ONCE UPON A TIME. . .

Model: Trine, Photo: Karen Relster

-There was a small shop, situated in Overgade, Odense, Denmark. The shop was named, John Frantsen Couture.

There you could have all your dreams, regarding dressing for every occasion, fulfilled.
As owner and designer, I created made to measure and fulfilled most wishes. From that time, I have many good memories and nice experiences with various clients.

Since then, years went by, where I subsequently changed business name a few times, due to different circumstances. 

This might have passed unnoticed, but nevertheless I continued my business from my own private home.

Even though it´s a rarity these days, I am still holding on to this metier, because I am very passionate about it.

The Atelier, where I am fulfilling the wishes of every individual customer, conscious of style and quality, still exists to this day.

For more info, take a look at the Services at the top-menu or explore the Galleries.

Old customers are very welcome to share their experiences here on my blog. -In what ever language they prefer  ;o)

LOCATION FOUND

PhotoArt by John Frantsen 2013

At last we have succeeded in finding a workshop/showroom for our new concept - THE STYLE GALLERY, like i wrote about in my previous post.

There will be a lot of preparations, such as painting, cleaning, window signs and not the least all the content that have to be ready, as mentioned before.
There will be some busy weeks ahead of us, before we open THE STYLE GALLERY. I will try to keep up my posting about it all, so stay tuned.

THE STYLE GALLERY

"FASHION FADES, ONLY STYLE REMAINS THE SAME"

                                                                                         Coco Chanel

THE STYLE GALLERY - Is the name of our coming workshop/showroom situated here in Odense.

As I have mentioned before, it will be a place where you will be able to find something special that you won´t find anywhere else.
We will offer our new collection of unique pieces, measure made designs, art and photography. Take a look at The Dress Archive to get an idea.

In the making we are also looking for other creative people, that for the amount of 500,- per month, can sell their creations - it can be fashion- and Jewellery design, Accessoires, Art etc., that fits our concept. Maybe you know someone ?

We are of course looking for Style Sponsors and -Contributors too. Sponsors who believe in our concept and wants to support a business like ours in the making. . .
There will be different levels of contributing, so that whatever you choose to contribute with, you will always get rewarded somehow:

Amounts up till 200,- will always be deducted your next purchase. 

If you want to contribute 500,- or more, there will be benefits on top of the deduction, like invitations for special events.

For even bigger contributions, you will get a discount on every purchase you make.

Another way of getting benefits, is to sign up and become a true Style-Member for 500,- yearly, you will be the first to know about special offers and events, by a monthly newsletter.

Please comment if you have any questions.
Sign up and become a Style Contributor via contact.

Update! April 2018. This project no longer exist, due to different circumstances.

NEW BLOG LAYOUT

Photo credit: Karl Lagerfeld for Harper´s Bazaar 2011,

 reworked in Photoshop

I have changed my Blog layout - Let me know what you think.
Here on top, there is now a menu that describtions About me, what I can offer. . . like Customer service, Dress Archive, Consultations and classes etc.

In addition to that, I have decided to offer Personal Consultations, that suits you. If  you want discretion or you don´t have the possibility or time to pay me a visit, I can offer to pay you a home visit.

Orders are very welcome, but I can also offer you assistance in Pattern-making, Sewing Technics and fittings.

I wish you all a very nice weekend and hope you did like my new Lay-out and can only encourage you to explore all the new features.

Update! - the Lay-out has changed a few times since this post.

PATTERN-MAKING

Vogue Vintage Pattern Illustration

I have to admit, that I am not a big fan of readymade patterns, though they can be very inspiring.

Because, if you are not a perfect standard size, there will always be adjustments. Besides you never know how much they already added for ease.
Of course you can also drape a pattern, but I think that is a very time consuming process.

I am using the German Pattern-system called Rundschau and prefer to make every pattern based on personal measurements.
Each customer is different and by analysing and measuring their body, I am able to minimize adjustments and get very close to a perfect shape.

If you are a professional, what do you use and what are your experience ?

I am also curious if you readers would like me to post about "How to"-subjects here on my blog ? Wishes and suggestions are welcome.

"SAY YES TO THE DRESS"

-Is a TLC reality series which follows events at Kleinfeld Bridal in New York City. 

-And "What Not to wear", are programs  I have been watching while in Montreal. But now TLC appears here in Denmark too, as a program you can select, after a free viewing period.

It´s funny to watch as a professional, because you get a glimpse of how things works over there.
Watching the first one from the famous bridal shop today, made me wonder about how woman shop for their wedding gowns.
 

Women wants to feel very special on their wedding day. So, a One-of-a-kind dress should be their first choice.
But I guess most women wants a big selection to choose from and that is what Kleinfeld´s is offering. They have the largest and finest selection of designer wedding gowns in the world. Of course that´s great, except when you don´t know what you want. The bigger the choice, the harder it is to choose.

In case you didn't know, I can make The One-of-a-kind wedding dress, if you know what you want. Just give me a call and make an appointment without any obligation.

COUTURE SALE

Cocktail-dress and photo by John Frantsen

I have an offer that is worth considering, if you are just missing the dress for the upcoming Holiday- and New Years parties or maybe is getting married the coming year,

If you order a dress here in December, I can offer you 20% off. All you have to do is to make an appointment, be measured and pay a deposit. Then we will find out what you want, together.

Are you prepared yourself and recommend this offer, you can save 10% next time you need something for a special occasion. This offer is only valid during December.

THE MONEY ISSUE

-In extension of my post of the 22/9, you often hear the expression that, time is money. 

How du you rate your work? What is your work worth? That is some of the hardest to determine.
Of course, it depends on what the customer imagines, what kind of dress, the cut, the details and what fabric they want. Least but not last, how much they are willing to spend.

On the official website of the Tailor's Guild you can get an indicate of an hourly salery in their agreement here.

Like I have described in previous post, it takes quite some time to create a unique dress made by measure. By experience I've learned to give an estimate, when the clients ask for the price.

The customer then knows what they have to adhere to and what they can expect. -And I know what I am dealing with and can better organize the work within this framework.

But of course, if money is no object, I really can take care and use all the time needed.
On the other side, one does not always have to make every penny count. When I spend time on customers, I see it more like an investment in the long term, which hopefully comes back again somehow.

Sometimes it even comes back from a completely unexpected side. Maybe that is what you call Karma.