Julia designed and made my gown for my daughters, Emily's, wedding which was 11/12/17. In addition she completely remade the bridal gown. Julia is AMAZING. Working with Julia is like going on a journey of self discovery. From the moment I called her on the phone to set up a meeting she wanted to really get to know us. She met with us at the fabric store and brainstormed about what I wanted. She didn't just use a pattern she purchased but designed the dress for me. Her attention to detail is amazing and she is very dedicated to her clients. Her craftsmanship is excellent. People were raving both about the bridal gown and my own. I really felt beautiful. I wish I could afford to have her make all of my clothes. read more

Julia Needlman - Bridal Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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***Disclaimer*** Julia works out of her home and this may be uncomfortable for some. I was a little surprised when I showed up. She has a small changing room off her living room that allows you to change and allows her to take measurements. She has a cat so if you're allergic you may want to think twice. What brought me to Julia was a bridesmaids dress that needed altering ASAP. I had been told by Nordstroms that I could bring in my dress and they could do the altering even though I hadn't purchased it there (I have a Nordstroms card and have had many things altered there before). After I got to Nordstroms, put my dress on and stood in the waiting room for 20 minutes while they found the seamstress, I was told she wouldn't touch it because I didn't buy it there. I went into a slight panic as the wedding was about 2-3 weeks away. I needed the bottom taken up and fast! I looked on yelp and thankfully found Julia. I called her to see if she could get me in. I told her that my dress just needed to be brought up a couple inches and that it had to be done ASAP. She went out of her way to fit me in the next day and help me out. I showed up at her house, and she hemmed my dress ON THE SPOT in her downstairs workshop with a better stitch than was originally in the dress! Not only was her work fantastic, she only charged me $20! I ended up tipping her more than the costs as I couldn't believe the pricing and her flexibility to get me in. She will definitely be my first call if I need alterations in the future. read more

Julia is one of a kind, in the best way. When I received my original dress from the boutique (after it was supposed to be custom-sized), it was very, very ill fitting - especially through the torso and hips. It was not sized for my proportions at all. I called Julia a month before my wedding in a panic because I realized I may have waited too long to get the alterations I needed, but Julia was so kind and assured me everything would be okay. As soon as I met her, I immediately trusted her. She was very honest with me about what was off with my dress, but was able to propose some solutions. It was also clear that she cared about keeping my vision for the dress in tact, which helped make it feel like a collaborative team effort. Long story short - she totally reconstructed portions of my dress (amazingly quickly), spent many hours doing so, and the end result was exactly what I had originally envisioned. She is truly an artist, and such a lovely and genuine person on top of that. Cannot recommend her highly enough! read more

Before scheduling an appointment with Julia I read the Yelp reviews and many people noted her "personality" and how it wasn't for everyone. It wasn't for me... The first time I met with her I sat there as she yelled at her cleaning lady over the phone. It was very unprofessional. That should've been a sign that working with Julia was not going to be easy. But I left my dress anyway because the reviews raved about her work, which I was very disappointed with as I will explain later. She told me it would be 5-6 weeks. 6 weeks later I called her to see if my dress was ready. That Monday she said she was going to have it ready that night. Wednesday I emailed her to confirm when I could pick it up. She did not reply. Friday morning I called her again to see when I could pick it up. She said noon. I arrived to her home and she said "you're not Alejandra". I explained to her that I called her Monday, and emailed her Wednesday. She said she got confused and thought I was someone else. She said she was confused when she read my email on Wednesday, yet for some reason she did not take the time to reply and clarify. I took time off work to go to her home to have my time wasted. She said it would be ready next week. I reminded her she said 5-6 weeks. She said "I need to let people know that I don't mean 5-6 weeks when I say that"... Well then why give people a time frame!? The scheduled pick-up day rolled around and I went to pick up my dress. I tried it on and there was a bump in the back. She said she could fix it. I waited as she went to her basement and fixed it. As I tried it on again, pieces started to fall off and she said she cut the wrong string. I just wanted to pay her and leave and never deal with her again. When I got home I inspected the dress and the sewing was sloppy (picture below). Overall, I would not recommend Julia. She is not professional, her home she works out of is not clean and smells, and she will just waste your time. read more

Julia Needlman - Sloppy sewing work. - Bridal Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Julia saved my dress!!! It was 3 weeks before my wedding and I was having major dress complications, and was on the verge of buying a sample dress and not wearing mine altogether. I found Julia on Yelp and she fixed all the mistakes the original seamstress had made (there were several) in record time. The top fit liked it should, we changed the straps and she added a new bussel. I would HIGHLY recommend her for any alterations needed. She knows her stuff and will tell you how she sees it! read more

Lifesaver!!! As you will read I am one of many who brought my dress to Julia in a semi state of panic and just general disappointment after having taken it to another fancy tailor downtown. After spending an obscene amount of money just to be able to get my dress back and get to someone who would really listen to me and actually just make my dress fit I randomly found Julia on Yelp and gave her a call. Right off the bat from the phone call I knew I liked her and I felt better already. And so it began. The biggest issue with my dress was that it was big, ordered a size too big as they say it needs to be - or whatever. Needless to say even after the first tailor it hardly laid on my body, more like hung on it. It had a silhouette but as Julia said, it just wasn't mine. At one point Julia literally had the dress in two pieces to get it to align right to my body and fit my torso. So much was done to it (and undone from the previous tailor) and through it all and being in pieces I knew I was finally getting somewhere and someone was listening and understanding that I did not want anything fancy - I just wanted it to FIT! Not only did it end up fitting beautifully but I did get something fancy in a hand sewn collar and neck piece that I had from remaining lace. I wanted something so it was not completely strapless and after removing what the previous tailor did we brainstormed, tried some different things and came up with an unbelievably unique piece making my dress one of a kind. She easily did way more work than the first tailor I went to and it was half as much. She also showed me a different (very simple and affordable) veil after I brought mine and she thought it didn't fit. And she was right. After trying on both it was clear with the alterations that the dress had changed (for the better) and a more simple veil was the trick. I had only paid the same price for my veil so I left mine there for the next bride who needed something different. Yes, Julia is opinionated and maybe she is not right for everyone but man does she have the eye. Her work was beautiful and she was a joy to get to know. I am so glad she was part of my process. She did one of my bridesmaids dresses and also saw me like 3 days before my wedding when my bridesmaid couldn't get the dress buttoned during a trial. She patiently showed them how and would not take any money for the visit when I tried. If you are willing to have an open mind I promise you Julia can do wonders! read more

Wow where to start with Julia, her vision and creativity is just astounding. I loved my dress from the moment I put it on and in the back of my mind knew that sample dresses fit and feel differently than the dress you order will, simply because samples are worn and shipped around constantly and they just have a more relaxed feel to them. Upon getting my new dress I was horrified that it barely hit the floor (I'm 5'10") and the stiffness made it rather uncomfortable and frankly it just didn't feel right. Panic started to form inside me then I stumbled on Julia's Yelp page and decided to give her a call. Working with her was so amazing, she really really cares about her brides and wants you to feel like your most beautiful self on your wedding day. She did things that other people told me weren't possible and created the dress of my dreams. She created a whole new internal bra in the dress which was a God send and took the weight out of my shoulders, we adjusted some of the layers to give the back a sheer look that matched the sleeves, added length to the bottom, added a beaded belt and so much more. I couldn't have imagined how perfect my dress ended up being and I'm so grateful to her. read more

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I consider myself very lucky for finding Julia! She is a pro in her business, she has a great taste and she has "golden hands"! Julia can perfectly transform your dress to fit you while adding her magic touches. But, most of all, she is a great person, a very kind and wise woman!!! read more

Julia Created My "Perfect Dress" I was very frustrated shopping for a great dress to wear to my niece's wedding. This was a very special wedding for me and I wanted a great dress for the event. I had spent months looking for the "perfect dress" and kept coming up empty handed. I am not exaggerating when I say I looked everywhere--- from TJ Max to Van Maur - and every store in between. So many of the dresses I found were sleeveless (which I clearly did not want) or the fabric was "awful." Not the beautiful fit and fabric that I had hoped for in a new dress. One night while online I was looking online I decided to check out some vintage dress patterns and I was drawn to several 1950's dress patterns. With a quick "yelp" search for a seamstress and "couture" dressmaker I came across several wonderful recommendations for Julia Needlman. I bravely picked up the phone and made an appointment. To be very honest, I made the appointment with a good deal trepidation. What if I don't like the dress? What if the dress doesn't fit right? I'm not the mother of the bride am I being extravagant having a dress made? How much will this cost? What if I spend a lot on the dress and I hate it? When I meet Julia there was an immediate connection. I had three fittings/meetings with Julia from start to finish. I looked forward to each fitting as Julia is an "old soul" and has such wisdom and insight. No need for patterns, Julia understood what I was looking for and sketched out "my dream dress" at our first meeting. I learned so much about necklines, styles, and colors that are best suited for me working with Julia is a "mini course" in fashion design. When I tried on my finished dress and had the last "fitting" I didn't want to take it off. The style, fit, and fabric was just what I hoped for "a dress with a vintage feel but appropriate today." Without hesitation I can say this was a wonderful experience for me. At the wedding, I received so many compliments on this dress. A hotel employee sheepishly approached me and asked me if I was wearing a "vintage couture". She had spotted me across the room and wanted to know where I found this beautiful dress. However, the best compliment I received at the wedding was "you look so happy." Yes, I wanted "the" perfect dress but something better happened. I slipped on the dress and I never thought about it again. I had a great evening visiting with friends and family and was just "incredibly comfortable" and didn't give the dress another thought. I'm usually very self conscious and this was not something that I was used to experiencing. And I can't wait to wear this dress again and again - I know I will enjoy wearing this dress for years to come! Long Story Short - Julia is a wonderful person who you will enjoy working with and her work is absolutely beautiful. Please do not hesitate to give Julia a call - I know I am a client for life! read more

This is a tough review to write, because Julia means well. And I think she could be great for a certain bride with a second-hand dress that she doesn't like and wants to redo (per many reviews here.) BUT, she was not a good fit for us. My daughter LOVED her high-end dress, and just needed alterations. Julia didn't listen, had her own agenda (as you will also read in other reviews), changed the look of the dress against my daughter's wishes, gave up when we asked her to fix what she did wrong or did sloppily, and charged us $500 to boot. With one week to go before my daughter's wedding, we had to spend another $500 to fix what Julia messed up. Frustrating, stressful, expensive. I am so sorry we went here. read more

Julia was incredible. My first wedding dress had been chopped about 5" too short by another tailor. I was very worried about leaving my second dress for alterations. Julia was recommended by my sister-in-law. A few minutes into speaking with Julia I knew I could trust her. She sees herself as an artist and takes great pride in her craft. Not only did she hem my dress perfectly, she also altered the back of the dress beautifully to better compliment my shape. She worked exceptionally fast and didn't let my need for speedy alterations deter her from creating the perfect dress. I recommend using Julia for any alterations and especially wedding dress alterations. She is priced reasonably and has a keen understanding of what kinds of alterations will make you look your best. read more

Lets say that Julia was my wedding therapist. :) I bought my wedding dress off the rack right after my fiance ( now husband) proposed to me. I have no idea what I was thinking but bought the puffiest wedding someone could possibly imagine, in addition weigh about 20 pounds. Now if you knew me, you would agree I was going crazy..... Thankfully, I found Julia on Yelp. Julia not only helped me saving money, but she also helped me finding myself in the middle of planning my wedding. Julia created a whole new dress for me yet using the same dress. It turned beautiful, flawless, light and the way I wanted!!! Julia is phenomenal. The only thing I highly recommend is making an appointment with her before buying your wedding dress if you have not already purchased. Julia makes wedding dress from scratch and it is beautiful and of course, less expensive. Anyway, either way you will be very happy with her work. She is wonderful and her work is spotless. read more

I ordered a bridesmaid's dress for myself online with custom fitting, as that is where all of the bridesmaids were ordering their dresses and I wanted to match. The dress fit well except that the straps were loose and seemed made for someone with broader shoulders. It was a complicated alteration given that the straps were big pieces of fabric that were twisted and sewn into place. After searing for a seamstress, my friend suggested Julia because she had done an amazing job with alterations and beading on her wedding dress. I called Julia and she did not disappoint! Not only did she accommodate my short schedule (had to have the dress ready in 1.5 months), but she did so during the height of wedding season in Sept. She is very friendly and worth your time! Not too pricey too. Only drawback is if you're allergic to cats--she has a cat in her home workshop that roams about (the clothes are protected however). Overall great experience! read more

Just called to get a rough quote on an alteration. I was asked when I needed it by and I responded note until the end of May. The woman laughed at me and told me oh no no we are booked solid until July. I thought that was pretty rude. There are better ways to explain you are booked. I wouldn't refer based on that first negative experience. read more

Julia is a magician!!! I brought her a wedding dress that I loved in concept but it was not perfect for my body, she completely re-vamped it to the specifications of how I wanted it to be. When I came back for subsequent fittings I did not like one of the changes made so she without hesitation, converted it back. She is seriously a seamstress genius. I would trust her with any garments or dress needs in the future. And the pricing is extremely fair and reasonable!!! Thank you Julia for making my wedding dress perfection!!! read more

Julia is quite simply a magician. I had been having a horrible time with alterations on a previous dress and so got a different one at the very last minute and she graciously accepted my plea to bring it to her with my wedding two short weeks away. I came looking to just adjust the bust size and shorten the hem and left with a completely different dress that felt so special and unique, tons of valuable advice, and a full and happy heart. Working with Julia is more like an artistic collaboration than a business transaction. She understands the emotion and metaphor of a wedding and helps you find the truest expression of yourself through your gown. SHE IS THE ABSOLUTE BEST!!! read more

I contacted Julia Tuesday night about a bridesmaid dress that was too tight, that I needed for a wedding that Saturday. She agreed to meet me Wednesday morning. I came back Thursday morning and she had the dress done, although it was too big. She reworked it and came back again Thursday afternoon. It was still slightly too big, but I could at least zip it and wear it, which I couldn't say for the dress before I saw her. If I had more time, I have full confidence she would have made it fit perfect. It was a bit pricy, but I think it may have been that expensive no matter when/where I took it. She was very nice, and extremely understanding of my emergency situation. I would use her again! Also, it is in Wicker Park, so definitely not orange line, and beware if you are allergic to cats. I'm not, and her cats were very nice! read more

Julia was a life saver! My wedding dress arrived much later than planned and many local alteration places rudely told me I was SOL!. I called Julia after reading the many great reviews on Yelp and she immediately calmed me down. She took the time to listen to my needs/concerns/worries and she told me, "we will make it work!" Those are just the words a worried bride needed to hear. Throughout the alteration process, Julia was supportive and had excellent ideas. She made my dress amazing. I got so many compliments. I will be taking it back to her to alter into a party dress! I love Julia read more

Julia did a fantastic job on formal gown alterations. The dress was needed in just over a week and she was able to finish with a couple days to spare. She was up front with the amount of work that was required and very reasonably priced. I was very happy with the results and look forward to working with her again for future alterations. read more

I had an amazing experience with Julia. I really wish I had taken a "before" picture of my wedding dress before bringing it to her, because it was a disaster, and she completely remade it in time for my wedding. My dress didn't come in until about a month before I had to leave for the wedding and I was really stressing about finding someone to do alterations. Julia fit me in right away and during my consultation I so appreciated how much she listened to me. She was VERY opinionated about certain aspects of my dress/overall wedding appearance, but I appreciated her honesty and when it came to things I felt strongly about (not wearing a veil, for example) she shared her personal opinion, but respected my choice. Julia did talk me into adding straps to my dress, and she created a perfect strap that really changed the overall silhouette of the dress in a beautiful way. Thanks to Julia, my too-long, too-big, lopsided atrocity of a dress became a wedding gown I could feel beautiful in. She works very meticulously and really knows and understands the inner workings of wedding gowns and communicates very clearly (although half the time I had no idea what she was talking about) about the changes she will make and how she will make them. She is also a wonderful, interesting person to talk to, so our appointments were always very enjoyable. Highly recommend!! read more

Julia is amazing!! I took my dress here a few months before my wedding in August. I had seen one other person to get a quote on the alterations and to see what they could do. Julia blew them out of the water! She is pretty upfront and blunt but it is because she has a good eye and vision. When I walked into her house/shop I didn't know what to expect but Julia altered my dress into the PERFECT wedding dress for a reasonable rate. She was also able to alter my sisters dress a month before the wedding. She is wonderful!! read more

Julia is amazing. I took her my wedding dress about a year ago after the first 4 places I called said they didn't have room / time for me. Not only did Julia take me, but she did an amazing job. She made some drastic changes to my dress (hello inner belt) that made it look so much better. This week I brought her a bridesmaids dress that I need finished in a week and a half. She opened it up on the spot, confirmed that there was enough fabric for the change, and told me it would be ready in a week. She doesn't just make the changes you need, she adjusts the dress to be more flattering, whatever that means for you. Love Julia! read more

I found Julia via Yelp and chose her based on location and overall positive reviews. I went in for a simple hem on a silk chiffon bridesmaid's dress that was way too long (and in my mind fit perfectly otherwise), but as soon as I put the dress on for measuring, she frowned a bit and asked if she could make a suggestion. In an instant she snipped, moved and tightened one of the shoulder straps that made an incredibly flattering difference on my shoulders and back. It sounds small but the improvement was incredible. 15 minutes later the dress was fully hemmed, straps were permanently adjusted and my dress and I were on our merry way. The whole visit was under 30 minutes. I will gladly bring everything back to Julia because not only are the hems perfect, she has a great objective eye for what would look best on your actual body type. I'd trust her with anything. read more

Julia is a fantastic seamstress. I went to her to alter a dress I needed fixed in a jiffy for a wedding and she was able to do exactly what I wanted. She does impeccable alterations and is also warm and welcoming. Her prices are fair and her work is fantastic. I would highly recommend Julia for anyone who needs alterations. read more

I contacted Julia for help with a non-traditional wedding gown. I was marrying my girlfriend and we didn't both want to be in white. I had an idea of what I wanted but after a meeting or two with Julia that idea was drastically altered--in a good way. She helped me end up with a dress that more than one person at my wedding said made me look like a "Greek goddess." It was gorgeous, flattering, and even had pockets! I would go back to Julia a hundred times if I had a hundred weddings. Although I only plan on the one, if I ever need any clothes help I would trust her to aid me. Also, because she works from home, she was more than willing to be flexible and accommodate my sometimes odd availability. Thanks Julia!!! The dress was amazing. read more

Julia is a life saver. I was standing up in a wedding where all the groomsmen had to purchase the same suit and to say that the chosen suit was illfitting on me would be an understatement. I brought the suit to my dry cleaner 3 weeks before the wedding and they tried to tailor it to fit better but the fit only got worse. When I finally came to the realization that my dry cleaner would not be able to alter the suit to fit me there was only 5 days till the wedding. I found Julia on Yelp, gave her a call, and not only was she able to tailor the suit to fit me, she turned it around in just two days. This lady can work miracles with a thread and needle. read more

Julia is an extremely talented woman and fun and entertaining to work with! I bought my dress at David's Bridal and Julia did a lot to transform it - my favorite part is that she raised the applique to make it stand out more and made me a head piece with the remaining fabric. Julia also fixed my pearl necklace, made an inexpensive veil and hemmed my bridesmaids dresses, in a matter of days. She was extremely flexible with her schedule, which was great since I live out of town. Julia made me feel so comfortable and beautiful in my dress. She was full of suggestions for my mom and bridesmaids about their outfit details (shoes, cardigans) and offered as much assistance as she could. To me the following aren't negatives, but to some they might be: My family, bridesmaids and I are extroverts and enjoy someone who tells it like it is, but if that isn't your style, Julia may not be the best choice for you. She is brutally honest about everything, including the weight you may have gained from your last visit, the way you walk, the type of shoes you plan on wearing, etc. She is the expert and I completely trust her, but others may see this as harsh. read more

"JULIA CREATED THE DRESS OF MY DREAMS" I came to Julia with a wedding dress that had been given to me. Since I was on a limited budget I wasn't complaining about it. As soon as I tried the dress on Julia saw everything wrong that I already knew.....it wasn't me. Julia was very attentive to my every need and understood that I wanted to knock my fiancee's socks off when she saw me walking down the aisle. Julia didn't care about my lifestyle, she was more interested in my emotional health the entire time she dealt with me. She always had a sixth sense when I was stressing about certain things and would always send me away with a wise word before leaving a fitting. She is a perfectionist so if there is something she doesn't approve of during the fitting she will fix it right then and there. She is truly like family now and I am so glad that I found her. I received so many compliments on my wedding dress ( and a few offers to buy it). I know that her ears were ringing on Saturday July 28th because I did nothing but praise her the entire time. I will forever recommend her to anyone that needs a new wardrobe to just simple alterations. She is amazing and EXTREMELY humble, she has a gift that goes beyond the needle and thread. Julia is perfection in human form.....I can't praise her enough because there isn't a word within the English language that is descriptive enough for how phenomenal she really is. Rikki Coleman ( formerly known as Nicholes) read more

Julia is a life saver. A week before my son's wedding his future wife needed alterations to her wedding gown. Julia knows exactly what she is doing. She is very knowledgeable about wedding gowns and brides! She knew exactly how to fix the gown and fixed it in a few days for a very reasonable price! The gown came out perfect. I do not know what we would have done if we didn't find Julia. It also turned out that the maid of honor had a broken zipper on her maid of honor dress. Julia had that beautifully fixed in one day. She has an understanding of people and brides. She should also be a life coach! I highly recommend her. She is a very special person with a special gift and I'll never forget her. read more

Working with Julia on my wedding dress is one of my favorite "wedding planning" memories. I came to her a year out from my November wedding and she patiently helped me completely transform my dress. I thought I loved the original dress I selected, which was a size 10 sample (I'm typically a 0-2) and figured I just needed the dress taken down a few sizes and it would be perfect. Through my many meetings with Julia, she sleuthed out that the entire back of the dress needed to be restructured if it was going to fit properly- yikes! I'll admit it was nerve racking seeing the dress in pieces, but when it finally came together, the essence of what I originally loved was heightened and the new designs (lace-up back changed to silk buttons, lace modesty panel inserted in bodice, satin lining cut from train) were amazing! Even with the dress of my dreams, my favorite part by far was the veil. Julia fashioned a floor length ivory tulle veil that suited me perfectly without ever asking for my thoughts-she knew me and the dress that well! I would recommend Julia to Chicago brides in a heart beat. She is truly one-of-a-kind and is an expert at what she does. read more

Julia is fabulous! I came in to get alterations and got much more. She really took the time to get to know me, and by doing so was able to make suggestions about my dress that fit me and my personality. I liked my dress when I went into her and loved it coming out of the experience. The pricing is reasonable for the work she does on the dress. If you want a unique dress that will allow you to shine on your day I would recommend using Julia! read more

Julia makes my costumes (I am an entertainer) and I love her work. She talks to me about the mood I want to set for the show and works with me to design something that is unique and totally ME. If something needs to be repaired, if she can, she will do it on the spot if I bring it by. Slowly I have started having her make me custom clothes for non-costume occasions like a fabulous dress for a wedding I attended. I have decided that if I need ordinary clothes (jeans, etc) I can probably get them cheap at re-sale shops while saving my money for good quality (high image) clothes from Julia for special occasions! read more

Julia Needlman is a god-send! Wow! She has a real gift! I contacted Julia late on a Tuesday afternoon in need of some "emergency alterations" for a bridesmaid's dress. I met her that night and she had my dress fixed by the next morning. I picked it up on Wednesday evening. It looked and fit beautifully! Thank you over and over again Julia! You saved the day! read more

Julia did an amazing job with my wedding dress. She put her heart and soul into remaking my dress and it showed. Fitst, she had to make a new bodice for me from scratch which needed to match my skirt. It turned out beautifully and matched perfectly and actually made my dress look even better. She then made the most beautiful bow for my dress in the style that I described, and a really spectacular floor-length veil that would have cost me a fortune if I were to buy it made. She tailored everything to my personality and really cared about how I felt. The bustle she made for my very heavy dress, was perfect. I only tied it up once and it held up my long train the entire night - and oh, how much I danced. I had so many compliments! Julia also helped me pick out the color and fabric and made the sashes for my bridesmaid dresses which turned out perfectly and complimented the color and fabric of the BM's dresses. Julia is a wonderful person to work with and so refreshing. And, she knows her stuff so well. Out of all the vendors I had for my wedding, I truly cherish the time I spent with Julia. read more

Julia is a godsend! My bridesmaid dress didn't begin to fit right & julia worked her magic, changing small things - she took the pleats off my hips, and reworked the bust so I'd be comfortable. She's hilarious & a joy to work with, and the quality of her talent is second to none. So glad I found her!!! read more

I wish I can give her 100 stars! I had an issue with my original wedding dress (after a family friend tried altering it and ruined it, plus losing too much weight) the day before my wedding. It was a mess that I couldn't avoid with a family friend. I needed to get it fixed and had to take a huge leap of faith the day before my wedding. In the midst of me freaking out, she was incredible to work with. She kept me calm. She fixed, restructured, re-created and altered my wedding dress the day before my wedding. She worked tirelessly and the dress turned out better than I could have ever imagined. I was brought to tears after I saw how beautiful it looked. She saved my wedding day. She understood my body type and knew exactly what to do. She went above and beyond what I needed. She was very professional, kind, and amazing to work with. I still and will always will think of her as my fairy godmother. She truly saved the day after the family friend completely ruined my dress. She is reasonably priced, professional, kind, and all around amazing. I can't say enough good things about her. She is the only one who understood how dresses work and how they fit on different body types. She made my dress better than the original! It was completely made for me. She understood me, my personality, and situation so quickly. She truly wants you to feel beautiful. She has a passion for what she does and is one of the most incredible people I've ever met. Simply amazing. I loved my dress. I highly recommend her. Thank you! :) read more

Julia Needlman is amazing. She is one of those people who have found her calling in life, making and recreating wedding dresses, unique and perfect for each bride she encounters. She takes the time and extra effort to ensure each person looks and feels beautiful, both inside and out. She has a true artistic eye and vision for what looks best for a person's body type and personality. Julia took the time to get to know me, my vision for my wedding day, and what I was comfortable with, and used that to create a unique and perfect dress for me. She transformed a strapless, poofy off the rack dress that I thought looked just fine (although was way too big for me) into an elegant, flowing, high necked masterpiece that I received so many compliments on during my wedding day. Julia even altered my husband's sons (they were the groomsmen) outfits perfectly, and fixed one of my pregnant bridesmaid's dresses last minute, even though the seamstress she had gone to said there was nothing else they could do. Her prices are exceptional for the work she does and I sincerely loved getting to know Julia and spending time with her throughout the entire process. read more

I can't say enough about Julia, both in terms of her designing and sewing skills and her character. I brought a dress to Julia that I had bought on impulse just a couple of months prior to my wedding. I had procrastinated and made a dress choice based on fear and timing. I had that sinking feeling the day after the purchase and contacted Julia that day based on her yelp reviews, hoping she could alter my gown to somehow make it work. Julia operates a lot on intuition and observation and within minutes of meeting me, had a strong grasp of who I am, what I am looking for in a dress and the stylistic elements of a dress that will most complement my body type. She offered to do what she could with my gown, but she was also very direct and honest about the limitations of the cheep viscous fabric it was made from and the design elements of it that weren't flattering for my body. Incredibly, she also offered to design a custom gown for me. Keep in mind that this was about 8 weeks before my wedding and she had a full calendar. I decided to take a risk and hire her for the job. Long story short, Julia designed an incredibly unique silk gown for me in less than 2 months. We hunched over pages of potential designs together and Julia used my input and her knowledge of the shape and movement of my body to create a gem of a gown. At one point she was so busy with other clients that she pulled an all nighter to have a finished gown ready for my appointment the next day. The dress is truly one of a kind, and Julia sheparded me through the process with kindness, professionalism and skill. I really can't recommend her enough, whether it is for a simple alteration or a couture creation like mine. read more

"Working with Julia to design and make my wedding dress was a highlight of the entire wedding experience. I was able to create exactly what I wanted to be wearing on my special day. I had searched and looked very hard for what I had in mind at various wedding stores and bridal boutiques but could not find what I wanted. With Julia, I knew anything was possible. She was thoughtful and creative- such as using some of the lace from my mother's wedding dress on mine. Her calm, professional, and present approach to making the dress put me at ease throughout the experience. Julia is a master at her craft and holds her work to the highest standards- in design and in comfort. It was the most comfortable dress I have ever worn! I still receive so many compliments on my wedding dress and so many people wondered what store I found it in. I would recommend working with Julia to any bride that wants to see their dress as a process and wants to create a unique and individualized work of art. Together, you will create and manifest your dream dress". read more