About

Overview & Vibe

Bernice Fashions is a by-appointment bridal store and alterations workroom on Fitzroy Street in Geelong, run by Yvonne Bowdler. Its framing is deliberately unfussy: “Everyone deserves a dress that celebrates your style, beauty, size and shape.” A bride's own account of the visit — that she is not “much of a girly girl”, wanted no fuss, and found the dress on the second try — is the testimonial the store chose to lead with, which tells you what it is aiming at.

Dress Styles & Designers

Five labels, named on its own bridal page: Watters Designs (its newest, with a page of its own), Justin Alexander, Lillian West, Monica Loretti and International Couture. Accessories run from veils to faux fur bridal capes, headpieces and earrings, and the store runs occasional designer trunk shows and VIP events.

Ideal For

The bride who wants the gown and the fitting handled in the same place — and the bride who bought elsewhere. Alterations are done in house by qualified seamstresses on site in Geelong, and the store takes them on gowns, bridesmaid dresses and after-five wear whether or not they were bought there. “Even if your gown is a work of art with lace and beading, we can wave our magic and you will never know your gown has been altered.”

The Need-to-Knows

By appointment, with an hour allowed. The store's own advice on timing is specific: a gown takes four to six months to order, most gowns need some alteration, so it recommends ordering about six months ahead and starting to look as early as possible. If the gown was bought there, alterations begin once the dress and the alteration fee are paid in full. No prices are published.

Standout Feature

Sixty-seven years of seamstress experience, in the building. Yvonne Bowdler and her team state a combined 67 years in the industry, and the alterations are done on site rather than sent out — which is why the store will take a beaded, lace gown it did not sell. For a bride whose dress needs real work, that combination of a stocked boutique and an in-house workroom is rarer than either on its own.

Appointment Policy

The store works by appointment; its address is published as 87 Fitzroy Street Geelong "(by appointment)".
Appointments are highly recommended so a bride can try gowns on and work out what suits her style, fabric preference and body shape.
An appointment usually runs for one hour.
Appointments are booked through the store's own online booking link, or by phone on 0487 002 676 or email to info@bernicefashions.com.au.
The enquiry form asks for the date of the function, approximate if unknown.
Ordering a gown takes four to six months, and most gowns need some alteration, so the store recommends ordering about six months in advance and starting to look as early as possible.
Where a gown was bought from the store, alterations commence once the dress and the alteration fee are paid in full.

Dress Designers

Watters Designs. Description: Introduced as the boutique's newest collection, with its own page: "Full, sweeping skirts. Fitted, sculpted bodies. Bridal gowns that are timeless."
Justin Alexander. Description: A supplier the boutique names on its own bridal page, and the subject of its own trunk show page.
Lillian West. Description: A supplier the boutique names on its own bridal page.
Monica Loretti. Description: A supplier the boutique names on its own bridal page.
International Couture. Description: A supplier the boutique names on its own bridal page.

Dress Experience

Bernice Fashions is a bridal store and alterations workroom at 87 Fitzroy Street, Geelong, Victoria, working by appointment and owned by Yvonne Bowdler. It stocks gowns from five named suppliers -- Lillian West, Justin Alexander, Monica Loretti, International Couture and Watters Designs, the last introduced as its newest collection -- and sells bridal accessories including veils, faux fur bridal capes, headpieces and earrings. Alterations are carried out in house by qualified seamstresses located on site in Geelong, covering seam adjustments, hemlines, train bustles and pickups and shoulder strap adjustments, including on heavily laced and beaded gowns, and the store accepts alterations on gowns, bridesmaid dresses and after-five wear that were not purchased there. Owner Yvonne Bowdler and the seamstress team state over 67 years of combined experience in the industry. The store advises that ordering a gown takes four to six months and that most gowns need some alteration, so it recommends ordering about six months in advance and beginning to look as early as possible. Appointments are highly recommended and usually run for one hour. Where a gown was purchased from the store, alterations commence once full payment of the dress and the alteration fee has been made. It also runs occasional designer trunk shows and VIP events.

Dress Styles

a-line
ball gown
fit and flare
sheath
modern minimalist
romantic
classic
lace
beaded
tulle
satin
off shoulder
low back
long train
cathedral veil

Dresses

No details available.

Nearby Landmarks

Fitzroy Street, Geelong – In central Geelong, a short walk from the city centre
Geelong Station – A few minutes away
Eastern Beach and the Geelong waterfront – About ten minutes east

Price Notes

No gown prices are published anywhere on the boutique's own site.
Alterations are quoted individually; no alteration price list is published.
Owner Yvonne Bowdler and the seamstress team state over 67 years of combined experience in the industry.
Alterations are done by qualified in-house seamstresses located on site in Geelong, and the store accepts gowns, bridesmaid dresses and after-five wear it did not sell.
For gowns purchased from the store, alterations begin only once full payment of the dress and the alteration fee has been made.
The store runs occasional designer trunk shows and VIP events showcasing a designer's newest collection; at the time of harvest none was scheduled.
Watters Designs is introduced as the store's newest bridal collection.