Ever wish you could design your own clothing or accessories? Well, wish no more. A slew of fashion houses are unveiling new customizable lines, enabling you to create your own dress, handbag, jeans, shoes or even lingerie. Bespoke fashions, once relegated for the rich and famous, are now extremely accessible, thanks to design-by-numbers computer apps that let you choose your own silhouettes, materials and colors. Here are some of the coolest ways to customize your next look.
Edie Parker’s Bespoke Collection: Edie Parker’s sleek clutches are often spotted on the red carpet, and now you can have one custom made just for you. A simple program lets you design and preview your bag online at Edie-parker.com. Choose the shape, color, font and color of your bag. Then, personalize it with your name, instagram handle, or anything else you want to be seen. And get ready for the paparazzi.
Denim Refinery’s “Mail it to Me” Feature: If you have some old jeans that are collecting dust in your closet, turn them over to Denimrefinery.com to update into something more current and wearable. Just send the company your has-beens in a pre-paid envelope, along with your redesign specs, and at the factory the company will soften, dip-dye, wax or distress those boring old jeans into a fresh new fashion statement. Within three weeks your revamped jeans will arrive at your doorstep and you’re sure to fall in love with them all over again.
TinkerTailor’s Custom Design Site: Tinker Tailor has partnered with dozens of top luxury brands to let you dream up your very own fashions. The offerings change every season, with new designers signing on with special customizable collections. Whether you want to personalize a dress from your favorite label or build a look from scratch, creating simple but high-quality looks is relatively easy using the site’s cool 3D design tool. First, select a design and silhouette you love. Then choose a fabric and any embellishments that are available. And voila! Your own custom couture. Go to Tinkertailor.com to get started.
Bow & Drape’s Custom App: offers much trendier choices than other custom design websites, with many more options for personalization. Product offerings include T-shirts, weekend bags, hair accessories and even doggy sweatshirts, and the program allows you to create your own slogans with dozens of appliqué options. A pair of tailored shorts will run you about $135, while a doggy shirt costs about $38. Some pieces take less than two weeks to produce, others take up to four, and everything is sewn at factories in New York and on the West Coast. Visit Bowanddrape.com for details.
Piol’s High-End Custom Program: lets you create a bespoke, made-in-New York dress in one of five styles and more than 56,000 combinations. What’s special about this program is that it uses legendary costume designer Edith Head’s color theory and style rules to help you with your decisions. First, you’re asked to share your hair, eye and skin color at Pioldress.com. Then you choose your dress silhouette, fabric and design details. The dress takes three to four weeks to make, and Piol offers a full refund if it’s doesn’t come out to your exact liking. Keep in mind that this high-level personalization comes with a price: A cotton shift dress is priced at $545.
Jimmy Choo Made-to-Order: The iconic footwear house now lets you personalize your very own pair of Choos. There are 13 styles and 70 color and material combos to pick from. Materials include suede, leather, and even exotic materials like glitter and satin. Heel styles range from a 2-inch kitten height to a towering 4-and-three-quarter-inch towering stiletto. You can even add custom details, such as gold monograms on your soles. Turnaround time is about 10 weeks; prices start at $750 a pair. While U.S. fashionistas are not yet able to order their personalized Choose online, orders may be submitted to a participating Jimmy Choo store. Visit the designer’s website for details.
Prada Made-to-Order: While the service still hasn’t been rolled out across the country (New Yorkers, you are always the lucky first ones), this much-anticipated custom program may be coming soon to a Prada boutique near you. if you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind heel, check out the Italian fashion powerhouse’s new made-to-order program. Make six choices: select a style (pointy-toe, peep toe or round toe versions), a sole (nudish pink, blue or black), a material (patent, plain, Saffiano leather, satin and suede), a heel height (from 1.8 inches to 4.3 inches), color (choose among 45 hues, from Fuoco red to Soleil yellow). You can even add an optional monogram on the underside of the shoe with up to three gold-plated letters. Four weeks later, your customized pair ships directly from a factory in Tuscany to your doorstop. Prices starting at $745, at select Prada boutiques and Prada.com.
La Perla Made-to-Measure: Italian lingerie maker La Perla has been the sophisticated lady’s chose for boudoir ensembles since God knows when. Now you can get even more personal with La Perla’s new made-to-measure service, available at select stores. So next time you’re in the mood for a new lacy little thing, make it your very own.
