Question 1

How does designing a dress with Pia Pearl work?

Accepted Answer

You start from an occasion, a silhouette, or your own sketch, then choose the hem length, sleeve style, back style, fabric and colours. Those selections are turned into a photorealistic preview showing the front and back of the dress. You can then talk to Pia, your stylist, and ask for changes in plain language until the design is right.

Question 2

Can I upload my own sketch or a photo of a dress I like?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can draw directly on our digital canvas or upload an image, and it becomes the starting point for your commission. Sketch-based commissions are quoted at a flat rate and reviewed by a tailor before production, because hand-drawn designs need a construction check that catalog silhouettes do not.

Question 3

Will the finished dress look exactly like the preview?

Accepted Answer

The preview is a concept visualisation, not a photograph of your garment. Real fabric drapes differently from a rendering, and colours shift with weave and light. Our tailors review every design before production and contact you about anything that will not translate. Expect the finished dress to match the silhouette, length, sleeve, back and colour you chose, with natural variation in drape and texture.

Question 4

Do I need to provide custom measurements?

Accepted Answer

No — you can choose a standard Australian size from 6 to 26 and give us your height. Custom measurements produce a noticeably better fit, especially for mermaid, trumpet and sheath silhouettes where the break point and body line matter, so we recommend them if you have a tape measure to hand.

Question 5

How do I measure myself accurately?

Accepted Answer

Use a soft tape kept snug but not tight, over light clothing. Bust is the fullest part of the chest, waist is the narrowest part of the torso, and hips are the fullest part of the seat. Stand relaxed and breathe normally — measuring while holding your stomach in is the most common cause of a dress that does not fit.

Question 6

What happens if the dress does not fit?

Accepted Answer

Because every dress is cut to the measurements you supply, we are not able to accept returns for fit when the measurements were inaccurate. If the garment does not match the measurements we were given, contact us within seven days of delivery and we will correct it. Minor local alterations are sometimes the fastest fix, and we consider a credit towards them case by case.

Question 7

How much does a dress cost?

Accepted Answer

Price depends on the occasion or silhouette you start from and the options you choose — fabric grade, sleeve style, back style and hem length each carry an upgrade price. You receive a full quote before any commitment, and the atelier confirms the final figure with you in writing before production begins.

Question 8

What is the deposit and is it refundable?

Accepted Answer

A ten dollar deposit — A$10 for Australian addresses, US$10 elsewhere — is taken at checkout to open the commission and put your design in front of our tailors. It is refunded in full if we determine your design cannot reasonably be produced. The balance is due only after you approve the final design.

Question 9

When do I pay the rest?

Accepted Answer

After the deposit, our tailors review your design and contact you to confirm construction details and the final quote. The balance is payable at that point, before production starts. Nothing is cut until you have approved both the design and the price.

Question 10

How long does a dress take to arrive?

Accepted Answer

Production takes two to three weeks from the point your design is confirmed, plus shipping time to your address. Bridal and gala commissions sit at the longer end of that range because of the additional structure involved.

Question 11

Do you ship internationally?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we ship worldwide from Australia. Shipping cost and delivery estimates are calculated at checkout from your address. Deposits are charged in Australian dollars for Australian addresses and US dollars everywhere else.

Question 12

What is your refund policy?

Accepted Answer

Because each garment is made to order for one person, we cannot offer refunds for change of mind. We do issue refunds for verified manufacturing defects, and for deposits where a design turns out not to be produceable. Contact us within seven days of delivery with photographs and we will assess it.

Question 13

Who owns the design I create?

Accepted Answer

You own the physical garment outright. The design concepts, previews and creative styling remain the intellectual property of Pia Pearl, which means you can wear and photograph your dress freely but cannot reproduce the design commercially.

Frequently asked questions

Designing

Fit and sizing

Pricing and payment

Delivery

Returns and alterations

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