Heirloom Gowns & Pandemic Weddings – Part 3

Photography by Madelynne Lorraine

Continuing our blog series with Bride Kristin and Groom Sven, we have the final part, part three! In this blog we will share more about the couple’s love story and how they navigated their wedding plans during the unpredictable moment of the pandemic.

Photography by Madelynne Lorraine

Photography by Madelynne Lorraine

Kristin and Sven had a long engagement and meanwhile were traveling the world together. After three years of being engaged they had some exciting wedding plans in the works for 2020. They decided to get married underwater by the President of Palau (Micronesia) in May 2020 and then to come home to a lively New York City 350-personal black tie wedding party on June 20, 2020, Of course, the pandemic completely wiped these exciting plans away. 

Photography by Madelynne Lorraine

Photography by Madelynne Lorraine

The couple ideally wanted to wait to re-plan the wedding celebrations until the pandemic was a thing of the past. But sentimentally, Bride Kristin, felt it was important to find a way to move forward with some type of celebrations. Wearing her grandmother’s wedding gown and honoring all the women who had worn it before while also inspiring future generations of brides was very important to her. As the pandemic continued to carry on, Kristin began dreaming up a “deconstructed wedding” where special parts of the wedding would all be celebrated individually. And then, their plan B for the wedding began to take form.

Photography by Madelynne Lorraine

In the end, the couple opted to do a small elopement, traditional Tahitian “ring” ceremony, at a small island in southern French Polynesia called RURUTU (Australe Islands north of Antarctica) in October 2020. Then they came home to Maui, and Bride Kristin worked together with Jennifer to finish the restyling of her grandmother’s dress. She then began planning a bridal portrait celebration and a blessing which would take place on their island home of Maui. Kristin wanted to include some special women in her life, junior and senior bridesmaids. They held a lovely procession at the Hui No’eau Visual Arts Center under a rainbow and then were blessed with a rain shower as the officiant did a traditional Hawaiian blessing. They did a pikake lei ceremony which was common in Hawaii in the early half of the 1900s. They also shared their vows on their 81st month anniversary in the fast ice of the Weddell Sea near Snow Hill Island on the continent of Antarctica! 

In the end, the couple had a very beautiful and memorable wedding celebration. We were so happy to get to work together with Bride Kristin and we are very happy that they were able to find a way to make their celebrations special even amongst the chaos of the pandemic. Congratulations Kristin and Sven! We wish you endless love and happiness in your new life together!

 

Photography by Madelynne Lorraine

Photography by Madelynne Lorraine

Wedding Vendors:

Dressmaker/Restyling: Jennifer Oberg Atelier | www.jenniferoberg.com | @jenniferobergatelier

Jewelry: Vintage Yves Saint Laurent limited edition | www.ysl.com | @ysl

Shoes: FENDI | www.fendi.com | @fendi

Photographer: Sean Michael Hower | www.howerphoto.com | @seanmhower

Photographer: Madelynne Lorraine | www.madelynnelorraine.com | @madelynnelorraine

Venue: The Hui No’eau Visual Arts Center | www.huinoeau.com | @huinoeau 

Makeup: Jessica Waite | www.jessicawaite.com | @jessicawaite 

Hair: Catalina Drouillard | www.threesixteenhairhaven.com/catalina-drouillard-hair | @catalinadrouillardhair 

Floral Designers: Jeanne Givens | www.dellables.com | @dellablesfloraldesign 

Officiant of Blessing: Euta Lightsy | www.kahulightsy.com | @maui_officiant_lightsy

Heirloom Gowns & Pandemic Weddings – Part 2

Photography by Sean M Hower

Continuing our blog series with Bride Kristin and Groom Sven, we have part two! In this blog we will share how this gorgeous 1940s heirloom wedding gown became strapless and all of the extra pieces added to complete the look.

Jennifer has always been passionate about heirloom pieces. When working on heirloom dresses she is careful to maintain the integrity of the gown. For this particular gown, there were a few tweaks made to the dress in order for it to be more comfortable for Bride Kristin and to give it the personalization it needed to fit her as if it were a custom wedding gown. 

The back of the new strapless dress.

The Bride decided on going for a strapless dress. Jennifer cleverly tucked the bodice inside, and retained the sleeves, so that the dress could be completely reconstructed if needed in the future. The dress had already been worn by several women in the family, and it was very likely it would continue to be worn by future family brides.  It was exciting for Jennifer to work on this gown, knowing its history over the past 80 years and knowing that it could be worn again 80 years in the future.  

The ties for the 3 tier French bustle. The ties are color coded.

The addition of a built-in corset and petticoat under the dress gave the gown shape and fullness. A silk charmeuse ruffle was added to the bottom to provide the length needed for the bride. These few tweaks completely transformed the gown on the bride while maintaining the elements that made this family heirloom piece uniquely one-of-a-kind. 

The dress and veil ready for steaming.

In addition to restyling the dress, a beautiful peacock feather train was created. Bride Kristin wanted to honor Queen Kapi’olani and the historical monarchy of the Hawaiian Kingdom. The train was inspired by a famous peacock feather gown worn by Queen Kapi’olani, commissioned for Queen Victoria’s Grand Jubilee in 1887. Lastly, a 1940’s antique veil and headpiece completed the look.

Sophia sewing the peacock feather cape.

And below is the final look with Bride Kristin. Stay tuned for even more photos from the wedding day in the next blog!

Photography by Sean M Hower

Photography by Sean M Hower

In our final blog, we will share the exciting twists and turns the couple went through in the planning and changing of their wedding. Stay tuned for the final blog!

Heirloom Gowns & Pandemic Weddings – Part 1

At the Atelier, we have enjoyed meeting the many brides courageously finding ways to make their weddings possible during the pandemic. One very memorable Bride and Groom we met was Kristin and Sven Lindblad. Their love story, their eloquent navigation of their wedding celebrations amongst the constant changes, and of course, the 1942 heirloom wedding dress worn by the bride, left a very large impact on us. This is a story we just had to share with our clients! As this is a longer story, we will share it in three parts.

Kristin and Sven are travelers, environmental conservationists, and passionate about philanthropic causes. Kristin Lindblad is a former PR and communications consultant.  She now focuses on managing philanthropic efforts and serving in an advisory capacity to NGO’s focused on cultural and environmental conservation. Sven Lindblad, is a second generation Swedish explorer and founder of Lindblad Expeditions. Sven’s father, Lars-Eric Lindblad, is known globally as one of the “fathers of eco-tourism”. Together, Kristin and Sven, have traveled all over the world. Naturally, their wedding plans were just as exciting as the life they live.

Kristin came to Jennifer in 2019 with her grandmother’s gorgeous heirloom ivory satin wedding gown from 1942. The dress had since been worn 4 times by other women in the family.  It was in amazing shape for being worn many times, and the satin was clean and intact.  It was a very special gown and Kristin wanted to find a way to wear it for her wedding but with some new additions to personalize the dress. Jennifer collaborated with Kristin to restyle this vintage gown into something truly special and unique. 

The first issue to be solved was that the wedding gown was too small for Kristin, both in the bodice and in the length.  Apparently the women in her family were extremely tiny!  So Jennifer started the process by taking fabric from the long train and adding panels in the sides to make the bodice larger.  

The next decision to be made was whether or not to keep the sleeves.  They were typical 1940s style long sleeves with covered buttons at the wrist.  Kristin and Jennifer went back and forth on this decision for a while, taking time to sleep on it, thinking about it.  In the end, they removed the sleeves, which resulted in a strap over the shoulder.  Then they discussed whether or not to remove the strap and make the dress strapless. 

Kristin was concerned about making too many changes to the dress, and consulted with her family.  They gave their blessing to whatever she wanted to do.  In the end, that was the final decision – to make the dress strapless.  What a change from a traditional 1940s style gown with long sleeves to a modern strapless wedding gown!  

Stay tuned for part two where we share how the gown became strapless and the extra items that were added to complete the look.

Restyling: Necklines and Sleeves

We love to share images of the process of restyling gowns. It can be really helpful for our clients to see the many possibilities available in restyling a gown. Here we wanted to show you the way we transformed the neckline and sleeves on our client’s gown to fit her style. 

The bride we worked with wanted a modest neckline and sleeves added to her dress. We started by taking muslin and filling in the front and back to create a new neckline that was more comfortable for her.

Next, we created a mockup of a sleeve to be added to her dress.

Then, we started working on filling in the front and back with lace that matched the dress.

We kept working on the dress to make it blend in so that the final neckline looked like it had always been part of the dress.

And voilà! We have a gown restyle aligned to the Bride’s style and vision. For any gown restyle inquiries get in touch with Jennifer at love@jenniferoberg.com.

Wedding Gowns + Aesthetics

We have been working together with many brides this last month on custom dresses and alterations. Many brides that had weddings scheduled for 2020 have had them rescheduled to 2021. It has been a busy few months for us! Last month, we altered this elegant white gown for the bride. We added an English Pick-Up Bustle which you can learn more about in our ‘All About Bustles’ Blog series here

This gown is a great example of ‘less is more’. Every detail and design is purposeful and clear. It can be overwhelming making that final decision on a gown. We recommend breaking down your aesthetic preferences into smaller categories to help make the process more simple. So what exactly should you consider? Here are some elements to consider when choosing your gown:

  • Color – there are infinite shades of white, do you want to go more towards an off white or a bright white, or do you want to experiment with some nontraditional colors?
  • Sleeves – what season is your wedding in? Do you want a lace long sleeve or maybe you want to go strapless? What makes you feel beautiful?
  • Neckline – high necklines or sweetheart cut? Or maybe you want something more linear cuts as an aesthetic choice? Is there a neckline that is more flattering on you?
  • Back Styles – there are so many beautiful back cuts to explore, maybe you want something simple, or maybe you want an elaborate cut on the back.
  • Waist + Silhouette – how do you want your gown to hug your body? Do you want a tight fit or do you want more of a ballgown style? 
  • Fabrics – fabrics can be an aesthetic choice and it can also be a comfort choice. Do you want fabric that feels luxurious on your skin? Or maybe you want a fabric that has a shine to it?
  • The extras – what details are must-haves for you? Is it beading, lace, sequins, ribbons, or would you rather not have extra details?


We hope this helps you break down the different elements of the wedding dress during the wedding dress process. Ultimately, when making your choices, think about what makes you feel good or what you think flatters your body more. It truly is all about feeling comfortable and beautiful in your skin. If you want to take the adventurous step into a custom wedding gown, Jennifer of JOA, will guide you through every step of the way. She will make sure every detail is aligned with your vision and will help make the process an exciting and memorable one! Get in touch for wedding gowns and alterations at love@jenniferoberg.com.

Gown Restyles

The perfect gown isn’t always out there. Sometimes you just have to create it! Gown restyles are a great way to add the missing details to a beautiful dress. When you work with the right person, a few changes can completely transform a dress.  It takes more than a basic seamstress to do this work.  A skilled dressmaker like Jennifer, who has not only sewing knowledge but also pattern making and dressmaking skills is able to restyle a dress into something new. You can even get that custom dress feeling when you restyle a dress!

We recently worked with a Maid of Honor to restyle her gown. She came to us with a gorgeous rose gold sequin dress with a fun side slit. The dress had a very low, revealing back and skinny straps. Our client wanted a bit more coverage than the dress offered. We believe in helping our clients feel their best. We wanted to make sure our client felt comfortable in what she was wearing so that she could confidently shine in her dress!

For this gown, our restyles involved providing more coverage while adding some eloquent details to compliment the style of the gown. We started by taking extra fabric from the hem and adding it to the back of the dress to provide more coverage. We then added chiffon arm drapes to the gown. This gave an elegant off the shoulder cut and added extra texture to the straight cut of the dress. It simultaneously added extra coverage. Matching the arm drapes to the rose gold color of the dress was a momentary challenge. It was hard to find the extra shade of rose gold chiffon. The inherent sheerness of chiffon allowed us to use a taupe chiffon and a rose chiffon and layer them in three layers – taupe, rose, taupe – to create a color that matched the dress. A hem, extra fabric to the back, and added arm drapes were the little details that transformed this gown! 

If you are stuck trying to find the right dress, don’t forget you can always restyle. It is such a great way to create the perfect dress, especially if you find a dress that is ALMOST the one, but it is simply missing those final details that matter to you. And this also goes along with dresses that just don’t fit your body quite right. We will make any dress, whether too big or too small, appear as if every curve and seam was made just for you and your body. The perfect gown is just a needle and thread away!

Discovering Your Style

Have you ever wondered what type of style you have? Or maybe you just feel like you don’t have a style? For some, personal style comes easy and naturally. There is an intuitive trust to follow what speaks to one’s creative heart. But to others, clothing is more practical and perhaps clothes are more about functionality not necessarily creative expression.

Discovering your unique style is another outlet to let your personality shine through every inch of your being. Once you begin experimenting with what aesthetics make your heart sing, you will find the pure joy and playfulness in creating an outfit each day. As we get older, we forget to play, we can take life too seriously and forget the fun that can exist in the most mundane tasks. Getting dressed in the morning can be a task of creating, painting, coloring your outfit for the day. Finding what speaks to you; what combination of fabrics, shapes, patterns do you want to merge, what vibe do you want to portray, who are you today?

If you don’t know where to start or you want to explore your style further, then you are in the right place. Here are some of our top tips for discovering your unique style and continuing to explore it:

    • Re-discover your own wardrobe – when we are in a rush in the mornings we often just grab a ‘go-to’ outfit or something simple. Set aside an afternoon to just revisit your clothes and PLAY! Put garments you have never put together before, combine colors and patterns, layer your clothes, or just randomly put together a few outfits. When you find some outfits you love, then take a picture of it so you can remember it for the future.
    • Create a Pinterest board you can search endlessly on Pinterest for different fashion styles and ideas. The best part is that pinterest will start to give you suggestions for your board. Start to build a collection of images that inspire you, maybe its a particular aesthetic, or maybe it is multiple aesthetics and styles. This is great! You are building your own style.
    • Be bold – don’t be afraid to stand out from the crowd. As you become more comfortable with your style, you will begin to feel more brave and bold in your choices. Challenge the current trends and norms of fashion. For all you know, you may be starting the next fashion trend!
    • Thrifting! visit a secondhand store for even more fashion inspiration. Finding some vintage clothing is always a great way to revive your style and find some very unique pieces. 
    • Repeat & Restyle If there are garments you adore, then great! Repeat! Wear these again, but find a way to restyle it! What else can you pair your favorite pants with? Can you create an entirely different aesthetic with a different top paired? 

We hope this empowers you to explore your own personal style further! And for even more fashion inspiration, tune in to our social media accounts every other Friday to catch our Studio Style Day. Our Sewing Assistants Sophia, Lisa and Elaine model their style and share their favorite outfits. Catch their previous outfits on our Facebook and Instagram! 

A Green(er) Wedding Gown

Photography by Emiliano Russo.

Are you trying to reduce your carbon footprint this year? Simultaneously are you fantasizing about that perfect, shiny new wedding dress for your upcoming wedding? Well, you can have it all and more!

One of the best ways to wear a green(er) wedding gown is to find a vintage gown! Maybe your mother, sister, or friends have their wedding gown and would be happy to give it to you. Or maybe a quick trip to your local second-hand stores will give you a promising vintage gown. Or even a quick browse online at Poshmark or Ebay. Keep in mind, the dress does not need to be perfect, the right size, or even the right style. All of this can be adjusted and created later on.

Once you have found your vintage wedding dress, you are already one step closer to a greener and dreamier wedding gown. The next step is finding some inspiration and visuals of your dream dress. If you were to start from scratch, what would your wedding dress look like? And right now, don’t even worry about what your current vintage dress looks like. Gather a handful of images or even draw some of your own sketches. Consider the neckline, the silhouette, the bustle, and any extra embellishments. Once you have all of these details, you are well on your way to merging your two dresses.

The final step in crafting your green(er) wedding gown is to visit your local dressmaker or alterations specialist. Bring your vintage dress and bring the inspiration for your dream dress. With their expertise and skill, your dressmaker will restyle, alter, and redesign your vintage dress into the wedding dress of your dreams. They will completely transform your dress so that it feels like a custom-made gown just for you! You can flaunt your new dress with the comfort of knowing your dress is much more eco-friendly than a brand new dress and likely you are saving yourself some money by repurposing a vintage dress. Greener is the way to go!

With 20+ years of experience, Jennifer has a plethora of dressmaking and alteration skills. She has taken dresses from a size 12 to a size 2, she has seamlessly blended brand new lace with lace of a heirloom gown, she has embellished dresses with 10,000 Swarovski crystals, and she has crafted the most elegant dresses from scratch. She has years of experience to turn any vintage dress into a gown made for you! For any restyling or alteration needs for your vintage wedding gowns, please send Jennifer an email at love@jenniferoberg.com.

Embellishing Your Wedding Gown

Every bride is so different and unique! It is rare to find a gown that speaks fully to one’s style. We love to encourage our clients to discover their styles and add that little flare to make their dress feel unique to them. There are so many fun ways to add that extra gleam to your wedding gown! 

Perhaps it is having an intricate bustle, a bodice covered with crystals, a fiery red silk sash, or some elaborate beading throughout your gown. The possibilities are immense! What is important is realizing what you feel is missing or doesn’t feel quite right. Then, your dressmaker or even your family and friends can help you envisage what this extra embellishment to your dress could be. And finally, your dressmaker can actualize this vision and ultimately let your uniqueness run through every inch of your wedding gown!

Custom sleeves being created.

Jennifer working on the custom sleeves for the bride.

During the last few weeks we have been working with an adventurous bride, creating custom sleeves to be added to her wedding gown. The sleeves are made out of a stretch sheer net with white applique flowers attached. A simple, yet very unique touch to a wedding gown. In the photos you can see how the white applique flowers elegantly wrap around her arms. It seamlessly blends into the wedding gown to create this beautiful continuation of the dresses flower design down to her wrists. The appliques even show off her fantastic pomegranate tattoo on the back of her right shoulder.  This is a wonderful example of adding something special to your wedding gown!

The custom sleeves we created for our client’s wedding gown.

More details of the custom sleeves.

For any assistance with embellishing your wedding gown to fit your unique style, please get in touch with us. We love empowering our brides to find their unique voice within their wedding gown. To book an appointment, send an email to Jennifer at love@jenniferoberg.com.

Restyling Your Wardrobe

Restyling your clothing is always a fun adventure and a fabulous way to turn your clothes into something you will love. We want to share some of our recent restyles to inspire you to reimagine your clothing! 

We worked with our awesome client Penny on a few of her garments these last few weeks. Penny has so much fun with her clothing and has such a unique style. The restyles we did for her clothing are a great example of how you can transform, restyle, or upcycle your clothing! 

Penny brought us a fuzzy pink sweater from Target’s girls clothing line and a jean jacket to restyle. For her jean jacket, we added this amazing tiger fabric to the back, with some fun ball fringe across the top. A great way to add something uniquely YOU to a simple jean jacket. For the pink sweater, we split it straight down the middle and turned it into a cool jacket for Penny to wear. This is a wonderful idea for anyone looking to upcycle sweaters to give them a new fashionable look.

There are infinite possibilities when it comes to restyling your clothing! Get creative, find that spark that is uniquely you, and most importantly have fun reimagining and redesigning your favorite garments! What are your favorite ways to restyle clothing? Comment below!

For restyling and upcycling needs please get in touch with us. We love jazzing up our clients’ garments! Send an email to love@jenniferoberg.com.