DoriAnneVeils - Where Every Bride is the Star!
Domenica Couture
Domenica Couture: Vintage inspired couture bridal gowns designed by Domenica's daughter, Debra LaSpina Golwater.
From very humble beginnings dressmaking was a way of life for Domenica Palma Ferrara. Born in New Jersey in 1925 from Italian immigrant parents, Domenica started sewing when she was 12 years old. She had nothing to wear so she re-made one of her mothers old skirts. She was a natural at sewing.
In high school Domenica took a Home Economics class. The students had to all make the same cotton gingham dress, the fabric cost 12 cents a yard and they needed 2 yards. The teacher was so impressed with her work that she let Domenica make a suit. She did not have enough money for the fabric so she only got to make the jacket.
At age 16 Domenica left school and went to work for Barbizon, sewing lingerie. She was put on an embroidery machine, and was so good that they wanted to promote her to floor lady.
During the war she went to work for Wright's Aeronautical in Woodridge, New Jersey, working on B29 engines. From there she kept working in factory sewing. And eventully went out on her own sewing for other people, that is when she started making couture wedding gowns.
In 1949 Domenica moved to California and went to work for Singer Sewing Machine, where she sold sewing machines and taught sewing. She worked for Singer until after she was married in July of 1950.
Domenica designed and made her own couture wedding gown and veil within a week as well as a couture matron of honor dress for her sister. Two years later she designed and made her sisters couture wedding gown and veil as well as the couture bridesmaids dresses.
Domenica always sewed for other people, her daughters never had store bought dresses. In the 1970's Domenica went to work for several bridal shops doing bridal alterations, and she made her daughter's couture bridal gown and bridal hat and veil in the 1980's.
Domenica Couture was inspired from these beginnings.
These couture gowns are one of a kind.
Audrey
Audrey: Ivory Metallic Lace over Silk Satin, Drop waist, A-line, w/metallic tulle cap sleeve and back sash. $1400
Size 8
Inspired by a black lace dress that was designed by Edith Head, costume designer. Edith Head was a fashion legend in her own time. She is probably the most famous costume designer in Hollywood history
Daniela
Daniela: White U-neck, V-Back, French satin, Alencon lace cumberbund waist band, pleated French satin skirt, ankle length. $750
Size 10
Inspired by the designs of the early 1960's. Girls wore full skirts, sometimes supported by crinolines, with natural waist. Little embroidery and beading was also popular.
Josephine
Josephine: Ivory All Lace fitted bodice w/sweetheart neckline, natural waistline, full skirt. $900
Size 10
Inspired by the couture bridal gown that was designed and made by Domenica for her sister, Jo in 1952.
Palma
Palma: Ivory All Lace coat dress, long sleeves, peplum natural waist, A-Line skirt. Hook and eye closures in front. Over Japanese Charmeuse slip dress. $900
Size 10
Inspired by the couture bridal gown that was designed and made by Domenica for her own wedding in 1950.
1 Lace Jacket
1Lace Jacket: Ivory metallic lace, front closure. $400
size 10
2 Lace Jacket
2 Lace Jacket: Ivory lace, front closure. $250
Size 10
Need a gown in a hurry? Call Debra for a personal consultation | wedding couture gown appointment. Let Dori Anne Veils help you make your bridal vision a reality, and be sure to check out the great veils too!
Definition of Couture: Main Entry: cou·ture
Pronunciation: kü-'tur, -'t[ue]r
Function: noun
Etymology: French, from Old French cousture sewing, from Vulgar Latin *consutura, from Latin consutus, past participle of consuere to sew together, from com- + suere to sew
1: the business of designing, making, and selling fashionable custom-made women's clothing
2: the designers and establishments engaged in couture
3: the clothes created by couture
History of Couture
French leadership in European fashion may perhaps be dated from the 18th century, when the art, architecture, music, and fashions of the French court at Versailles were imitated across Europe. Visitors to Paris brought back clothing that was then copied by local dressmakers. Stylish women also ordered fashion dolls dressed in the latest Parisian fashion to serve as models.
As railroads and steamships made European travel easier, it was increasingly common for wealthy women to travel to Paris to shop for clothing and accessories. French fitters and seamstresses were commonly thought to be the best in Europe, and real Parisian garments were considered better than local imitations.
The couturier Charles Frederick Worth (October 13, 1826?March 10, 1895), is widely considered the father of haute couture as it is known today. Although born in Bourne, Lincolnshire, England, Worth made his mark in the French fashion industry. While he created one-of-a-kind designs to please some of his titled or wealthy customers, he is best known for preparing a portfolio of designs that were shown on live models at the House of Worth. Clients selected one model, specified colors and fabrics, and had a duplicate garment tailor-made in Worth's workshop. Worth combined individual tailoring with a standardization more characteristic of the ready-to-wear clothing industry, which was also developing during this period.
Following in Worth's footsteps were Callot Soeurs, Patou, Poiret, Vionnet, Fortuny, Lanvin, Chanel, Mainbocher, Schiaparelli, Balenciaga, and Dior. Some of these fashion houses still exist today, under the leadership of modern designers.
In the 1960s a group of young designers who had trained under men like Dior and Balenciaga left these established couture houses and opened their own establishments. The most successful of these young men were Yves Saint Laurent, Pierre Cardin, Andr? Courr?ges, and Emanuel Ungaro. Japanese native and Paris-based Hanae Mori, a woman, was also successful in establishing her own line.
Lacroix is perhaps the most successful of the fashion houses to have been started in the last decade. Other new houses are Jean-Paul Gaultier and Thierry Mugler. For all these fashion houses, custom clothing is no longer the main source of income, often costing much more than it earns through direct sales; it only adds the aura of fashion to their ventures in ready-to-wear clothing and related luxury products such as shoes and perfumes, and licensing ventures that earn greater returns for the company. Excessive commercialization and profit-making can be damaging, however. Cardin, for example, licensed with abandon in the 1980s and his name lost most of its fashionable cachet when anyone could buy Cardin luggage at a discount store.
The 1960s also featured a revolt against established fashion standards by mods, rockers, and hippies, as well as an increasing internationalization of the fashion scene. Jet travel had spawned a jet set that partied?and shopped?just as happily in New York as in Paris. Rich women no longer felt that a Paris dress was necessarily better than one sewn elsewhere. While Paris is still pre-eminent in the fashion world, it is no longer the sole arbiter of couture fashion.
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Dori Anne VeilsCastro Valley, California
PHONE: 510-690-0100 or 888-344-6009
FAX: 800-698-9013
E-mail us: info@DoriAnneVeils.com
