Alterations · Fittings · In-House

Every gown perfected on you.

A gown from a rail is a starting point. What makes it yours is what happens next — the three sessions in the atelier where every seam is adjusted to your body, your posture, your height. Nothing leaves without being right.

Rima Malaeb at work — handcrafted embroidery in the Tripoli atelier
N.º 01 · The fitting journey

Three sessions. One perfect fit.

01
First Fitting — 2 to 3 Hours

The foundation session.

You arrive at the atelier and step into the gown for the first time. Rima assesses your silhouette, marks adjustments in chalk and pins, and takes detailed notes on what must change. Hem length, bodice fit, straps, and any structural decisions are discussed and confirmed together. This session is unhurried — typically two to three hours.

Timing: 6–10 weeks before your event.

02
Second Fitting — 60 to 90 Minutes

Adjustments confirmed.

The gown returns with the major work complete. You try it on again; Rima assesses the result with fresh eyes. Fine adjustments — a centimetre here, a cup adjusted there — are pinned and noted. If you have shoes or undergarments for the day, bring them to this appointment; they affect the hem line more than you might expect.

Timing: 2–3 weeks before your event.

03
Final Fitting — 30 to 45 Minutes

Ready for your day.

The gown is complete. You try it on a final time — often with your accessories and hair — and leave with it pressed and covered. This is the moment we have been working toward. Nothing is rushed, nothing is skipped.

Timing: 5–7 days before your event.

N.º 02 · What's included

Standard alterations

  • Hem — single-layer and multi-layer, including cathedral and chapel trains
  • Bust cups — shaping, resizing, and repositioning
  • Side seams — taking in or letting out at the waist and hip
  • Straps & neckline — shoulder adjustment, strap shortening, neckline refinement
  • Bustle — French or American bustle attachment for reception transition
  • Closures — zip replacement, hook-and-eye addition, corset lace finishing
N.º 03 · Additional cost

Beyond-standard work

Some requests go beyond a standard alteration — they require new fabric, structural reconstruction, or extended hours. These are always quoted before any work begins.

  • Major silhouette reconstruction (changing ball gown to A-line, etc.)
  • Fabric additions — sleeves, modesty panels, extended trains
  • Beading or embroidery additions post-manufacture
  • Express scheduling (less than 2 weeks to your event)
We alter everything in house. No outsourcing. No subcontractors. Every stitch is ours.

— Rima Malaeb, Founder · Maison Rima

By appointment

What's your timeline?

The earlier you reach out, the more comfortably we can work. Message us with your wedding date — we will tell you exactly what is possible.

Discuss on WhatsApp