One special address stands out in Milan for anyone shopping for elegant bridal wear: the atelier run by Dolores Tommasi has been fulfilling the dreams of young women for twenty years now, making them feel like princesses on the most important day of their life.

Tommasi’s dream dresses are custom made for each future bride, creating the very best models of world renowned Made in Italy dressmakers. We asked Dolores Tommasi, the true soul of her atelier, the secrets of her success and what dresses in particular are popular with foreigners.

Mrs. Tommasi, what has made your atelier so famous?

The passion with which I create my bridal dresses, which I have been drawing since I was a little girl, and the quality of the fabrics used in their craftsmanship. Before creating a dress, I meet with the future bride first, speak with her, and try to understand her needs. The key to everything is to achieve harmony: a simple line, without overdoing it, but which exalts a taste for fine detail.

What makes your dresses so special?

The fact that they are entirely produced in Italy. The silk is from Como, where there’s an outstanding silk-making tradition; as for shoes, I suggest brides choose Italian footwear, particularly those manufactured in Palermo.

Do you also make outfits for wedding guests?

No, because they fall into a different type of tailoring, which is best defined as outerwear; however, we do cater to maids of honour, who must be fitted with dresses that are suited to the bride’s dress.

Have you ever thought of “opening up” your business to foreign markets?

It wouldn’t be easy for our atelier to open up to foreign markets, since our dresses are created exclusively at our Milan location, and that’s where clients must come to try them on and buy them. The very nature of our products - dresses chosen from collections and transformed into unique items – allows them to withstand comparisons with the products of foreign competitors, and this occurs at international fashion shows. The fashion runways provide us with the opportunity to compare our bridal dresses to those created in other countries, such as China or Spain, and which are also commonly sold in Italy.

Do your dresses generally satisfy the tastes of foreigners?

I would say so, yes, because the people who come to us generally find a suitable compromise with their own needs. For instance, regarding our Afro-American clients, we know that they wear traditional dresses during the ceremony and also use them as evening wear. We can thus propose more elaborate solutions, with sequin, spangles, and whatever else is needed to emphasise a festive occasion.

The high art of Italian dressmaking combined with unique styling, for dresses that make an impression while feeling comfortable and practical, offering brides the very best fit.