About

Overview & Vibe

Lainie Brookman has been making gowns to measure from her Waurn Ponds studio since 2005, and she is the third generation to do it: her mother sewed in Geelong clothing factories from the age of seventeen and went on making for clients, and her grandmother started a dressmaking apprenticeship in Geelong West at sixteen. “So it's in my blood.”

Dress Styles & Designers

No labels stocked — every piece is her own, cut to the client. Bridal gowns, bridesmaids, mother of the bride and groom, flowergirls, racewear, evening and cocktail, debutante, graduation and formal, plus christening, confirmation and communion dresses. All fabrics are sourced from the top suppliers in Melbourne and Sydney: “We will not compromise on quality and only sew with the best.”

Ideal For

The bride who wants her gown made rather than bought — and, notably, the bridal party other makers find awkward. She caters explicitly for pregnant bridesmaids and those who have just had babies, and for overseas and interstate clients who arrive just before the wedding, condensing the whole fitting sequence into one or two weeks. Also for racewear: her clients have worn her work at the Melbourne Cup, Oaks Day, Derby Day and the Geelong Cup, and one was runner-up in the 2019 Myer Fashions on the Field national competition.

The Need-to-Knows

The studio is strictly by appointment only. Custom gowns want six to twelve months' notice; special occasion outfits start three to four months ahead, and racewear dates book out well in advance. Quotes are personalised and obligation-free. Clients come from Geelong and the Surf Coast but also Melbourne, Ballarat, Colac, Warrnambool and Hamilton.

Standout Feature

She publishes a price guide, service by service. Bridal gowns from $2,500, lace bridal gowns from $3,000, cocktail wedding dresses from $1,500, reception and party dresses from $800, bridesmaids from $500, mother of the bride from $600 and flowergirls from $400. A bride can price her whole party before she picks up the phone — and a client's own words for the result were “exquisite workmanship… and insanely affordable.”

Appointment Policy

The studio is strictly by appointment only.
Appointment requests go through the studio's contact form, or by mobile on 0416 373 586.
A minimum of six to twelve months' notice is recommended for a custom bridal gown, due to demand.
Special occasion outfits begin three to four months before the date required, and racewear dates can book out well in advance.
Mother of the bride bookings are made against the wedding date, and the studio asks clients to check its current schedule for availability.
Overseas and interstate clients who arrive shortly before the wedding can be accommodated by condensing fittings into one to two weeks.
Quotes are personalised and provided on enquiry, with no obligation.

Dress Designers

Lainie Brookman Couture. Description: The studio's own label. Lainie Brookman completed an Advanced Certificate in Designer Dressmaking for Small Business at the Gordon Institute of TAFE in 1995 and has made to measure from her Geelong studio since 2005. She is a third-generation dressmaker. No external labels are stocked.

Dress Experience

Lainie Brookman Couture Dressmaker is a made-to-measure dressmaking studio at 20 Blackheath Mews, Waurn Ponds, in Geelong, Victoria, run by Lainie Brookman, who has been creating made-to-measure gowns from her Geelong studio since 2005. Born and raised in Geelong, she is a third-generation dressmaker: her mother sewed in clothing factories from the age of seventeen and continued making clothes for clients, and her grandmother began a dressmaking apprenticeship at a shop in Geelong West at sixteen. She studied textiles through to year 12 and completed an Advanced Certificate in Designer Dressmaking for Small Business at the Gordon Institute of TAFE in 1995. The studio makes bridal gowns, bridesmaid dresses, mother of the bride and groom outfits, flowergirl dresses, racewear, evening and cocktail wear, debutante, graduation and formal gowns, and christening, confirmation and communion dresses, sourcing all fabrics from top suppliers in Melbourne and Sydney. It publishes a per-service price guide starting at $2,500 for a bridal gown and $3,000 for a lace bridal gown, and provides personalised quotes on enquiry. Clients come from Geelong and the Surf Coast as well as Melbourne, Ballarat, Colac, Warrnambool and Hamilton. The studio is strictly by appointment only and recommends a minimum of six to twelve months' notice for a custom gown.

Dress Styles

bespoke
made to measure
lace
satin
tulle
a-line
sheath
cocktail
tea length
classic
romantic
racewear
debutante

Dresses

Bridal gown, custom made. Price: from $2,500. Description: A made-to-measure bridal gown cut to the client, using fabrics sourced from top suppliers in Melbourne and Sydney. Six to twelve months' notice recommended.
Lace bridal gown, custom made. Price: from $3,000. Description: A made-to-measure bridal gown in lace, priced above the standard bridal service.
Cocktail wedding dress, custom made. Price: from $1,500. Description: A made-to-measure shorter wedding dress for a cocktail-style wedding.
Reception or party dress, custom made. Price: from $800. Description: A made-to-measure second dress for the reception.
Bridesmaid dress, custom made. Price: from $500. Description: Made to measure and individual; the studio will make bridesmaids in matching or mix-and-match styles, and caters for pregnant bridesmaids and those who have recently given birth.
Mother of the bride or groom outfit, custom made. Price: from $600. Description: A made-to-measure dress or outfit; the studio books time slots against the wedding date.
Flowergirl dress, custom made. Price: from $400. Description: Made to measure for the youngest members of the bridal party.
Racewear and special occasion, custom made. Price: quoted on enquiry. Description: Made to measure racewear, evening wear, cocktail dresses, debutante, graduation and formal gowns. Clients have worn the studio's work at the Melbourne Cup, Oaks Day, Derby Day, the Geelong Cup, Brisbane races and country race meetings.
Christening, confirmation and communion dresses. Price: quoted on enquiry. Description: Also made to measure by the studio.

Nearby Landmarks

Waurn Ponds – A southern Geelong suburb, about fifteen minutes from the city centre
Deakin University Waurn Ponds – A few minutes away
The Surf Coast and Torquay – About twenty minutes south

Price Notes

Bridal gown dressmaking from $2,500; lace bridal gown dressmaking from $3,000.
Cocktail wedding dressmaking from $1,500; reception or party dressmaking from $800.
Bridesmaids dressmaking from $500.
Mother of the bride or groom dressmaking from $600.
Flowergirl dressmaking from $400.
Racewear and special occasion pricing depends on fabric, style and type of dress, and is quoted on obligation-free enquiry.
All figures are described by the studio as a rough price guide, with personalised quotes provided on enquiry.
All fabrics are sourced from top suppliers in Melbourne and Sydney.
A client of the studio, Peta Bell, was runner-up in the 2019 Myer Fashions on the Field national competition.