Fashionably modest gowns

PROVO — Talk about "extreme makeovers" — a Lehi dressmaker can wave her magic wand and make an otherwise daring bridal creation fit into the Utah County bride's sense of decorum.

Well, maybe it's not quite that easy, but Connie Nielsen and her staff have been remaking off-the-rack formal fashions for 35 years.

They can add a piece to fill in a low-cut neckline, bring up too-deep sleeves, close a slit skirt or even build an entirely new bodice for a gown that's enchanting but not very modest.

They can make a dress that's designed in New York City work in a Utah County LDS temple where modesty trumps revealing fashions — usually for $25 to $50.

"We can take care of the customer," said Nielsen, who owns two Bridal Center shops, one at 35 W. Main in Lehi and one at 235 N. University Ave. in Provo. She originally designed bridal scarves, which evolved into a bridal boutique and eventually to custom design. The demand for modest makeovers has pushed her into the niche she's in.

"We know there are beautiful gowns out there that do not meet the local standards for modesty, so we will custom design a top for them or change the sleeves or add fabric as a cover-up. I think we are very unique."

Kayelyn Hepworth of Herriman has bought gowns for two weddings from Nielsen.

"We were so happy with the dress for our oldest daughter that we went back. She also did our bridesmaid dresses, put in sleeves for us," Hepworth said. "You can't even tell anything's been done."

"She knows exactly what to do to make them modest. You don't have to explain it," Hepworth said.

Debbie Harrison of American Fork said, "They can make a dress you love be even better, and modest."

Nielsen is so accustomed to being asked to save a prom gown or wedding dress that's strapless or sheer that she automatically buys extra matching fabric and shawls for the gowns she sees in the catalogs.

She also orders a wide variety of ready-made "modesty-line" gowns. "We focus on those," she said.

"We have 300 different styles to choose from and five volumes of books with gowns, over 1,000 dresses," Nielsen said. "If there's one a bride wants and it's strapless, we can put a top on, and you can't tell it wasn't there originally."

Nielsen said her alterations are also geared to making the bride look slimmer and more shapely. "There's a lot you can do with pulling in the material and emphasizing different areas," she said.

During high-volume months the store hires extra seamstresses so brides and girls with prom dates can usually get a fitting and alterations within a few days.

Usually, a dress can be rebuilt and ready to go in a week.

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E-mail: haddoc@desnews.com