Linda is a true artist. She is a sculptor whose medium is fabric. I worked with Linda for custom bridal alterations. She did custom alterations and created a bustle for my store-bought wedding dress, a multi-layered, silk chiffon sheath with a sweetheart top and straps. Linda also remade a 1970s vintage bridal headpiece and veil that had been my mother's. I found Linda through the San Francisco dance community (more below). I emailed her a photo of my dress and we discussed the scope of the project and her hourly rate & pricing before I made an appointment for a fitting. Dress alterations: My dress had been a store sample, purchased at a wedding dress sample sale in NYC. I initially came to Linda to have the dress hemmed to my height and bustled. The dress was shopworn and the bodice fit a little oddly, things I was going to overlook. Linda picked up on these details right away and fixed all of them: loose threads, loose beads, the odd corset boning and discolored straps (she handwashed the straps). She also sewed in a bra. No detail was too small to ensure that the dress fit well and looked great. Company's dress photo (Not me, not Linda's alterations: https://www.theknot.com/fashion/persephone-lea-ann-belter-bridal-wedding-dress) Headpiece: Linda revamped, fixed and updated my mother's vintage veil. The veil was formerly a very large piece that I didn't feel comfortable wearing. Linda trimmed down the size, replaced the discolored tulle, replaced yellowed beading, added sequins, reinforced the underside with tulle and redid the comb. She also added loops to aid my hair stylist in attaching it with bobby pins. Linda preserved the feel of the headpiece while updating it to suit my style - a perfect balance. See photos for a close-up of her fine-detailed work. As a fashion designer, Linda made overall styling suggestions for shoes, jewelry, undergarments and hair, being mindful of how items would appear in wedding day photos. As an expert seamstress, she advised on how to manage the dress day of: preventing wrinkles, spot cleaning should something spill that day, how to walk in it. It should be noted that I specifically sought out Linda because of her expertise in custom dance wear. My now-husband and I wanted to dance Argentine tango for our first dance and I knew Linda's knowledge of dance and dancewear (she dances herself) would be an invaluable asset. She ensured that I had a beautiful, strong bustle that was short enough for tango (mid-calf). Everything about the experience was custom and I never felt rushed. Linda went above and beyond to ensure that I looked smashing during all parts of my wedding. read more

Linda Ayre - Vintage bridal headpiece, remade & updated by Linda. Tulle replaced, sequins & beads added. - Bridal Near Me - Burlingame, California

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Linda Ayre of dancedress.com is a miracle worker!!! Last year, this little piggy tumbled head over heels in love with THE little black dress. roberto cavalli stretch silk, sleeveless with the 2 most exquisite lace trim embellishments beginning at the hem in front, running up the front of the dress, over the shoulder and continuously down the back to the hem again. Devastatingly, the dress (the smallest size made) was just clearly too large all around. As in, needs to be taken in not just at the hem, but also the sides (too loose) and the straps (if piggy's life had been a movie, trying it on would have been an R-rated moment!). When I took it to my regular tailor, he actually refused to do it. he said because there was not natural seam on the tank straps, and because the width was not uniform in the front and the back, it would require basically remaking the dress, and he didn't want the responsibility on his hands for a designer piece. Never was there a piggy so morose as this little piggy was at that moment . . . that is, until i found Linda online and drove myself over to her studio ASAP! I'm posting a couple of photos of the finished product. Linda was fabulous; she did multiple fittings to make sure everything was just right, include a fitting after she had pinned and basted the dress, but before she went in and actually cut any fabric. I could really tell the difference between Linda's services and my regular tailors; she had lots of clever suggestions about different options for approaching each aspect of the alterations, explaining what the finished look would be for each option as well as whether some were more labor-intensive than others (she does her alteration work on an hourly basis). I still visit my regular tailor in the city for normal things like hemming a skirt for work or taking in department store dresses, but for custom or complex work, Linda's the first person I would call, no question about it! piggy stamp of approval granted! (^(oo)^)v read more

Linda Ayre - Bridal Near Me - Burlingame, California

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Linda is truly the best!! I searched tirelessly for the perfect Communion dress for my daughter and came up short. I was looking for a pretty basic dress but with a lace bodice (so difficult to find). I contacted Linda and she was extremely resourceful and had a ton of suggestions. We ultimately decided to purchase a dress that had the shape I was looking for and then she would make changes/alterations. Linda was such a pleasure to work with and she was great with my 8 year old daughter. We had several fittings to make sure we were all aligned. I truly appreciated the time she took to make sure the dress was perfect for my daughter's special day. Her work is impeccable! She is a perfectionist and has a keen eye for all the little details. Highly recommend Linda!! read more

Linda was a life saver! A couple weeks before my wedding she was able to make several adjustments to my wedding dress. She was easy to work with and clearly had the experience and creativity to help me accomplish the alterations I needed for my special day. I was very pleased and would highly recommend Linda for Wedding Dress Alterations. read more

Linda has made several of my beautiful gowns and I have worn them since 2008. I had bought a bridesmaid gown and it was too plain. I also can sew, but I've only sewed small simple garments. I also tried ordering evening dresses from department stores, but it was very hard to find my size (I am petite) and a style that I liked. Linda can make professional quality gowns (and dresses) to your specifications that you can dance in and be confident in it. She's very meticulous about the dress fitting well and that allows you to move and be active. She can give you advice about style, color and so on. She will try to accommodate your requests and create your dream dress/gown for that special event. read more

Linda is a lifesaver. My first ballroom competition was coming up in 3 weeks, and I still didn't have a dress. I never planned on buying or renting an existing one, I knew from the time I committed to this competition that I wanted my own dress. But when the person who was supposed to make my dress couldn't do it, I scrambled to find someone, and I was lucky enough to find Linda. When I first spoke to her, I felt as if she had already been working with me for a long time. She's very personable and, having danced herself, is experienced in how dance wear should fit and flow. I explained my situation and sent her pictures of the type of styling I wanted, and she immediately began advising me on the best way to go about having my dress created. A week later, after I got off work, I was in her workroom where she suggested a fabric that was perfect to use and draped it over me. Given that the competition was a few weeks away, she suggested we make the dress on me, rather than getting my measurements and having her work off those. As she cut away the fabric, I saw my dress come to life, it was amazing. 3 hours later, it was nearly finished. Because she was cutting the dress on me, it was very easy to not only have it custom fit, but also to trust Linda in making quick decisions on how low the back should be, or how high the skirt should be, etc. 2 weeks later, the dress was completely done and ready for showtime. At the competition I received multiple compliments on my dress, and it eased my nerves knowing that I was wearing something that I felt completely comfortable in and made me look good. Every time I look at the dress now, I just feel grateful that Linda played a huge role in getting me ready for my first competition. She's excellent at her craft and can make your dream dress a reality. Thank you Linda!!! read more

As a professional dancer/performer & teacher of Argentine Tango, I always go to Linda Ayre for any important custom fitting & alterations jobs. She has also made me some glamorous costume dance dresses. Linda is a perfectionist - an artist with an eye for the finer details. She is dedicated to helping her clients look & feel their absolute best. read more