Designing:
Our web site is intended to serve as our comprehensive catalog. The ideas that we offer are based on styles that have been successful in the past. They are intended to offer suggestions to groups who do not have any specific styles of their own in mind. As you peruse our web site, please note different necklines, sleeves, etc. and then convey your favorite features to our designers. We will then come up with a design that encompasses the style elements that your group selected.
Prior to placing your order with Designing Women, have your costume committee use the brainstorming questions below to get their thoughts in order. If you are unable to answer all questions, we will be more than happy to assist you.
- Do you have a specific theme in mind?
- What type of fabric would you like to use?
- What style costume would you like your garment based on?
- What colors should the costume be?
- What is your budget?
Sizing:
Once your costume committee has worked with the design team at Designing Women and all the styling details have been determined, it is time to order the fabric.
A deposit of 50% of the projected cost of your order is required (based on the cost for average sizes). Upon receipt of your deposit, the necessary fabrics and notions will be ordered. When the fabric arrives, Designing Women will make sizing garments in a range of sizes (S - 3XL) depending on the size of your group.
The size ranges are sent to your chorus along with your "how to" guidelines on proper measuring of your chorus members. You will fill out a "cutting ticket" as each member trys on the garments. The cutting tickets will indicate any alterations that are necessary to the pattern to make the garment properly fit that particular person.
Upon receipt of your cutting tickets, Designing Women will determine the balance due and provide an invoice for final payment which is due before we begin custom cutting your order. Your final payment is required after the sizing is complete and before Designing Women will begin to custom cut your order.
We offer your group the opportunity to purchase the sizing garments at a 50% discount. These garments are particularly useful when new members are accepted into the chorus and additional costumes need to be ordered or when emergencies arise (i.e. someone lost, forgot, burned or outgrew a piece and the show is a day away). In order to take advantage of this offer, the entire size rack must be purchased.
Planning for the future:
Choruses periodically add new members necessitating additional new matching costumes. As a result it is wise to project future needs and order additional fabric to insure availability and dye lot consistency. We can assist you with projections for future fabric needs. Designing Women requires a payment equal to 30% of the cost of each garment to purchase fabric for future costume needs. This payment includes storage of your fabric for up to 3 years. It does not include the cost of shipping and handling for mailing fabric to your group at the end of the 3 year storage period.
Pricing:
Baseline pricing for each(S-XL) garment is shown under the picture of each garment. However, please NOTE: There is an additional charge of $10.00 per garment piece for premium sizes 2&3XL and an additional $15.00 per garment piece for premium sizes 4XL & 5XL. RUSH orders are priced on a case by case basis.
Timeline:
It can take up to 10 weeks just to get the fabrics that are needed, especially if it needs to be dyed and/or embellished. We allow ourselves 8 - 12 weeks to complete the order once the chorus has finished the sizing. The entire process, including designing, sizing, fabric orders, and decision making can take 3 - 6 months. Therefore, it is important that your group expedite their decision making process.
Shipping:
