Testimonials
"Lena did all the alterations on my wedding dress, including a hem and five-point French bustle (underbustle). The skirt of my dress has an underskirt, main skirt, and then probably 20-30 layers of a very light, sheer, fabric cut at an angle all around the skirt - she had to move, cut, angle, and hem ALL the layers (plus doing a standard hem on the underskirt and main skirt layers), and did an absolutely perfect job!! (my dress is by Essence of Australia, D1012, and she shortened it by about 4", if you want to see how much work was involved!) Without her pointing out where the original hems were and where her hems were, we never would have even been able to tell what she had done. She also did a beautiful job on the bustle, and my dress literally looks like it could have been made that way. All the layers still flow beautifully, and if you didn't know that the dress had a train, you wouldn't even be able to tell that it had been bustled. I was incredibly impressed with her work, and her prices couldn't be beat!! I would not hesitate to recommend her to anyone, for any type of alterations - considering the job she did on my dress, I'm sure she'd do a fabulous job with ANY alterations!"
-Elizabeth T. from Charlottesville, VA
5/11/2011
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"I'm not sure if Lena is best described as a scientist or an artist. Let's put it this way: she's the most scientific artist I've ever seen! A few months before my wedding, I brought her a simple J.Crew sheath and a picture of a fancier gown I liked. I asked her if she could add wings and a bunch of cascading ruffles that flow into a sweep train down the back of the gown. She not only created her own pattern and completely altered the gown the way I wanted, but she added a few artistic touches to the ruffles! She even added a hook-and-eye closure to the train upon my last-minute request! My gown is exactly what I asked for and, personally, I think it turned out better than the picture. Lena was so scientific in asking me how I wanted the ruffles to lie and how long I wanted them to be, but the way she pinned and stitched to get them just right can only be described as art. And, I must add, her prices are very reasonable. Her impeccable attention to detail and punctual customer service earn her top ratings. You can't do better for garment alterations!"
-Katy E. from Radford, VA
6/20/2011
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"I have come to Lena with my bridesmaid dresses and every time she just did a magnificent job! She never fails to amaze me with the work that she can do and suggestions that she offers!"
-Dasha S. from Harrisonburg, VA
5/25/2012
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Lena is the best! She is a true artist. I bought a sample gown when Priscilla of Boston was going out of business, and she absolutely perfected it. She added push-up pads to the top, so I could for-go a bra, shortened it about 6 inches, and put in a serious 7 pt french bustle. I have no idea about bustles, but with a 6 ft train, knew I needed something to shorted it. My skirt is tiers of ruffled silk chiffon and heavy (about 10 pounds) so I was worried about having something that would actually hold. She put in a three point bustle for the underskirt and a seven point one for the top skirt. Not only that, but she color coded the ribbons so my MOH can quickly and easily tie everything up the day of.
Best of all, Lena is VERY reasonably priced. I had quotes in northern Virginia for nearly three times what Lena charges. She also made special appointments for both fittings on a Saturday morning because I live in Indianapolis and would only be home for the weekend. If you need your bridal gown, or any dress altered in or around Harrisonburg, Virginia GO SEE LENA!
-Chelsea S. from Indianapolis, IN
3/21/2012
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I'm the Maid of Honor in my sister's wedding and came to Lena almost in tears after another another company completely butchered my MOH dress!
Lena simply jumped right in as if this was old hat and despite how awful the situation was, she truly inspired immediate confidence. Lena knew exactly when to tell me that everything would be ok and when to simply lay out our plan of action on how to fix the dress. I couldn't believe how calm I was when leaving her store and how implicitly I trusted her to fix everything.
Needless to say, in no time at all Lena completely changed the neckline of my dress, took in some sections, let out others, removed boning from one area and added it to another, and even added new pleats. The dress looks absolutely fantastic and several friends who've seen it agree that you'd never know anyone else had ever touched it.
I've never been more excited to wear this dress and you can bet from now on, Lena is getting absolutely all of my business!
-Fran S. from Harrisonburg, VA
8/27/2012
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Over a year ago, Lena was recommended to me by a bridal salon because my daughter's gown needed alterations and the seamstress that was referred to me never returned my call. I was on a time restriction. I had only 2 weeks. It was a pageant gown by Tony Bowls and had multiple layered ruffles. She had to shorten the gown and take in the waist area and sew in the straps. Needless to say my daughter won her pageant. Since then Lena has altered 4 of our gowns and even altered a cocktail dress. She's very easygoing, straightforward and honest. She is our magic finger fairy godmother because my daughter has won every pageant she has altered a gown for. Not one critique from any Judge on our evenng gowns. Would recommend to anyone! We Love Love Love Our Miss Lena!
-Monica R. from Massanutten, VA
11/21/2011
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I had a wonderful experience with Lena! I wanted to use my mother's wedding dress for my September wedding, but I needed it to be changed to a more modern style. I took the dress to Lena with a picture of what I wanted. The final product is amazing. She took a dress from 1977, and made it look brand new. I now have a custom dress that cost less than if I bought one brand new. I am extremely happy with my dress and can't wait for everyone to see it.
-Mellissa M.
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Lena did an AMAZING job with the alterations for my wedding dress! I don't have the words for how beautifully the finished project turned out (or for how much work she did in order to get the dress to its finished state!). The dress was a Maggie Sottero Karena Royale: a beautiful dress with intricate lace and some beading, and a short train (which also included detail lacing!). Since I'm only about 5'0 tall and the dress was made for someone much taller, Lena had to shorten the dress significantly while also working with the detailed lace. She did a perfect job, and with the finished product there was absolutely no sign that the lace had ever been altered. Not only did the front hem of the dress look amazing (and like it had come that way!), the train was perfect, too. Moreover, not only did Lena do an amazing job with the outer layer of lace, she also hemmed the two layers of underskirt, as well as generally adjusting and fitting the dress so it would work for my smaller frame. She also did a beautiful job on the bustle, both in helping me decide what bustle worked best for the dress and my figure, and in sewing and altering the dress to include it. In short, Lena's craftsmanship is perfect and an art in itself! But she was also patient, kind and helpful. I looked forward to all of my fittings, and she helped to make sure that my bridesmaids knew how to lace the dress properly and fix the bustle for my big day. I could not have been happier with my wedding dress, and I would not hesitate to recommend Lena for any occasion--especially one as important as a wedding!
-KJ Murphy
************************************************************************************************************************************************
Lena has always done a beautiful job on any alterations she has done for me and my family. She is very knowledgeable in what she does. I love the feeling when I look my best in clothes that fit me just right! She is someone I would trust to make me look and feel beautiful on my most special day :) Thank you, Lena! You are wonderful!
-Inna I. from Asheville, NC
7/1/2013
-Elizabeth T. from Charlottesville, VA
5/11/2011
************************************************************************************************************************************************
"I'm not sure if Lena is best described as a scientist or an artist. Let's put it this way: she's the most scientific artist I've ever seen! A few months before my wedding, I brought her a simple J.Crew sheath and a picture of a fancier gown I liked. I asked her if she could add wings and a bunch of cascading ruffles that flow into a sweep train down the back of the gown. She not only created her own pattern and completely altered the gown the way I wanted, but she added a few artistic touches to the ruffles! She even added a hook-and-eye closure to the train upon my last-minute request! My gown is exactly what I asked for and, personally, I think it turned out better than the picture. Lena was so scientific in asking me how I wanted the ruffles to lie and how long I wanted them to be, but the way she pinned and stitched to get them just right can only be described as art. And, I must add, her prices are very reasonable. Her impeccable attention to detail and punctual customer service earn her top ratings. You can't do better for garment alterations!"
-Katy E. from Radford, VA
6/20/2011
************************************************************************************************************************************************
"I have come to Lena with my bridesmaid dresses and every time she just did a magnificent job! She never fails to amaze me with the work that she can do and suggestions that she offers!"
-Dasha S. from Harrisonburg, VA
5/25/2012
************************************************************************************************************************************************
Lena is the best! She is a true artist. I bought a sample gown when Priscilla of Boston was going out of business, and she absolutely perfected it. She added push-up pads to the top, so I could for-go a bra, shortened it about 6 inches, and put in a serious 7 pt french bustle. I have no idea about bustles, but with a 6 ft train, knew I needed something to shorted it. My skirt is tiers of ruffled silk chiffon and heavy (about 10 pounds) so I was worried about having something that would actually hold. She put in a three point bustle for the underskirt and a seven point one for the top skirt. Not only that, but she color coded the ribbons so my MOH can quickly and easily tie everything up the day of.
Best of all, Lena is VERY reasonably priced. I had quotes in northern Virginia for nearly three times what Lena charges. She also made special appointments for both fittings on a Saturday morning because I live in Indianapolis and would only be home for the weekend. If you need your bridal gown, or any dress altered in or around Harrisonburg, Virginia GO SEE LENA!
-Chelsea S. from Indianapolis, IN
3/21/2012
************************************************************************************************************************************************
I'm the Maid of Honor in my sister's wedding and came to Lena almost in tears after another another company completely butchered my MOH dress!
Lena simply jumped right in as if this was old hat and despite how awful the situation was, she truly inspired immediate confidence. Lena knew exactly when to tell me that everything would be ok and when to simply lay out our plan of action on how to fix the dress. I couldn't believe how calm I was when leaving her store and how implicitly I trusted her to fix everything.
Needless to say, in no time at all Lena completely changed the neckline of my dress, took in some sections, let out others, removed boning from one area and added it to another, and even added new pleats. The dress looks absolutely fantastic and several friends who've seen it agree that you'd never know anyone else had ever touched it.
I've never been more excited to wear this dress and you can bet from now on, Lena is getting absolutely all of my business!
-Fran S. from Harrisonburg, VA
8/27/2012
************************************************************************************************************************************************
Over a year ago, Lena was recommended to me by a bridal salon because my daughter's gown needed alterations and the seamstress that was referred to me never returned my call. I was on a time restriction. I had only 2 weeks. It was a pageant gown by Tony Bowls and had multiple layered ruffles. She had to shorten the gown and take in the waist area and sew in the straps. Needless to say my daughter won her pageant. Since then Lena has altered 4 of our gowns and even altered a cocktail dress. She's very easygoing, straightforward and honest. She is our magic finger fairy godmother because my daughter has won every pageant she has altered a gown for. Not one critique from any Judge on our evenng gowns. Would recommend to anyone! We Love Love Love Our Miss Lena!
-Monica R. from Massanutten, VA
11/21/2011
************************************************************************************************************************************************
I had a wonderful experience with Lena! I wanted to use my mother's wedding dress for my September wedding, but I needed it to be changed to a more modern style. I took the dress to Lena with a picture of what I wanted. The final product is amazing. She took a dress from 1977, and made it look brand new. I now have a custom dress that cost less than if I bought one brand new. I am extremely happy with my dress and can't wait for everyone to see it.
-Mellissa M.
************************************************************************************************************************************************
Lena did an AMAZING job with the alterations for my wedding dress! I don't have the words for how beautifully the finished project turned out (or for how much work she did in order to get the dress to its finished state!). The dress was a Maggie Sottero Karena Royale: a beautiful dress with intricate lace and some beading, and a short train (which also included detail lacing!). Since I'm only about 5'0 tall and the dress was made for someone much taller, Lena had to shorten the dress significantly while also working with the detailed lace. She did a perfect job, and with the finished product there was absolutely no sign that the lace had ever been altered. Not only did the front hem of the dress look amazing (and like it had come that way!), the train was perfect, too. Moreover, not only did Lena do an amazing job with the outer layer of lace, she also hemmed the two layers of underskirt, as well as generally adjusting and fitting the dress so it would work for my smaller frame. She also did a beautiful job on the bustle, both in helping me decide what bustle worked best for the dress and my figure, and in sewing and altering the dress to include it. In short, Lena's craftsmanship is perfect and an art in itself! But she was also patient, kind and helpful. I looked forward to all of my fittings, and she helped to make sure that my bridesmaids knew how to lace the dress properly and fix the bustle for my big day. I could not have been happier with my wedding dress, and I would not hesitate to recommend Lena for any occasion--especially one as important as a wedding!
-KJ Murphy
************************************************************************************************************************************************
Lena has always done a beautiful job on any alterations she has done for me and my family. She is very knowledgeable in what she does. I love the feeling when I look my best in clothes that fit me just right! She is someone I would trust to make me look and feel beautiful on my most special day :) Thank you, Lena! You are wonderful!
-Inna I. from Asheville, NC
7/1/2013