanging in a closet for 5 yrs, so it was time for another little princess to enjoy it, without breaking her mom's budget!

Gerri Nov 28th 2010 12:08AM

Think of how many gifts you can buy for children of families that are poor. Is that dress worth it?

magyymae1 Nov 27th 2010 11:59PM

Children in the world are starving to death and you are going to drop nearly $2000 on a dress and cloak? You can buy great princess dressed at Disney and even at Party City.

angela Nov 28th 2010 12:02AM

Oh yeah, I got 1900 to throw away on a dress that my daughter will outgrow in a year. Forget about food on the table, heating the house, water to use, gas for the car. My daughter will look beautiful. Horse's ass.

P Nov 28th 2010 2:38AM

I agree that the dress is pretty, but not $1600-$1900 pretty. If someone wants to dress their little princess they could do a lot better with a local seamstress and buying their own fabric on sale or with coupons at JoAnn's. The lucky little girl could even be a part of picking the fabrics and design and going for fittings. The whole thing could be an wonderful bonding experience with the little girl and her generous benefactor.
Of course, she could also have someone in her family who sews and make it even more of a personal experience.
Then have the little princess do something very royal and help decide where a nice donation should go to help her world.
Make the experience bigger, not the expense.

kathieM Nov 28th 2010 3:20AM

The people that are going to spend that kind of money on a dress will want something that actually FITS their daughter. They aren't worried about it being big enough to fit her for a couple years.

Bonzo the Barbarian Nov 28th 2010 10:01AM

WOw, a bunch of whinning people! Yeah, i cant afford this either. But someone can, they can go for it
You are all whiners, need a glass go with it?
My mother e-mailed this to me. I am going to ask her.
Does that mean your going to buy your 4 great granddaughters a dress.
Haha, She can't afford them No way!
But like a kid, i love to look at what someone would.
I loved looking in the sears catalog as a kid, knowing that my parents couldnt afford almost any of it. But I still looked.
May your hearts be a little more tender to the charity, bell ringer.
Peace